In the summer of 2006, the Mets drafted Tim Haines in the 27th round, 814th overall. The odds of a player picked that late in the draft making it to the big leagues is an extremely unlikely endeavor, but Haines, with his awkward, side arm delivery, had plenty of people thinking otherwise.

After barely a month in Single-A ball that year, Haines had everything going his way, going 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA in 10 games and was quickly becoming a fan favorite. With a big Texas smile and penchant for pitching himself out of trouble in tight ball games, Haines was looking like one of the brightest prospects in the organization.

Nevertheless, the year would eventually prove to be much more than sunshine and daisies for the young right hander.

On July 20, 2006, the then 21-year old earned a 50-game suspension for using banned substances, putting a permanent blot on a baseball resume that could one day have major league experience on it.

Soon after the suspension, articles began to hit the press portraying Haines as an immature rebel, describing accounts of him shooting a bb-gun out his dormitory window at his coach’s car in college. There were also stories of how he missed morning practices with the Cyclones due to late-night escapades in Brooklyn bars.

“I had a lot of fun in college,” he said, via telephone from Fort Worth Texas. “That’s all I’m going to say about that.”

Considering how personable he was to fans and media while in Brooklyn, many were confused when the news broke and didn’t know what to believe about him.

While Haines still refuses to admit he partook in taking performance enhancing substances, he admits things didn’t go as planned for him in Brooklyn and that he’s still dealing with his mistakes today.

“I’m a totally different person than I was two years ago,” Haines said. “I’m a lot more mature now. I learned from this and I know it will never happen again.”

Never comfortable in Brooklyn, Haines tried his hardest to become an urban cowboy of sorts, but it was a transition he never fully made.

“[Being in Brooklyn] was a new experience. I’m definitely not a big city guy. To be honest, I didn’t like Brooklyn very much. I just felt so claustrophobic there,” he said. “There were so many people packed in one place all the time. I’m from South Texas, so there are probably 30,000 people in a five-mile radius, while in Brooklyn, there are probably 100,000 people in a two-mile radius. It’s something that took me some time to get used to and if I wasn’t on the field everyday, I honestly don’t think I would have made it. I couldn’t see myself living there. I’d be lying though if I said I didn’t like playing in that stadium though. It’s an amazing environment.”

While his situation in Brooklyn was far from ideal, things would prove to get even worse for him. By January 2007, the Mets had decided to part ways with the 6’2, 170 pound reliever, leaving him jobless. To make matters worse, Haines was stuck with a few games left to serve on his suspension before being eligible to play professional baseball again.

Stuck in baseball purgatory after failing to secure another contract from a professional club, Haines opted to play in the independent circuit for the Costal Bend Aviators, where he struggled through the season, amassing a 5-5 record with a 5.47 ERA in 46 games, despite leading the team with 85 strikeouts.

With the Aviators going 38-54 that season, with an attendance of only 58, 715 (the Cyclones attendance the year Haines played for them was 289,323, in 18 fewer games), it was a step backwards for the once promising prospect. Regardless, he was still happy to have an opportunity to get back into the sport.

“Before that, I thought I was done. I thought I was never going to play again. I definitely wasn’t the happiest camper,” Haines said. “The thought definitely crossed my mind as to what I was going to do with my life. It was about two days after that I started getting calls from Independent Leagues and I started to get my confidence back.”Haines originally tried going back to college after the Mets released him, but he had trouble focusing in school and yearned to get back on any diamond that would take him.

“I just didn’t have it in me to go back to school, it was such a drain, so I figured what the heck, school is always going to be there and baseball is not,” said Haines. “So I might as well just play for as long as I can now. School will always be there.”

Now in his second season in Independent baseball, Haines has settled into a role as a reliever/spot starter for the Fort Worth Cats and has reclaimed the success that captured so many eyes in Brooklyn just two short summers ago. In 14 games this season, Haines has a 2.83 ERA, with opposing hitters hitting just a lackluster .223 against him.

Despite his success this season though, Haines is still skeptical that he’ll ever accomplish his big league goals and feels many teams will think twice about taking a chance on him.

