TRENTON- All of the regular season games have been played, and there are now just four teams standing in the Eastern League playoffs. While the West Division teams fought and scratched until the final day, which saw Akron amazingly pull out a division title by a game after going 20-4 since August 12, and Altoona outlast Harrisburg for the...
TRENTON- All of the regular season games have been played, and there are now just four teams standing in the Eastern League playoffs.
While the West Division teams fought and scratched until the final day, which saw Akron amazingly pull out a division title by a game after going 20-4 since August 12, and Altoona outlast Harrisburg for the second spot, the playoff teams from the East Division were known for a few weeks.
Trenton finished 2.5 games behind Reading, and 15 games ahead of third-place Hartford, and the Thunder will open the EL Division Series at home Wednesday night. The Fightin Phils and Trenton just finished an epic four-game series, which saw the teams split, home runs launched all over ARM & HAMMER Park, and some records broken.
The Thunder were 6-9 against Reading this year, splitting three four-game series at home (6-6), and getting swept in the only series on the road (0-3). With two games at home to start the best-of-five set, Trenton may have to do more than spilt at home if it wants to win and advance to the EL Championship Series next week. It may be an advantage, though, to have two in a row at home to open with Reading.
Cozens, Hoskins lead Reading Monday against Thunder; now the fun begins
"Disadvantage, advantage, it is hard to say," Thunder manager Bobby Mitchell said. "I think we are really aiming to win both games here obviously. I think if we can win two games here, it puts a lot of pressure on them going home."
The Thunder will go with Smith's Ace Hardware Thunder Pitcher of the Year Ronald Herrera (10-7, 3.75 ERA but 7-2, 1.87 ERA at home) in game one, with Will Carter (1-4, 4.40 ERA) game two and Justus Sheffield (10-6, 3.09 ERA in minors this year) in game three.
The pitching staff will have to shut down a dominant Reading lineup, that showed this weekend why it can be so dangerous. While the Fightin Phils were shut down in two of the games, they also scored 10 runs twice in the series. Dylan Cozens and Rhys Hoskins, who have 40 and 38 home runs respectively, have been a nightmare for opposing pitchers all season.
"It is nice that these last few games have been more of a playoff atmosphere," Hoskins said. "To kind of get our feet wet, before the playoffs start. It won't be so much of a shock when we get to the playoffs, and literally every pitch means something, to the point that we might go home.
These four games have acted like that, and I think we are going to be a better team come Wednesday."
The Trenton bullpen should be a key as well, and it has been dominant all year. The Thunder led almost all of the pitching categories in 2016, and the pen was one of the main reasons. Matt Marsh, who came up from Tampa to bolster the relieving corps after some promotions to Scranton Wilkes-Barre, is set to throw some important innings in the postseason.
"This is my first playoff in pro ball, so I am excited for the opportunity," Marsh said. "They have a really good lineup, one of the best lineups in Double A, from what I have heard. They have a good lineup, we have a good squad, so we will see how we do.
We have a lot of confidence right now. Our pitchers are going to keep us in the game, as they always do. If we get a couple of guys hot in the lineup, and put some runs up, we will be in a good situation.
"It will probably be more of a chess match. More matchups, guys on shorter leashes. I am excited. We have a really good staff."
It has been a wonderful year for the Thunder, and it may get better
Trenton's offense will feature Dustin Fowler, who is in the EL MVP race with the two Reading bashers. Fowler boosted his power numbers in 2016 (30 2B, 15 3B to lead the league, 12 HR, 88 RBI), and if the bottom of the lineup, and leadoff hitter Tyler Wade, can get on base in front of Fowler, the Thunder offense should be able to score enough runs to compete with Reading.
"It has been an exciting year," Fowler said. "We have played well, and it has been a long year. I am excited for the playoffs, and hopefully we go far and win it.
It is crucial to win the first two games. Obviously you wanted to be in first, but I think finishing second place, and being able to play at home for the two games, is nice. We are all used to this place.
They are all used to the long ball, and here, it is a big field. You have to be able to play small-ball here. It helps to be able to get two games, and try to take advantage of that and get two wins."
Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean