If Backman was never fired by the Arizona Diamondback and ultimately blackballed throughout affiliated baseball, would he have become one of the better managers in baseball or would he have just been a footnote on history or the Belmont Sportsbook.

It’s something no one would ever know, but now the 50 year-old Backman gets a second chance with his appointment by the Mets to helm the Brooklyn Cyclones next season.

“I take full responsibility for the things I did wrong, and I want to go forward,” said Backman, who had a number of problems in the past, including a DUI, domestic disputes, and a bankruptcy. “To start [over] here is good for me.”

Having Backman back with the Mets is a good thing for the organization, since the winning fire is missing. VP of Business David Howard said the team put a “zero-tolerance” clause in their new manager’s contract in order to protect the organization from any further transgressions and possible embarrassment.

That all sounds good and all, but is it really needed? The team did the right thing here by hiring Backman, a man who paid his price and ready to continue his career. But a person who does baseball betting feels it was long overdue.

This is not an indictment of the Mets, rather one of all affiliated baseball, which is filled with men of low moral character. With so many stars caught for steroid abuse and others – at least in the past – getting off basically scott free for drug abuse and digressions, why was Backman the one to be punished for his problems.

Backman, by his own admission, is a very flawed man, who encountered many off the field problems a decade ago. But does that make himself any different than Alex Rodriguez or Manny Ramirez, who were caught doing steroids? Or Pete Rose, who bet on the game and would probably use Belmont Betting? Or even fellow teammates Ron Darling and Darryl Strawberry with their reported problems with the IRS?

The only difference was that Backman was punished for his sins, which is not just unfair, but flat out wrong. Even with his problems, he still proved himself to be one hell of a manager, with a burning desire to win at all costs.

“We took winning and losing personally,” Backman said about the 1986 Mets. “I still do that. That might be why I’m a little bit too high strung at times. I like for the kids to try to take that stuff personal, too. I think it helps them throughout their career. If you can take a loss personal and use the proper energy the way it’s supposed to be used the next day, you end up winning a lot of baseball games.”

And that’s what the Mets hope for the Cyclones, one of their more important affiliates. The club always wants a winning franchise in Coney Island, and Backman pretty much assures that team will be competitive. Yet, this move should have happened a long time ago – again not just by the Mets, but throughout all of baseball.

Backman paid too long of a price for his sins. Now it’s time for him to take the first step on the rest of his career.

Richard Lucas has started his stint with the Brooklyn Cyclones hitting safely in his first eight games and is currently hitting .351 this season with the Cyclones, Kingsport and the Gulf Coast Mets with four homers and 30 RBI.

Jordany Valdespin has hit safely in eight of his nine games with the team and has a homer and four RBI during that span.

In other news:

Alex Gregory bounced back from a mediocre July, where he hit .240, and is currently hitting .315 in August with 15 hits in 15 games.

With his save on the 27th, Mike Powers has surpassed Robert Paulk as the single season saves leader with 16.

Quickly amassing a 16-5 record this season, due to a more than healthy combination of hearty hitting and fiery pitching, the Brooklyn Cyclones were riding high atop the NY-Penn League Standings when their first taste of reality began to hit home.

With a 2-7 record over a nine game stretch in mid-July, the baby Mets weren’t nearly as dominant as they were earlier in the season.

Nevertheless, they believe the experience has been productive one and one that will help them find the continuity they need to keep their lead in the McNamara Division with a hot Staten Island Yankees team behind them.

Bouncing back over the past week, winning four out seven games, it looks like the Clones are back in the driver’s seat.

“We’re human,” said reliever Mike Lynn, who has rebounded marvelously after spending most of last season with arm problems, posting a 2.79 ERA through his first six appearances. “We got off to a great start, but everyone was still getting to know each other. It’s just a matter of how fast we can turn it around.”

Taking the series with the Yankees this past weekend, it seems they may have been doing more than spouting clichés during the week when they were grilled about their lack of production.

Getting quality pitching has always been a trademark of the team and over the past three games, the team’s pitching staff has returned to the form they had earlier in the season.

After giving up 11 earned runs through his last three starts, rotation ace Collin McHugh hurled five shutout innings to lead the team to a 1-0 win last Friday. Despite scattering nine hits the next day, Clones hurler Mark Cohoon gave up just two runs in an 11-3 win. Making just his third start of the season on Sunday, Darin Gorsk threw six innings and gave up just two runs, allowing Brooklyn to sweep the series and get back on track.

“I don’t think it’s too much adversity,” said Cyclones closer Mike Powers, who has five saves and a stellar 1.59 ERA in nine appearances this season. “Things went our way earlier in the season and we’re not getting too caught up in the highs and lows. We have a talented and experienced team and that’s what’s going to shine through in the end.”

The pitching staff hasn’t been the only thing clicking as of late. Despite not being as explosive as they were earlier in the season, Brooklyn has managed more timely hits, resulting in more wins.

Picking up the slack on offense has been the fresh-faced Tyler Vaughn, who has four hits in his first nine at bats with the team. The Clones have also gotten pick-me-ups from former major leaguers Andy Green and 2003 MLB rookie of the year Angel Berroa, who have spent time over the past two weeks with the team on conditioning assignments. While Berroa has only appeared in two games with two hits, Green has been sound, hitting .307 in seven games. Regulars Sam Honeck [.323 BA, 12 RBI] and Luis Rivera [18 RBI, .310 BA] have continued their stellar play as well, giving the team just enough offense to get over the hump.

While the team will obviously need more offense down the stretch if they want to stay in the win column, the timely hitting and excellent pitching are proving to be more than enough to get them by.

You can doubt them all you want, but according to the young team, ‘they told you so.’

“We’re like a family,” said McHugh. “This is the most fun I’ve ever had on a pro team, but it’s baseball; you’re going to win some and you’re going to lose some. We all get along though and we’re going to keep up what we were doing earlier in the season.”

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Confident and unwavering on Wednesday, McHugh believed he was ready to get back on the right track.

“You come into work every day and you work through these things,” he said. “It’s nothing I’m worried about.”

Hurling six shutout innings yesterday, McHugh bounced back well and is now 4-1 with a 3.94 ERA in just six starts.

“I feel good,” he said. “This is a long season, so it’s just a matter of dealing with things as they come.”

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Giving up five earned runs in his last start on July 6, McHugh ran into his first stumbling block of the season, but was saved by his offense and managed to stay undefeated.

The combination of Cohoon and Moore have given up only 39 hits and a paltry seven walks in 47 innings.

Fuller has also been extremely solid, walking only two hitters in 19 innings and hasn’t given up an earned run yet this season.

While the trademark of the Cyclones over the past eight plus seasons has always been it’s pitching staff, it’s doubtful anyone could have possibly predicted this team would be this good on the mound this season.

If things continue to fall this way, the ‘Clones may be able to bring home their first sole NY-Penn League Championship.

Editors Note- My apologies on the lack of updates through the first three weeks of the season. I’ve been battling a wicked bout of the flu and that combined with a hectic work schedule have forced me to play catch up.

Starting next week, I’ll start updating with more regularity.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

This season however, Carrillo is hoping for things to be different.

Gaining velocity on his fastball, [which sat around 88 MPH last season] and junking his curveball in favor of a slider is one way to do it.

He’s worked on a few other things as well.

