Austin Romine was eligible to come off the disabled list today, but he did not. He may begin activities soon, but nothing too strenuous. Sounds like stretching would be the beginning of his road back. He went on the disabled list with a "mild" concussion last week after Travis Scott's hit on him toward the end of the Thunder's loss on June 2 against Altoona.

Melky Mesa has begun physical activities to rehab his lower-back issue. He was throwing a medicine ball with trainer Tim Lentych before the game. He last played on May 26.

Per the notes on the wall, Cory Arbiso is your starter on the 18th.

Cody Johnson was sent home today with flu-like symptoms.

1. Dellin Betances

Added to the 40-man roster in the offseason, Betances is a coin-flip to start Opening Day in New Hampshire. After injuries nearly but the brakes on his career, the $1 million eighth-rounder put it all together in 2010.

Between Tampa and Trenton, Betances finished with a dazzling 8-1 record, a 2.11 ERA, and 53 hits and 108 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings. To put it another way, in 12 of his 14 starts with the T-Yanks, Betances had more strikeouts than hits allowed.

The Yankees have already gone on record as saying that Betances will begin 2010 with Trenton, so this one's a lock.



2. Manny Banuelos

Banuelos came to Trenton with -- and delivered on -- an equally lofty pedigree. The diminutive left-hander's velocity had been building all year, and peaked at 97 miles per hour in his playoff start against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

To go with the heater, Banuelos also showcased an impressive change-up and an (at times) excellent curveball.

The problem with last year, however, was the emergency appendectomy he had right before the season began. He missed most of the first half recovering, and -- counting his work in the Arizona Fall League -- pitched just 89 2/3 innings as a result.

The Yankees have also made it clear that Banuelos will start 2011 back in Double-A, where will get a chance to prove himself over the course of a full-season workload.



3. Graham Stoneburner

A strong-armed power right-hander out of Clemson, Stoneburner exceeded all expectations in his first professional season, which was split between Charleston and Tampa. He finished with a 2.41 ERA, second in the organization among qualifiers. (Mikey O'Brien, who should be with Charleston this year, finished first).

Because of its sink, Yankees farm boss Mark Newman likened Stoneburner's fastball to MLB-vet Jake Westbrook. He couples the fastball with a slider that flashes above average at times. That combo could lead him to the bullpen down the line, but he's a starter for now.

He threw 103 stellar innings in Tampa in 2010, which leads me to believe he's all but a lock for the Trenton rotation come April.

4. Shaeffer Hall

Like Stoneburner, Hall counted last year as his first full professional season. Also like Stoneburner, Hall - a finesse lefty from the University of Kansas --flew through the South Atlantic League with the Charleston RiverDogs.

Things started out swimmingly after Hall made the jump to High-A Tampa. Over his first 10 outings (including one relief appearance), he was 9-1 and allowed 13 earned runs over 48 1/3 innings. Six of those earned runs came in one horror show of an outing, on July 8 against Daytona.

After that, things plummeted. He finished with losses in four of his final five starts, and gave up 17 earned runs, including five of the seven longballs he allowed in his time with Tampa.

Despite that bad patch, I think Hall is an excellent contender -- but not a lock -- to begin 2011 at Waterfront Park.

5. Cory Arbiso

Although he started the season on the disabled list, Arbiso made his mark on the 2010 Thunder by being available whenever and for whatever role manager Tony Franklin needed. In fact, before a rainout pushed the proceedings back a day, Arbiso was on track to pitch in a possible Game 5 of the Eastern League Championship Series.

In all, out of his 32 appearances, Arbiso made 11 starts for the Thunder. With 77 hits over 49 1/3 innings, the role didn't seem to suit him. That said, however, he may have to split the fifth starter's role with Craig Heyer until Brett Marshall is ready to make his way up from Tampa.

By MIKE ASHMORE
For The Trentonian

TRENTON — This was a big loss in more ways than one for the Thunder.

Their 10-4 defeat at the hands of the Akron Aeros last night was both large in margin and significance. Matt Liuzza hit a tenth inning walk-off home run to lead the Fisher Cats past Harrisburg, 1-0, and cut the Thunder’s division lead over New Hampshire to just a half a game.

