Every Monday, Minor Matters will run down the top 10 games of the Thunder's 2010 season. In a year that saw eight of Baseball America's 16 pitchers (excluding Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino, who were out of the organization) in their top 30, not to mention Austin Romine and Brandon Laird, there are plenty of good choices to go around.

No. 1 - Banuelos, bats shine in ELDS clincher





















RECAP: After two dramatic wins over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the Eastern League Division Series, the set moved to Merchantsauto.com Stadium, where there were a few tricks waiting for the Thunder.

Scott Richmond, the scheduled starter for Game 4, was moved up a day. Edwin Encarnacion, who, like Richmond, came with MLB service time, was plugged into the starting lineup. Both moves were widely construed as retaliation for Andy Pettitte starting in Game 2, though that was never confirmed or stated publicly.

Manny Banuelos, in his first start of the year without a pitch count, was called upon to finish off the Cats and send Trenton into its third ELCS in four seasons.

At just 19 years old, he delivered.

His line, seven shutout innings on five hits, three walks and five punchouts, was impressive enough, but it was stuffed he used that really jumped out.

The stadium gun kept flashing 86 and 87 for his fastball, which I found odd. It made more sense when some local writers told me that their radar was consistently five miles per hour slow. So when those 86s and 87s turned into 91s and 92s toward the later innings, it looked like Banuelos had found his groove.

While Trenton arms silencing New Hampshire throughout the series had become commonplace, the offensive explosion the team produced was certainly out of the ordinary.

Austin Krum, Dan Brewer and Marcos Vechionacci each doubled, and Rene Rivera and Damon Sublett both popped a longball as part of the Thunder's 14-hit outburst that fueled an eventual 8-1 win and set them up for a date in Altoona.

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REACTION: “At the beginning of the game, it was a little tense. I was a little bit nervous about it” he said. “Once I started throwing my stuff, I knew my stuff was good and I kind of relaxed and just let it go.” -- Manny Banuelos

“These would be hard to top. These would be hard to top,” he said, “especially with the youngsters that we have and the newness on the pitching staff that we’ve got assembled here now.” -- Tony Franklin, calling the ELDS the three most complete games he's seen in his four years with Trenton

AFTERWARD: Andy Pettitte started for the Thunder in the team's Game 1 win in the ELCS, but that would be their last win of the year. Altoona won the next three, and celebrated their first championship at Waterfront Park.

I started the Thunder top 10 series back in November as a way to pass the winter while waiting for April. Since then, I've run down the team's best games of the year, players of the year, players who will be on the team next year, players who the Thunder will face next year, and numbers that best represent the team's season. Here, now, is a quick recap of how I've ranked them. Feel free to tell me what you think.

GAMES OF THE YEAR

10. Hector Noesi's complete game
9. Austin Krum's incredible defensive day
8. Andrew Brackman's debut
7. The Joseph brothers' reunion
6. Andy Pettitte in Game 1 of the ELCS
5. Laird's grand slam completes the cycle
4. Andy Pettitte and Adam Warren dominate the Fisher Cats
3. Adam Warren strikes out 15
2. Betances outduels Drabek

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

10. Hector Noesi
9. Justin Christian
8. Dan Brewer
7. Marcos Vechionacci
6a. Dellin Betances
6b. Manny Banuelos
5a. David Phelps
5b. Lance Pendleton
4. Austin Romine
3a. D.J. Mitchell
3b. Adam Warren
2. Andrew Brackman

PLAYERS FOR 2011

10. Pat Venditte
9. Adam Olbrychowski
8. Brett Marshall
7. Craig Heyer
6. Jose Gil
5. Shaeffer Hall
4. Graham Stoneburner
3. Melky Mesa
2. Dellin Betances

OPPOSING PLAYERS FOR 2011

10. Charlie Culberson
9. Travis d'Arnaud
8. Tony Sanchez
7. Derek Norris
6. Aaron Hicks
5. Anthony Gose
4. Jacob Turner
3. Nick Hagadone
2. Austin Hyatt

NUMBERS OF THE YEAR

10. 23 (Laird's home runs)
9. 1,125 (Thunder Ks)
8. 17 (Romine's hit streak)
7. 0 (Manny Banuelos' wins)
6. 39 (David Adams' games)
5. 69 (Garcia's pitches for the year)
4. 29 (Brewer's stolen bases)
3. 37 (Betances' and Banuelos' combined Ks)
2. 1 (New Hampshire runs against the Thunder in the ELDS)

Every Monday, Minor Matters will run down the top 10 games of the Thunder's 2010 season. In a year that saw eight of Baseball America's 16 pitchers (excluding Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino, who were out of the organization) in their top 30, not to mention Austin Romine and Brandon Laird, there are plenty of good choices to go around.