“I added a couple of miles to my fastball; it’s at about 91 MPH now,” said Carrillo. “I’m very happy with my stuff right now. I’ve worked a bit on my mechanics a bit too; my arm angle is a bit different; I have a higher release point.”

Even though the curveball was an effective pitch for the 22-year-old last season, he feels the slider is even better.

Only time will tell how right that decision was though.

For the time being, it’s a choice he’s more than happy with.

“I started using it in the winter and I’ve gotten a lot of outs with it,” he said. “I think it’s going to help me with my consistency and help me get to higher levels.”

Photo by Ron Hatcher.

An All-Ivy player during all three seasons he played at Dartmouth, Santomauro hit .372 with eight home runs, 40 RBI and 13 doubles this season, while ranking among the league’s top 10 in eight separate offensive categories to earn the Player of the Year award.

“It’s exciting,” he said while in the Cyclones dugout before the game. “I told my parents not to come tonight because I haven’t been activated yet. I can’t wait to get started.”

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

A fan favorite due to his hard-nosed work ethic and mega-watt smile, the 23-year-old is looking forward to getting an opportunity to show what he can do in a starting role, something he lost last season after the Cyclones brought in Sean Ratliff and Seth Williams to add depth to the outfield.

“I’m looking to set personal highs, be consistent and injury free,” he said. “I’ve never got a ring before either, so that’s another goal.”

Getting plenty of ABs in Extended Spring Training this season, Cyclones manager Pedro Lopez has liked what he’s seen so far from the Barry University-alumnus as well and plans to use him in a variety of roles.

“He’s a big part of our team,” said Lopez, who also mentioned that he likes Servidio in the lead-off spot due to his versatility. “He did a great job through extended Spring Training with us.”

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Get a few big bats- Over the three seasons that I’ve covered the team, the Cyclones have rarely had a bona fide power hitter [too bad I missed Caleb Stewart] and have relied on pitching to ensure their winning ways. Sure guys like Jason Jacobs, Dustin Martin and Kirk Nieuwenhuis have had great years, but they are far from the type of offensive seasons some other players in the NYPL have put up over the past few seasons.

I’m sure the injuries and inconsistencies of Reese Havens and Ike Davis last season played a part in that trend continuing as well. I mean, who could have predicted Davis could have had that much of a problem with NYPL pitching? No one, that’s who. The same thing goes for the array of injuries Havens was forced to deal with. Perhaps I’m looking into this too much, but I think Keyspan Park plays a huge role in this, as the wind kills a large percentage of the fly balls hit. Nonetheless, a good extra-base hitter with solid speed, in the mold of an Ambiorix Concepcion, with a bit more power, would be a perfect addition to the team.

As well, it would compliment the always strong pitching staff and perhaps give the team enough steam to win it’s first real NYPL championship.

Keep the draft pick trend alive- Last season, the Mets brought a plethora of their draft picks over to Brooklyn. For the first time in a while, fans and media alike were completely happy with the moves the team made. Over the first two years I covered the team, fans on various message boards often complained about the players either chosen to play in Brooklyn at the start of the season or the ones that eventually made their way there. Last season, the team had a chance to grow together and that in itself was something very enjoyable to watch.

If that trend continues, I’m sure the fans at Keyspan will continue to voice their happiness about it.

It would also continue to cement the team’s notion of watching the future stars of the Mets before the hit the big leagues. In the end, isn’t that why fans head out to Keyspan in the first place?

In this interview done in September 2007, Rodriguez talks about the transition to first base and the interesting way he planned to improve his footwork at the position.

As always, you can listen to the interview here @

http://media.switchpod.com//users/dembrooklynbums/TheLostInterviewsJoaquinRodriguez.mp3

Photo by Daniel Wos.

While Dan Murphy and Nick Evans are currently hitting over .300 and positioned atop the teams leader board in hitting this spring, several other former baby bums have been swinging well as well.

Even four Cyclones from last year got a call, as Sean Ratliff, Zach Lutz, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Ike Davis have garnered plate appearances, with mixed success. Lutz and Nieuwenhuis each have a double a piece in three combined at bats, while Ratliff and Davis have gone hitless in four at bats.

It should be very interesting to see what happens with Lutz, who despite showing remarkable poise at the plate in his minor league plate appearances, has had tremendous problems staying healthy over the past two seasons. A good and injury-free showing in the Grapefruit League could help get him back on track.

The same thing goes for former Cyclone Angel Pagan, who looks ready to rock again after spending most of last season on the shelf after a fast start and is hitting .467 in 15 at-bats.

On the pitching side of things, Dillon Gee has looked decent in three appearances, but doesn’t seem ready for the show as of yet. Some more seasoning in Double-A with a stop in Triple-A before his big league debut should do the trick for him. Carlos Muniz also seems like another pitcher that could use a bit more seasoning, but at 28 years old, you wonder if he’ll ever be able to reproduce the stellar numbers he put up in Brooklyn, in Queens.

2005 Cyclone Bobby Parnell looks a bit more polished than he did in his small cup of coffee with the team last season and could be someone to keep an eye out for as well.

Other notables include Mike Antonini and Roy Merritt, who have also seen time in Spring Training with much different results. Antonini has thrown two scoreless innings this Spring, while Merritt, who is still developing his secondary pitches to compliment an excellent slider and a average fastball, is still finding out what he needs to do in order to be successful. In just a third of an inning of work, the lefty-side-armer has given up three runs and two hits.

Photo by Ron Hatcher

Simply put, Alfonzo looked like he needed a break.

Nevertheless, as soon as the season was over, Fonzie was out coaching the very same players he spent the summer with, at the team’s instructional leagues, doing whatever he had to in order to help them climb up the proverbial food chain in the Mets organization.

You see, dedication and maintaining a top-notch work ethic are things that Alfonzo takes very seriously.

So despite the fact that he probably was in the need of a shave of a Red Bull, Alfonzo went to instructional league and ended up enjoying himself.

“These guys are working very hard and are learning a lot,” Alfonzo, who has served at several different positions in the organization over the past decade, said via telephone in . “I’ve had a lot of fun with them here. Guys like [Cyclones outfielder] Sean Ratliff and [Cyclones first baseman] Ike Davis have shown me a lot. They are absorbing all the information and are playing very well.”

A few months later, Alfonzo’s name still appears on the team’s website as the team’s skipper, but unlike previous years, where announcements were made at this time in the season, the team has yet to make a decision on who will be behind the bench.

In spite of how last season ended, with the team missing the playoffs for the first time in three seasons and the first time with Alfonzo at the helm, Fonzie was rewarded for his time and energy and was appointed as the head coach of the Savannah Sand Gnats a week and a half ago.

That doesn’t mean he didn’t enjoy himself in Brooklyn though.

“Aside from the big leagues, Brooklyn is the best place to manage in the Mets organization,” said Alfonzo. “I don’t know what the organizations plans are for me next season, but I know that I’ve really enjoyed my time there.”

However, with Alfonzo now in Savannah, who will manage the Cyclones?

Many fans feel that Donovan Mitchell, former Cyclones coach and lifetime .275 hitter over 780 minor league games is the front runner. Coaching at Savannah last season and Kingsport in ’06 and ’07, Mitchell definitely has the charisma and resume to coach in Brooklyn.

The only question is, will he?

