Scranton 5, Norfolk 1
Melky Mesa: 1 for 5, R, 3 SB
Thomas Neal: 1 for 4
Ronnier Mustelier: 1 for 3, HR, 3 RBI
Dan Johnson: 1 for 4, HR
Addison Maruszak: 1 for 3, 2B, R, BB
Alberto Gonzalez: 1 for 2, RBI, BB
Caleb Cotham: 7 IP, 6 H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO (100/67)
Clay Rapada: 0.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (9/8)
Sam Demel: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO (23/15)

Trenton 5, Erie 4
Ramon Flores: 2 for 5, R, RBI, BB
Kevin Youkilis: 1 for 3, RBI
Kevin Mahoney: 1 for 2, BB
Mark Teixeira: 1 for 3
J.R. Murphy: 3 for 6, R
Slade Heathcott: 4 for 6, 2B, R, RBI
Walter Ibarra: 1 for 4, R, RBI
Neil Medchill: 1 for 4, RBI
Ali Castillo: 2 for 5, R
Mikey O'Brien: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO (82/49)
Aaron Dott: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO (24/14)
Graham Stoneburner: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (8/6)
Francisco Rondon: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 4 SO (57/38)

Tampa 5, Daytona 4
Ben Gamel: 1 for 4, R
Carmen Angelini: 1 for 3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Francisco Arcia: 1 for 4, RBI
Casey Stevenson: 2 for 3, BB, SB
Eduardo Sosa: 1 for 3, R, BB, SB
Jose Toussen: 1 for 4, R, RBI, 2 SB
Corey Black: 5 IP, 0 H, R, ER, 4 BB, 7 SO
Manny Barreda: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
Charlie Short: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO

Charleston 4, Augusta 3
Claudio Custodio: 2 for 4, R, 2 RBI, BB
Dante Bichette: 1 for 3
Rey Nunez: 1 for 3, BB
Jose Rosario: 1 for 4, 2B, R
Fu-Lin Kuo: 0 for 3, BB, R
Danny Oh: 3 for 4, 2B, R, RBI
Cesar Vargas: 5 IP, 3 H, 3 R, ER, BB, 3 SO
Dietrich Enns: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO

Final score: Trenton 5, Erie 4 - 12 innings

Synopsis: After a largely dormant eight innings, Trenton's offense erupted for three runs in the ninth to tie the score and send the game into extras. Francisco Rondon took over from there. After wiggling out of a big jam in the ninth, Rondon retired all nine hitters he faced -- including four strikeouts -- from the tenth inning on. The Thunder won it on Slade Heathcott's bases-loaded dribbler through the right side with two down in the twelfth. 

What went right: Hard to choose who had the better evening between Rondon and Heathcott, but I'll go with the lefty reliever who last week found himself cast off the 40-man roster. To say Rondon had been erratic this year would be an understatement. He had been downright painful to watch. Any time he came in, you could easily expect a very long inning to follow. 

The ninth inning on Thursday was no exception. He held the SeaWolves off the board, but only after allowing a walk and two hits. When the game went past regulation, however, Rondon started pounding the strike zone like never before, and the results were striking. 

“He got a little more aggressive after his first inning, that’s for sure,” Thunder manager Tony Franklin said. “Once he got going, man, he got going pretty good.”

I was stunned last week when he passed through waivers unclaimed. Sure, his stats are ugly, but he's a left-hander with a good, lively fastball and an above-average change-up and slider. And he's always been murder on lefties.

This year, even while sporting an ERA of 6.69 and a WHIP of 1.69, he's held lefties to a .208/.269/.292 line. Over the last two seasons with Trenton, he's limited them to six extra-base hits in 129 at-bats. Why wouldn't a team take a chance on that?

But nobody did, so the Yankees took him back and outrighted him back to Trenton. Because a player can have no contact with his former team while in DFA limbo -- if the move comes while the team is on the road, as it did for Rondon, the player can't even stay in the same hotel room with his teammates  -- Rondon had time to kill before being re-inserted into the fold. 

Fortunately for him, the Thunder were in  Bowie, meaning it was only a (relatively) short ride to Manhattan, where his parents live. He stayed with them for a couple of days, and found time to reflect on what the recent events meant for his career. 

"To pitch in the big leagues," he surmised,  "you don't need to obviously be on the roster. You've just got to go out there and try to pitch the best you can."

If he can build on those final three innings on Thursday, Rondon will find himself back on the 40-man roster and in the Bronx before he knows it. 

Whereas Rondon's outing was the first glimpse at his true talent in a long while, Heathcott's big night was the continuation of a scalding stretch of turning his plethora of tools into positive, tangible results. 

The Thunder's center fielder carded the first four-hit night of his pro career (save for one game in the Arizona Fall League, which doesn't count toward your official stats) and in doing so upped his batting average to .246, 55 points better than his mark at the end of April. 

Things got so bad for Heathcott, in fact, that when asked what kinds of pitches were giving him trouble in the early going, he said: "No. I swung and missed at everything. Maybe a baseball, that pitch."

And although he's still tweaking his stance and mechanics at the plate -- he said after Wednesday's game that he felt he'd had 10 different swings over the last week -- he finally is moving toward something resembling consistency. With that consistency have come results. 

Over the last 10 games, his .318 batting average and 14 total hits are the best on the team. Like Tyler Austin on Wednesday, Heathcott credited an improved ability to see the ball as a reason for his recent upswing. 

“I’m just trying to make it simple, making the approach a lot more simple at home plate,” he said. “Just see the ball and hit it.”

He's done so well recently that Mark Teixeira, with the Thunder for the last two games on a rehab assignment, took notice. The Yankees' $180 million man picked out Heathcott when asked at Thursday's postgame press junket about any future Bombers who stood out to him. 

“Slade Heathcott has a lot of tools,” Teixeira said. “That ball that he hit (Wednesday) was impressive, an opposite-field line drive. He probably hit that ball 400 feet. He impressed me.”

Farewell, Pinstripers: Speaking of Teixeira, he and fellow Yankee Kevin Youkilis finished their rehab assignment on Thursday night. With a hit apiece -- Youkilis drove in the Thunder's first run -- the duo finished their trip to Trenton 2 for 10 with two walks, a run scored and an RBI. They'll be activated by New York on Friday barring any weird slip-ups. 

Trenton drew a combined 15,120 fans between Wednesday and Thursday, and the Thunder players got meals from Mastori's Italian restaurant (Wednesday) and Outback Steakhouse, so it was a win-win for everybody involved. 

Odds and Ends: With six innings of two-run ball, Mikey O'Brien once again put his team in a position to win. The Thunder have won all of his five starts since his return from the Florida State League in early May. He battled command issues early, but recovered to retire 10 of the last 11 he faced. He didn't allow hit after Daniel Fields doubled to lead off the third.

Things could have been worse for O'Brien, however, were it not for a stellar play from shortstop Ali Castillo in the third. After Fields had doubled and taken third on a fly ball to right, Wade Gaynor hit a hard grounder toward Castillo, who was playing in. 

The shortstop picked the ball cleanly and made a perfect throw home to J.R. Murphy, who applied the tag to Fields just in time. That took Erie out of a rally and helped keep the Thunder's deficit manageable until the ninth. 

Reliever Aaron Dott wasn't as lucky. With runners at second and third in the eighth, Dott was asked to issue an intentional walk to McCann to reset the double-play possibility. That didn't work out so well. After a near-disaster on his first pitch, Dott's second pitch went to the screen and allowed Erie its third run.

Franklin had seen enough and removed Dott before he had a chance to finish the walk. McCann eventually reached Graham Stoneburner for a sac fly to right that brought home the SeaWolves' final score. 

So, what did Franklin tell Dott on the mound when he removed in the middle of the free pass?

"I tried to make a joke, and he wasn't too happy about it. I wouldn't be either."

NOTES: Third baseman Rob Segedin opted for surgery to repair his ailing hips. He's out for the season, but was weighing the options of surgery or a lengthy rehab process. 

Picks to click: Here are my game story and Nick Peruffo's notes from Thursday night.

Flick to click: Because most of my footage was through the press box window, I'm going to embed the Thunder's highlight reel instead. 

Pitching matchup: RHP Mikey O'Brien (3-0, 2.35) vs. RHP Warwick Saupold (4-1, 2.55)

In the Standings: Trenton is in third place in the East, one game back of Portland and Binghamton. Erie is in first place in the West.

ERIE
Eugenio Suarez - SS
Hernan Perez - 2B
Daniel Fields - CF
Tyler Collins - DH
James McCann - C
Wade Gaynor - 3B
James Robbins - 1B
Jamie Johnson - RF
Marcus Lemon - LF
Warwick Saupold - RHP

TRENTON
Ramon Flores - LF
The Greek God of Walks - 3B
The MT25 - 1B
Tyler Austin - DH
J.R. Murphy - C
Slade Heathcott - CF
Walter Ibarra - 2B
Neil Medchill - RF
Ali Castillo - SS
Mikey O'Brien - RHP

NOTES: Tex and Youk are back for more, this time (I assume) for a full nine innings. If everything goes  well, they'll head back to New York to join the fray for Yanks/Sawx. ... The Thunder have won all of Mikey O'Brien's four starts with the Thunder. ... If you missed it yesterday, lefty Josh Romanski was dealt after Wednesday's game to the White Sox. He's already on the roster for the Double-A Birmingham Barons. Good luck to him.