No. 2 - Betances outduels Drabek




















RECAP: When I picked the Thunder to top the Fisher Cats in the ELCS, despite the beatdown New Hampshire had issued Trenton all season long, I did so because I felt the starting pitching matchups bent strongly in the Thunder's favor.

That said, I really didn't think they were going to beat Cats ace Kyle Drabek, a powerful right-hander who had as much business in the Eastern League as Andy Pettitte.

Even so, I thought Betances would at least be able to hold his own with Drabek until the Thunder could get into the bullpen. He did that, and then some.

It wasn't pretty, but, with a huge throng of family and friends cheering his every move, Betances handcuffed the Cats for 5 1/3 innings, when he reached his pitch count.

Dan Brewer doubled home the eventual game-winner in the fourth inning, and Rene Rivera added an insurance run in the seventh when he reached Futures Game alum Trystan Magnuson for a solo bomb.

Link to Original Story

REACTION: “I knew Drabek was going to come in, and he’s been pitching well all year. He won Eastern League Pitcher of the Year, so I knew it was going to be a tough one. I just had to keep trying to put up zeroes and give my team a chance.” -- Dellin Betances

“The first game at home here against Drabek, and the manner in which we got it, that’s outstanding.” -- Tony Franklin

AFTERWARD: Betances took the hill in Altoona for Game 2 of the Eastern League Championship Series, and it didn't go quite as well. He struggled all evening to command his change-up and field his position, and the result was the first of three consecutive losses to the Curve to close the season on a sour note.

Every Monday, Minor Matters will run down the top 10 games of the Thunder's 2010 season. In a year that saw eight of Baseball America's 16 pitchers (excluding Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino, who were out of the organization) in their top 30, not to mention Austin Romine and Brandon Laird, there are plenty of good choices to go around.

No. 3 - Adam Warren strikes out 15




















RECAP: After joining the Thunder on July 16, Adam Warren made his signature start in a Thunder uniform. He fanned 15 members of the Bowie Baysox that night, breaking Shannon Withem's 16-year-old team mark.

He fanned one in the first inning, three in the second, two in the third, three in the fourth, none in the fifth, three in the sixth and three in the seventh.

Link to Original Story

REACTION: “Outstanding performance. I have not seen a pitching performance like that in a long time. … That’s pretty good stuff. That’s major league-type stuff, front-line, major league, first-division, pennant contending team-type stuff.” -- Tony Franklin

“I had no idea about the record. I think I struck out the side one inning and started to think about it. When I came out after the seventh inning, someone came up and told me. It’s neat to be in the history books.” -- Adam Warren

AFTERWARD: Warren didn't come close to topping that record in his final three regular-season starts, but he did fan 10 in just six innings in relief of Andy Pettitte in Game 2 of the Eastern League Division Series.

Every Monday, Minor Matters will run down the top 10 games of the Thunder's 2010 season. In a year that saw eight of Baseball America's 16 pitchers (excluding Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino, who were out of the organization) in their top 30, not to mention Austin Romine and Brandon Laird, there are plenty of good choices to go around.

No. 4 - Andy Pettitte takes the ball in the ELDS




















RECAP: Entering the Eastern League Division Series against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, against whom they were 6-17 during the year, the Thunder needed a big boost. In Andy Pettitte, the 15-year major league veteran and Yankees legend, that's exactly what they got.

The lefty was assigned to Trenton for the first of what would become two starts to rehab a strained left groin (the second start was also with the Thunder), creating much fanfare and controversy in the Central Jersey area.

More than anything, however, it brought the fans to the yard. Eight thousand and seventy-two people came through the turnstiles, one of the largest crowds in the team's history.

Pettitte went four shutout innings with two hits and four punchouts before handing the ball to Adam Warren for the next six frames.

Scoreless through 11 tense innings, the Thunder got a walk-off bomb from designated hitter Rene Rivera to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series.

Link to Original Story

REACTION: “I wanted to try to try to come here and I didn’t want to lose this game for the guys. I wanted to do exactly what I did and give them a chance to win because it starts down here.” -- Andy Pettitte

“I talked to Austin (Romine) before the game and he said they played these guys a ton. So he had a great idea of what these guys like and what they don’t like and what balls they can handle and what balls they can’t handle.” -- Andy Pettitte

AFTERWARD: After Pettitte helped give them a 2-0 lead, the Thunder finished off the Fisher Cats at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. They allowed one run all series to New Hampshire's vaunted lineup, which was quite the feat. Pettitte pitched one more time for the Thunder, against the Altoona Curve in the opening game of the Eastern League Championship Series.

Every Monday, Minor Matters will run down the top 10 games of the Thunder's 2010 season. In a year that saw eight of Baseball America's 16 pitchers (excluding Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino, who were out of the organization) in their top 30, not to mention Austin Romine and Brandon Laird, there are plenty of good choices to go around.

