When outfielder Angel Pagan was leading the Mets in RBI over the first handful of games this season, most of Mets country let out an explosive… huh?

However, fans in Brooklyn were happy to see the original Cyclone finally getting a real opportunity at the major league level after two so-so seasons with the Chicago Cubs.

Hitting .275 with 13 RBI in only 31 games before going down with a contusion in his left shoulder, after making an amazing catch in the stands at Dodger Stadium on May 7, things haven’t quite gone Pagan’s way this season either. Nonetheless, after a rehab assignment with his former team this past week, Pagan is that much closer to getting back to the Mets.

“I feel good,” Pagan said. “I’ve been out for two months, so I have to work hard to get back. My timing is a little off, but I’m getting there and pretty soon, I hope I can play with the Mets again. I was supposed to come here as a fan at some point in the season, but then I got hurt and now I’m playing here. It’s OK though, I love these fans and I know they love me. I love being here and I hope they keep loving me back.”

Hitting .308 in four games with his former team, having the 27-year-old in the lineup not only provided a jolt to the offense, which is hitting only a meager .241 for the season, but also put a smile on the face of one particular person on the Brooklyn coaching staff.

“He’s mature now and he takes it very seriously,” said Brooklyn manager Edgar Alfonzo, who coached Pagan in Kingsport in 2000 and Brooklyn in 2001. “He’s talking to everyone and they all appreciate him. The Angel Pagan you see now is different from the one I had a few years ago. He was a little kid. Now, he knows the game.”

Pagan too thought it was pretty cool to come back to the place where people started to believe he could play in the big leagues.

Not known as much of a speedster in the bigs, Pagan was a catcher’s worst nightmare during his days in the NYPL and believes that kind of aggressiveness is what helped him get to the big leagues and make a name for himself in Brooklyn.

That kind of aggressiveness is still something he prides himself on every day he’s on the field.

“Just because I’m rehabbing, doesn’t mean I’m going to take it easy,” Pagan said. “I came here to compete and get ready to go back to Shea Stadium.”

Stealing three bases in only four games with Brooklyn, which ironically is now tied for the team lead, the Cyclones all-time stolen base leader undoubtedly competed and proved he still has the same magic legs he had in 2001 when he led the NY-Penn League with 30 swipes.

“I remember yelling at him, but we used to joke around a lot too,” Alfonzo said on July 14, a day before his last game with Brooklyn. “We used to have this sign when he was on first base when I wanted him to steal. I’d give him the open hands. I gave it to him a few times already and it put a smile on his face. It’s been fun having him back.”

Now in St. Lucie, where he can face left-handed pitching to see how well his shoulder has healed, Pagan is that much closer to returning to the bigs.

That doesn’t mean he didn’t have a blast returning to the first place he had real success as a professional ball player though.

“The thing I remember the most about here was the fans,” Pagan said. “They were always supporting us. We played so well at home when I was here and it just felt like whoever we were playing, they were losing. I’ll always remember it as a special year and one that I’ll never forget.

“Today, the atmosphere still feels the same.”

Link:

Box Score to last night’s Cyclones 7-5 loss.

Pictures by Ron Hatcher and Patrick Hickey Jr.

Losing his season in 2007 after sustaining a right knee sprain, Jordan Abruzzo knew he had to come back strong in 2008. Hitting .296 with seven homers, 38 RBI and 84 hits in 77 games between the St. Lucie Mets, Savannah Sand Gnats and Brooklyn Cyclones this season, the 13th round pick in 2007 has done just that.

Hitting over .300 between St. Lucie and Savannah, Abruzzo was sent to Brooklyn to bolster a catching situation that despite it’s proficiency behind the plate, wasn’t producing offensively.

After spending last season between Kingsport and Brooklyn before his injury, Abruzzo is no stranger to the high-octane atmosphere in Keyspan Park either and is happy he’s back.

“I feel great and I know the team is on the right track,” Abruzzo said. “There are a lot of changes being made, but I think we’re really close to finding our identity. I really like the mix of guys we have here and I think we’re ready to go on a roll.”

Originally brought to Brooklyn last season to allow slugger Jason Jacobs to make the transition to first base, Abruzzo lasted only four games and 16 at bats before getting injured. Despite his short tenure in Brooklyn however, he quickly won over the coaching staff with his poise at the plate and ability managing a pitching staff.

They, like Abruzzo, are happy he’s back as well.

“He was hitting well in Savannah and St. Lucie,” Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo said. “I see him as a leader here and he can hit. He’s also great with pitchers. I think his personality fits this team very well. I can already see a difference in our game since he got here.”

In a high-pressure situation like Brooklyn, Abruzzo knows that he has to be on top of his game.

While some young ballplayers would rather focus on their development in the second year of their professional careers, Abruzzo is looking forward to the challenge of expecting to win in Brooklyn.

“They told me to just come here and help the team win,” said Abruzzo on July 14. “It works because that’s my mentality every time I hit the field anyway. I’ve been here for three days and I’ve caught all three so I’m guessing they want me out there everyday. With that, I’m going to focus on the pitching staff first and then hit and help this team drive in runs. They’ve got me in the middle of the order and I know we have to win here, so I know what the expectations are. It should be fun.”