Edit - 4:48: Here's a few rounds of Teixeira and Youkilis taking batting practice earlier.



Edit - 5:39 PM: Mssrs. Teixeira and Youkilis will be done after seven innings today. They were moved up to second and third in the order (as opposed to third and fourth from Wednesday) by request of Yankees farm director Pat Roessler. They'll get more at-bats this way.

How pleasantly surprised are you with the way David Adams has performed this year, given what he went through this spring with the release and re-signing?

I'm not surprised, because I know what type of player he is when he's healthy. Pleasantly surprised because he just hasn't been healthy for us to be able to run him out there. He never had any spring training with the major league side. I assigned him over to minor league camp eventually -- while he was still hurt -- because we just couldn't get him off the mark. Obviously we needed the roster spot, and so he got released. He got healthy during that time frame, and he's come up and done a fantastic job, along with a lot of other people. 

So it's nice to grow our depth and have him return to the fold because he's kind of the prodigal son that's returned, because he's been out with the injury so long. We love welcoming him back into the picture here because, again, he's got great make-up. He's a true baseball player, and he's got great make-up to show. He's got great ability, it's just physically he hasn't been able to show anything here since that injury a number of years ago.

How well do you think he handled the whole process of being released. How hard did he take it, and did you think it was a certainty he was going to come back?

I couldn't say about any certainties because, again, he's gone through a lot. He's a pro, so every experience I've had with David Adams has been at the highest level of professionalism. He's just a straight-and-narrow, whatever the circumstances are, he's worked through them to his benefit. Now that he's still ours, it's to our benefit, too. 

Any update on Cervelli or Pineda?

I don't have anything on Cervelli. He's not a player yet. In terms of just doing some functional stuff, he's just been doing the physical hand therapy with the physical therapist. 

Our plan on Michael -- he's been doing real well in extended spring, and yesterday was supposed to be his final outing where he was supposed to get up to close to 75 pitches and then we were going to start a rehab clock on him. He was cutting his fingernails apparently before the game, and he cut one too close. He cracked the nail and he was bleeding on it. I won't say it was affecting his pitching, but he was bleeding and it was an issue. 

So they played it smart, our staff did -- Greg Pavlick and Tim Lentych -- by pulling the plug on him after three innings and 45 pitches. I think he was gettting some blood on the ball and stuff like that. ... So we'll continue to do probably extended spring a little bit longer until that resolves so it's not something that's lingering. Our intention is to get him up to 75 pitches in that situation and then release him into the wild. 

We'll do a 30-day rehab program, and then we'll return him to the major leagues or the minor leagues, whatever the circumstances dictate at the time. His rehab's gone extremely well, and it's a minor issue, but you know how nails are touch and feel and everything else. It's just smart given the shoulder issues to back off. He'll pitch in five days, maybe pitch in six days, seven days, whatever they think is right. 

Any updates on Jeter or Granderson?

Granderson actually had a surgery this morning that was a recommendation. It's not going to change his rehab protocols or his time frame of being down, but the recommendation was to put a pin in that knuckle, that it would be a better circumstance for healing purposes.

Norfolk 5, Scranton 2
Corban Joseph: 2 for 4, R
Thomas Neal: 0 for 2, 2 BB, R
Ronnier Mustelier: 1 for 3, 2 RBI
Dan Johnson: 0 for 1, 3 BB
Kelvin Perez: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, SO (78/53)
Dellin Betances: 2.1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 3 SO (31/23)
Jim Miller: IP, H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (22/15)

Trenton 3, Erie 1
Ramon Flores: 1 for 4
Slade Heathcott: 1 for 4, HR
Kevin Youkilis: 0 for 2, BB, R
Mark Teixeira: 0 for 2, BB, R
Tyler Austin: 2 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Kyle Roller: 1 for 1, 2B
Zach Nuding: 6 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 4 SO (74/50)
Jeremy Bleich: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO (11/10)
Branden Pinder: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO (26/14)
Tommy Kahnle: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO (11/5)

Daytona 3, Tampa 0
Mason Williams: 0 for 2, BB
Angelo Gumbs: 1 for 4, 2B
Gary Sanchez: 2 for 4
Ben Gamel: 1 for 4
Carmen Angelini: 1 for 3
Francisco Arcia: 1 for 3
Bryan Mitchell: 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO
Dan Mahoney: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO

Rome 3, Charleston 0
Taylor Dugas: 1 for 3
Rey Nunez: 1 for 4, 2B
Dante Bichette: 1 for 3
Claudio Custodio: 0 for 2, BB
Luis Niebla: 5 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
Dan Camarena: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

Final score: Trenton 3, Erie 1

Synopsis: Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis showed up for some fun on kids day, but then some of the Yankees' best kids stole the show. Teixeira and Youkilis each drew a walk (and Youkilis wound up scoring the winner), but were otherwise non-factors. Slade Heathcott's solo shot (an opposite-field blast) and Tyler Austin's two-run jimmy jack provided all the offense Zach Nuding, Jeremy Bleich, Branden Pinder and Tommy Kahnle needed. 

What went right: First and foremost, Teixeira and Youkilis came through the day unscathed. If they do so again tomorrow, they'll get the green light and be activated for Friday's start of Red Sox-Yankees in the Bronx.

Still, their days in the field weren't exactly action-packed. Youkilis got just one chance (a liner on which he barely had to move), and Teixeira did no fielding save for catching throws. Each player went 0 for 2 with a walk in their seven innings before being lifted. I'd guess they play the full nine tomorrow. 

What went right, non-Youkxeira edition: Heathcott and Austin continued their emergence from early-season doldrums. Heathcott got the Thunder on the board with a laser longball to left, and Austin put them ahead for good on a shot few feet to the left of where Heathcott's HR hit off the left-field advertising. 

Here's how each young hitter has fared over his last 10 days: 

Austin: .316/.378/.632, three doubles, three HRs, nine RBIs, five BBs, five Ks
Heathcott: .262/.295/.452, two doubles, two HRs, 10 RBIs, two BBs, 10 Ks

Obviously you'd like to see a little more OBP from Heathcott, but it's a major improvement from where he was in the early going. The tools are there. It's just a matter of making them click. Moreover, he's hitting balls hard, which is a change from the first month. 

In talking to him, he sounds like a young man searching for consistency, both at-bat and in his mental approach from trip to trip, and sometimes even from pitch to pitch. 

"Still playing with things and changing some stuff up. I've been seeing the ball a lot better, and I think that's the start of things. If you can see it, you can hit it. Just trying to get myself in a position to hit and get ready to hit the fastball, be on time for that, and hopefully react to the offspeed."

"I think it's more mental than anything. A lot of things, I think hitting's a lot more mental than anything. The last three weeks, I've probably had 10 different swings. It's one of those things (where I'm) just trying to see the ball. Just trying to play around with it each AB, you know, going from one AB to the next trying to figure out something that I can change, something that will give me the edge to see the ball a little bit better and be able to react to the fastball a little bit better." 

Austin's early slump came with a little bit of a silver lining. Even though he wasn't hitting, he was getting on base. His .387 OBP was third on the team in April, behind J.R. Murphy and Rob Segedin. His 20 walks for the month were tied with Greg Bird for the most in the organization, MLB included. 

What you can take from that is: Even as he struggled to recognize breaking pitches, he had a pretty good idea of the strike zone. That's always a good thing to have in your back pocket in the middle of a slump.  Now that he's combining his keen eye with his ability to barrel the ball, the Thunder might just have a bona fide middle-of-the-order threat. 

"I feel like it's gotten a lot better. Still not where I want to be yet. Still working hard on the field in the cage, during BP and in early work and stuff like that trying to figure the little things out. But it's been a lot better."

"I'd say (my pitch recognition) has gotten a lot better. I'm starting to see the ball a little bit better, which  is ultimately making me take pitches that I shouldn't be swinging at. I think it was (a little bit of a problem early on.) I was swinging at a few pitches that I shouldn't have been, but it's getting better and it's going to continue to get better." 

For his part, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who, as always sat in the stands with the masses, was pleased with the show his two young outfielders put on. 

“I see those guys turning up the heat when the heat turns up, it’s great,” he said. “To see Slade hit that opposite-field homer and then Tyler pop that two-run shot, it’s good to see. It’s nice to tell the people and the fans, ‘Hey, these guys are going to play in New York.’”