“I obviously have a big cloud over my head,” he said. “I always wonder if I was doing really well if they’d think I was on steroids again and put my name on the bottom of the list. It all depends on who has the confidence in me and knows that I’m clean and that I’ve learned from my mistakes.”

Rather than regret the mistakes he’s made however, Haines is intent on making the most of the opportunity he has with the Cats. Ironically, it’s his first time on a winning team since High School and is an experience he says he’s enjoying immensely.

Nevertheless, it isn’t a place he’d like to be in forever.

“I definitely want to get back in the league,” Haines said. “Obviously, it’s every player’s dream to play in the major leagues and I’m going to play for as long as my body allows me to. I’m only 23 years old and I think I still have something left in my tank. I definitely don’t want to be a career independent league player. No one wants to be. Everyone wants to be in affiliated ball.”

This time around, Haines doesn’t see himself making the same mistakes that cost him his first cup of coffee in professional baseball. More mature and focused, Haines believes he’s a better person than he was two years ago and feels he’s also a better ballplayer.

“The last two years, I’ve been the youngest guy on the teams I’ve played on,” he said. “Most of the guys are in their late 20s and early 30s and have a lot of experience. I’ve learned a lot about baseball from these guys and a lot about myself.”

Ultimately, time will tell how much Haines has changed and if he’ll ever be able to relight the candle of success. Until then, he knows he can only work with the cards he’s dealt himself.

“I have no regrets. If I wouldn’t have made those mistakes, I would have never have learned from them,” Haines said. “I’m never going to put myself in a situation like that ever again.”

Photos by Jim Dolan, Conroy Walker & Bob Haynes/Fort Worth Cats

In 15 appearances last season between Kingsport and Brooklyn, Brant Rustich was a combined 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA. With a fastball clocking in at 97 miles per hour and a plus-slider, Rustich is the #6 pitching prospect in the Mets minor league system, according to Baseball America. Chatting over the phone while on his way up to Savannah on Friday, Rustich talks about his time in Brooklyn last year, his rehab this offseason and what to expect from him this season.

DemBrooklynBums.com: You were just called up to Savannah yesterday. How are you feeling?

Brant Rustich: I’m happy; I think Savannah is going to be a good place for me to get my feet wet. I’ve played for Donovan Mitchell before in Kingsport last year and in Hawaii. There’s a great coaching staff down there and I’m looking forward to being a part of a team. I haven’t had a chance yet because I’ve been hurt. I’m excited too because it’s a place I’ve never been before and I’m ready to get going.

DBB: What was Hawaii like?

Rustich: I was facing Double-A hitters there and I quickly realized that these guys were very good hitters. I probably tried to over do it a little bit and it made me throw a little harder than I should have. I thought I tried to do too much.

DBB: It’s hard to know everything about minor league players because the information is so scarce. When did you get injured?

Rustich: I kind of had dead arm. I was experiencing just an all around soreness in my arm throughout spring training. That’s why I didn’t play much with the team. I was pretty much set on making St. Lucie’s roster, but because of the injury I was working with the extended group and throwing innings because they wanted to make me a starter. Right now, I’m in the bullpen, but starting isn’t out of the question. The idea is to basically get my innings up and see what happens.

DBB: Do you attribute any of that arm soreness to playing college and pro ball last season? It was a pretty long season for you.

Rustich: I went to Hawaii and I just felt that somewhere down the line, my mechanics were acting up. It just felt like I was putting too much stress on my arm. I don’t know if I was overthrowing, but it was probably a combination of things. I went to big league camp and I was trying to impress, maybe I was trying too hard. I wasn’t thinking too much about my mechanics and that’s why they were a little bit off. My arm and my body weren’t quite in sync. Lately, we’ve just been working it out and trying to get my body and arm back in sync and get both back into shape. Hopefully, I can start to get more innings and keep getting better, so I can get where I want to be.

DBB: Speaking of your first spring training, what was that like?

