Fonzie’s Back!

February 27, 2008   ·   Patrick Hickey, Jr.   ·   Jump to comments

According to the team’s official website, the Brooklyn Cyclones have brought back manager Edgar Alfonzo for another season, making him the first coach in team history to be behind the bench for two consecutive seasons.

“We’re thrilled to have Fonzie back with the club,” said Cyclones General Manager Steve Cohen on the team’s official website. “He has a real rapport with the Brooklyn fans and he’s a proven winner who has brought out the best in the teams he’s been with.”

Guiding the Cyclones to a 49-25 finish last season after winning the NYPL championship in his first year with the team in 2001, Alfonzo is the most successful manager in team history. His tough love approach on the field and easy going nature with fans and media during his time in Brooklyn have made him equally as popular and revered with his own players as well.

“He’s really truthful with us and let’s us know what our roles are. I really like the fact that he doesn’t try and sugarcoat anything either,” said Brooklyn reliever Edgar Ramirez during the team’s playoff run last season. “If we do something wrong out there, he lets us know about it, but he never blows his top. I think it’s easy to see why a lot of people think he’s a players coach.”

The organization also announced that pitching coach Hector Berrios and hitting coach Guadalupe Jabalera will also be returning this season. Trainer Matt Hunter rejoins the coaching staff for his third consecutive season in Brooklyn.

The Cyclones begin their season on June 17, where they will battle the Staten Island Yankees at Keyspan Park.

Now that I’ve gotten my journalistic obligation out of the way, let me share my thoughts on this:

I think it’s a great move. While I have nothing against George Greer, the manager of the Cyclones in 2006 or Donovan Mitchell, who many thought was going to coach the team this season [and may eventually wind up doing so in the next few years], it’s easy to see that Fonzie is synonymous with Brooklyn baseball and he deserved another year at the helm. The fans love him, the media appreciates his candor and ability to be fair and upfront when talking about his players; it’s just a perfect fit.

There were a few games last season where I was the only person in his office after games last season and Alfonzo would basically be like a guy that just watched the game on television and would go over the things he didn’t like and the things he thought stuck out. That kind of personality isn’t found in many professional coaches. That doesn’t mean he won’t answer the difficult questions either. I don’t remember one time last season when he didn’t answer a question I asked him. With such a media friendly coach, you wouldn’t expect him to be a player’s coach, but at the same time, he’s proven to consistently support his players and does a great job motivating them and keeping them on their toes.

There was an instance last year where Cyclones reliever Grady Hinchman walked by his office and asked the writers if Alfonzo was in a bad mood or not in typical Hinchman fashion, filled with vigor, and enough facial expression to animation your own animated series. That’s not to say Alfonzo is a loose cannon, he’s probably the complete opposite, but Hinchman, like his teammates last season, just understood that when they screwed up, they were going to be held accountable.

You can’t ask for anything more from a minor league manager.

Photo taken by Patrick Hickey Jr.