Big Nude Shows Off: Very quietly, Zach Nuding pitched the best game of his Double-A career. He allowed four hits and a run over six innings, walked nobody and fanned four before handing it over to Jeremy Bleich, Branden Pinder and Tommy Kahnle. Moreover, the only run he allowed came in the sixth on a Eugenio Velez homer. This is significant because, of his 34 runs allowed this year, 31 have come in innings one through four. 

Over and Out: After the game, Josh Romanski found out he'd been traded to the White Sox. At this point, it appears to be for a player to be named later. He'll report to Double-A Birmingham of the Southern League. Notable Southern League alumnus? Michael Jordan, athlete and shoe endorser of note. Romanski had been on the paper disabled list since early May. 

Picks to click: Here is my game story and Nick Peruffo's notes from Wednesday

Flick to click: Here is a short highlight film I made from the action:

Norfolk 10, Scranton 8
Corban Joseph: 1 for 4, R, RBI, BB
Thomas Neal: 2 for 4, 2B, 2 R, RBI
Zoilo Almonte: 3 for 5, 2B, 2 RBI
Josh Bell: 1 for 5, HR, 2 RBI
Melky Mesa: 2 for 5, 2B, 2 R
Addison Maruszak: 2 for 3, 2B, 2 R, BB
Bobby Wilson: 1 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI
Brett Marshall: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 4 SO
Mark Montgomery: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 4 SO
Cody Eppley: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, SO
Sam Demel: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

Trenton 4, Erie 1
Ramon Flores: 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI
Tyler Austin: 1 for 4, 2B, R
Kyle Roller: 1 for 4, R, RBI
Jose Pirela: 2 for 3, RBI
Walter Ibarra: 1 for 3, 2B, R
Fred Lewis: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO
Matt Daley: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Nik Turley: 5 IP, H, R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

Daytona 6, Tampa 4
Mason Williams: 0 for 4, RBI, BB
Angelo Gumbs: 3 for 5, 2 RBI, SB
Rob Refsnyder: 0 for 4, 2 BB
Gary Sanchez: 2 for 6, HR
Ben Gamel: 2 for 3, 2 BB, 2 SB
Carmen Angelini: 2 for 5, SB
Casey Stevenson: 1 for 4, R, BB, SB
Dan Fiorito: 1 for 3, 2 R, BB
Jose Toussen: 1 for 5
Scottie Allen: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO
Cesar Cabral: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, SO
Joel De La Cruz: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO
Taylor Garrison: 1.2 IP, H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO
John Brebbia: IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Rome 9, Charleston 8
Taylor Dugas: 3 for 5, 2 R, RBI
Claudio Custodio: 2 for 4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Dante Bichette: 2 for 4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Peter O'Brien: 2 for 5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
Rey Nunez: 1 for 4, R
Jose Campos: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
Brett Gerritse: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO
Adam Smith: 3 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Alex Smith: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO

Pitching matchup: RHP Zach Nuding (1-6, 3.48) vs. Patrick Cooper (2-4, 4.75)

In the standings: Trenton is in third place in the EL East, two games back for first-place Binghamton. Erie is in first place in the West.

ERIE
Eugenio Suarez - SS
Hernan Perez - 2B
Daniel Fields - CF
Tyler Collins - RF
Wade Gaynor - 3B
James Robbins - 1B
Luis Castillo - DH
Marcus Lemon - LF
Zach Maggard - C
Patrick Cooper - RHP

TRENTON
Ramon Flores - LF
Slade Heathcott - CF
Kevin Youkilis - 3B
Mark Teixeira - 1B
Tyler Austin - RF
J.R. Murphy - C
Jose Pirela - DH
Reegie Corona - 2B
Ali Castillo - SS
Zach Nuding - P

Notes: As you can see, Teixeira and Youkilis are in the lineup. They will each play seven innings. After their removal, there will be a press conference in the Thunder's auxiliary press box. We should learn more then about how they felt and what their plans are going forth. Stay tuned.

Final score: Trenton 4, Erie 1

Synopsis: What a backward day. Fred Lewis started, Matt Daley came next, and Nik Turley pitched the final five innings. All three pitched well, and Ramon Flores socked his second bomb of the year as part of their offense's support. 

What went right: Although it wasn't quite as loud as their outbursts on the road, the Thunder's offense continued clicking on Tuesday. Flores' bomb made it seven straight games in which the team has hit at least one homer. 

Jose Pirela, who'd been 5 for his previous 31, collected two knocks, including the eventual game-winning single in the first. 

Tyler Austin also collected an opposite-field double, upping his hitting streak to six games. Since lining in to a game-ending triple play on May 23, Austin is 8 for 19 with three doubles, a homer, six RBIs and no punchouts.

Tex and Youk: Well, you all know they're coming. Beyond that, however, is cloudy. Thunder manager Tony Franklin said after the game that he didn't know how long they'd be staying, what their roles would be (DH, field, how many ABs/innings) just yet. So, stay tuned on that one. 

Flick to click: Here's a highlight reel I made from today's game.



Picks to click: I was off today, but here are Nick Peruffo's gamer and notes from today's action.

TRENTON – To this point, Trenton’s season has been chock-full of firsts. On April 18, catcher J.R. Murphy became the first in team history to club three home runs in one game. Last Sunday, they used a pair of grand slams – another first – to record all eight runs in their win over Bowie.

Come Wednesday, when first baseman Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis join the fray, the Thunder will have two simultaneous rehabs for the first time in team history.

Teixeira (torn tendon sheath in his right wrist) and Kevin Youkilis (lumbar spine strain) will both play at Arm & Hammer Park on Wednesday and Thursday.  Teixeira missed all but five games of spring training before hurting himself during the buildup to the World Baseball Classic.

Because of that, the New York Post reported last Friday, Teixeira will need between 50 and 70 at-bats before he’s ready to be activated. He’s been playing in extended spring training games in Tampa, and will probably get between 8 and 10 at-bats before the close of Thursday’s action.

After that, it’s feasible that Teixeira could follow the Thunder on their trip to Harrisburg, about three hours away from Trenton. Triple-A Scranton will be in Durham and won’t return home until June 4, so road games with the Thunder would be the far more convenient option for continued playing time.

When he gets here, Youkilis will join Carl Pavano as the only two players to spend time with the Thunder when it was a Red Sox affiliate and also rehab here during the team’s tenure in the Yankees system.  

The first baseman hit .344/.462/.500 in 44 games with Trenton in 2002. He returned to Double-A in 2003, but by then the Thunder had changed affiliations and Youkilis instead played for the Portland Sea Dogs, Boston’s current Eastern League affiliate.

Youkilis’ time with the Thunder will likely be shorter than his teammate’s. He’s only been on the disabled list since April 30, and has been playing with Teixeira in extended spring games. It seems likely that, if everything were to go well, he could be activated as soon as this weekend.

NOTES: Left-hander Francisco Rondon, DFAed on Saturday to make room for lefty David Huff on the 40-man roster, cleared waivers on Tuesday and was outrighted to Trenton. To make room for him on the roster, righty Danny Burawa was placed on the disabled list with what the team called left knee bursitis. 

Pitching matchup: LHP Nik Turley (4-2, 4.57) vs. LHP Kyle Lobstein (5-2, 3.03)

In the standings: Trenton is in third place in the EL East, two games behind Binghamton. Erie is in first place in the West and has the best record in the league at 31-18.

ERIE
Eugenio Suarez - SS
Hernan Perez - 2B
Daniel Fields - CF
Tyler Collins - LF
James McCann - C
Wade Gaynor - 3B
James Robbins - 1B
Luis Castillo - DH
Jamie Johnson - RF
Kyle Lobstein - LHP

TRENTON
Ramon Flores - CF
Slade Heathcott - DH
Tyler Austin - RF
Kyle Roller - 1B
Jose Pirela - 2B
Neil Medchill - LF
Reegie Corona - 3B
Walter Ibarra - SS
Nick McCoy - C
Nik Turley - LHP

Scranton 8, Norfolk 0
Corban Joseph: 0 for 4, R, RBI
Thomas Neal: 2 for 5, R, RBI
Zoilo Almonte: 3 for 4, 2 RBI, BB
Ronnier Mustelier: 3 for 5, 2 R, RBI
Dan Johnson: 2 for 4, 2B, 2 R, BB
Josh Bell: 1 for 4, R, RBI, BB
Addison Maruszak: 1 for 4, RBI
Bobby Wilson: 0 for 2, 2 BB, R
Chien-Ming Wang: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, SO (83/48)
Josh Spence: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO (30/21)

Trenton 7, Bowie 4
Ramon Flores: 1 for 4, R, BB
Slade Heathcott: 2 for 4, 2B, RBI, BB
Tyler Austin: 3 for 4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI
Kyle Roller: 1 for 4, 2B, BB
Jose Pirela: 0 for 4, R, 4 BB
Walter Ibarra: 1 for 5, R
Kevin Mahoney: 2 for 5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Ali Castillo: 1 for 3, R, RBI
Jose Ramirez: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 6 SO (91/56)
Aaron Dott: 2.1 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (34/24)
Tommy Kahnle: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (16/11)

Charleston 11, Rome 5
Taylor Dugas: 1 for 4, 2B, R, 2 RBI
Claudio Custodio: 1 for 4, RBI, BB
Dante Bichette: 2 for 5, R
Kelvin De Leon: 2 for 4, 2B, 3 R
Rey Nunez: 3 for 4, 2B, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI
Jose Rosario: 1 for 4, RBI, BB, SB
Wes Wilson: 1 for 3, 2B, R
Danny Oh: 2 for 2, 2B, R, RBI
Evan Rutckyj: 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 5 SO
Derek Varnadore: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 2 SO
Phil Wetherell: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

We already knew that Mark Teixeira was heading this way on Wednesday for the 10:35 a.m. game against Erie. That alone was enough to send attendance through the roof at Arm & Hammer Park. Add the possibility of Kevin Youkilis to the mix, however, and it's bound to be standing room only here tomorrow morning. 