Rustich: It was awesome. I’ve admired so many of those guys growing up. It was great showing up everyday and getting a chance to play with those guys. It’s a shame that I was hurt and didn’t get a chance to pitch in any spring training games, but I was scared to pitch. They wanted me to, but I couldn’t do it. It was disappointing that I didn’t get to show them what I’m capable of doing, but I think I made a smart decision in letting them know that my arm was sore. We kind of worked it out and worked on my mechanics during that time, to get me to where I want to be. I’m a little behind at this point, so I really am anxious to get to Savannah and get back to where I want to be as soon as possible.

DBB: Speaking of where you want to be, where do you want to be?

Rustich: I want to be healthy and continue to work hard. This year, I want to be as consistent as possible. It’s all about repeating your delivery and working on your mechanics. Those are the things that are going to keep me healthy. I don’t want to overthrow the ball. There where times where maybe I was scared of overthrowing the ball and now I understand that it’s not all about the velocity, there’s a lot more to this. At the big league level, those guys don’t go out there and throw the ball as hard as they can. They throw it at a level where they are at their most comfortable, which is where they can throw strikes and be healthy all season long.

DBB: Given that, do you think you’ve matured as a player because of the injury? Your philosophy sounds much different from most minor leaguers.

Rustich: I think so. I think it was Tony Bernazard or one of the area scouts that told me that everyone has to make adjustments. I had to make some too because obviously, I didn’t want to keep getting hurt. I want to pitch. I guess it got to point where I said to myself that I had to make a few adjustments. I can’t try and throw the ball as hard as I can every single time. I also used to grip the ball really firm. Lately, I’ve been loosening the grip a little bit and working on my feel of the ball, rather than just ripping it and letting it go. When you do that, you’re not going to do things you shouldn’t be doing. If you’re a little out of synch, you’re not going to pay as big a price. Also, I’ve been trying to keep my head down because in the past, it’s moved around a little bit too violently.

DBB: When you were in Brooklyn, you were throwing incredibly hard. What was your approach then?

Rustich: In Brooklyn, I was throwing the ball as close to as hard as I’ve ever thrown it, but my mechanics were good enough. They were good in sense that I wasn’t falling apart and I was capable of maintaining a high velocity without putting much strain on my arm. Now, by maintaining good mechanics, I’m trying to let the velocity come naturally, rather than try to force it. That’s what I was trying to do then. Now I’m taking a step back and thinking about what I have to do to get hitters out. When I was throwing the ball in the spring, I wasn’t throwing that hard. I wasn’t feeling good. My arm was sore and my velocity was down. It seemed the harder I wanted to throw, the harder it was for me to do what I needed to. In the past few weeks though, I’ve been working with the coaches and they have a great approach. They’ve been working with me and I feel healthy and good. I threw three innings a few days ago and my velocity is good. I’m still throwing 93-94 miles per hour. It’s plenty hard enough and eventually my velocity will increase and I’ll maintain my mechanics.

DBB: Fans in Brooklyn last year saw a heck of a lot of your fastball and your slider. Is there anything else in your arsenal that we should know about or is there anything else that you are working on?

Rustich: I’ve been working on my changeup and I think it’s come a long way. It’s one of those pitches though that you have to really trust. I’m so confident in my slider, so it’s hard to rely on another pitch, especially one that’s your third best pitch. It’s just a matter of me developing confidence in it. I know I have a good fastball and a good slider, so it’s a little bit more difficult to develop that third pitch. I have a pitch to throw when I need a strikeout or a groundball, so my changeup is definitely something I need to continue to work on. It’s an important pitch for me though, especially if I’m starting. I really have to develop it. I’m going to continue throwing it more and getting more confident with it. I’m also fooling around with a curveball as well, so that’s a fourth pitch, but it’s more in the works. It’s far from something I’d use in a game right now.

DBB: Lastly, looking back at your time in Brooklyn, what was your overall experience like?

Rustich: I loved Brooklyn. I think one time in the Cape Cod championship I played in front of a bigger crowd. But on any everyday basis, I’ve never played in front of that many people. The environment was great, everyday I pitched there I felt like I was in the big leagues. It was so much fun to play there to show up to work early every day and see all the people there. It was always like you never wanted to leave because it was so much fun. I had so much fun there too with that group of guys. What made it better was that we were winning too and getting along so well. Going to the playoffs was great too.

