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Thunder
Playoff Preview
by Mike Ashmore
September 7, 2006
The Trenton Thunder won the Northern Division for the fourth
time in the teams thirteen year history. After an abysmal
1-13 start, the team rebounded and pulled away from
Binghamton and Portland late in the second half to clinch a
somewhat improbable playoff berth.
And it only gets better from there.
New York Yankees center fielder Hideki Matsui, out of action
since May 11th with a broken wrist, is expected to join the
Thunder for the first two games of their first round playoff
series.
The Japanese import, a two-time Major League All-Star, would
be the sixth Yankee to make a rehab appearance in Trenton
this season and the first to do it in the playoffs since Tom
Gordon in 1999.
While it's unclear whether Matsui would be playing in the
field, the starting rotation is crystal clear for the first
three games of the series. Phil Hughes was scheduled to
start Game One last night, Tyler Clippard is set to get the
nod tonight in Game Two and former big leaguer Matt Childers
will toe the rubber in Game Three.
For Hughes, this will be his first playoff experience since
high school. But that's not really saying too much,
considering he's just 20 years old.
"I don't really know what to expect," said Hughes
of his first professional playoff game. "I heard it's a
little bit of a different atmosphere then. It should be a
good time, I'm looking forward to it."
Held to a strict pitch count, Hughes will be allowed to
throw 100 pitches during the playoffs, an increase the right
hander is looking forward to.
"Getting out there and getting to throw the majority of
the game for the first time in a while will be good,"
he said.
While Matt DeSalvo would be the likely starter for the
fourth game of the series, if it got to a fifth game, it
would be surprising if Thunder manager Bill Masse went to
Francisco Butto with the season on the line. However, he may
have no choice, as the Yankees organization would be
hesitant to throw Hughes out there on three days rest.
But with the way the Thunder have been playing, it would be
more surprising if the series went to five games at all.
As of Sunday's deadline, the Thunder's first-round
opponent had yet to be decided. Portland was up two games on
Binghamton with four games to play in the regular season.
Thunder Notes: Backup catcher Jason Brown won the
2006 Samuel Plumeri, Jr. Community Service Award, while
outfielder Justin Christian was named the 2006 Fan Favorite
Award winner...When Major League rosters expanded on
September 1st, the Yankees called up pitcher T.J. Beam, who
started the season with the Thunder.
Around the Eastern League: Players all around the
Eastern League benefited from the big league roster
expansions, not just the Thunder. Portland's David Murphy
and Connecticut's Scott Munter and Justin Knoedler were
called up by the Red Sox and Giants, respectively. For
Murphy, the Red Sox first round draft pick in 2003, this
will be his first taste of the majors.
"It's an incredible feeling to know I'm that
close," said Murphy about his status on the 40-man
roster in May. "I just try to go to the ballpark and
take it one day at a time. If I worry about getting
promoted, it would probably make the season go slower."
In his first big league at-bat, Murphy laced a single to
center field off of another former Sea Dog, pitcher A.J.
Burnett.
Also, Eastern League MVP Adam Lind was called up by Toronto,
and Bowie's Jeff Fiorentino was called up by
Baltimore...Akron and Altoona clinched the Southern Division
playoff spots, and the respective affiliates of the Indians
and the Pirates will battle it out to see who advances to
the championship series, which would start September 12th at
the home of the Division Series winner.
Thunder Contest: To win a ball signed by 18 members
of the 2006 Trenton Thunder, including Phil Hughes and the
entire starting rotation, simply send an e-mail to mashmore@mikeashmore.com
with the subject "Thunder Contest."
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