Erik Boland of Newsday tweeted the following earlier this afternoon: 

"Teixeira and Youkilis both played in extended spring games today in Tampa. Looks as if both are headed to Trenton tomorrow."

To my knowledge, Youkilis would be the first player who was a member of the Thunder when it was a  Boston affiliate to rehab with the club now that it is in the Yankees system. 

Graham Stoneburner is back in the Trenton bullpen. That came down after Dellin Betances, who spent a few days in the majors but never pitched, was returned to Triple-A to make room for Ivan Nova, who was re-activated from the disabled list. 

Then the Yankees acquired David Huff off of waivers from the Indians. That meant someone from the 40-man roster had to go. Not surprisingly, that someone was Francisco Rondon, the Thunder left-hander who was frustratingly ineffective as a starter and a reliever this year. 

In 12 games (six starts) with Trenton, Rondon was 2-3 with a 7.46 ERA and 27 Ks against 25 BBs. Still, he held lefties to a .205/.279/.308 line with just two extra-base hits and four walks in 39 ABs, so he has value. Scouts continually tell me he has three solid pitches (fastball, slider, change), and that it's just a matter of putting it together. I wouldn't be surprised if he finds another home. 

Stoneburner has put together a 2-3 record with a 4.32 ERA in nine games, all but one of which came with the RailRiders. He pitched four innings and earned the save in his only game with the Thunder this season. 

Huff, 28, made three relief appearances with the Indians this season, allowing 5ER in 3.0IP. Originally selected by Cleveland in Supplemental Round A (39th overall pick) of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Huff has appeared in 58 Major League games (52 starts) over parts of five seasons – all with the Indians (2009-13), going 18-26 with a 5.40 ERA (288.1IP, 173ER). He opened the 2013 season with Triple-A Columbus where he was 3-1 with a 4.07 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 24.1 innings pitched over nine games (two starts).

-- Huff material taken from Yankees release

Richmond 5, Trenton 4
Jose Pirela: 0 for 4, BB
Walter Ibarra: 3 for 5, R -- back from the DL
J.R. Murphy: 1 for 4, R
Kyle Roller: 3 for 4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
Neil Medchill: 2 for 4, 2 2B, RBI
Jose Ramirez: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, SO, 3 WP (58/31)
Jeremy Bleich: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, SO (62/43)
Fred Lewis: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO (48/29)
Aaron Dott: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (5/3)

Bradenton 12, Tampa 4
Mason Williams: 0 for 4, BB, R
Angelo Gumbs: 3 for 4, 2 2B, R, BB
Rob Refsnyder: 0 for 3, 2 BB
Gary Sanchez: 2 for 5, HR, 2 RBI
Ben Gamel: 1 for 4, RBI
Carmen Angelini: 2 for 5, HR
Jackson Valera: 1 for 4
Scottie Allen: 3 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, WP
Rigoberto Arrebato: 3 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
Zach Arneson: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 SO, WP
Manny Barreda: 0.2 IP, H, R, 0 ER, BB, SO

Charleston 4, Savannah 2
Jake Cave: 1 for 4, R
Greg Bird: 2 for 5
Peter O'Brien: 0 for 3, BB, 2 R
Dante Bichette: 2 for 5, RBI
Yeicok Calderon: 1 for 4, 2B, R, BB
Taylor Dugas: 2 for 4, RBI
Kelvin De Leon: 1 for 5, RBI
Claudio Custodio: 1 for 4, SB
Evan Rutckyj: 4 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
Dietrich Enns: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO
Phil Wetherell: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO
Ben Paullus: IP, 2 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

Hey, Royals fans. I saw Kyle Zimmer pitch on Wednesday evening. He was pretty good, although his command was a little spotty at times. He did strike out seven hitters before leaving, though. If you've got two minutes and you'd like to watch them, here ya go:

Columbus 5, Scranton 1
Melky Mesa: 2 for 5
Zoilo Almonte: 2 for 5
Ronnier Mustelier: 3 for 5, R
Josh Bell: 1 for 4, BB
Thomas Neal: 1 for 3, 2 BB
Bobby Wilson: 1 for 4, 2B, RBI
Addison Maruszak: 1 for 3, BB
Chien-Ming Wang: 5.2 IP, 7 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 4 SO (102/62)
Chase Whitley: 1.1 IP, H, R, ER, BB, 0 SO (23/10)
Cody Eppley: IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, SO (19/13)

Trenton 3, Richmond 0
Ramon Flores: 1 for 4, R
Jose Pirela: 1 for 4, 2B, R, 2 BB
J.R. Murphy: 0 for 3, R, BB
Slade Heathcott: 1 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI -- eight-game hit streak
Casey Stevenson: 2 for 4
Matt Tracy: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO (89/53)
Matt Daley: 1.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (35/22)
Francisco Rondon: 0.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (7/4)
Tommy Kahnle: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (13/11)

Tampa 7, Bradenton 0
Mason Williams: 0 for 4, R, BB, SB
Angelo Gumbs: 0 for 2, R, 2 BB
Rob Refsnyder: 1 for 3, R, BB
Gary Sanchez: 0 for 4, R, RBI, BB
Ben Gamel: 3 for 5, 3 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI
Carmen Angelini: 2 for 4, R, RBI, SB
Jackson Valera: 1 for 1
Eduardo Sosa: 1 for 4
Sean Black: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
John Brebbia: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO
Dan Mahoney: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO

Charleston 2, Savannah 0
Taylor Dugas: 1 for 3, R, BB
Cito Culver: 1 for 4
Peter O'Brien: 2 for 3, 2B, 3B, R
Dante Bichette: 1 for 3, RBI, BB
Yeicok Calderon: 1 for 3
Rafael DePaula: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
Derek Varnadore: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO
Alex Smith: 2 IP, H, 0 ER, 0 ER, BB, 3 SO

Columbus 6, Scranton 5
Brennan Boesch: 0 for 4, BB, R
Zoilo Almonte: 2 for 4, 2 R, BB
Dan Johnson: 1 for 4, R, BB
Josh Bell: 2 for 4, R, RBI, BB
Thomas Neal: 2 for 5, 2B, 3 RBI
Melky Mesa: 1 for 5, 2B, RBI
Chris Bootcheck: 6 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 3 BB, 7 SO (100/61)
Jim Miller: IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, SO (31/20)
Sam Demel: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO (27/15)
Josh Spence: 0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (7/5)

Trenton 7, Richmond 3
Ramon Flores: 1 for 5, RBI
Tyler Austin: 1 for 3, 2 BB
J.R. Murphy: 2 for 3, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB
Kyle Roller: 0 for 3, 2 BB
Slade Heathcott: 3 for 5, 3 RBI
Ali Castillo: 1 for 5, RBI, BB
Kevin Mahoney: 1 for 3, 2 R, 2 BB
Mikey O'Brien: 7 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO (99/64)
Aaron Dott: 0.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (12/8)
Danny Burawa: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO (32/19)

Tampa 2: Bradenton 1
Angelo Gumbs: 2 for 4, 3B
Gary Sanchez: 2 for 4, 2B, R
Ben Gamel: 0 for 4, R, 2 SB
Carmen Angelini: 0 for 4, RBI
Saxon Butler: 1 for 3, RBI
Dan Fiorito: 1 for 2, BB
Shane Greene: 6 IP, 4 H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO
Cesar Cabral: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO
Taylor Garrison: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

Savannah 5, Charleston 2
Dante Bichette: 2 for 3, R, BB
Rey Nunez: 1 for 4, 2B, R
Kelvin De Leon: 2 for 4, 2 RBI
Fu-Lin Kuo: 1 for 4
Cesar Vargas: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, ER, BB, 2 SO
Adam Smith: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, SO
Brett Gerritse: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO

Columbus 10, Scranton 4
Corban Joseph: 1 for 4, BB
Brennan Boesch: 1 for 2, R, 3 BB
Ronnier Mustelier: 1 for 5, R, RBI, SB
Dan Johnson: 1 for 3, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Thomas Neal: 0 for 2, R, 2 BB, SB
Bobby Wilson: 1 for 3, BB
Addison Maruszak: 2 for 4, RBI
Caleb Cotham: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, BB, 6 SO
Mark Montgomery: 1.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO
Clay Rapada: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO
Cody Eppley: IP, 2 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 0 SO