Photo by Jim Dolan

Drafted in the fifth round of the amateur draft last season, third baseman Zach Lutz immediately became one of the most highly touted prospects in the Mets farm system. Quickly assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones, the team’s Single-A affiliate, Lutz injured his foot in the team’s first game of the season and spent the rest of the year on the disabled list. Still rehabbing from the surgery that was required to repair the hairline fracture he suffered nearly a year ago, Lutz has put on some weight and now looks like a completely different ballplayer. Chatting over the phone from Florida, Lutz spoke to Dem Brooklyn Bums about his recovery and what to expect from him in the future.

Dem Brooklyn Bums: Because of your injury, you only had two at bats all season and spent the rest of the year on the disabled list. Considering how much was expected of you, how did you feel the rest of the season?

Zach Lutz: After I got hurt, I waited around for a week before I went and had surgery. I got two screws put in my foot and I knew I was going to be out for the rest of the season. It was a tough road back, but I think I’m in better shape than I was before the injury. As of right now, I’m still doing rehab down in Florida, but I’m going to be ready to play in a few weeks.

DBB: Has the organization told you where you were going to go? Is there anywhere that you would want to go?

Lutz: They haven’t told me anything yet. I have no idea, probably Brooklyn. I’d really like to make a full-season team but it all depends on where they think I’m going to be at that time and if I’m ready.

DBB: Considering how little you played in Brooklyn, do you feel you have something to prove to the fans there?

Lutz: It was unfortunate what happened there and I do feel like I have something to prove to them, but all I can really do is concentrate on my rehab. I’ve worked really hard down here and I’m anxious to get started. I’m just really looking forward to staying healthy this season on whatever team I play on.

DBB: The Cyclones had a solid season last year, did you follow them after you officially left the team.

Lutz: Yes. I became pretty close friends with J.R. Voyles during that time. We used to talk on the phone pretty much every day and he always let me know what was going on with the team. He did a great job stepping in for me and I was happy that they had a good season.

DBB: This offseason, you’ve put on some muscle and look much bigger around your shoulders and arms. As a matter of fact, some people probably wouldn’t even recognize you. What exactly did you do this offseason, besides eating plenty of steak and potatoes?

Lutz: I was doing upper-body work four times a week and I was using the arm bike to stay in shape. When I first got injured, that was pretty much the only cardio work that I could do. I also paid very close attention to what I was eating. I wanted to make sure that I could do everything in my power to be ready this year. Over the next few weeks, we’ll see how prepared I really am and hopefully I’ll be ready to go.

DBB: Before you played your first professional game, you compared your game to David Eckstein. Considering how much you’ve changed physically over the past year, do you think that assessment still holds up?

Lutz: I don’t know. I think maybe I may be a bit of a different player now, but I still think I go out and play the game the same way as him. We both work hard and give everything we have. I just hope with everything that has happened to my foot that I can still go out there and play with that same kind of intensity. I hope everything holds up. I’m used to running wherever I go. I’m not used to being lazy.

DBB: After you were drafted, you said that you were the type of guy that would go home and hit after a game. Without a doubt, baseball seems to be a true love in your life. Being injured for as long as you were, you couldn’t do that, how did you cope?

Lutz: I still did things when I was injured. It was weird though, because I was instructed to always keep my foot elevated. I had a cast on my right foot for five months; it was really tough at times, but I had to do something. I usually went outside and put my right foot on a bucket and I would throw the ball around with my mother or father. I tried to do anything to stay active. I would go down to my old college with my father and get on my knees and take softballs. I also took four classes at school. I’m still a semester away from getting my degree. That’s very important to me, but right now my main concern is coming back healthy this season.

DBB: Did the time off take an emotional toll on you as well?