No. 5 - Brandon Laird's walkoff cycle




















RECAP: Question: What does Brandon Laird have in common with Cubs prospect Brett Jackson and Rockies dynamo Carlos Gonzalez? All three men completed the cycle this past season with a walk-off longball.

Laird turned his trick on May 26, when the Thunder needed all the help they could get against the Erie Seawolves, who got three home runs from Wilkin Ramirez, the powerful outfielder who just doesn't seem to make enough contact.

The Thunder's third baseman collected the single in the second inning, his triple in the fifth, and his double in seventh inning, setting the table for ninth-inning drama against Erie closer Luis Marte.

Down 6-5 in the final frame, and with Austin Krum on first after a one-out single, Laird sent Marte's offering up and over the left-field wall, giving his team a dramatic 7-6 win. The blast was his ninth, and the RBIs were the 42nd and 43rd of the young year.

Link to Original Story

REACTION: “I wasn’t going up there looking for a homer, just trying to get something in the gap so Austin (Krum) could score and tie it because he has good speed. The cycle was on my mind, but believe me, I wasn’t going up there looking for a homer to get it.”
-- Brandon Laird

“I was going up there looking for my pitch and he threw me two curves to start me off,” Laird said. “Then he threw me a fastball and I just kept my approach and got the barrel on it."
-- Brandon Laird

AFTERWARD: Laird was easily the team's most valuable position player all year, and was named the league's MVP after the season. He started hot after a promotion to Triple in August, but fizzled the rest of the way. He showed power in the Arizona Fall League, but compiled a lousy .236/.282/.718 slash line. He struck out 27 times and drew just six walks.

Every Monday, Minor Matters will run down the top 10 games of the Thunder's 2010 season. In a year that saw eight of Baseball America's 16 pitchers (excluding Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino, who were out of the organization) in their top 30, not to mention Austin Romine and Brandon Laird, there are plenty of good choices to go around.

No. 6 - After Pettitte exits, Brackman mows down Curve




















RECAP: The opening game of the Eastern League Championship Series was supposed to be about Andy Pettitte making his second rehab tune-up. And while the left-hander did his job over five innings of two-run ball, the 6-foot-10 Brackman, in his first appearance of the postseason, quickly showed everyone why the Yankees spent a first-round pick on him three years ago.

Showcasing a moving fastball that topped out at 98 miles per hour and a hard-biting curveball, Brackman held the Curve to just a hit and a walk over five shutout innings. The Thunder won it in the tenth, thanks in large part to Brackman's yeoman effort.

More impressive than just the numbers, however, was the poise he showed while accomplishing them.

The key moment for Brackman was the eighth inning, when an error and hit batsman put runners at first and second with nobody down. One out later, the bases were jacked, spelling what seemed like certain doom.

But Brackman got Miles Durham to bounce the first pitch, a moving heater, to shortstop Luis Nunez, who started an inning-ending twin-killing that sent Trenton to its only victory of the ELCS.

Link to Original Story

REACTION: “I still don’t feel like I was in college, but I’ve got to deal with that and just go out and try to compete with what I have that day. … I definitely think there’s more in the tank.” -- Andrew Brackman

“They did it again in this series. They pitched out of key situations. I expect Pettitte to do that, but for these young guys — our entire pitching staff is bearing down, and I’m loving it back there catching. I’m seeing these guys evolving into guys that can bear down and make the pitches they need to make.” -- Austin Romine

AFTERWARD: That was the last bright spot for the Thunder in 2010. Dellin Betances, Adam Warren and Manny Banuelos couldn't outduel the Curve's trio of Jeff Locke, Justin Wilson and Tony Watson -- all left-handers -- and Altoona brought the city its first championship.

Every Monday, Minor Matters will run down the top 10 games of the Thunder's 2010 season. In a year that saw eight of Baseball America's 16 pitchers (excluding Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino, who were out of the organization) in their top 30, not to mention Austin Romine and Brandon Laird, there are plenty of good choices to go around.

No. 7 - The Joseph Brothers Reunion














RECAP: Once David Adams went down with an ankle/foot injury in May, it was only a matter of time before Corban Joseph, another hot Yankees second base prospect, was called to Double-A. When it happened in early August, it put a reunion with older brother Caleb, an Orioles catching prospect, on the horizon.

Bowie came to Waterfront Park on Aug. 17, and so did the entire Joseph family. His father wore a Yankees windbreaker with an Orioles cap, and his sister wore a white T-Shirt decorated with both brothers' names, as well as logos from the Yankees and Orioles.

When Corban took his first at-bat, he tapped his brother on the shinguard and gave him a few words before going about his business.

Other Yankees prospects have siblings hanging around the minor leagues: Austin Romine's brother Andrew is in the Angels' system, and Graham Stoneburner's brother Davis is a Rangers prospect. Former Thunder infielder Matt Cusick's brother Jeff was a Phillies draftee.

