Heels On The Field: A Baseball Blog

Michael Dunn Doing Fine Where Trenton Thunder Want Him

The Trenton Thunder are second from last in the Eastern League Northern Division, with a 16-18 record on the season. Though the 2008 EL champs are playing .470 baseball, the division is competitive. They're only three games back from first, with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats leading the Connecticut Defenders by just half a game.

Thunder reliever Michael Dunn is a guy whose attitude seems positive enough to carry the whole club.

"It doesn't matter if I'm hitting or I'm pitching. Just playing baseball is what matters," he says.

In 20 innings pitched he carries an ERA of 5.75. He's 1-2 with two saves. While he has no demands on how he's used, he admits to ultimately having a preference.

"I love the bullpen. Ideally I'd like to be an 8th or 9th inning guy further down the road. But right now it's fine with me, wherever they want me to get my work in."

They have a team ERA of 3.70. They also have the dubious honor of being tied for first with the Bowie BaySox in hit batters. Overall they've plunked 21. 

Thunder beat writer and author of the blog "Mike Ashmore's Thunder Thoughts", is impressed with one starter in particular.

"Ivan Nova, when he's on, is the best starter they have," he says. "Pitching coach Tommy Phelps most glowing praise was for Ivan. He talked about easy, yet hard his fastball is."

Ashmore also gives his take on who the best pitching prospect is at the moment.

"By default, it's likely Zach McAlister. He's not the biggest personality on the team. He goes out and gets the job done," Ashmore says. "He's probably two years away from being big league ready."

In Florida State League, the Jupiter Hammerheads lost four straight but have bounced back a bit. Mike Stanton continues his offensive dominance. He leads the team in RBI with twenty five and is currently hitting .283. He also leads the club in home runs with eight. As for pitching, Kyle Winters leads the FSL with a 0.87 ERA. He's also second in base on balls with four.

Pottstown, Pennsylvania native A.J. Battisto had two relief appearances that stand out for polar opposite reasons. In a game against the Charlotte Stone Crabs he pitched three innings, gave up one hit and struck out four. The following night against the Sarasota Reds, his ERA shot to 27.00 after  allowing two runs. In sixteen innings of work he's had up and down results, but he's given up only three walks- a stat scouts pay particular attention to.

Brad Thoma Looks To New (Jersey) Season With The Jackals

The image: A guy leaping in the air, pumping his fists, as if there were no gravity and he might shoot to the moon.

The guy was Brad Thoma and the display followed his walk off home run to give the Surf the win over their biggest rival, the Worcester Tornadoes. And he still remembers the pitch.

"It was a 1-0 fastball on the inner half of the plate. He threw a first pitch fastball that he elevated in the zone," he said. "That was probably the most thrilling moment of my career."

Thoma, 25, was part of that 2008 Surf club I dubbed "The Goodfellas." They were a macho, but often comical bunch of guys, that made it to the playoffs. Though the Quebec Capitales eliminated them in the first round, Thoma has only fond memories.

"I love the guys who were part of last year's team," he said.

The team included shortstop Anthony Granato, a post-season All Star, as well as Walker Whitley, Brian Rodaway and Adam Cox, three of the league's top pitchers. He also got to play alongside friend and outfielder Jason Hurst, one of the most aggressive players to come through Bernie Robbins Stadium. The Surf had to close their doors after the 2008 season, due to lack of funding.

"It's a shame. I loved playing there."

Over the fall, Thoma and Surf relief pitcher Kyle George were traded to the New Jersey Jackals. George was one of his teammates in 2008. As for how two less teams in the league affects the league, Thoma believes it will be positive change.

"From a hitter's standpoint, I think we gain the element of familiarity since we will be seeing each other more often. It will be like seeing each team's best pitcher everyday, due to the depth of good players from all the teams in the league."

He's unsure of his role with the Jackals, but the versatile player says he's had a lot of communication with Jackals manager, Joe Calfapietra.

"I've talked to him several times. I'm unsure. I think I'll be mainly working out at shortstop."

True to his enthusiastic nature, Thoma says he's comfortable if there's a platoon situation.

"They have a good second baseman and some really good players coming in."

That includes pitcher Seth Overbey, who played with the Double A New Hampshire Fisher Cats last season, and infielder Myron Leslie. Leslie was an eighth round pick in 2004 for the Oakland Athletics.

The Jackals haven't been to the playoffs since 2004. But Thoma says he already has a beat on what kind of team he thinks the Jackals will be.

"I would have to say our strengths are going to be pitching and defense. I think we'll have good speed in the middle of our lineup and that we'll be a "small ball" type of team."

He understands he's got a job to do, but his first concern isn't what that job is.

"Whatever my role may be, I just hope to perform at my highest level everyday."

Quotable: Jeff Hetzer, Thoma's coach at Thomas Moore College: "He was the best player I ever coached. He did everything I asked, including playing outfield. He's got a great work ethic with a great attitude."

"I got a great story, though he might not think so. I gave him the day off. We were playing a fairly weak team and I thought we could win without him. I wanted him to take notice and get his mind right. I didn't know it was his birthday and he had people coming to see him! He hit .500 the rest of the year."

Notes: At Thomas Moore College he ranks second in career games played...He was born in Miamisburg, Ohio...He's an off-season instructor at Extra Innings in his hometown....He hit .280 and knocked in 44 runs in 2008....

A.J. Battisto Feeling At Home

For a Philadelphia guy, pitcher A.J. Battisto is feeling awfully comfortable in Jupiter, Florida. It might have something to do with being, oh, about a spitball away from where he plays for the Class A-Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads.

"I live literally 300 yards from the field. I walk to work everyday," he said in an e-mail.

The 25 year old Florida Marlins prospect is having a good season so far. He's gone 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA.

"I've been feeling good about my performances so far. I haven't been getting beat with any bad pitches."

The right handed reliever played for the Class-A Greensboro Grasshoppers in 2008, finishing the season 8-1 with an ERA of 1.55 and led the team in strikeouts with 101. When the season ended he got a winter job and waited to be assigned out of spring training. He always hoped for the best, but also believes success has to do with what you put into it.

"If baseball is what you want to do then put everything you have into it," he once said.

So far him and his teammates are doing just that. "Our pitching staff as a whole is pretty dominant. We're hanging in there and pulling for each other."

Battisto, who is joined by Greensboro teammate and highly touted slugger Mike Stanton, is part of a pitching staff that has the third lowest ERA in the Florida State League. Overall the team has improved to two games over .500 and are only 1.5 games back in the standings behind first place Fort Myers Miracle. On Sunday night, he recorded his second save of the season striking out the side to close out the game.

"Things have been going pretty well. Knock on wood."

Notes: Battisto was born and raised in Pottstown, Pennsylvania...He attended Georgia Southern University and in 2007 he went 4-0 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP...The Marlins drafted him in the 30th round in 2007...He likes to go hunting....