Lutz: When all of this happened, it definitely made me think about baseball and my life differently. Sometimes you wake up in the morning and you question if you have the energy to go out and perform and sometimes you take it for granted. But then, something like what happened to me can happen and it puts everything into perspective. I worked so hard and then that happened, but I’m going to let it take anything away from me. I’m dedicated to getting back to where I should be and making the most of things. This offseason I hit the gym and worked as hard as I could. I wanted to make sure that I was ready this season.

DBB: Are you confident that you can come back this season and be the player that everyone expects you to be?

Lutz: Definitely. I put on some size this offseason and my power right now is unbelievable. I’ve worked really hard on defense with the fielding instructors as well, taking grounders and working on my hand-eye coordination and all the little things I need to be sharp with. I actually feel better now than I did before the injury. I’ve put everything from last year behind me and I’m ready to see what the future holds.

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. and Jim Dolan

Last season, Dillon Gee was one of the Cyclones best pitchers, amassing a 3-1 record with a 2.47 ERA and only nine walks in 62 innings. Recently assigned to the Mets high-A affiliate in St. Lucie, Gee is climbing the organizational ladder and could find himself in the big leagues one day. Chatting over the phone from St. Lucie, Gee talked about his experience in Brooklyn last year and what to expect from him in the future.

Dem Brooklyn Bums: This was the first time you had to prepare for a year of professional baseball. Considering that you jumped right into action with the Cyclones last year after a long college season, how did this offseason go for you?

Dillon Gee: I don’t think I went about it any differently than I did in college. All I did was put on some weight and work on some fundamentals like I usually do. In a situation like that, all you can do is work hard and hope everything goes well for you. Right now I feel good and I’m ready to start the season.

DBB: What were your goals going into the offseason?

Gee: I was pretty worn out at the end of last season because of the college season and playing in Brooklyn, so my main goal was to put on some weight. I had to recharge my batteries and get some weight back. I feel great now. I always made sure I ate well and worked out a lot. You always want to get a little heavier during the offseason because you lose plenty of weight during Spring Training. They really work you hard down there. My biggest goal was to make a team out of Spring Training and they told me I’m going to high-A in St. Lucie, so I’m really happy about that. I just hope I can be as successful over here as I was in Brooklyn.

DBB: Considering how fast you were sent to Brooklyn after you were drafted, where you nervous at all last season?

Gee: I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t. I was really nervous. I went from playing at a school where we got 10 fans a game to Brooklyn where they get 7,000. I was definitely nervous my first couple of outings, but after a while the crowd and the atmosphere helped me stay strong out there and play well under pressure.

DBB: Out of college, your numbers weren’t as good as some of the other players. Did you feel like you had something to prove? Were you happy with the way things turned out?

Gee: I definitely felt like I had something to prove, considering that I was drafted in the 21^st round and didn’t have great numbers in college. I wouldn’t say I was totally satisfied with how the season went because I don’t think anyone is ever totally satisfied, but I do think I had a good season.

DBB: Do you have any favorite games from last season that you still remember?

Gee: To be honest, my favorite games last year were the ones that I was on the bench for. I still remember when Matt Bouchard hit that walk-off home run; that was crazy. I remember when we were on top of the division and trying to secure a playoff spot and how much fun we had as a team. Those guys were so much fun to play with and fun to hang out with in the locker room. Those are the things I remember the most.

DBB: What was it like playing with those guys last season?

Gee: I have never come across a group of guys like that in my career. We all came from different states and different schools and we didn’t know each other from Adam, but when we got on the field it was like we knew each other and had played together our whole lives. It was the best team I’ve ever played on by far just because of the comradery we all had. It was awesome.

DBB: You wowed fans last season with your control. Is that something you’re going to try and do this season in St. Lucie? Have you been working on any new pitches?

Gee: When I’m out on the field, I like to get out of every inning throwing as few pitches as possible. I don’t like to be out on the field for a long period of time. I can throw strikes and that’s what I do. I want the hitter to take swings at my pitches and put the ball in play. There’s no reason to be fancy out there and just stand around. As far as any new pitches I’m working on, I’m still refining the pitches I have [fastball, changeup and slider] and trying to get better. Overall, I’m pretty happy with my repertoire.

