Blogs > Minor Matters

Run by The Trentonian's Nick Peruffo, this blog will provide daily multimedia coverage of the Trenton Thunder.

Friday, January 8, 2010

90 days and counting ...

Being January 8, it is exactly three months until the Thunder open the 2010 season at home against Erie.

To celebrate that occasion, here are a few tidbits from around Thunderland from the last week or so:

- Former Thunder hurler Josh Schmidt currently leads the Venezuelan Winter League with 71 strikeouts. He is also working as a starter down there, after being a reliever all his career, except for a spate of spot starts this season.

- As you may have noticed elsewhere, soon to be Thunder infielder Brandon Laird and his brother, current Major League catcher Gerald, were arrested over the holidays for their part in a brawl during an NBA game in Phoenix. That makes it three seasons in a row now that the Thunder have had a member of their team get in trouble with the law: George Kontos in 2008 and Austin Krum last season were the other two.

- Per Yankees VP of Baseball Operations Mark Newman, here are a few hints on what the Thunder team could look like come April.

- Christian Garcia will be ready to open the season, Wilkin De La Rosa will not.

- Jorge Vazquez will begin the season in Triple-A

- Shortstop is still "up in the air"