Bowie 3, Trenton 2
Ramon Flores: 1 for 4
Kyle Roller: 1 for 3, 2B, R, BB
Slade Heathcott: 1 for 4, R -- was a bunt single
Ali Castillo: 2 for 4, RBI
Zach Nuding: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
Fred Lewis: IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, SO
Tommy Kahnle: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO
Branden Pinder: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO

Clearwater 6, Tampa 2
Mason Williams: 2 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI, SB
Rob Refsnyder: 1 for 4
Carmen Angelini: 1 for 4
Dan Fiorito: 1 for 4, 2B
Saxon Butler: 2 for 3, R
Eduardo Sosa: 1 for 3, R
Corey Black: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 7 SO
Joel De La Cruz: 3 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO
Manny Barreda: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, SO

Charleston 9, Greenville 7
Jake Cave: 4 for 6, R, 3 2B, 3B, 2 RBI
Greg Bird: 2 for 4, 2B, HR, BB
Peter O'Brien: 1 for 4, 2B, RBI
Yeicok Calderon: 1 for 5, HR
Rey Nunez: 1 for 4
Kelvin De Leon: 2 for 5, R
Claudio Custodio: 2 for 4, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI
Daniel Camarena: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO
Dietrich Enns: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Phil Wetherell: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Scranton 4, Toledo 3
Brennan Boesch: 1 for 4, 2 R
Ronnier Mustelier: 3 for 5, 2B, 3 RBI
Dan Johnson: 1 for 4, R
Josh Bell: 0 for 2, 2 BB
Addison Maruszak: 0 for 2, 2 BB, R
Graham Stoneburner: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO (99/57)
Sam Demel: 2.2 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 3 BB, 3 SO (51/29)
Clay Rapada: IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (17/11)
Cody Eppley: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (2/2)

Bowie 2, Trenton 1
J.R. Murphy: 1 for 4
Slade Heathcott: 1 for 4, 3B
Neil Medchill: 1 for 4
Casey Stevenson: 1 for 4
Jose Ramirez: 5 IP, 3 H, R, ER, BB, 7 SO (79/52)
Danny Burawa: 1.1 IP, 0 H, R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO (35/17)
Jeremy Bleich: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO (20/13)
Matt Daley: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO (25/14)

Tampa 4, Clearwater 3
Angelo Gumbs: 1 for 6, R
Ben Gamel: 3 for 6, R, SB
Rob Refsnyder: 1 for 5, RBI, BB
Gary Sanchez: 1 for 4, 2 BB
Carmen Angelini: 2 for 6, R, RBI, SB
Anderson Feliz: 2 for 6, R, RBI
Dan Fiorito: 3 for 6, 2B, SB
Saxon Butler: 1 for 4, 2B
Scottie Allen: 6 IP, 5 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 7 SO
Cesar Cabral: IP, 2 H, R, ER, 4 BB, 0 SO
Taylor Garrison: 3 IP, H, R, ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Rigoberto Arrebato: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Greenville 7, Charleston 6
Jake Cave: 2 for 5, 2 2B, R
Cito Culver: 1 for 4, 2 R
Greg Bird: 1 for 5, HR, 2 RBI
Peter O'Brien: 1 for 5, 2 R, BB
Dante Bichette: 1 for 4, 2B, R, BB
Yeicok Calderon: 1 for 5, 2B, R
Rey Nunez: 1 for 4
Evan Rutckyj: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 8 SO (92/59)
Adam Smith: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 3 SO (43/26)
Ben Paullus: 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 SO (49/31)
Dietrich Enns: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO (25/15)
Alex Smith: 0.2 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 0 BB, SO (17/12)

Final score: Bowie 2, Trenton 1

Synopsis: For once, a pitching duel delivered. Jose Ramirez and Kevin Gausman were brilliant -- they combined for 17 strikeouts over 11 innings -- and put on a show for everyone who knew what they were watching. Unfortunately for the Thunder, Ramirez's night was rendered moot just a few hitters after he left. Danny Burawa opened the sixth by walking two hitters, the first of which scored the eventual game-winner when Brandon Waring's in-between line drive slipped under Casey Stevenson's glove. 

What went right: Ramirez was fantastic. He coupled his fastball with his usual devastating change-up and slider, and turned in another terrific outing. Over his first four appearances with Trenton, he's allowed four earned runs in 24 innings, walked five and struck out 33. 

Jeremy Bleich also turned in a nice night out of the bullpen. After getting rocked for 10 runs over 4 1/3 innings on April 21 and May 5 (a DL stint in between), the lefty has settled down. Over his last three outings he's pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowed two hits, no runs, walked one and fanned five. 

What went wrong: Obviously, the Stevenson error was huge. Granted, it was his first time playing second base this season, but it hurt nonetheless. It was Trenton's 52nd error of the season (second to last in the Eastern League), which is a big reason why the team's play has been so inconsistent this season. For more on that, see the link to my notes below.

Picks to click: Here are my game story and notes from Friday.

Flicks to click: Here are videos of all seven of Jose Ramirez's strikeouts and all 10 of Kevin Gausman's strikeouts. 

Pitching matchup: RHP Jose Ramirez (0-1, 1.42) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (1-4, 3.35)

In the standings: Trenton is in third place, three games behind first-place Portland and one game back of Binghamton for the wild card. Bowie is in fourth in the West, 6.5 games back of first-place Erie and 1.5 games behind second-place Richmond. 

BOWIE

Xavier Avery - CF

Ty Kelly - 3B

Niuman Romero - SS

Caleb Joseph - DH

Henry Urrutia - RF

Brandon Waring - 1B

Garabez Rosa - 2B

Brian Ward - C

Kyle Hudson - LF

Kevin Gausman - RHP

TRENTON 

Ramon Flores - CF

Tyler Austin - RF

Kyle Roller - 1B

JR Murphy - C

Slade Heathcott - DH

Ali Castillo - SS

Neil Medchill - LF

Kevin Mahoney - 3B

Casey Stevenson - 2B

Jose Ramirez - RHP

Notes: Well, if you like baseball, and you're in the Northeast, you should probably be here tonight. I can't imagine you'll get a better pitching matchup in the Eastern League than what you have tonight. Arguably the top arm in both systems, a clear Friday night. Both come with upper-90s gas and filthy change-ups, so there should be a ton of swing-and-miss in the house. ... Jose Pirela is 6 for his last 37, so it's probably good that he's getting a day off. 

Toledo 4, Scranton 1

Corban Joseph: 1 for 4

Ronnier Mustelier: 2 for 5

Dan Johnson: 2 for 3, 2B, BB

Melky Mesa: 1 for 4, HR

Jeff Farnham: 1 for 3, BB

Chien-Ming Wang: 6.2 IP, 12 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 3 SO (100/66)

Mark Montgomery: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, SO (24/14)

Altoona 6, Trenton 2

Ramon Flores: 0 for 3, BB

Jose Pirela: 0 for 3, BB

Slade Heathcott: 1 for 3, HR

Neil Medchill: 1 for 3, HR

Matt Tracy: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO (90/58)

Fred Lewis: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (17/14)

Tommy Kahnle: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (28/19)

Jupiter 9, Tampa 4

Angelo Gumbs: 3 for 5, 2 2B, 2 R

Rob Refsnyder: 1 for 4

Gary Sanchez: 2 for 4, 2 RBI

Dan Fiorito: 1 for 3, R

Saxon Butler: 1 for 4

Eduardo Sosa: 1 for 3, RBI

Cody Grice: 1 for 3, R

Sean Black: 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

John Brebbia: 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

Joel De La Cruz: 2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 2 SO

Dan Mahoney: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 0 SO

Charleston 6, Greenville 3

Cito Culver: 3 for 4, R, RBI, 2 SB

Greg Bird: 2 for 3, 3B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB

Dante Bichette: 2 for 4, HR, 2 RBI

Taylor Dugas: 1 for 3, R, BB

Wes Wilson: 2 for 4, R

Rafael DePaula: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 11 SO (89/59)

Phil Wetherell: 1.2 IP, 4 H, R, ER, BB, 0 SO (37/22)

Alex Smith: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO (11-10)

Pitching matchup: RHP Jose Ramirez (0-0, 0.69 ERA), LHP Sean Nolin (0-0, 5.40)

In the Standings: The Thunder are tied for second, two games back of first-place Portland. New Hampshire is in fifth place, 6.5 back of Portland.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Kevin Pillar - CF
Ricardo Nanita - DH
Ryan Schimpf - 3B
Clint Robinson - 1B
Brad Glenn - RF
Adam Loewen - LF
John Tolisano - 2B
Jack Murphy - C
Amadeo Zazueto - SS
Sean Nolin - LHP

TRENTON
Ramon Flores- LF
Jose Pirela - 2B
Tyler Austin - DH
Kyle Roller - 1B
Slade Heathcott - CF
Ali Castillo - SS
Casey Stevenson - 3B
Shane Brown - RF
Nick McCoy - C

Notes: As you can see above, Shane Brown is in the lineup. He was on the DL yesterday, which means a transaction of some kind is coming. You'll find out when I do.

