In a season that was defined by a revolving door of players that eventually usurped the team's power and best players, Trenton finished its season 71-71. Dan Fiorito had two hits and scored their run, but the team stranded all seven runners in scoring position.
TRENTON - The Trenton Thunder Eastern League season ended in appropriate fashion Monday with an 8-1 loss to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. It was another warm day at Arm & Hammer Park in front of an announced crowd of 4,027.
In a season that was defined by a revolving door of players that eventually usurped the team's power and best players, Trenton finished its season 71-71. Dan Fiorito had two hits and scored their run, but the team stranded all seven runners in scoring position.
This truly was a split season. With 200 transactions, 10 players now on the Triple-A roster and four currently with the New York Yankees, first year manager Al Pedrique seemed to see a new face every time he looked up from his lineup card.
They came into May with a record of 10-10 and by mid-June were 10 games over .500. They peaked on July 17, 11 games over .550 and were in first place in the East. Five losses followed - four by just one run - and then it was a grind to try and finish in second place for the playoffs.
It didn't happen, though they were in the hunt until the final week of the season, ultimately finishing in third place right back at .500.
From July 29 they went 14-24.
"Overall,'' Pedrique offered, "I would say we had a good season. I think with all the player moves we had, a couple injuries, like (Eric) Jagielo, that affected our lineup big-time. We had a great start to the season, but we had (Aaron) Judge, (Greg) Bird, (Gary) Sanchez and (Mason) Williams then.
"The whole plan changed. The guys who came in and played every day, their roles were going to be backups. Then we lost guys out of the pen; (Nick) Goody, when he was hot. It was tough to come out with a plan B.''
With no power in the lineup during late summer, Plan B turned out to be small ball. The staff emphasized working the count, moving runners along, bunting and stealing. They did finish with the best success rate in steals (131-for-174), but were among the least successful in the league in runs and RBI.
"After the All-Star break it was a different club; a different roster,'' Pedrique said. "Every night it was like a different lineup. You try and put guys where they could be successful, and that changed how you managed. But give the guys credit the way they adjusted.''
With the offense finishing in the lower half of the league in batting average (.251), pitching kept them in the race. The staff ERA was third in the league. They allowed the second fewest home runs and had the third most strikeouts.
"I was very happy with the rotation, for the most part,'' Pedrique said. "When you come out of camp and you see the talent you have, you always assume something is going to happen. When, you have no idea.''
Three dozen pitchers made their way to Trenton, including Yankees rookie sensation Luis Severino.
Pedrique, who will manage in Venezuela in the offseason, said he would be happy to manage the Thunder again next year. Asked to rate how he faired this year as skipper, he deflected that assessment to management.
"One thing I feel good about,'' he said, "is when you see players moving up and doing a good job, that makes me feel good. That tells me I did my job.''