A 33-minute first inning set the tone for a long, painful loss. Trenton starter Cory Arbiso picked a bad time to turn in his worst outing of the year, and things went south quickly for him.

Aeros designated hitter Jerad Head’s RBI single accounted for the first run of the game, but first baseman Beau Mills delivered the first of many big blows off of Arbiso, sending a three-run blast over the right field wall and into the river to give Akron a 4-0 lead in the first inning.

Trenton tacked on two runs on back-to-back singles by Austin Romine and Marcos Vechionacci to cut the deficit in half in the bottom part of the frame, but the Aeros would not relent. Akron put up crooked numbers in each of the next four innings, boosting their advantage to 10-4 after the fifth inning was over.

With a short bullpen — the relief core was down two men with the call-ups of George Kontos and John Van Benschoten to Scranton -- Arbiso was forced to take one for the team. The line wasn’t pretty: 4+ IP, 13 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HR.

“I just couldn’t command the strike zone,” Arbiso said.

“Usually I can command my fastball, and you need to command your fastball here in Double-A or else it’s going to hurt. That’s what happened today.”

After Arbiso’s outing, Wilkins Arias and J.B. Cox stopped the bleeding with four innings of scoreless relief, but it was too little, too late for the Thunder, who fell to 79-57 on the season.

Just how short was the bullpen? Infielder Justin Snyder made his professional pitching debut in the ninth inning. Snyder spun a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit and one walk.

Lance Berkman, on the back end of a two-game rehab stint with the Thunder, went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. Overall, he went 2-for-8 with a run scored, a walk and three strikeouts in Trenton’s first position player rehab since Jose Molina’s appearance late last season.

The first baseman, acquired from the Houston Astros at the trade deadline, has been on the disabled list since August 19 (retroactive to 8/15) with an ankle sprain. He’s heading back to the Bronx today when rosters expand.

“I felt fine, the ankle is fine,” Berkman said. “There’s nothing wrong there. It was just good to come down to come down and get a couple at-bats. I’m ready to come back up there.”

NOTES: Outfielder Edwar Gonzalez was called up to Triple-A Scranton after the game. The Thunder are not expected to immediately replace him on the roster.

I just got done confirming through a source that Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances, two of the system's top pitching prospects, are coming to Trenton.

No word yet on who is leaving the rotation, but my source hinted at D.J. Mitchell, which would make sense, seeing as he is the only starter who hasn't already been promoted once this season, save for Cory Arbiso.

Here's how that rotation would shake down, it would seem, if my predictions are correct:

1. Manny Banuelos
2. Dellin Betances
3. Hector Noesi
4. Andrew Brackman
5. Adam Warren

In this plan, Cory Arbiso heads back to the bullpen, despite the strong outing yesterday.

Here are the five bits of audio I gathered before and after the Thunder's 6-4 win over the Erie SeaWolves this evening: From the top down is: Paul Bush, Tony Franklin pre-game, Kevin Mahoney, David Adams, Tony Franklin postgame. Also below are (again, from top down) Reggie Jackson helping with PFP, Kevin Mahoney taking some BP, Hector Noesi throwing in the bullpen and Cory Arbiso talking about his start

After Jeremy Bleich was placed on the 7-Day Disabled List and sent to Florida yesterday, there are a lot of questions about how the new Thunder rotation will shake out. When the team left for its current road trip, its starting five looked like this:

1. Lance Pendleton
2. D.J. Mitchell
3. Jeremy Bleich
4. Hector Noesi
5. David Phelps

Now, with Bleich on the shelf, Paul Bush, a member of last year's Trenton rotation, has been taken off the disabled list. What he is not, however, according to team broadcaster/public relations man Justin Shackil, is a member of the rotation. Neither is Ryan Pope, who was pushed to the bullpen when Noesi was promoted but before Bleich was injured.

So, as it stands now, the Thunder's rotation looks like this:

1. Pendleton
2. Mitchell
3. Noesi
4. TBD
5. Phelps

Before the recent move, Pope had been a starter all his life. Bush made five starts with the Thunder last season, and two more with Scranton. He also made a handful of relief appearances in Triple-A.