With the team middling around .500 this season, Abruzzo knows the team is in desperate need of a jolt offensively. The way he’s played this season in his other stops in the organization, the 23-year-old feels he can be a positive influence on the club and help them get back on track.

“Playing long season professional baseball, there are a lot of ups and downs,” he said of his time with Savannah and St. Lucie this season. “You can’t really worry about things, you just have to take things as they come. I was doing that in St. Lucie and I was having a good season and we were in first place. I just want to try and do the same thing here. We have some proven winners here and I think we’re going to be solid.”

Link:

Box Score to last night’s Cyclones 5-4 loss

Photos by Patrick Hickey J. and Ron Hatcher.

When most sports fans in New York hear the name Turgeon, they think of Pierre, the enigmatic playmaker for the New York Islanders in the early to mid-90s. However, the Brooklyn Cyclones have their own Turgeon that is set on making his own type of mark on the New York sports scene.

Drafted by the Mets in the 28th round of the 2008 draft, Erik Turgeon was quickly assigned to Kingsport, going 0-0 with a 4.05 ERA in seven appearances. While those numbers are solid, rather than eye-popping, he did exhibit fine control, as he refused to yield a walk in his stint in rookie-ball, earning him a promotion to Single-A with the Cyclones.

While his shaggy black hair and big smile make him like like a finesse hurler who prides himself on getting the big out, Turgeon is a pitcher who doesn’t care how his outs come. Looking to stand out of a crowded Brooklyn bullpen that consists of flamethrowers like Yury Santana and Stephen Clyne and lefty specialists such as Jimmy Johnson and Roy Merritt, the 21-year old knows he has his work cut out for him.

Nevertheless, he’s confident he’ll get the job done when called upon.

“I throw to contact,” Turgeon, who bears no relation to the former Islander who shares his last name, said. “If someone is going to get a hit on me, I’d rather have it be on my best pitch, which is my fastball, rather than my secondary pitches. I just keep the ball down in the zone and make the batter work from his knees.”

With a 94-mph fastball coming in both a four-seam and two-seam variety, Turgeon knows his control will be pivotal in assessing his future success in Brooklyn. Joining the team on Jul. 11, the righty has yet to appear in a game at Keyspan though and is anxious to get started.

“I had a long ride down to Jamestown to meet up with everyone and I’d really like to get into the game tonight,” said Turgeon on Jul. 14. “But if we win, it real doesn’t matter much to be. I’m still soaking everything in.”

A U-Conn product, Turgeon has pitched in Keyspan Park before, but admits that things are completely different now that he’s a pro.

“When I was at U-Conn, it was always snowing, so we were lucky to have 13 people in the stands,” he said. “This atmosphere is nuts. When I played here in college, we just had some parents and fans. Playing in this stadium packed is going to be something I’ve never really experienced before. I can’t wait.”

Still adapting to his new team, Turgeon has admitted he’s a chatty guy and is quickly making friends.

That doesn’t mean he isn’t anxious to get on the field though and show his new comrades what he’s made of though. Hurling three scoreless innings in Oneonta last night, Turgeon has already started that process, but  still sees pitching in front of the Brooklyn crowd as the bigger test.

As a matter of fact, he even has his first appearance in Brooklyn pictured in his head.

“Three outs,” Turgeon, who was originally drafted by the Red Sox in the 49th round in 2005 before deciding to go to college, said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a strikeout or a ground ball; I’m not picky. No way in hell.”

Link:

Box Score to last night’s 4-1 Cyclone Loss.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

While Ike Davis and Zach Lutz have been extremely potent hitters for the Brooklyn Cyclones this season, finding their way on the base paths in nearly every game they’ve played, they lack the deadly combination of speed and power that is Reese Havens.

Despite missing 12 games with an injured right elbow this season, Havens, who has been the team’s designated hitter since returning, is leading the team with three home runs and is third on the team with a .385 on-base percentage, behind only Lutz and Eric Campbell.

If his power numbers weren’t enough, Havens has also shown a well-rounded offensive approach and currently finds himself second on the team in stolen bases and third in walks.

By providing the full package while at the plate, Havens has made it obvious; he is the Cyclones offensive catalyst. With that being said, it’s not ironic that the team has mirrored his play since he was activated, showing flashes of brilliance, to only revel in mediocrity the rest of the time. Nevertheless, with Havens in the lineup, it’s hard not to see the potential this team has and how close they are to becoming an offensive juggernaut.

“We have a great team and all these guys love to play,” Havens said. “We’ve had a tough time putting everything together, but I believe that once we start clicking, you’re going to see a different team out there.”

Still recovering from an injured elbow, Havens knows that despite his success so far this season, his main objective is to get back out on the field again. According to him, the organizational plan is to start playing shortstop again by July 21. However, the 21-year old did say that this is a tentative date and nothing is set in stone.