After his first few games with the team that season, I remember the Brooklyn Papers had a story in there, where a then 17-year-old intern Nick Pauly, who’s now a good friend of mine and a damn good writer, was interning for a local paper and wrote a piece about how Gamero, as a part of his pre-at-bat ritual, wrote in the batter’s box before every at bat. Happy with the piece, Pauly then sent the article to his editor, who tinkered with it and changed the kicker, or the last few lines of the piece. What was originally a feel-good story about the struggling outfielder was morphed into some opinionated drivel about how Gamero should be writing his batting average, which was .143 at the time, in the batter’s box instead.

While Gamero never saw the piece and there was real no negative outburst from it, the piece did speak to the hearts of certain fans who wanted the guy to produce and were sick of his underachieving, which was going on for nearly a year and a half. So with that being said, expect how those fans felt when he was called back to help the team make the playoffs that season.

However, after hitting over .400 the final week of the season, Gamero became a cult hero and almost single-handedly powered the Cyclones offense over Joshua Paplebon and the Lowell Spinners. I can still remember the look on his face after a few of those games. It was almost like he finally started to understand what he had to do at the plate in order to be succesful. It was almost like you were seeing a player come into his own right before your very eyes.

Unfortunately, Gamero disappeared after that season and I haven’t heard any news about him after that. Finishing the ’06 season as strong as he did, it would have been interesting to see where he could have ended up.

Nevertheless, he’ll always remain in the team’s history as a player that for one magical week in September, shined brighter than ever before and fueled an unlikely playoff birth.

Photo by Conroy Walker.

10- Ezequiel Carrera- Even though he only had a small cup of coffee with the team in 2007, Carrera was like a mini-Ichiro Suzuki, hitting .300 and stealing six bases in 20 games. Stealing 28 bags with St. Lucie last season, he’s definitely someone to watch out for in the future.

9- Corey Coles- Regardless of what I’ve heard about his temperament with the media, it would be unfair to include Cole son this list who hit .278 with ten steals in 2004. Coles hit .342 with St. Lucie a few seasons ago and was part of the deal that brought Angel Pagan back to the Mets. A lifetime .304 hitter at the minor league level, Coles at 25, needs to make an even bigger splash soon if he wants to get to the big leagues.

8- Dante Brinkley- A new York Penn-League All-Star in 2004, Brinkley was one of the backbones of that team that season, hitting .316 with 14 steals and 30 RBI.

7- Kirk Nieuwenhuis- One of my all-time favorites. What Nieuwenhuis lacked in sheer power last season, he made up for with speed, great defense and a great attitude. Tying the team’s single season record in hits, Nieuwenhuis is another player to keep an eye on in the future.

6- Joe Holden- One of the team’s most popular players, the speedy Holden won the Sterling Award as the team’s top player in 2005 and then came back in 2006 and showed the fans he had some pop in his bat.

5- Caleb Stewart- Big Stew is a power hitter, no doubt about it. In a season and a half in Brooklyn in 2004 and 2005, the behemoth hit 10 homers and drove in 57 RBI.

4- Dustin Martin- Of all the guys I’ve mentioned so far, Martin may have the brightest future. The only real offensive force for the Clones in 2006, the trade that sent Martin and Drew Butera to the Twins for Luis Castillo may go down as one of the worst trades in Cyclones and maybe even Mets history. This kid is a stud and once he gets to the bigs, he’ll be a more than solid outfielder who can steal bags and hit for contact.

3- Ambiorix Concepcion- The enigma. Everyone knew that Concepcion was going to have a hard time duplicating the numbers he had in Brooklyn in 2004, when he hit .305 with eight homers and 46 RBI, but no one thought he’s be middling his way through the organization.

2-Angel Pagan- The team best overall outfielder in my min, Pagan was a singles machine in Brooklyn with 75 hits in 2001. He’s also the team’s all time single season stolen base leader with 30…in only 62 games.

1- Frank Corr- Say what you want about this final choice, but this guy was the team’s Frank Thomas [the white guy that played for the 62 Mets that led the team in homers]. Their first power hitter, Corr hit 13 homers and drove in 45 with 21 doubles in only 62 games in 2001. If that isn’t impressive, I don’t know what is.

Photo by Conroy Walker.

The names of the people have not been changed for their protection.

In the summer of 2006, the Brooklyn Cyclones started their season so miserably that they were forced to make wholesale changes in an effort to get the team going offensively. Alongside guys like Jon Malo and Joe Holden, right fielder Jonathan Sanchez was called up as well.

Big mistake.

Hitting .235 with nine homers and 27 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 85 games with the Hagerstown Suns that season, Sanchez was expected to provide a jolt on offense. Billed as a potential five-tool player, many thought of the guy as a solid prospect in the system and someone that at the very least could spark an otherwise flaccid offensive attack.

What he did instead was provide the Brooklyn coaching staff with headache after headache.

Not only was the guy a strikeout machine, getting called out on strikes 48 times in only 45 games, but he was a lolligagger on defense as well. Owning a gun for an arm, Sanchez felt it necessary to jog for balls hit into shallow right field and use his arm to get himself out of trouble, rather than simply hustle like the rest of the team. Add in the fact that he rarely hit the cut-man from right field, and it’s fair to say he was one of the laziest outfielders I’ve ever seen in pro ball.

Aside from his strikeout habits, Sanchez had problems keeping the ball out of the air, popping out with runners in scoring position at an almost routine basis. With runners in scoring position, where his speed could have been a huge factor, Sanchez’s uppercut swing destroyed any opportunity he had at hitting line drives or any balls on the ground.

In the end however, his attitude was perhaps his most detrimental factor.

After striking out four times one night at Keyspan Park, I asked him what was going on at the plate. I still talk about that moment with some of the other reporters that covered the team that year because even though I knew what answer I was going to get, I was sick of the fact that he consistently avoiding reporters all season, even when he was playing well. After numerous efforts from my fellow reporters to talk to another player, I ended up asking him about his game that night. He got so confrontational that two younger and much smaller reporters were forced to hide behind my 6’4 and 320 pound frame for cover.

In the clubhouse, Sanchez was a bit different. Quiet and keeping to himself most of the time, it was a weird situation, but that was mainly do to the fact that he had a picture of himself in his locker.

I wish I was making this up.

By the middle of August, it was obvious the Sanchez experiment wasn’t going to work, and he was sent back to Hagerstown.

Hitting under .200 the next season in Savannah, Sanchez ironically spent the 2008 season the Gulf Coast League, as a pitcher, going 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA in 15 games. At only 23 years old, who knows, maybe he might end up in Brooklyn again.

Maybe he might have a new picture to put in his locker as well.

Photo by Conroy Walker

Here are a few notables:

2007, 2008 Cyclone Jordan Abruzzo is hitting .196 with three RBI in 13 games for the Honolulu Sharks. Banged up towards the end of the season, I was originally surprised to see him playing winter ball, but simply put, this kid is a warrior who loves to play the game. Hopefully he turns things around.

2008 Cyclone reliever Roy Merritt is also playing with Abruzzo on the Sharks and just like the beefy catcher, isn’t enjoying the same amount of success in winter ball as he did in the NYPL. Working on his secondary pitches for the most part, it’s safe to say that Merritt is better than his 4.70 ERA in 11 games indicates.