Also, we know, again via Shackil, that Wilkin De La Rosa and Cory Arbiso, respectively, will start each game of the doubleheader on Saturday. I assume that one or both of Pope and Bush will see relief work at some point during those games.

So, where does that leave the Thunder as far as a fifth starter goes? As far as I see it, there are two possible scenarios, one that is exciting, and one that is not.

1. Rotating bullpen starts. Josh Schmidt, Kanekoa Texeira and Wilkins Arias made 13 starts last year, and something like that is a definite possibility for the near future. Arbiso or De La Rosa could feasibly take the place of Texeira. Eric Wordekemper could fill that role as well.

2. The other idea is Adam Warren joining Hector Noesi in the Trenton rotation. Nardi Contreras mentioned a few weeks ago that there was a good chance Warren makes his way north sometime this season. He also said Dellin Betances was close to being activated and joining Tampa's rotation.

So far with High-A, Warren is 5-3 with a 1.94 ERA in eight starts. He's struck out 32 and walked just 12 in 46 1/3 innings. By comparison, Noesi had tossed 43 innings and also made eight starts before his promotion last week.

For what it's worth, Warren last pitched Monday, which would put him on track to start Saturday in Portland, one day after Noesi.

Stay tuned, things could get interesting.

Yesterday, while I was watching the Pirates beat Roy Halladay, Grant Duff got promoted to Scranton. To take his place on the Thunder roster, Josh Schmidt was transferred back to Trenton.

This means the Thunder have lost their closer, and have gained a long reliever to go with Ryan Pope. Based on the way Tony Franklin used his pen last night, it seems like Wilkins Arias might be the guy to step into Duff's role.

Of course, Tony really never likes to designate anyone for a specific role, so it might be closer by committee for a while.

Today, after a spate of poor starts, Jeremy Bleich was placed on the disabled list and sent back to Florida yesterday. There is no word on Bleich's injury.

To take Bleich's spot, Paul Bush, a member of the Thunder staff last year, was activated off the DL. He is in New Hampshire with the team, and will be available tonight.

Interesting note: Both Bush and Pope will work out of the bullpen. There's no word on a fifth starter, says Thunder broadcaster Justin Shackil. Also from Shackil, Wilkin De La Rosa and Cory Arbiso will start in games 1 and 2

Good afternoon, the Thunder topped the Sea Dogs last night, 9-1. D.J. Mitchell outpitched Casey Kelly, Reid Gorecki was the offense, and Brandon Laird had his second home run in as many nights. Mike Ashmore was there last night, as he will be today. Here's his game story.

Mike also wrote a sidebar about Cory Arbiso and Justin Snyder, and the struggles they've had after skipping High-A Tampa entirely. Here's that piece.

Thanks to Donnie Collins of the Scranton Times Tribune for this, but John Van Benschoten has been called to Triple-A to replace Boone Logan, who was called to New York to take Chan Ho Park's spot on the roster.

With the Thunder, Van Benschoten -- a first-round selection in the 2001 draft -- was 1-0 in two games, with four innings total.

There's no word of a corresponding move for the Thunder, who are now carrying 23 players. If I had to make a guess, I'd say either Cory Arbiso or Edwar Gonzalez comes off the disabled list. If they do make a real call-up, however, I would be shocked if Pat Venditte, who has been excellent with Tampa, doesn't get the call.

Pictures are as follows: Top Row - Jeremy Bleich, David Phelps. Second Row - Tommy Phelps and Cory Arbiso; Jesus Montero and Eduardo Nunez. Third Row - Ryan Pope, Grant Duff.

Akron
CF - Fedroff
3B - Chisenhall
LF - Weglarz
DH - Goedert
1B - Mills
2B - Phelps
RF - Drennen
DH - Rodriguez
C - Toregas
P - Putnam

Trenton
CF - Krum
2B - Adams
C - Romine
3B - Laird
LF - Sublett
RF - Gorecki
DH - Brewer
1B - Smith
SS - Nunez
P - Pendleton

This will be Sublett's first start since Opening Day. He got sick after that and hasn't played since, although he did take batting practice yesterday. ... The tarp is on the field here, but the sky is clearing up. ... Adams is 11-for-20 this year. ... Jeremy Bleich, Cory Arbiso (DL) and David Phelps each threw in the bullpen before the game.

