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Dream
Matchup Remains A Fantasy
by Mike Ashmore
June 8, 2006 - Hunterdon County Democrat
With the Trenton Thunder playing .500 baseball, the most
intriguing stories this year continue to revolve around the
teams they're playing.
Recently, Thunder fans were treated to the Double-A version
of the Subway Series, as the Binghamton Mets came into town
for a four game series against the Yankees Double-A
affiliate. Each team's roster features their respective
organization's most prized pitching prospect, with the Mets
Mike Pelfrey and Thunder's Phil Hughes each taking a turn
during the series.
After Pelfrey, the 9th overall pick in the 2005 draft,
missed his scheduled start on Friday due to a stomach
ailment, it seemed to set up a dream matchup against Hughes,
who was scheduled to pitch on Saturday.
But the Mets organization held back Pelfrey until Sunday,
meaning fans would have to wait until Trenton's visit to
Binghamton in mid-June for a chance at round one of a much
anticipated pitcher's duel.
That is, of course, assuming Pelfrey isn't called up by
then, another dream that almost became reality before he was
passed up in favor of 26-year-old teammate Alay Soler. Soler,
a Cuban defector, made his big league debut on May 24th
against the Phillies.
But Pelfrey, just 22, knows his time is coming and was just
happy to see his teammate get a chance.
"He earned that," Pelfrey said. "The way I
was throwing, I wouldn't even call myself up. He was ahead
of me in his game, and I have a lot to work on. And that's
fine, it's not my decision anyway."
The Mets appear to have market cornered on Cuban defectors,
acquiring former Yankee Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez in
a trade, putting another roadblock in the way of a big
league call-up for Pelfrey.
Pelfrey was dominant on Sunday, throwing six innings of
six-hit ball, walking just one and striking out five. He
made just one mistake, leaving a pitch up in the zone to
Bronson Sardinha, who promptly deposited it over the wall
for the only run Trenton would score off of the young righty.
But, after staking his team to a 3-1 lead, his bullpen
failed him and Pelfrey was still looking for his first
Double-A win.
One day earlier, Hughes picked up the second Double-A win of
his short career, scattering three runs on eight hits over
six and a third innings of work in a 6-3 victory.
The 23rd overall pick in 2004 and the Yankees top prospect
according to Baseball America, Hughes path to the big
leagues would appear to be a bit longer, with the
19-year-old not quite ready to face big league hitters on a
regular basis.
“Every day you get to the field, you want to get (to the
big leagues) as soon as you can,” Hughes said. “I think
that’s pretty much everyone’s goal here.”
Hughes, who turns 20 on June 24th, isn’t expected to be in
Yankee pinstripes until late next year at the absolute
earliest. And that’s assuming he isn’t dealt at the
trade deadline, something the franchise has a history of
doing with their prospects.
With interleague play making the Subway Series a yearly
occurrence, don’t be surprised if the first matchup of
Mike Pelfrey and Phil Hughes comes in the Major Leagues
instead of the Eastern League.
Sign Of The Times: Hughes and Pelfrey received
signing bonuses of $1.4 million and $3.5 million,
respectively. In contrast, Orioles Hall of Fame pitcher Jim
Palmer received just $50,000 to sign in 1963.
Thunder Notes: Reliever Charlie Manning, in his
fourth season with Trenton, made just one appearance in
Triple-A Columbus before being returned to the Thunder. Jeff
Kennard, a pitcher assigned to the team from Single-A Tampa
when Manning was called up, was sent back down without
appearing in a game...Pitcher Shawn Chacon made a rehab
start for Trenton on Sunday, with Octavio Dotel rumored to
be following him shortly.
Around the Eastern League: Three Major Leaguers made
rehab appearances in the EL recently; with three-time MLB
All-Star Sean Casey playing for Altoona, Gold Glove winning
catcher Mike Lieberthal making his first appearance in a
Reading Phillies uniform since 1992, and pitcher Daniel
Cabrera being assigned by the Orioles to the Bowie Baysox.
For More Information on Mike - MikeAshmore.com
Picture courtesy of Mike Ashmore - 2006
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