2007, 2008 Cyclones catcher Caesar Cordido is just getting started with Navegantes del Magallanes in Venezuela, going 0 for 3 in three games. Considering the fact that he was never given a great opportunity this season in Brooklyn, he should be a guy to keep an eye out for.

The same thing goes for reliever Mattias Carrillo, who has a 6.23 ERA in seven games with Tomateros de Culiacan. Again, a guy that was still developing as a pitcher and was never really let off the leash so to speak, it should be interesting to see how his season ends up as well.

2006 Cyclones reliever German Marte has one scoreless appearance under his belt with Gigantes del Cibao.

2004 Cyclone Ambiorix Concepcion is hitless through seven games with Leones del Escogido.

2004, 2005 Cyclone Edgar Alfonzo has 1.59 ERA in five appearances with the Navegantes del Magallanes.

Site Notes-

As some of you may know or may not know, I am in the process of writing a book about the Cyclones 2008 season. In order to do this, I have to interview several players, coaches and even fans and parents so I can tell the story the way it deserves to be told. With that being said, you can expect to see some new interviews over the next few weeks and months on the site. Like I said before, just because baseball season is over doesn’t mean this site will not be updated at least once a week, so stop by and check us out!

Photo by Ron Hatcher.

At 23 years of age and only one year of pro baseball under his belt, Suire is someone fans may see back again next year as well, as he tries to move up the long ladder of the organization. Who knows, looking into next season, he could be someone Brooklyn fans grow attached to quite quickly. A 35th round pick in the 2008 draft, Suire has already shown the drive and moxie to make himself more than just a filler prospect.

Chatting with DemBrooklynBums.com the day he was called up Suire was excited to make the jump to Single-A and was more than happy to talk about his game.

DemBrooklynBums.com: How do you feel being in Brooklyn?

Kyle Suire: It feels good every time you get called up, but to be here in Brooklyn and help this team win their division, or even a championship is really exciting. While I’m here, I’m going to everything I can to help this team win.

DBB:To be frank, you were hitting the crap out of the ball in Kingsport. What do you think you bring to this team?

Suire:I play the game hard. I’m a gamer. I give it everything I got. I look out for my teammates and I’m always there when they need me. I’m here to be a part of this team. That’s what I offer.

DBB:Do you compare yourself to anyone at the major league level?

Suire: No. You can’t really do that if you want to be successful. Those guys are at a different level. All I can do is go out there and do my best when I’m on the field and just be myself. That’s all I can do.

DBB:Do you consider yourself more of a power hitter or a contact guy?

Suire: I would say I’m more of a gap to gap hitter, but everyone in a while I get lucky and take a ball deep.

DBB:What about your play on defense?

Suire:I’m kind of banged up now with my hamstring and my range isn’t what it’s supposed to be, but I’m feeling better every day. When I’m healthy, I think I’m solid on defense. I’m very dependable.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Despite finishing with an impressive 45-30 record this season, the Mets Single-A affiliate failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2005 and the first time in Alfonzo’s three years as skipper.

Dealing with injuries to stars Zach Lutz and Reese Havens and the ineffectiveness of 2008 top pick Ike Davis, Alfonzo’s high-energy style as coach seemed to be wearing thin by season’s end. Usually jovial to reporters in his customary post-game press conferences, Alfonzo looked emotionally exhausted by September.

However, in typical Alfonzo fashion, the former NY-Penn League manager of the year has been outspoken about his team’s play this offseason, saying that he was pleased with the fortitude his young team showed on the field and was ultimately proud of the way they performed down the stretch.

“I told these guys all season that it’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish,” said Alfonzo via telephone from the Mets Instructional League in Florida. “We had so many injuries to deal with and they really came together in the end. We had the Wild Card spot until the last day of the season; we were right there. I was frustrated at times because of the injuries, but I know that these guys gave me everything they had.”

After the team’s last game of the season on September 5, Alfonzo joked that he needed a break from coaching, saying that he told Mets fielding coordinator Kevin Morgan he needed a month off. Three weeks after that statement and ten months from the start of the 2009 NY-Penn League season however, Alfonzo is back at it, coaching various prospects in the organization, most of them from Brooklyn.

“These guys are working very hard and are learning a lot,” Alfonzo, who has served at several different positions in the organization over the past decade, said. “I’ve had a lot of fun with them here. Guys like [Cyclones outfielder] Sean Ratliff and [Cyclones first baseman] Ike Davis have shown me a lot. They are absorbing all the information and are playing very well.”

Before Alfonzo’s return in 2007, the team had a different manager every season of their history and since then, has become a fan favorite in Brooklyn and is synonymous with the team’s success.

In spite of that, Alfonzo himself said that he doesn’t know if the organization will ask him to come back to Brooklyn and while he refused to say what his own intentions are for next season, he did say that he’s loved every minute of his time at Keyspan Park.

“Aside from the big leagues, Brooklyn is the best place to manage in the Mets organization,” said Alfonzo. “I don’t know what the organizations plans are for me next season, but I know that I’ve really enjoyed my time there.”

Photo by Ron Hatcher.

DemBrooklynBums.com: What kind of affect has pitching coach Hector Berrios had on your game?

Matias Carrillo: He’s helped me a lot mentally this season. Many times I came into games this season with us being ahead by one-run and it’s stressful out there. You can’t make mistakes. Every once in a while, I’d have to come in and pitch three or four innings and as the season went on, I got really relaxed out there. I think he had a lot to do with that.

DBB: Considering that you haven’t pitched at Keyspan much this season, many fans may still be unfamiliar with your game. Can you tell us what pitches you throw?

Carrillo: Two-seam Fastball, curve ball, sinker and changeup. I use either my changeup or the sinker as my out pitch. My fastball is only 86-89, but I get good movement.

DBB: Because of your role in the bullpen this season and the fact that you rely more on command than most of the other pitchers on the staff, did you feel you were under a lot of pressure to succeed this season?

Carrillo: I wouldn’t say it was pressure, I just knew I had a job to do. Like I said before, you come into the game in a really tough situation and all you can do is get the outs. It felt good when I did.

DBB: Have you had a good time with the guys this season?

Carrillo: I had a lot of fun with these guys this season, the chemistry was great and everyone got along well.

DBB: What was your favorite moment of this season?

Carrillo: There was this one time in Aberdeen when I came in with one out and the bases loaded. I struck out the only two hitters I faced. It was a great feeling.

DBB: Do you think the coaching staff grew to value what you did out of the pen as the season wore on?

Carrillo: I think so. I think they put me in a good situation to grow and go to higher levels in the organization. I know I have things to work on, like keeping the ball down more and away from hitters, but they gave me an opportunity to pitch a lot and I think I got better. I feel like a different pitcher than I was before.

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

Ask any journalist in the world how that feels and they’ll all say the same thing: amazing.

With that being said, I was thrilled once the season started because I could finally cover the team the way I truly wanted to. I could challenge myself to not only write, but report on the same team, everyday of the season. It was something that I was pretty close to doing the previous two years I covered the team, but once the team went on the road, I wrote about the offseason goings on of the Islanders, Jets and Nets. This season, while I did write more than my fair share of pieces on those teams, I was the only reporter covering the team that wrote everyday about them. I scooped every local newspaper and website I don’t write for several times in the process. I know the past few sentences sound a bit arrogant, but it feels good to truly know that you did a good job.