Christian Garcia update: He is still in he clubhouse. No surgery has been scheduled yet, and Tommy John is not a definite at this point (although it is likely). He is meeting with Dr. David Altchek on Monday.

First inning: Lance Pendleton allows the first longball of the Thunder's season, a three-run bomb to right field for Beau Mills, who missed the first game of the set.

Thunder get one back in the bottom half after Krum reaches on an error, steals a base, is moved to third on David Adams' fly to right and comes home on Austin Romine's grounder to short. Akron 3, Thunder 1.

Second inning: Pendleton allows three straight hits to load the bases, but gets out with just one run allowed after a 4-6-3 double play and a fantastic diving play from Adams.

The Thunder get a two-out hit from Daniel Brewer, but Kevin Smith's grounder to second quickly snuffed any threat.

Third inning: Pendleton had his best inning, escaping the heart of Akron's order with two swinging strikeouts, much to the delight of the extremely vocal fan sitting directly in front of the press box.

Austin Krum singles with one out, but the Adams and Romine both fan against Zach Putnam to end the inning.

Fourth inning: Pendleton allowed two men to reach before being replaced by Wilkins Arias, who walked loaded the bases but got Lonnie Chisenhall to fly to center to escape the threat.

Laird and Sublett fanned to open the inning, and Reid Gorecki flew to right to end it.

Fifth inning: Arias walks Weglarz to start the inning, but gets two strikeouts and a fly ball to right after that.

The Thunder got a leadoff hit from Dan Brewer, who is 2-for-2, but Putnam set down Smith, Nunez and Krum in order afterward.

Sixth inning: Arias got John Drennen swinging before handing the ball to Josh Schmidt who got the next two men on a fantastic play from Adams and a strikeout of Wyatt Toregas.

The Thunder had their best chance to score here. Austin Romine's RBI groundout scored Adams from third, but Dan Brewer couldn't cash in the two runners who got on before him. He'll settle for a 2-for-3 night. Thunder have left five runners in scoring position tonight.

Seventh inning: Both teams went down 1-2-3, with three strikeouts among the six hitters.

Sorry for the lack of updates. Things got terribly hectic with writing for the paper and, unfortunately, the blog got neglected.

Final score: Thunder lose, 4-2

As all who follow the team know, No. 1 starter Christian Garcia got hurt last night. It's not the first time it is happened. It's not the second, third or fourth time, either. He's already had two surgeries on his right elbow and another one to reconstruct his knee. He's also spent time on the disabled list with an elbow strain (2005), a strained oblique (2006) and elbow tendinitis (2009).

He'll have an MRI today, and should know the results before the day is out. Mike Ashmore will be handling the duties for The Trentonian for the next two nights, so he'll deliver whatever news comes of the situation.

Also, the Thunder made a flurry of moves before last night's game. They placed pitcher Cory Arbiso, infielder Neall French and outfielder Edwar Gonzalez on the disabled list, and added pitchers Alan Horne and Paul Bush to the roster. Those two were already on the DL. Those moves left the Thunder's roster shy a man until outfielder Reid Gorecki was sent down from Scranton.

Here's what Gorecki had to say about his demotion:

“I am going to handle it the way anyone who wants to keep playing this game will handle it; just another bump in the road. Over the course of my career I have had some bumps and this is just another one. I am here to play and that’s the bottom line. My job is dependent upon me putting up numbers, so if I wasn’t going to get a chance in Scranton, I am glad to have the chance to do something here.’’

Tonight's contest starts at 7:05 and pits Ryan Pope against Erie's L.J. Gagnier. Once again, Mike Ashmore will have The Trentonian's coverage.

The Thunder released their official Opening Day roster mere minutes ago, and there are more changes than even I expected. Because there were 26 men on the preliminary roster, we knew two had to be removed in some way. That happened, and then some. Here's the overall changes.

On preliminary roster, now on DL
P - Cory Arbiso
IF - Neall French
OF - Edwar Gonzalez

Added to roster, placed on DL:
P - Alan Horne
P - Paul Bush

Added to roster, active:
OF - Reid Gorecki