DBB: Do you know of any other Cyclones from last year that are going to be in St. Lucie with you this year? Is that going to make things easier for you?

Gee: Matt Bouchard, Stephen Clyne, Will Morgan, Dylan Owen, Brant Rustich and Lucas Duda are all going to be there. I know I’m going to have to prove myself all over again there, but playing with guys that know my game and are comfortable around me is going to make things a little easier. I think it’s going to be fun having all of them around.

DBB: How has St. Lucie been treating you? Have you ever been there before?

Gee: I’ve only been here since Spring Training, so I really haven’t been here very long. I like it though; it’s a lot like Texas as far as the weather is concerned. It’s really easy to get loose and I’m really excited about getting started this year.

DBB: In a perfect world, what do you think your stats will look like this season?

Gee: It’s kind of hard to guess how many starts I’m going to get, but I think in a perfect world, I’d have a lot more wins than losses and keep my walks down. Also, I try to maintain a solid WHIP and strikeout to walk ratio. If I can do that, then I’ll be happy.

Photos by Jim Dolan and Daniel Wos

Mets minor leaguer Dylan Owen had perhaps the most unlikely road to superstardom last season, going from a spare part in the bullpen to the Brooklyn Cyclones Ace, winning nine games with a microscopic 1.49 ERA.

Even the team’s coaching staff was surprised how the 2007 tenth round pick performed, as he played a crucial part in the team’s playoff run last season. Nevertheless, they immediately saw that he had the work ethic and drive to succeed in pro ball.

“He has a great make up and works extremely hard. He is the ace of this staff and he’s proved it time and time again this season,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “He came to this team with a great attitude and was ready to win.”

Chatting over the phone from his home in Chesterfield, South Carolina, Owen discusses his season last year and what to expect from him in 2008.

DemBrooklynBums.com: Last season, after you were drafted, I asked you what you had planned if a life in professional baseball didn’t pan out. You told me you’d consider being a gym teacher. What are your thoughts on that statement now?

Dylan Owen: I definitely know that I can do it now at that level, but I know it’s going to get tougher at every other level I go to. I’d much rather be a major league ball player than a gym teacher or an athletic director or something like that. My mom always tells me that there weren’t many times when I was a little kid that I didn’t have a baseball in my hand. I always wanted to be a baseball player and that’s how it turned out. I’m living my dream.

DBB: When the season started last year, you weren’t originally in the starting rotation. What do you think will happen this year?

Owen: I think they’ll give me a shot earlier this season based on how I did last year. I think they’ll want me to see how long I can keep this going. I was pretty consistent last season and it wasn’t like I was pitching a good game here and there and then taking a game off every few days, so I think I’ll get my shot to start.

DBB: What do you have to do on the field for that to happen?

I always try to pitch to my strengths. I try and get that first strike and I have three pitches that I can throw for strikes pretty much whenever I want, so that really helps a lot. I try to keep my strikeouts and ground balls up and my walks down, because those walks usually come around to score. When I do that, I’m in good shape.

DBB: After last season, there are expectation for you to continue performing at a high level, what did you do to make sure you were in the type of physical condition to meet those expectations head on?

Owen: I like to work harder every year, no excuses. I ran a little more and worked out a little more than I had before. In college, they tell you not to lift too much, they don’t want you to be too tight, but now, I have to be in a different kind of shape. I’m going to be a lot stronger than I was going to be last season.

DBB: Considering how hard you worked in the offseason, how excited are you to be in camp this year?

Owen: I’m a little more excited than I was last year. Last year, I was more nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. This year I at least know more people and I’m glad. It’s nicer and it’s going to be a great opportunity to earn a spot on a team. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time and I can’t wait to prove myself out on the field.

DBB: How did it feel to be awarded the Sterling Award as the Mets top player in the NY-Penn league, at Shea Stadium last season?

Owen: The field looks the same as ours [Keyspan Park], but when you look around and see all those people, it’s crazy. It was a great feeling.

Photos by Jim Dolan and Daniel Wos.