When I decided to embark on a journalism career almost five years ago, I knew the hours were going to stink and that I wouldn’t have as much time to spend with my friends and family. Nonetheless, I went down this path because I felt it was my duty to write for the people. This season, this blog’s mission was the same. Over the years, I’ve seen so many horrible articles written about this team, from local newspapers that don’t even go to the games or good ones by great writers such as Jim Dolan, Elio Velez and Ed Shakespeare that never get the credit they deserve because of small circulations and mediocre websites.

With that being said, I knew that if I reached out to the Cyclone fan base and gave them a daily-updated site, chock full of my work, they’d read it. Dozens of my friends thought I was crazy for it, but in the end, we all proved them wrong, right? This team was so much fun to write about and each and every player took time out for me to interview them. Some of them weren’t the talking type, but together they trusted me to tell their story and I appreciate it. At certain points of the season, it was obvious they didn’t want to talk to anyone, but they acted like true professionals and allowed me to get the information I needed out to you guys. There are no words I can ever say that can truly grasp how important that was to the development of this site.

These guys play 76 games in 81 games and on top of that are asked to have smiles on their faces [Sean Ratliff will always be the king of funny faces though] and be cordial to the media. It’s not an easy job guys. Despite the fact that I truly believe this team had the talent to “win the whole damn thing,” they were all classy guys and I’m sure we’ll see a few of them in the big leagues in the next few years, making this year one of the best in the team’s history, even if they didn’t make the playoffs.

Anyway, this went a little longer than expected. Hope I didn’t put anyone to sleep.

Notes-

Just because the season is over, don’t expect this site to just shut down either. I have done so many interviews this season and have so much information that I plan to post 1-2 articles a week to keep you guys in the loop. I also have dozens of numbers of former Clones that I will interview over the winter and spring, which should satisfy any hunger you have for Brooklyn baseball.

I am also working on a book on the team this season, which I plan to have finished by the end of the year. Over the next few months, I will be putting all the pieces together so everyone knows as much about this season’s team as humanely possible. They were a great group of guys from all over the country and the funny stories and situations they were in was like something out of “Bull Durham.” I am confident that his book will bring all those funny and entertaining moments together in a work that will be one of the most comprehensive works ever written about a minor league baseball team.

My photographer, Ron Hatcher is also working on a picture book, filled with all the great photos he took this season, in coffee-table book format, for of course, your viewing pleasure.

When they are released, you guys will get all the details.

As well, I will be appearing on Mike Silva’s NY Baseball Digest @ six P.M. tomorrow. You can listen online at NYBaseballDigest.com. I will be discussing the team this season and whatever Mike wants to chat about.

This year didn’t end the way many of you guys would have liked it, but it was a fun year nonetheless.

To everyone that commented on the site or e-mail me during the season to tell me how much they enjoyed my writing or Ron’s pictures, thank you. For everyone else, thank you as well, you pushed us to work even harder and made us better people and professionals by season’s end.

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

With Kirk Nieuwenhuis, their best hitter all season at the plate in the bottom of the tenth, an absolute bomb off the third round pick’s bat was torn from the sky courtesy of Hurricane Hanna-inspired winds, right into Aberdeen outfielder Jacob Julius’s glove in right center field.

Seconds later, the last Fireworks show of the summer at Coney Island started, symbolizing a beautiful season that in the end, just wasn’t meant to be.

A half inning afterwards, an error from closer Yury Santana opened the door for a two-run Aberdeen 11th, effectively euthanizing the Cyclones 2008 playoff hopes.

“I’m sad, but I’m happy,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “Everyone got better this year and when you are 15 games over .500, it’s a successful season regardless.”

The Cyclones got on the board in the first after an Eric Campbell sacrifice fly scored Nieuwenhuis and gave them a 1-0 lead. The Mets Single-A affiliate continued to produce in the second as well after a Josh Satin single scored Seth Williams and a Jose Jimenez sacrifice fly [his second RBI since the All-Star break] scored Satin, putting Brooklyn up 3-0.

With an early three-run lead, Cyclones starter Scott Shaw was solid and despite some control problems in the third, kept Aberdeen scoreless and the lead intact. In the fourth however, Ironbirds third baseman Tyler Kolodny brought the shutout bid to end with an RBI single. A passed ball and a sacrifice fly later in the inning allowed two more runs to score, tying the game at 3-3.

Reliever Wendy Rosa replaced Shaw in the fifth and pitched 1.2 innings of shutout ball before walking a pair of hitters. Mattias Carrillo then came out of the Brooklyn bullpen and got the final out of the inning and pitched two shutout innings before leaving in favor of Jeff Kaplan with two outs in the top of the eighth. Getting the final out of the inning, Kaplan kept the score at 3-3 going into the ninth.

The Brooklyn offense could not come through in the bottom of the ninth however, sending the game into extra innings.

Kaplan’s night then came to an end in the tenth, as he lasted only one out into the inning after allowing a walk to Calvin Lester and a sacrifice bunt. Alfonzo was then forced to bring in Santana and things got interesting after that, as Lester stole third with only one out. Santana was on his game though, retiring both hitters he faced to keeping the game tied going into the 11th.

Santana was again on the mound after Brooklyn after the Baby Bums couldn’t produce at the plate in the tenth. This time however, the 26-year-old wasn’t as sharp and committed an error on a routine dribbler down the first base line, which opened the door for a TJ Baxter RBI single later in the inning that put Aberdeen ahead 4-3. Santana then walked the next hitter he faced and was replaced by Roy Merritt with the bases loaded. Despite striking out the first hitter he faced, Merritt soon ran into trouble of his own, walking home a run before ending the inning with the Ironbirds up 5-3.

Continuing to have problems against Aberdeen pitching, Brooklyn couldn’t get back in the ballgame, as catcher Caesar Cordido grounded into a double play after a lead-off walk in the bottom of 11th. Pinch-hitter Sean Ratliff was then retired on strikes to end the game 5-3.

With the loss, the Cyclones are eliminated for post-season play and will not make the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

“It disappointing,” said Nieuwenhuis. “But we all worked hard this season and we played great baseball down the stretch.”

Notes-

Winning 13 of their last 16 before Friday night’s game, Brooklyn’s offense mustered only eight hits on the night.

With his 79th hit tonight, Nieuwenhuis tied the Cyclones single-season hit record with Dustin Martin and Ambiorix Concepcion.

“I had no idea,” he said. “I would have liked to get one or to more today, but the wind got them.”

Nieuwenhuis also tied the Cyclones single-season record for most games played, set by Ian Bladergroen in 2003.

Even if Brooklyn would have won on Friday, things would have remained tricky in assessing their playoff hopes. Because of the remnants of Hurricane Hanna, which has already begun to hit Brooklyn, the Cyclones may not have been able to play today’s game. Then, if Batavia would have won their season finale today and Brooklyn was unable to play due to the weather, Batavia would have made the playoffs as the wild card due to a higher win percentage. However, if Brooklyn didn’t play and either Batavia or Jamestown lost, Brooklyn would have made the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Update: 1:30 P.M.

Today’s season finale has been canceled.

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

With three RBI on the night, the Jordan Abruzzo-powered Clones kept their magical playoff carpet ride alive for another night, defeating Hudson Valley 5-3.

“We’re in good shape right now,” said Abruzzo. “We’re confident and everything is coming together right now. You can see it coming.”