Update - 12:34: So, Reegie Corona is going to Scranton, as is Nik Turley. Turley will make one start with the RailRiders before coming here, I'm told. He gets to face a Gwinnett lineup that will boast (I think) Jason Heyward, so that should be fun for him. Also hearing (not confirmed yet, but hearing) that Brett Marshall will be recalled for the second game of tomorrow's double-dip with the Indians. 

Final score: Trenton 6, New Hampshire 2

Synopsis: After some juggling because of the rain, Jeremy Bleich got the start instead of Matt Tracy. The rain never came, and Bleich pitched brilliantly for three innings before handing the ball to Tracy for 5 2/3 innings. Matt Daley got the final out. 

Trenton drove home its first five runs on two sac flies, an RBI groundout and a fielder's choice that Kevin Nolan threw wildly to the dish and allowed a second run to score. Its final tally came on a mammoth Kyle Roller homer, just the fourth the Thunder have hit at home this season. 

What went right: Obviously, the pitching. Tracy followed up his boffo start against Binghamton with four no-hit innings against New Hampshire before Nolan touched him up for a solo bomb. In his first five starts this year, Tracy allowed 24 runs on 33 hits. In his last two, he's kept the opposition to two runs on three hits. 

Bleich's first start at Trenton in nearly three years went swimmingly. He was only supposed to go three innings no matter what (they figured the rain would come right around that time), but he held New Hampshire at bay while he was out there. Before Tracy took over, he'd gone three innings and allowed two hits and no walks. 

The hitting also seems to be coming around. Ramon Flores collected two his, Tyler Austin hit a couple of balls hard, and the outs they did make with RISP were hit solidly as well.

What went wrong: Even while hitting more balls solidly, the Thunder were just 1 for 10 with RISP, and that hit only pushed a runner to third. Over the last three days, the team is 6 for 38 with men in scoring position. 

Picks to click: Here are my game story and an interview with pitching coordinator Gil Patterson from Saturday. 

TRENTON – Earlier this week, The Trentonian had the opportunity to sit down with Yankees pitching coordinator Gil Patterson at Arm & Hammer Park for a discussion about all things arms within the organization. With the exception of a few items saved for later use, here is that conversation.

JN: When it comes to promotions, what kind of factors does the organization look at before pulling the trigger?

GP: Being my first year here, and every organization is different, sometimes need determines whether a guy goes up or not, and then also who goes up. There’s different thoughts in it. Maybe a guy’s age, maybe a guy’s performance that season. Let’s just take as an example (Mikey) O’Brien’s case.

O’Brien was here last year, and when the (Caleb) Cotham thing became available, it opened up a spot for him. He’s pitched for well for us. In that case, that was kind of an easy fix.

Sometimes other ones are a little more difficult to figure out. There were thoughts involved, and it’s a careful decision. A lot of times, the person who makes the ultimate decision gets a lot of input from just about everybody involved, except the player.

JN: How quickly does it take you to identify what kind of role a pitcher could have when he reaches the major leagues?

GP: For the most part, that is decided once you get to the big leagues. Here in the last 15 years, there’s not too many guys around who are going to take Rivera’s spot. That means the Robertsons and Chamberlains are going to be very effective in that seventh- and eighth-inning role.

All we try to do is just get them ready. We might have where they can pitch and what role, but I’m not sure if anyone knows – especially me – what’s actually going to happen at the big league level until they get there.

JN: So if Brian Cashman calls you and says, ‘Hey, we’re going to select, say, Burawa’ what would you say to him?

GP: I would say he is showing signs of being quite ready, because of his stuff. That’s the physical side, and I think that everyone knows that the mental side is just as important as the physical -- if someone can handle the pressure of pitching in the big leagues first, pitching in New York second. Our biggest goal now, mentally, is being able to focus on one pitch at a time and not letting anything bother that, not letting anything bother our next pitch.

I think if a lot people just read Roy Halladay’s quotes this week, and the book that he read is a book that we read, as far as the mental side. Getting guys that mental toughness and discipline is extremely important for us, along with the physical.

JN: How has teaching mental readiness evolved since you’ve been in this game?

GP: It’s something that people, I think, for the most part, don’t practice enough. Going back to the Halladay article, here’s a guy with two Cy Youngs and 200 wins, and he mentioned how he got away from it a little bit and now has to go back and refresh himself. If someone of that magnitude has to do it, then I think all of us have do it.

As a staff and as pitchers, they’ve got to be able to (be mentally ready). Sometimes it’s having meetings on pitching, and pitchers and pitching coaches have meetings on a daily basis to go over the game, the mental and the physical side. Then we also have the book that we read from. The kids read it and talk about it amongst themselves and talk about it in front of the group. They do a nice job, the pitching coaches that the Yankees have, do a nice job of making sure the mental side is covered.

JN: With Rondon moving out of the rotation, did you guys as an organization see what you wanted to see from him, results aside? Was the goal, long-term, to develop him as a starter or was it to develop him in different situations for an eventual role in the pen?

GP: Sometimes you never know. He’s athletic, and he does have three pitches. And a lot of times when you’re talking about a starter, those are some of the qualities they have to have: Three pitches, and in his case fastball with some life on it, tight slider and a change-up.

It seems like, for him to be focused for those 100 pitches was maybe a little bit difficult. And we already know that he’s been pretty good out of the bullpen. Sometimes you can catch lightning in a bottle. And in this case we tried it. It didn’t work as well as I had hoped.

So he’s back in the bullpen, and in speaking with him, he’s happier about it as well.

JN: Will the experience make him a better reliever?

GP: I think it should. I think it will at least teach him that he doesn’t have to go in and just fire fastballs all the time, that he does have two other, quality pitches that he can use to get himself out of situations with guys on base. He doesn’t have to just rear back and try to throw the ball as hard as he can.

JN: With Jose Campos in Charleston, what does he have to do to get his workload ramped up past what he’s been at in the early part of this season?

GP: When someone misses a full season, as he did last year, you’re always cognizant of the fact that you want to give him enough work that next year, but not too many (innings) to overload him. I’m not sure if anyone knows the exact number of innings to give someone after a year of being missed, but we pretty much have him on a three- to four-inning stint. And we’re hoping that if we get those 25 starts or so, to get him close to that 85- to 90-inning range. 

Pitching matchup: LHP Matt Tracy (3-2, 8.31) vs. RHP Tyson Brummett (0-2, 6.26)

In the standings: Trenton tied with New Britain for second place in the East, three games back of Portland. New Hampshire 6.5 games back of the Sea Dogs, in fifth place.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Kevin Pillar - CF
Brian Van Kirk - LF
Clint Robinson - 1B
Brad Glenn - RF
Ryan Schimpf - DH
Kevin Nolan - SS
Kevin Ahrens - 3B
Sean Ochinko - C
John Tolisano - 2B
Tyson Brummett - RHP

TRENTON
Ramon Flores - LF
Jose Pirela - 2B
Tyler Austin - RF
J.R. Murphy - C
Kyle Roller - DH
Slade Heathcott - CF
Reegie Corona - 3B
Kevin Mahoney - 1B
Ali Castillo - SS
Matt Tracy - LHP

NOTES: Shortstop Walter Ibarra, out with an oblique injury, took grounders and did some running drills this afternoon. ... Injured lefty Josh Romanski threw a simulated game against DL-mate Shane Brown and Slade Heathcott. ... Manager Tony Franklin received a loud ovation from those on the field when he laid down a successful bunt during drills. ... Chad Jenkins, the scheduled starter for New Hampshire as of yesterday, was promoted to Toronto to fill the slot of DLed outfielder Rajai Davis. That's why Brummett is starting. 

Pitching matchup: RHP Mikey O'Brien (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Ryan Tepera (4-1, 2.78)

In the standings: Trenton is in third place, 3.5 games back of first-place Portland. New Hampshire is in fifth place, six games behind the Sea Dogs.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Kevin Pillar - CF
Ricardo Nanita - DH
Brad Glenn - RF
Clint Robinson - 1B
Ryan Schimpf - 3B
Kevin Nolan - SS
Adam Loewen - LF
Sean Ochinko - C
John Tolisano - 2B
Ryan Tepera - RHP

TRENTON
Ramon Flores - LF
Jose Pirela - 2B
Tyler Austin - RF
Kyle Roller - 1B
Slade Heathcott - CF
Reegie Corona - SS
Neil Medchill - DH
Nick McCoy - C
Kevin Mahoney - 3B
Mikey O'Brien - RHP

NOTES: Not much going on here. Kyle Franko will be covering for me tonight, but I'll be at the yard anyway taking video, shaking hands and kissing babies.

