Series Preview vs. Trenton Thunder 4/13-4/15

As the Senators head to Trenton for a 3-game series they're looking to rebound from a season-opening series loss to Reading (1-2). A combination of sloppy play (4 errors in the 3rd game) and 15 players being left of base (in 2 one run losses) really hurt the Senators. So far the Senators have left 25 runners on base and are hitting a combined .190 (7-for-36) with runners in scoring position.

PROBABLE STARTERS:
4/13/09,7:05, Luis Atilano (R) @ Trenton, Eric Hacker (R)
4/14/09,7:05, Cory VanAllen (L) @ Trenton, George Kontos (R)
4/15/09, 7:05, Mike O’Connor (L) @ Trenton, Zach McAllister (R)

Weather Forecast
I will continue to provide weather forecast, like I did last season, but only for home games.

Top Prospects
Below is a list of top prospects for each team according to Baseball America (BA) and John Sickels (JS). If necessary, I will also offer notes on players to watch. For more information on John’s grading system visit here

Thunder Top Prospects
RHP: Zach McAllister 6(BA) / B-(JS)
LHP: Michael Dunn 16(BA) / C(JS)
C: Frank Cervelli 21(BA) / C(JS)
RHP: Eric Hacker C+(JS)
RHP: Kanekoa Texeira C+(JS)
RHP: Ryan Pope C(JS)
RHP: Kevin Whelan C(JS)

Other prospects to watch: SS Eduardo Nunez is batting .375 (6/16) early on.

Senators Top Prospects
LHP: Ross Detwiler 2(BA) / B-(JS)
OF: Leonard Davis 16(BA) / C(JS)
1B: Bill Rhinehart 17(BA)
SS: Ian Desmond 19(BA) / C(JS)
RHP: Luis Atilano 27(BA)
LHP: Cory Van Allen 28(BA)
OF: Marvin Lowrance C+(JS)
OF: Mike Daniel C(JS)
LHP: Yunior Novoa C(JS)

Other pitching prospects to watch: Adam Carr, Justin Jones, Josh Wilkie, and Zech Zinicola.Other hitting prospects to watch: OF: Edgardo Baez and C: Jhonatan Solano.

Trenton Thunder Web sites
Official Home of the Trenton Thunder
Mike Ashmore's Thunder Baseball