Hudson Valley got on the board in the top of the first after a Jacob Jefferies RBI single off Brooklyn starter Chris Schwinden that scored lead-off hitter Robi Estrada and gave the Renegades an early 1-0 lead.

Not looking like the same pitcher that made the NY-Penn League All-Star team a weeks ago early on, Schwinden knew he had to make a few adjustments.

“The wind was blowing pretty good and I was trying to nibble at the hitters,” said Schwinden. “After the first, Fonzie told me to pitch to contact and it ended up working for me.”

The Clones got some help soon after, as Hudson Valley starter Chris Andujar coughed the lead over the next half inning, giving up a pair of RBI singles from Eric Campbell and Abruzzo and putting the Mets Single-A affiliate up 2-1.

After Schwinden and Andujar threw scoreless frames in the second, Hudson Valley catcher Frank Mollicone got tied the score at 2-2 in the third with a RBI single. The Baby Bums then answered back quickly in the fourth, after a Kirk Nieuwenhuis RBI double scored Josh Satin and gave Brooklyn a 3-2 lead.

In the fifth, the Clones added to their lead with an Abruzzo two-run homer off Hudson Valley reliever Neil Schenk, which put them ahead 5-2.

“I told Schwinden earlier in the game to pitch to contact because of the wind,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo with a laugh. “I didn’t think anyone was hitting it out tonight. After Abruzzo hit his homer, he came to me and asked me to ‘say that again.’”

After giving up two runs in his first three innings, Schwinden settled down and hurled scoreless innings in the fourth, fifth and sixth, before leaving favor of Jimmy Johnson in the seventh.

“When he’ good, he attacks the zone,” said Abruzzo of Swinden. “He made adjustments tonight and was very good for us.”

With a three-run cushion supporting him on the mound, Johnson pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth, but gave up a run in the ninth and left the game with two outs and runners on first and second. With the winning-run at the plate, lefty side-armer Ron Merritt came out of the Brooklyn pen and retired Hudson Valley’s Jason Tweedy on a line drive to second baseman JR Voyles, cementing a 5-3 Cyclones win.

Winners now of 13 of their past 16 games, Brooklyn’s confidence seems at a season high. However, despite the win, Brooklyn failed to separate themselves from Jamestown, who won their game over Batavia 13-4.

Nevertheless, the Baby Bums seem determined to keep their miracle season going.

“We’re playing incredible baseball now,” said Schwinden. “We can’t play any better than we’re playing right now. The chemistry is there and we want to keep this going.”

Notes-

In my three seasons covering the Cyclones for pretty much every local newspaper in the area, I have never had a fan approach me after a game and tell me to put them in my story for the night. That is until tonight, when little Sol Ayal wanted to share his thoughts on the Cyclones play as of late.

“They’ve been awesome,” he said. “And of course, they are making the playoffs. I think they are going to win it all.”

Well, if Sol said it, it must be true.

On a more journalistic note…

After rejoining the Brooklyn lineup on Sept. 1 against Aberdeen, Reese Havens was taken out of the lineup the next game and hasn’t been there since. After Thursday’s game, Alfonzo said Havens was out for the season.

“He’s done,” he said.

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

Playing a pivotal part in the Cyclones playoff run over the past few weeks, the coaching staff sees a bright future in front of the 21-year-old.

Sporting southern good-looks, a trademark smile and a vicious fastball that has reached 98 miles-per-hour on occasion this season, Holt seems to be tailor-made for a life in baseball in New York City.

“This kid is a warrior,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “Whenever he’s on the mound, he gives me a lot of confidence because he just brings so much to the table. He has a great fastball, breaking ball and changeup and he wants to pitch nine innings every time he goes out there. He knows we have him on a pitch count and he still wants to go out there and pitch as much as he can. Guys like that are very rare today.”

What is even rarer however is the attitude Holt has on the field and in the clubhouse. Like a magician, Holt can go from a tough as nails competitor on the mound one second to a fun-loving teammate, without missing a beat.

The end result is a player that has the polish, determination and mindset of a future major leaguer.

“I don’t know how he does it,” said former Cyclones third baseman Zach Lutz via phone from Port St. Lucie Florida. “He understands the game and works very hard, but he loves to have a good time in the dugout. Because of that, he’s a great guy to play with.”

Things didn’t originally start Holt’s way this season though, as a bevy of walks surrendered through his fist handful of starts had many scouts worried about his control. Over his last six starts however, Holt has 12 walks over 34.2 innings pitched, a vast improvement over the 21 walks he gave up over his first eight starts of the season.

Despite those momentary bumps in the road this summer, Holt has always maintained an air of confidence and hasn’t been able to wipe the smile off his face.

“Baseball is all about winning, but there’s no reason why you can’t have fun too,” Holt, who has been accused of putting bubble gum on several of his teammates’ hats this season, said, with a smirk. “I like to keep things light. I like having a good time. I’ve been this way since High School.”

Obviously impressed with Holt’s resiliency and attitude on the mound this season, Cyclones pitching coach Hector Berrios likes other things about his game and has been pleased with his development.

“The thing I like about him is the extension he gets on his fastball and other pitches,” Berrios said. “What looks like a 94 and 95 mph pitch looks like a 96 or 97 out of his hand because he releases closer to the hitter. For example, Jenrry Mejia throws at the same velocity, but doesn’t get same amount of swings and misses. Obviously, Holt is a bigger guy, but he gets closer to the hitter and that’s why he gets more swings and misses.”

Soft-spoken and honest, Holt isn’t one to brag about his play this season.

Instead, he’ll let his numbers do the real talking.

“It gives me confidence knowing everyone has confidence in me,” said Holt. “I can only control how I pitch though and I think I’ve done a good job of that this season.”

Link-

Box Score to Last Night’s 9-6 Cyclones win.

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

If he’s 6’3,175 pounds and has braces, it’s Mets prospect Wilmer Flores.

Going through seven other shortstops this season, due to a combination of inconsistent play and chronic injuries, the Brooklyn Cyclones got the baby-faced middle infielder on Aug. 28 from the Mets other Single-A affiliate in Savannah, where he played just one game and collected three hits. Before being sent to Savannah, Flores was starring for the Mets Rookie league team in Kingsport, where he was hitting .310 with eight home runs and 41 RBI.

That’s a lot of traveling for anyone, nevertheless a 17-year-old.

With seven hits in his first four games in Brooklyn however, he’s already become a fixture in the starting lineup. Because of that, it looks like his traveling days are over this season.

“You watch him hit and you know it’s something you can’t teach,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “He’s very young, but after you watch him in batting practice, you see that he has a routine and he sticks with it. He’s going to be a very good player.”

Because of all the praise he’s received for his play on the field and maturity off of it this season, Flores is having an absolute blast in his first year in professional baseball.

“I always dreamed to be here, but I never thought I’d be here this fast. It’s been amazing,” he said through a translator. “The traveling is part of my job. I have to do it, but it’s been fun too. I’ll play wherever they want me to. I love to do this.”

Playing with players up to nine years older than him this season, you’d expect the youngster, who still has a good four years before he can legally drink a brew after a game, to feel a bit out of place.

In spite of his age and the ages of his teammates though, Flores is looking forward to proving himself in Brooklyn and loves being around older players.