Indianapolis 2, Scranton 1
Corban Joseph: 1 for 4, BB
Curtis Granderson: 1 for 3
Ronnier Mustelier: 1 for 5, R
David Adams: 1 for 3, RBI, BB
Caleb Cotham: 4.2 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 5 SO (73/49)
Mark Montgomery: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO (19/13)
Cody Eppley: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 3 SO (26/16)
Jim Miller: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO (31/22)
Kelvin Perez: IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 0 SO (16/8)

New Hampshire 8, Trenton 3
Ramon Flores: 2 for 3, 2B, 2 BB
Tyler Austin: 2 for 4, R, RBI, BB
J.R. Murphy: 1 for 5, R
Kyle Roller: 2 for 3, 2B, RBI
Slade Heathcott: 0 for 3, 2 BB
Neil Medchill: 1 for 4, RBI, BB
Ali Castillo: 1 for 5
Casey Stevenson: 1 for 4, 2B, R
Zach Nuding: 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 8 SO (87/54)
Matt Daley: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO (21/11)
Francisco Rondon: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 SO (26/10)
Tommy Kahnle: 1.1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 0 BB, SO (21/13)

Brevard County 5, Tampa 0
Mason Williams: 0 for 3, BB
Ben Gamel: 1 for 4
Rob Refsnyder: 0 for 2, 2 BB
Dan Fiorito: 0 for 2, BB
Sean Black: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
Joel De La Cruz: 3 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 2 SO
Zach Arneson: IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 2 SO

Hickory 2, Charleston 1
Jake Cave: 1 for 4, 2B
Greg Bird: 1 for 4
Taylor Dugas: 1 for 2, BB
Claudio Custodio: 1 for 1, 2B, R
Cesar Vargas: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO (47/30)
Daniel Camarena: 3.1 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 4 SO (38/30)
Derek Varandore: IP, H, R, 0 ER, BB, 3 SO (25/15)
Phil Wetherell: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB 3 SO (30/19)

TRENTON – A year ago at this time, Mikey O’Brien hopped in his car and began the 18-hour pilgrimage from Tampa to Trenton to get his first taste of upper-level baseball. Starting on Tuesday, he was forced to make the same excruciating drive once again.

After making 19 regular-season starts with the Thunder, plus two more during the team’s march to the 

Eastern League Championship Series, O’Brien was assigned to High-A to begin this season. He stayed there for a month, then moved up when Caleb Cotham was promoted to Triple-A Scranton earlier this week.

Just like last season, he’ll begin this Double-A turn against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats when he takes the slab on Friday at Arm & Hammer Park.

“It just one of those things I can’t really control,” O’Brien said on Wednesday about starting the year back in the Florida State League. “May as well start there, get some work in and work on some stuff. That was basically it. At the end of the day I’ve got to go out and pitch.”

Yankees pitching coordinator Gil Patterson said on Thursday that O’Brien was left back so the organization could get Double-A looks at other guys, and so O’Brien could better tweak a few things mechanically and tighten his slider.

“He had to be built up some, and (there were) people here we wanted to see pitch,” Patterson said. “There were people here we wanted to see and he wasn’t quite ready out of the gate to come out and pitch at this level.”

The Yankees have worked with O’Brien on staying tall out of the windup, which would help improve his balance, command and in the end, results.

“Coming to the balance point, I was kind of hunching over,” he explained. “Basically (I’m) just trying to stay tall and stay down through the ball north and south instead of east to west, instead of cutting everything off.”

Along with O’Brien, the Thunder on Thursday added lefty Fred Lewis and righty Matt Daley – a former big leaguer with the Colorado Rockies – from Tampa. To make room for that pair, Josh Romanski was placed on the disabled list and Shaeffer Hall – in his third season in Double-A – was released from the organization.

It’s not a pleasant experience any time a player gets cut, but for a guy like Hall, who before the game sent manager Tony Franklin a text message saying goodbye and expressing his gratitude for the time he got to spend here, the experience is particularly difficult.

“You have no idea. You have no idea,” Franklin said. “My heart just sank. It’s to release a kid that basically you’ve really grown to love the kid. He’s quite the individual, a man of very good character, determination and passion -- all the things that I think that every youngster should stand for in this game.”

Hall was 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA in 19 innings over 10 games before being released and finished his career with the Thunder with a 22-18 record and a 3.85 ERA. Romanski threw three perfect innings in Tuesday’s win over Binghamton and hasn’t allowed a run in his last 8 1/3 frames.

Pitching matchup: RHP Zach Nuding (1-3, 2.27) vs. RHP Deck McGuire (1-3, 5.34)

In the Standings: Trenton is tied with New Britain for second place in the East, three games back of Portland. New Hampshire is 6 1/2 back of first.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Kevin Pillar - CF
Ricardo Nanita - DH
Brad Glenn - RF
Ryan Schimpf - 3B
Kevin Nolan - SS
Adam Loewen - 1B
Brian Van Kirk - LF
Sean Ochinko - C
John Tolisano - 2B
Deck McGuire - RHP

TRENTON
Ramon Flores - DH
Jose Pirela - 2B
Tyler Austin - RF
J.R. Murphy - C
Kyle Roller - 1B
Slade Heathcott - CF
Neil Medchill - LF
Ali Castillo - SS
Casey Stevenson - 3B
Zach Nuding - RHP

Notes: Mikey O'Brien is wearing No. 24. He'll pitch tomorrow vs. Ryan Tepera. ... I spoke for about 10 minutes with Yankees pitching coordinator on a variety of topics. You'll see that sometime soon, perhaps even in tomorrow's Trentonian. ... Carlos Mendoza is still here working with the infielders. 

Indianapolis 2, Scranton 0
David Adams: 1 for 3, BB
Dan Johnson: 1 for 3
Jeff Farnham: 1 for 2
Graham Stoneburner: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, SO (75/46)
Sam Demel: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO (33/23)
Clay Rapada: IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO (9/7)
Josh Spence: IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO (23/12)

Binghamton 3, Trenton 1
Jose Pirela: 2 for 4, 2B
Tyler Austin: 1 for 4, 2B, R
J.R. Murphy: 1 for 3, RBI
Ali Castillo: 1 for 3
Nik Turley: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO (102/64)
Shaeffer Hall: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO (33/23)
Aaron Dott: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO (24/14)

Tampa 8, Fort Myers 1
Mason Williams: 2 for 5, 2 R
Ben Gamel: 3 for 4, 4 R, SB, BB
Rob Refsnyder: 3 for 5, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Gary Sanchez: 3 for 5, 3 RBI
Anderson Feliz: 2 for 5, 3 RBI
Eduardo Sosa: 1 for 5
Cody Grice: 1 for 4, 2B
Shane Greene: 8 1/3 IP, 5 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 12 SO
Manny Barreda: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, SO

One of the best parts of my job is getting to talk to scouts on a regular basis. I'm nowhere near a scout myself, so their evaluations help me complete the picture of what I'm seeing on the field. I can read radar guns and work a stopwatch (though I don't actually bring one to games with me), but that's about it. Recently, I sat down with one scout who covers the Yankees to get his opinions on the three affiliates he's seen so far. He's what he had to say about a few of the players on the RiverDogs.

BICHETTE: Bichette has not made any adjustments since I saw him last year. It's the same bailing swing. Not really a great athlete, so it's hard to see him getting much better. Just very unimpressive.

CULVER: Culver just did not swing the bat well. I'm a little concerned with Culver in the field, too, because it looks like, to me, he's a little thicker on the bottom half, so I think he's lost a step. That's concerning, because he's a good defender. I don't think he's ever going to hit. 

CAMPOS: He only pitched three innings. I like the delivery. Fastball is down-plane. The breaking ball is pretty good. I'd like to see him again. I don't think he's at full strength. I don't think I saw the real guy yet, but what I saw I liked. I'm going to reserve final judgment until I get to see him again because it's only three innings. He showed me some good things, but the jury's out. He's got a chance. He's got a good arm, but we'll see. 

I think he's got a chance to start. I like the full wind-up. I think he repeats it. The breaking ball has got to get a little bit sharper and better, but I think he can do it. 

ENCINAS: He had a really bad command day when I saw him. Walked five guys and hit one in like 3 1/3 innings, but the stuff flashed pretty good. I think he's more of a reliever for me. I think he's got some effort in that arm, so I think he's more of a reliever for me. He was getting up to 94.

One of the best parts of my job is getting to talk to scouts on a regular basis. I'm nowhere near a scout myself, so their evaluations help me complete the picture of what I'm seeing on the field. I can read radar guns and work a stopwatch (though I don't actually bring one to games with me), but that's about it. Recently, I sat down with one scout who covers the Yankees to get his opinions on the three affiliates he's seen so far. He's what he had to say about a few of the players on the Tampa Yankees. 

