Patterson Sets Sights High
by Mike Ashmore

If you've ever asked Trenton Thunder relief pitcher Scott Patterson what he throws, his answer probably isn't what you expected.

"A lot of strikes."

It is, however, the truth.

Ever since the Yankees signed the 27-year-old righty from Lancaster of the independent Atlantic League last June, the Pennsylvania native has been dominant.

Appearing in 16 games this season for the Thunder, his ERA is a microscopic 1.39, the highest it's been all season.

He's managed to improve on a 2006 season that left little room for improvement; he compiled a 2.33 ERA and allowed the opposition to hit just .186 against him during his inaugural season in affiliated ball.

Believe it or not, none of that is good enough for him. His goal is to get his ERA under one.

"It's attainable," he said.

"I've had it under one, but it jumped back up after I gave up a run in my last outing. Hopefully I can get a couple of innings and get it back down."

Perhaps that's what it will take to finally get the Yankees to notice him and give him a look at Triple-A Scranton.

With the organization's pitching staffs decimated by injuries, the lack of a call-up is starting to wear on Patterson.

"It's starting to get a little more (frustrating)," he said. "Hopefully, it'll be next month. But then the next month comes, and you're like, 'Hopefully next month.'"

"But I'm pretty sure they're going to give me that shot. They have to. How couldn't they?"

Yankees pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras has worked with Patterson to help get him that shot, and the lanky pitcher with the unconventional motion is working on a slider to compliment his fastball and curveball as a result.

"There's counts where I have to throw it, because I have to get that third pitch," said Patterson, who feels that the lack of a third pitch may be contributing to what's keeping him in Double-A.

Patterson's repertoire of fastball and curveball worked well for him in four and a half seasons of independent ball, pitching for the Frontier League's Gateway Grizzlies from 2002 to 2005.

He compiled a 22-8 record there, primarily as a starter, but he's thrived since being switched to the bullpen, posting an 0.78 ERA with 14 saves with Lancaster last season before the Yankees picked him up, his first full season as a reliever.

But still, without that third pitch, Yankees officials don't seem to think Patterson could succeed at the highest level.

"I'd have to go back to Pony League, where instead of a curveball, it was in between with the slurve for the last time I tried to throw a slider," Patterson said with a laugh.

"I messed around with the splitter a little bit too, but we're moving away from that."

With a fastball that hovers at 90, and a curveball that's consistently clocked between 71 and 72 miles per hour, if Patterson can master the slider, there's no reason you won't see him throwing all three pitches off of a Major League mound sooner rather than later.

Thunder Notes: Danny Borrell, whose career was thought to be over after blowing out his elbow last season in a Thunder uniform, has signed with the Oakland Athletics organization. Randy Ruiz, the controversial first baseman who led Trenton in home runs last season, was traded back to the Phillies organization from the Pirates in a minor league deal. Ruiz is scheduled to face his old mates in Reading tomorrow.

Around The Eastern League: Bowie Baysox starter Radhames Liz threw the first no-hitter of the Eastern League season, using 120 pitches to blank the Harrisburg Senators last Friday night.

Contact Mike: mashmore@patriotsbaseball.com

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