“There were a lot of younger players in Kingsport and in Brooklyn, there are more experienced guys,” he said. “It’s a tougher league and I’m learning from my surroundings. It’s good for me to be in this locker room. In Kingsport, the pitchers threw a lot of fastballs, but here, I’ve been seeing curve balls, change-ups and sliders too. It’s a good test for me.”

Considering how large Flores is and how many years he has left to grow, one would expect him to end up a first baseman or a corner outfielder by the time he makes it to the big leagues. Right now however, Flores is focusing on being the best shortstop he can be.

Already showing solid range and a more than adequate arm on the field in his short stint in Brooklyn, Flores doesn’t want to think of moving to another position right now.

“Right now I’m playing shortstop,” Flores, who models his game after Derek Jeter, said. “And that’s what I’m going to continue to do. If they want to move me later that’s fine. I just want to play baseball. This is what I love to do.”

Nevertheless, while idolizing the current Yankee shortstop, Flores doesn’t see himself becoming a playboy any time soon.

Because for him, baseball comes first.

“I’m not worried about any female fans,” Flores said. “I’m here to play baseball.”

Link-

Box score to last night’s 5-2 Cyclones win.

Photos by Ron Hatcher

Powered by a two-homer night from catcher Jordan Abruzzo, the Baby Bums kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-1 win over the Hudson Valley Renegades Sunday night, climbing to just a half game behind the Jamestown Jammers for the NYPL Wild Card spot.

“It feels like we can’t lose,” said Cyclones starter Scott Shaw. “But we can’t stop there. We have six games left and we have to keep winning.”

Despite giving up eight hits, Shaw limited the Hudson Valley offense to only one run over 5.1 innings pitched.

Hudson Valley starter Shane Dyer was just as solid early on, but gave up an Abruzzo solo-homer in the fourth that gave Brooklyn a 1-0 lead.

Looking for their eighth win in a row, the Cyclones admitted they would have liked to give Shaw some more offensive support, but loved his perseverance on the mound in spite of it.

“When a pitcher doesn’t have his best stuff and pitches that way, you have to be proud,” Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo said. “He gave us a chance to win tonight.”

Showing the moxie of a playoff team, the Clones got the lead right back in the bottom of the sixth after an Ike Davis single and an error by Renegades right fielder Kyeong Kang allowed Eric Campbell, who reached on an error earlier in the inning by Hudson Valley shortstop Robi Estrada, to score and give them their one-run lead back at 2-1.

Johnson continued to pitch for Brooklyn and twirled scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth, while Abruzzo added his second homer in the bottom of the eighth to put the Mets Single-A affiliate up by two runs with only one inning left to play.

Johnson then returned to the mound on the ninth and retired the side in order, giving the Baby Bums their eighth consecutive victory.

With losses by Staten Island and Jamestown on Sunday, Brooklyn is now three games out of first place in the McNamara Division and a half game back of the Wild Card.

Nevertheless, Brooklyn knows they can’t afford to count their chickens before they hatch and must continue winning in order to secure a post-season birth.

“We keep this up, who knows what could happen,” said Johnson. “We’re making it interesting. That’s for sure.”

Notes-

While the Cyclones coaching staff said on Sunday that Reese Havens’ return could be as soon as today, with the Mets first round pick taking batting practice on Sunday and looking like he’s awfully close to 100 percent, the team still feels like it may keep him out of the lineup longer.

“He’s ready to play, but I don’t know,” said Alfonzo. “In terms of his career, it’s not important for him to play right now. Maybe he’ll DH or pinch-hit here and there, but we don’t want him to go out there and get hurt and miss more time. We need to be careful.”

With Wilmer Flores thriving in Brooklyn [seven hits in his first four games], the Mets Single-A affiliate could have an interesting situation develop over the final week of the season.

Cyclones first baseman Ike Davis is hitting .351 over his past 10 games and has a nine-game hitting streak.

“I hope he keeps hitting this way,” said Alfonzo. “We need him hot over the last six games.”

Update 9:30 P.M.-

With 12 strikeouts tonight, Cyclones starter Brad Holt has broken the record for most K’s in a season by a Brooklyn pitcher. The previous record was 93 by Kevin Deaton in 2002.

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

After reliever Jeff Kaplan inherited a one run lead in the fourth and pitched his best game this season however, that thread just got a little longer.

Beating Oneonta 3-2 behind Kaplan and a two-RBI night from Seth Williams, Brooklyn, who have now won six in a row, aren’t laying down and are focused on stealing a playoff spot anyway they can.

“I feel like they know what they need to do now to win games,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “A couple of weeks ago, it was scary. Right now though, everyone is ready to contribute.”

The Cyclones got on the board first on a Sean Ratliff RBI double in the second that scored Wilmer Flores and gave them a 1-0 lead. Williams then stretched the lead even further in the second after an RBI single that scored JR Voyles and Kirk Nieuwenhuis and put them up by three.

The Mets Single-A affiliate saw their lead shrink the next half inning however, after a Brent Wyatt single down the third base line [that was argued by Alfonzo to no avail] scored two runs and made it a one-run ballgame at 3-2.

“That hit really got in my head and I lost my concentration because of it,” said Martinez through a translator. “Other than that, I thought I was okay.”

Giving up six hits in 3.1 innings, Martinez was replaced by Jeff Kaplan with runners on the corners in the fourth. Getting the finals two outs of the inning, Kaplan held the lead and pitched 4.2 innings, giving up only one hit. Losing his spot in the rotation earlier in the season, Kaplan has been a revelation in relief over his past seven outings and has given up only two earned runs in 19.2 innings pitched.

“I knew if I threw strikes, my defense would help me out,” said Kaplan. “I pitched my game.”

Jimmy Johnson came out of the bullpen and replaced Kaplan in the ninth, but lasted only two outs after giving up a lead-off single and an error by Flores.

With the winning run on first base for Oneonta, Alfonzo called in closer Yury Santana, who retired the only hitter he faced via strikeout and gave Brooklyn their 40th win of the season.

Despite the win however, Brooklyn failed to gain any significant ground in the playoff race, as both Batavia and Staten both won their respective games, putting them one and half games out of the Wild Card and four back of the McNamara Division lead. Nevertheless, Kaplan and the Clones know that they can’t control how other teams play and are focused on winning their remaining games.

“We know that we have to win,” he said. “We can’t worry about what everybody else does and we’re not.”

Notes-

Wilmer Flores had three hits again for Brooklyn and by the smile on his face on the field, he seems to be enjoying Brooklyn immensely. [By the way, just to answer a fan's e-mail yesterday, yes, Flores still has braces.]

The coaching staff is enjoying his play as well.

“He’s played well these two games,” said Alfonzo. “This kid is doing good and he has a routine.”

Clones shortstop Reese Havens was seen during batting practice on Friday looking very much like a player very close to returning to the lineup. The Cyclones however, refuse to rush the first rounder back.

“We don’t want to think about it now,” said Alfonzo. “As of right now, we’re still wait and see with him.”

Video-

Havens fielding during BP yesterday.

[youtube ch3JWIxYcso]

Photos by Ron Hatcher. Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.

If they’re the Brooklyn Cyclones, they win.

Powered by 12 hits and a solid starting pitching performance from Jenrry Mejia, the Mets Single-A affiliate defeated the Oneonta Tigers 6-0 Thursday Night and kept their ever-shrinking playoff hopes alive.

“From now on, every win is important,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “We’re playing good baseball lately and today was crucial.”

