Quick. Think of every adjective one would use to describe a pitcher who's just had a great night. Nasty? Filthy? Dirty? Well keep on digging, because you're going to need a whole new lexicon to begin describe just how good Dellin Betances was in Game 1 of the Eastern League Division Series tonight.

Betances gave up two hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings while striking out eight and looking downright overpowering against what was far and away the most potent lineup in the circuit all year long.

He outdueled Eastern League Pitcher of the Year Kyle Drabek, who was pretty damn good in his own right. He hit 97 on the gun several times, and held the Thunder to one run over six innings, which just wasn't good enough on this night.

With that, here are some videos from tonight: A Betances strikeout, Dan Brewer's game-winning hit, and postgame comments from Betances and Justin Snyder, who made several key plays in the field.

This happened late last night, but outfielder Justin Christian got promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The move comes as no surprise, especially considering the S-Yanks had been at three outfielders for quite some time. Technically that's the situation they're in now, but that'll change once Marcus Thames is activated.

Now, the question is: Who's coming to the Thunder to replace Christian, if anyone? Well, there's a couple of scenarios. They could use Justin Snyder in left field, as was done 11 times last season. He's also played center field 18 times, so he could go there if Austin Krum needs a blow one of these days.

That said, if Snyder moves to the outfield for a while, that could pave the way for David Adams' activation from the DL, which should happen any day now regardless.

It could also mean that the Thunder are getting a new arm here soon. Currently, the Tampa Yankees have Andrew Brackman, Adam Warren, Dellin Betances, George Kontos, Graham Stoneburner and Shaeffer Hall active as starters. Manny Banuelos, who rehabbed yesterday in the GCL, isn't far behind.

That's seven starting pitchers for five spots. I suspect we'll see Brackman and/or Kontos here in short order.

Additionally, the XM Futures Game rosters were announced today, and catcher Austin Romine and starter Hector Noesi made the cut. Romine, one of the Yankees' bushelful of catching prospects, is hitting .283/.349/.759 in Trenton. Noesi, who arrived with the Thunder last month,
is 8-3 with a 2.54 ERA in 78 innings between High-A and Double-A. He's fanned 82 against 11 walks.

Yesterday's 8-4 Thunder loss, even coming after an eight-game win streak, prompted a stern lecture after the game about the dangers of complacency. In making three errors, failing to catch a runner after he'd been picked off, and turning the tying run at second base into the third out at third base, Trenton suffered easily its most painful loss of the season.

Franklin had a lot to say about it afterward. Check out the nearly 10-minute audio.



Also, Justin Snyder had a few good comments about what a bad loss like this means to a team that has been very good all season long.



Here are the game story and sidebar that I wrote yesterday. The sidebar is about the hidden danger of your starters going deep into games -- bullpen rust.

The Thunder won tonight in dramatic fashion. They used a two-run ninth to take a 5-4 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels and a stop a small but vexing two-game skid. Below are videos of Dan Brewer, Austin Krum and Justin Snyder, as well as audio from Tony Franklin's postgame chat.

Be sure to check out Monday's edition of The Trentonian for a complete draft preview for the Yankees and Phillies, chock with quotes from Yanks special assignment scout Kevin Towers and Philly Director of Scouting Chuck LaMar. I will also have quotes from a host of Thunder players and coaches about what they remember from their draft days.

Here's the release from the Thunder. I will have quotes from Franklin and (if he's here yet) Justin Christian when the clubhouse opens in a couple of hours.

The Trenton Thunder, Double A Affiliate of the New York Yankees announced today that they have transferred INF Justin Snyder to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and have signed OF Justin Christian.

Snyder, 24, is hitting .182 with one RBI in eight games with the Thunder this season.

Chrisitan, 30, returns to Trenton after playing for the Thunder in 2006 and 2007. He is the all-time single season stolen base leader for the Thunder with 68 in 2006. Christian was signed out of the independent Atlantic League.

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.

RESULT: Thunder sweep, 4-0.
Thursday: Thunder 4, Erie 0
Friday: Thunder 3, Erie 1
Saturday: Thunder 3, Erie 0
Sunday: Thunder 5, Erie 1

Key to the Series: Starting pitching. Christian Garcia, Ryan Pope, Jeremy Bleich and David Phelps combined for 22 2/3 innings of two-run baseball. They've struck out 22 during that time, and walked just three. If Pope and Bleich, two starters who had rocky seasons in 2009, can be as strong as they looked in their opening outings, it's going to be a long year for opposing hitters.

Honorable Mention: David Adams. He's hitting .500 so far (8-for-16) and has driven in five of the team's 15 runs. He's had three multi-hit games so far, including a three-hit effort on Saturday.

Notes: This is the first time the Thunder have won their first four games since 1999, when they won nine in a row to start the year. ... Justin Snyder went 2-for-3 in his 2010 debut.

Good morning, everybody.

After a long night of sleep after a long day of travel back from Tampa (someone should have told me before I got up at 3:15 that the Tampa Airport gates don't open until 4:30), it's back to work.

Today's main goal will be acquiring and posting the roster. I know it's out there, it's just a matter of pestering the right sources long enough. This, fair readers, is what I will do for you.

Like I said on Saturday night, after confirming about two thirds of the roster, I expect the rest of the team to shake down this way:

C - Jose Gil
1B - Kevin Smith
SS - Walter Ibarra
IF - Luis Nunez
RP - Pat Venditte
RP - Grant Duff
RP - Phil Bartleski
RP - Adam Olbrychowski

That said, it wouldn't surprise me if Nunez or Ibarra were replaced by Marcos Vechionacci, or two of the relievers were replaced by Wilkins Arias and Noel Castillo, especially considering both of them spent the entire camp with the Double-A work group.

Until the roster comes out, however, here's a few more pics from the trip to tide you over (I took 524 pics down there, according to my camera). Clockwise from top, Ramiro Pena signing autographs, Andy Pettitte lounging in the bullpen, Justin Snyder talking things over with Jody Reed, and Tony Franklin throwing BP.