Spring Recap

Finishing up our Offseason the Thunder ventured into Spring Training games not really knowing what to expect, once all was said and done we ended up going 8-10 for a .444 win pct which sat us in 2nd place in our division

Cincinnati 13-5
Chicago 8-10
Trenton 8-10
Minnesota 5-13

of course its spring and who knows how people treated it going full throttle with their lineups or sitting back and watching the minor league guys play, we did a little of both trying out guys at different positions and really trying to grasp how this simengine works as compared to the baseball engine I've been use too.

We had a few position battles and were trying to find a starting rotation I'd be happy with, below was the final outcome

SS Battle

Joe Patrick Trenton Thunder Age: 26 B/T: L/R Born: Guelph, ON Position(s): SS View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Kirk Clarke Trenton Thunder Age: 26 B/T: R/R Born: Spring Hill, FL Position(s): SS View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Both of these guys brings a different aspect to the table, where as Kirk Clarke was the favorite going into spring training were actually leaning towards giving Joe Patrick the first shot at starting for us, Patrick hit .333 in 21 at bats but his ranged lacked at 4.88 in the 48 innings he played at SS. Clarke hit .200 in 20 at bats and made one error in the 48 innings he patrolled SS with a range of 4.50. Patrick gives us tremendous speed at wherever he'll hit in the order..I think I'm far from done however looking for a shortstop


CF BATTLE

Walt Gold Trenton Thunder Age: 25 B/T: R/R Born: Perry, NY Position(s): CF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Trenidad Borbon Trenton Thunder Age: 24 B/T: L/L Born: Paradera, AW Position(s): CF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

This was a blowout as Rule 5 pickup Trenidad Borbon absolutely stunk it up on the field, the guy has some pretty decent talent bu didn't do a thing in 20 at bats he went HITLESS, while Walt Gold did very well hitting .400 in 20 at bats, I would of liked to have seen Borbon do something,anything but he barely made our 25 man roster.


The Starting Rotation will look like this

Lawrence Richardson Trenton Thunder Age: 28 B/T: R/R Born: Timber Lake, SD Position(s): P (SP3) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Matt McClellan Trenton Thunder Age: 27 B/T: R/R Born: Fredericksburg, VA Position(s): P (SP5) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Ozzie Ono Trenton Thunder Age: 28 B/T: R/R Born: Fukuoka, JP Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Alex Heredia Trenton Thunder Age: 22 B/T: R/R Born: Auburn, IL Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Terrell Stroud Trenton Thunder Age: 24 B/T: L/L Born: Chiefland, FL Position(s): P (LRA) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Richardson more than earned opening the season on the mound vs Cincinnati, he started 2 games giving up a opp avg of .087 a whip of .57 while attaining a era of 2.57

Mccllelan literally had to stink it up not to make the rotation, he slots in at no.2 and will try to make me look good this season for rewarding him with a big contract, spring numbers were good enough 3.12 era .294 opp avg with a 1.38 whip

Very Impressed with Ono as he had a great spring as well, starting 3 games posting a .75 whip .119 opp avg and a 1.50 era

Alex Heredia gets the nod over Norman West even though his spring wasn't any better . 3 starts a 1.67 whip and a .333 opp avg..his era was 8.00 OUCH!

Terrell Stroud impresses me grabbing the 5th spot in the rotation, finishing spring with a 2.53 era in one start and 3 appearances .94 whip and a numbers game that saw us with a ton of left handed relievers gives Stroud the first shot at starting and sending West to the bullpen to start the season