Now that Cusick is gone, however, none have the potential to play against their brother in the Eastern League like Caleb and Corban did for those three summer nights.

Link to Original Story

REACTION: “I think it’s a big deal. I really think it’s a big deal. You never expect it to happen a lot, but you think about it a lot when you’re a youngster. … Fortunately sometimes it does happen, and it’s happening now.” -- Tony Franklin

“It was an exciting moment. It was the first time ever. I was more focused on what the pitcher was trying to do, but (Caleb) was joking with me, so that kind of helped me relax a little bit.” -- Corban Joseph

AFTERWARD: Caleb won the battle that night, posting three singles and two runs scored against Corban's lone knock. Eventually, though, Corban won the war. Bowie flamed out in its attempt to make the Eastern League West playoffs, while the Thunder took their season to the ELCS, where they lost to the Altoona Curve. Unfortunately, Corban injured his wrist during the season's final series and couldn't take part in the playoffs or the Arizona Fall League, where he was slated to head after the season.

Every Monday, Minor Matters will run down the top 10 games of the Thunder's 2010 season. In a year that saw eight of Baseball America's 16 pitchers (excluding Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino, who were out of the organization) in their top 30, not to mention Austin Romine and Brandon Laird, there are plenty of good choices to go around.

No. 8 - Andrew Brackman debuts




















Recap: After a truly cringe-worthy season in 2009, this seemed like a make-or-break year for skyscraping former first-rounder Andrew Brackman. When the year began, Brackman's goal seemed to be throwing consistent strikes and letting his plus stuff do its work.

Here's what Nardi Contreras had to say when I asked about him in May:

"What he is doing is throwing strikes. He's learning now, because last year he didn't throw many strikes. He's throwing strikes now, and he's learning how to command. He needs to know how to command. He's throwing his curveball. He's learning the slider and the change-up, too. He's learning some other pitches to go along with his curveball and his fastball."

After a few blips early, he went through a stretch of 39 1/3 innings during which he allowed just nine runs. He walked just six during that span. He had a bit of a blow-up during his last outing High-A (five earned in five innings) , but the decision was made, and Brackman was in Trenton five days later.

Link to Original Game Story

Reaction: “(He did) some good things out there, especially when he got settled. He’ll be fine. It may just take him an outing or two to get really, really settled here. But he’ll be fine.”
-- Tony Franklin

“I didn’t know they had those kind of hitters on that team, I was just kind of thrown into the fire. I just had to go out there and see what I could do. I felt comfortable. The mound here is a whole lot bigger than the one in Tampa, so I had to get used to it. But overall, I was pretty pleased.” -- Andrew Brackman

Afterward: That night didn't go quite as planned, and it took a little while for Brackman to adjust to the more mature hitters in Double-A. Once he did, he looked every bit of the first-round pick and four-year major league contract the Yankees used on him. From August 6 on he went 4-0 with a league-pacing 0.86 ERA. This offseason, New York picked up the first of his three contract options.

Every Monday, Minor Matters will run down the top 10 games of the Thunder's 2010 season. In a year that saw eight of Baseball America's 16 pitchers (excluding Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino, who were out of the organization) in their top 30, not to mention Austin Romine and Brandon Laird, there are plenty of good choices to go around.

Recap: While in Reading, the Thunder were cruising. Lance Pendleton had locked up the R-Phils for six innings before Cody Overbeck's three-run blast highlighted a four-run, game-tying frame.

Reading threatened again in the eighth, but a great throw from Dan Brewer and a sensational catch by Austin Krum ended the inning and kept the score tied. Matt Cusick's laser to left gave the Thunder a slim 5-4 edge.

They asked Kevin Whelan to finish things in the ninth, and behind another spectacular grab from Krum, that's exactly what he did.

With two outs and the winning run on first, Michael Spidale blooped a ball into shallow center. Krum closed fast, though, and scooped the ball off the grass for the final out in a heart-stopping road win that kept the team tied for first in E.L. East.

Link to original game story

Reaction: “That was a heck of a play, but that’s what center fielders do – they make the plays. That’s what good baseball players do when the game is on the line and the ballgame rests on, maybe, a couple of plays, a couple of hits – you make the plays, and (Krum) certainly did that tonight.” -- Tony Franklin

“It’s what’s going to happen. It’s what you have to do in close games like that. Both teams fought hard. You’re never out of a game, especially in this park.” -- Austin Krum

“Spidale’s a good hitter. He lives up the middle away. I got a pretty good jump on it, and it carried just enough to me so I could make the catch.” -- Krum

Afterward: For all his defensive efforts, Krum was positively putrid in August and September, hitting .188/.293/.543 after the All-Star break. Center field in Trenton next season will probably be taken by Melky Mesa, so Krum's role in the organization is up in the air.