Minor Thoughts - April 8, 2009

Game Notes for the B-Mets: Tonight:

The Binghamton Mets open the 2009 season against the Trenton Thunder. This is the third time that the two teams have met on Opening Day. In 1999, Trenton tallied a 7-2 win over Binghamton at Waterfront Park in a game that was suspended in the fifth inning on 4/9/1999 and completed the following day. Last season, the Thunder traveled to NYSEG Stadium to open the year and were shutout by the Mets 2-0 . Jonathon Niese picked up the win with five strong innings and Mike Carp drove in both runs. STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP: LHP Mike Antonini gets the call for the B-Mets on Opening Day. Last season, Antonini saw time with Savannah (Low-A) and St. Lucie (High-A) before ending the year with Binghamton. He tallied a 1-3 record and a 3.74 ERA in 8 starts with the B-Mets, averaging 5.2 IP per start. Trenton counters with RHP Eric Hacker, a member of the Yankees 40-man roster. Hacker made nine starts with Tampa (High-A) before being called up to Trenton in 2008. Over 17 starts with the Thunder, Hacker notched a 7-4 mark with a dazzling 2.74 ERA in 91.1 IP. Hacker was a 23rd round pick by New York (AL) in the 2002 draft. “HERE I GO, ON THE ROAD AGAIN”: 14 of the B-Mets first 21 games will be spent away from NYSEG Stadium. Last season, however, the Mets played 14 of their first 21 at home and set a new attendance record for NYSEG Stadium with 34,997 spectators passing throw the turnstiles in the month April. “TURN THE PAGE”: 2008 was a positive year for the B-Mets on the field, finishing two games behind wild-card winner Portland in the Eastern League’s North Division with a record of 73-69. It was the first time since 2004 that Binghamton finished the season with a winning record. HISTORY LESSON: This is the B-Mets 18th consecutive season Eastern League season and 92nd season overall dating back to the Binghamton Bingoes of the New York State League, who debuted in 1885. Binghamton was a charter member of the Eastern League playing from 1923-1963 and again in 1967 and 1968 as the Binghamton Triplets. When the Triplets began play in 1923, however, the league was dubbed the New York-Pennsylvania League. It was not until 1938 that the league garnered the “Eastern League” moniker. MANAGING THE GAME: Mako Oliveras returns to skipper the B-Mets in 2009 for a third season. In his first two years as Binghamton’s manager, Oliveras has tallied a 134-150 record.

Upcming B-Mets matchups:

Thursday, April 9 at Trenton 7:05 pm RHP Dylan Owen (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP George Kontos (0-0, 0.00)

Friday, April 10 at Trenton 7:05 pm RHP Jose Sanchez(0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Zach McAllister (0-0, 0.00)

Saturday, April 11 at Trenton 1:05 pm RHP Ryan Coultas (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Ryan Pope (0-0, 0.00)

Monday, April 13 at Reading 6:35 pm RHP Fernando Nieve (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBA



The Savannah Sand Gnats and Paula Deen Enterprises have partnered up for the 2009 season to bring some of the best food Savannah has to offer to fans at Historic Grayson Stadium. “The folks at Deen Enterprises have been especially supportive of the Sand Gnats in the past and this further enhances our relationship,” said President R.C. Reuteman. “At the same, we’re able to bring the highest quality of food to Grayson and better serve our fans.” Jamie Deen noted, “I can’t think of anything more American than baseball and The Lady & Sons food. It’s a natural fit.” Brother Bobby Deen added, “My brother and I are so passionate about baseball so naturally, we wanted to bring the best of our food to the stadium. We’re so happy to bring a touch of the south to the game.” Fans will notice the new The Lady & Sons food stand on the first base side of Historic Grayson Stadium in 2009. The stand will serve authentic The Lady & Sons Pulled Pork Sandwiches and Paula’s famous Gooey Butter Cakes.