C. BLACK: Really, really big arm. He throws hard. Real aggressive, a little across his body. Good breaking ball. I like him. I think he’s going to pitch in the big leagues. He’s not real big, but he gets on top of his fastball. I think he was 92 to 96 with his fastball, he was really getting it up there. You’ll see him here. I like him. I think he’s got a really good shot. I’d like to see him more as a reliever than a starter.

It’s the effort. As soon as you see him, you’re like ‘Jeez, is he really going to be able to start?’ It’s just effort, everything hard. But the stuff’s good. It’s an average major league slider, so it’ll play. He’s got a lot of guts. He’s aggressive and he’s not afraid. Real competitive.

GREENE: Shane Greene, every time I see him he pitches good. Every time I see him. The kid’s got good stuff. He’s another aggressive kid. I like him a lot too. Him and Black are the two arms that stuck out for me on Tampa.

SANCHEZ: Sanchez is good. He’s getting more mature. He’s catching better. I saw him catch four games – no balls got to the screen. He’s moving good, he’s receiving better. His arm’s great. I saw him hit a bomb home run to left field and he can go to right-center – he’s good.

I think he’s just as good a hitter as Montero and he’s a better defender. Ask me who I’d rather have, I’d rather have Sanchez. I think he can hang right with his bat – Montero’s got a good bat. He hasn’t done it yet, but I think it (still) will by the way. I’d give Sanchez a little edge and Sanchez is a way better defender.

I think he’s a solid-average defender. I think he’s a 55 defender. Not now, but when he matures. I see him getting better and better and better each year I see him. He was a 40 going to a 50 originally. I thought he would be athletic enough to do it. Now he’s probably a 45 going to a 55.

REFSNYDER: All the kid does is hit. He’s got a short swing. It’s a line-drive stroke. He uses all the fields. He’s got surprising power. Here’s the thing that concerns me with him: He’s not a real good defender. He’s just a little bit mechanical. He doesn’t have great instincts and great range. He’ll get the job done at second, but there’s no way he can move to shortstop – there’s no way, so he’s going to have to hit his way to the big leagues.

I don’t know if he’ll have the juice to be a middle-of-the-order guy; I think he’s more of a gap guy for the line drive stroke that will hit an occasional home run. You can make a case for a super utility guy that will play a little second maybe can fill in at third maybe spot him in left field, but it’s the bat that gets you excited. He’ll take his walks, he goes deep in counts, he’s hard to strike out.

He’s a good baserunner – he’s got good instincts, but you’re not going to be like ‘Holy shit he can run.” It’s not that.

WILLIAMS: He was just really bad for four games. Pulling off everything. Just weak groundball contact to short and then trot down the line – commonplace. Little flares to left field that were either caught or dropped in. Didn’t drive anything in four games. Just pulling off everything really bad. Stepping in the bucket really bad.

I was talking to (another) scout and he was like ‘Mason Williams is hitting like Ichiro.’ He’s taking a step toward first. I didn’t see him drive one ball, not one. He can really play center still. He can run. He throws good, but I’m concerned with the off-field makeup. He didn’t run anything out. He trots down the line almost every at-bat. Every groundball, you look (at your stop watch), and you’re like ‘I can’t get a good time off this because he doesn’t run.’ 

One of the best parts of my job is getting to talk to scouts on a regular basis. I'm nowhere near a scout myself, so their evaluations help me complete the picture of what I'm seeing on the field. I can read radar guns and work a stopwatch (though I don't actually bring one to games with me), but that's about it. Recently, I sat down with one scout who covers the Yankees to get his opinions on the three affiliates he's seen so far. He's what he had to say about a few of the players on the Thunder. 

SLADE HEATHCOTT: You know I like Slade a lot. I think he’s going to be an everyday big league center fielder. … In terms of the position players, I think Slade is the best guy there.

MURPHY: I like Murphy’s bat. I’m still not convinced that he’s an everyday defender, but he’s improving. You can see little bits and pieces of where he’s getting better. I still like the bat. I think he’s gonna be a hitter in the big leagues, I just don’t know if he’s going to stick behind the plate. When he was in (Charleston) he played a little left and he played a little third, so maybe he can a super-utility guy who’s a bat-first guy.

I think he’s receiving the ball better. When I first saw him catch, he was kind of stabbing a little bit, and now he looks a little more comfortable in terms of going side to side with the glove. Little incremental improvements, so that’s good. He’s still young. He’s got a chance to continue to improve, but for me he’s a guy who’s going to swing the bat. I like the bat, and he looks much better in Double-A than he did last year (in Double-A).

It’s an average arm. I think he needs a little improvement on the release, because sometimes he stands up instead of staying down and getting through it. I think it could eventually play as average. He’s not Gary Sanchez.

AUSTIN: I don’t think he’s an everyday guy, for me. I think the swing gets long. I think he comes off the outside. With that said, he’s got pop and he’s got juice in that bat.  He’s gonna put some charges into some balls. I think, if I’m projecting him, he’s going to be a fourth outfielder, an offensive fourth outfielder that’s going to be able to come off the bench and play a couple of times a week in the big leagues. But I think if he plays every day in the big leagues I think his bat gets exposed. I think he’s a big leaguer, but I just don’t think he’s an everyday corner guy.

I think it’s got enough loft in it. The thing that bothers me that is that it gets long. He’ll pull off the outside pitch. The breaking ball will give him trouble. He’ll pull his front shoulder. I’m just afraid that the whole set-up (is a problem) … it’s a little bit stiff, for me. It’s not a loose, easy swing. With that said, he’s got juice. He’s got barrel awareness.  When he gets his pitch, he can hit it and he can hit it to the gaps. I just don’t think it’s going to be a consistent enough bat to play every day.

FLORES: Flores is a tweener for me. I don’t think he’s a center fielder, and I don’t think his bat’s going to play at the corner, so there’s an issue. He’s not going to be a leadoff center field guy, and he’s not going to hit for power enough to be a corner guy. He’s a good hitter, though, he’s a good hitter. He gets his hands to the ball. He’s a young kid still. He’ll take the ball the other way. He’s patient. There’s something to be said for that. So, when I’m looking long range, like where do I play him and where’s he going to fit in the lineup, I don’t think he’s going to hit for power for the corners. It kind of leaves me wanting more with him.

ROLLER: I think his problem is he gets really leaky. You can get him out with breaking balls all day long. He’ll get his hands to the fastball OK. He’s got power, he’s a big, strong kid. He’s not a great athlete. I think he’s going to be a good Double-A, Triple-A player. He’ll put up some numbers, but he’s not a big leaguer for me.

RAMIREZ: I think Jose Ramirez is going to pitch in the big leagues, I just think it’s going to be in a relief role. Like the arm. Like the sink. Like the breaking ball. I think there’s some effort in the arm, so I don’t think it’s a starter-type arm. It’s really more of a two-pitch arm for me than a multiple-pitch guy. The other thing that bothers me with him is that his arm is in full view, so I think hitters get a fairly good look at it and it’s not a whole lot of deception. But it’s a really good arm for me, and the sink plays and the slider plays.

TURLEY: I love Turley’s breaking ball. Love it. It’s a really good breaking ball. The thing about Turley for me is that his delivery is ever going to be conducive to really good command. He’s going to be a guy that is hit-or-miss. He’s got arm strength and the breaking ball plays. It’s a big league breaking ball. It’s got bite. It’s a really good breaking ball. The command comes and goes. The fastball is not great. He’s got a little bit of a curl in the back and he (throws) a little bit across his body. If I’m projecting him, I don’t think he’s going to be a command guy. With that said, that breaking ball can play in the big leagues right now. I think he’s going to make it to the big leagues (but) I think he’s going to be more of a spot starter, long reliever, fifth-type starter.

BURAWA: What I saw that night was nasty. The command’s going to have to improve. If he’s going to pitch in the seventh or eighth inning of a game or even close at some point, that command’s going to have to be finer. It’s not there yet. The stuff is really good.

BURAWA OR MONTGOMERY? That’s a tough one. I’d have to go Burawa. Montgomery, for me, I’ve seen the fastball flatten a little, because he’s not the biggest kid. That fastball can get a little flat, but that slider is really good, really good. He’s a big league pitcher for me too. Right now, I like Burawa a little better, but I think that’s a little unconventional because they probably have (Montgomery) way ahead of him. Just on pure stuff I’d have to give the edge to Burawa.

KAHNLE: I think he’s a big league guy too. I don’t think he’s quite at the stuff of a Burawa, but the fastball-slider plays. It’s a big arm, he’s a big kid. (The slider) is a notch below (Burawa’s). It’s an average slider. It’s an average slider, whereas Burawa’s is a plus. 

TRACY: What I saw the other day, I think if they made him a two-pitch guy and put him in the pen eventually (it would be good). He's throwing up to 96 with that breaking ball, that plays. That was the third time I saw him in my life. Once at Tampa last year, and I was intrigued by the breaking ball, but he was never consistent with it, so I put an up-and-down grade on him. Then when I saw him earlier in the year, it was bad. Eighty-eight to 91, it wasn't getting out in front, everything up and way, but the other night (was really good).