“I’m feeling alright,” Havens said. “I’m still getting things together, but I’m getting there. My arm feels great; I’ve been in an extended program and the plan has been not to rush back. I have plenty of time. Right now, my strength isn’t quite there yet in my arm, but other than that I feel great. I really want to help lead this team.”

While Havens did admit he was hungrier than ever to get back on the field, his time as a designated hitter, while obviously being difficult for the young infielder, has given him a great opportunity to watch opposing hitters and focus on his approach at the plate.

For a team like the Cyclones, who have hadd problems scoring runs this season, that’s definitely a good thing.

For a hot-shot prospect trying to prove he belongs, it’s not too bad either.

“DH-ing is a little different and I’ve never done it before,” he said. “It’s hard not being on both sides of field; it’s quite a challenge. You have a lot of time to think about what the pitcher is doing and how he works. I pay close attention to every at-bat now and try an learn as much as I can before I get to the plate. I think I’m more focused at the plate now than I’ve ever been.”

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

With a 6-7 record through their first 13 games at home in 2008, the Brooklyn Cyclones were in desperate need of some home cooking on Monday at Keyspan Park.

With Mets first round pick Reese Havens playing the role as team chef, the Clones got just that, rallying for 14 hits and defeating the State College Spikes 7-6.

“We’re still putting the pieces together,” Havens, who had a homer and three RBI on the night, said before the game. “But I still feel that we have a lot of things going for us and we’re ready to turn the corner.”

After starter Jenry Mejia [0-1, 11.25 ERA] hurled a scoreless first, Havens and Zach Lutz connected on solo-homers off State College starter Emilis Guerrero [1-2, 6.38 ERA], giving the Mets Single-A affiliate an early 2-0 lead.

During his last start, Mejia was also strong in the first, but collapsed and gave up five earned runs over his next four innings pitched. It must have been deja-vu all over again for the 18-year-old, as he soon lost the lead during the next half inning, after four consecutive RBI hits with two outs by David Rubinstein, Josue Peley, Chris Rice and Cole White gave the Spikes a 4-2 lead.

After being held scoreless in the third and fourth, Brooklyn reclaimed the lead after a Jake Eigsti single and an error allowed Sean Ratliff to score and a pair of RBI singles from Havens and Mets outfielder Angel Pagan, in what figures to be his last game of a rehab assignment with the team, put the score at 5-4.

Wendy Rosa came out of the bullpen to pitch the fifth for Brooklyn and got himself into a one-out, bases-loaded jam before being replaced by lefty-side armer Roy Merritt. Like he has been for most of the season, Merritt [0.77 ERA in nine appearances] was sensational, striking out both hitters he faced, ending the inning and keeping Brooklyn ahead 5-4.

“That was the turning point of the game,” said Brooklyn skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “We needed someone to come into the game and throw strikes and that’s exactly what he did. He did great.”

Continuing to pitch through the sixth, Merritt retired seven of the eight hitters he faced in total.

The Baby Mets managed to pad their lead even further behind Merritt’s shutdown pitching in the sixth, as Havens nailed down an RBI single, stretching the lead to 6-4. Yury Santana replaced Merritt with one out in the seventh and was also solid, retiring both hitters he faced. In the eighth, Santana did run into some trouble though, leaving runners on first and second with one out for Brooklyn closer Stephen Clyne, who got his team out of the inning without surrendering a run.

With a two-run lead in the eighth, the Cyclones continued to add to their lead, as an Eigsti suicide squeeze scored Kirk Nieuwenhuis and put them up 7-4.

Making his third appearance since rejoining the team on July 11, Clyne then got in a bases-loaded jam in the ninth and gave up two runs on a Chris Simmons RBI single. Clyne eventually settled down however, retiring Rubinstein and putting the finishing touches on a 7-6 victory.

“Yesterday we played well and today we played well,” said Alfonzo. “I know this team is ready to go on a winning streak now.”

With the win, the Mets Single-A affiliate is now 7-7 at home and 13-14 overall and have won two straight after losing five in a row last week.

“This really boosted our confidence,” said Merritt, who had six K’s in only 2.1 innings. “I think the bats are getting comfortable now and I have a lot of confidence in them.”

Notes:

Angel Pagan’s next step in rehab will be to get as many right-handed at bats in as possible. With the Cyclones not facing any lefties in the foreseeable future, it’s unknown where Pagan will go to continue his rehab.

“He needs to hit right-handed,” said Alfonzo. “He needs to face lefties because that’s where his problems are right now.”

Josh Satin and John Servidio were recalled to the team on Sunday after spending the past four days in Kingsport. While Servidio was on the bench last night, Satin was back in the starting lineup.

“I’m happy that they’re back,” Fonzie said. “They make us a better team. I like them a lot”

Last night’s seven-run outburst was the most the team has scored at home since 6-18, when they scored nine runs against the Staten Island Yankees.

“I was looking for this,” said Alfonzo. “I was waiting for this. This is the team we’re looking for.”

Video-

Roy Merritt strikes out Kyle Morgan in the fifth.

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Photos by Ron Hatcher. Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.