With Mejia keeping the Tigers scoreless through the first three innings, Brooklyn grabbed a four-run lead after RBI singles by Eric Campbell, Jordan Abruzzo, Juan Legares and Ike Davis. Recent addition Wilmer Flores also got in the action, adding an RBI single of his own that capped a five-run Brooklyn third.

Pitching with a rare multi-run lead behind him, Mejia responded with another scoreless frame in the fourth and got even more support after Abruzzo singled in another run to put Brooklyn up 6-0.

Walking three and scattering five hits over five innings pitched, Mejia wasn’t at his best, but he pitched well enough to win his first game since Jul. 25.

“I had confidence and I was comfortable,” said Mejia through a translator. “I didn’t think I was that good, but I had the support I needed. I was lucky tonight. I’m happy I got the win though.”

Reliever Wendy Rosa replaced Mejia in the sixth and kept the shutout bid alive, pitching 3 2/3 shutout innings, giving up only two hits and striking out seven. Erik Turgeon then came into the game with two outs in the ninth and got the last out, cementing a convincing 6-0 Brooklyn win.

Still trailing both the Staten Island Yankees and Batavia Muckdogs for first place in the McNamara Division and the Wild Card after the win, Brooklyn isn’t ready to throw the towel in just yet.

“It’s not over,” said Alfonzo. “We have to win and see what happens. All we can do is go out there and do the best we can. I really like the way we’re playing right now.”

Notes-

Flores went three for four with an RBI in his Brooklyn debut and showed a more than adequate arm at shortstop. However, Alfonzo also stated that Flores was only filling in at shortstop for Juan Legares, who was the designated hitter on Thursday due to soreness in his throwing arm. Nevertheless, he did admit to liking what he saw from the 17-year-old Mets prospect.

“He’s still a kid, but he’s good,” said Alfonzo. “He’s not flashy and he’s still young, but he’s going to be okay here. He can catch all the routine balls and he can hit a little. Having him here gives us some flexibility.”

Update- 7:00 P.M.

Video- Wilmer Flores in BP this afternoon.

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Photos by Ron Hatcher. Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Getting another quality outing from staff ace Brad Holt and clutch hitting from Sean Ratliff, the Baby Bums looked recharged indeed and scratched out a hard-fought 3-1 win.

“The way we played tonight, I feel like this team is relaxed and ready,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “They know what they have to do now and I believe in them.”

Things didn’t start Brooklyn’s way however, as after hurling four scoreless innings, Holt gave up two hits and threw a wild pitch in the fifth that allowed an Oneonta run to score and gave the Tigers a one-run lead.

“I started off well,” said Holt, who threw 90 pitches on the night. “My changeup was good all night, except for the one that spiked past the catcher and gave them the lead. Other than that, I think I was alright.”

The Clones wasted no time getting back into the game however, as a Ratliff a solo bomb off Oneonta hurler Trevor Feeney in the bottom of the fifth tied the score at 1-1.

Lefty reliever Roy Merritt came out of the Brooklyn bullpen in the sixth, replacing Holt and kept the score deadlocked at 1-1 through the eighth. The Mets Single-A affiliate then broke the game wide open the following half inning, getting a bases-loaded single from Ratliff that scored Ike Davis and Jordan Abruzzo and put the Clones ahead 3-1.

“I got a changeup I was able to hit over the second baseman’s head and get us the lead,” said Ratliff, who has four homers in his past 10 games. “I’ve been feeling great out there lately and it feels good to help the team in a clutch situation like that.”

After getting their first lead of the night in the eighth, Jimmy Johnson was summoned out of the bullpen and wasted no time, retiring the side in order, earning the first save of his professional career and securing a 3-1 Brooklyn win.

Winning their fourth game in as many days, the Baby Bums know that with only 10 games left to go, the winning ways must continue for their playoff dreams to come true.

“We’re rolling right now,” said Ratliff, who also made a pair of diving grabs in keep the game tied. “We really want to keep this going.”

Notes-

Clones starter Chris Schwinden, who was forced to leave his last start after being hit by a ball on his upper thigh in Tri-City, told reporters today that he’s fine and should be ready to pitch when his turn in the rotation comes up.

“I’m a little purple,” he said of his thigh. “But I’ll be okay. I was pretty lucky”

Update 5:15 P.M.-

Mets 17-year-old prospect Wilmer Flores has been sent to Brooklyn and will be hitting seventh tonight against the Oneonta Tigers. Hitting .310 with 48 RBI with Kingsport this season, Flores is one of the fast-rising prospects in the organization and should be able to do more than just fill in for first round pick Reese Havens.

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

DemBrooklynBums.com: You were hitting very well down in Kingsport, can you tell us a little about your game?

Dock Doyle: I started off a little slow this summer, I guess it was the transition from college ball and the metal bats to the pros and wood. It just took some time. Now I’m here in Brooklyn and ready to experience the game with the Brooklyn Cyclones.

DBB: To give the fans at home a better idea of what kind of player you are, is there a player at the major league level that you try and emulate?

Doyle: I like watching guys like Jorge Posada and Jason Varitek catch. Mets fans may not like that though.

DBB: What do you take more pride in, calling a game, or hitting?

Doyle: I’m a hitter, I love to hit. I enjoy being behind the plate and helping pitchers and I really like to lead as much as I can when I’m out there, but hitting is definitely my favorite part of the game.

DBB: Has the organization told you what to expect as far as playing time is concerned? Do you have any expectations?

Doyle: I don’t know, I haven’t heard anything from anyone, so I’m just going to enjoy the rest of my summer and see where it takes me.

DBB: Josh Satin and John Servidio spent some time in Kingsport earlier in the season, did you hang out with them at all? Do you know any of the other guys?

Doyle: They were there for a few nights and we went out to dinner a few times. They were a lot of fun to be around. Erik Turgeon was my roommate down there to and I know Seth Williams from when he was there. I haven’t met most of the other guys though.

Link-

Box Score to last night’s 5-4 Cyclones Win.

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. and Jim Dolan

Leaving six runners on in the game’s first two innings and committing two errors in the top of the ninth, the Clones ruined another fantastic pitching performance from their staff, resulting in a 2-1 loss.

“This is a tough one to swallow,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “Our pitchers did a great job and we didn’t help them. We had plenty of chances.”

After amassing only two hits on Friday against Lowell starter Kyle Weiland, Brooklyn got three in the first inning off Bryan Price, including a bases-loaded RBI single from Juan Legares that scored Seth Williams and gave the Cyclones a 1-0 lead.

Price’s struggles continued into the second and after two more hits and a fall on the mound after a single by Caesar Cordido, he was replaced in favor of Dennis Neuman. The Spinners reliever was then fortunate to get himself out of a bases-loaded jam after a Jose Jimenez fly out in right field and a outfield assist from Luis Sumoza that nailed Cordido at the plate, keeping the score 1-0.

Continuing the recent stretch of stellar starting pitching for Brooklyn was 18-year-old Jenrry Mejia [2-1, 3.63 ERA], who kept the Boston Single-A affiliate hitless through the game’s first four innings. Limiting Lowell to just 1 hit in six innings of work, Mejia bounced back from a few bad starts and put himself in position to win his first game since Jul. 25.

“I felt great out there,” said Mejia, through a translator. “My fastball was really working.”

Jimmy Johnson replaced Mejia in the seventh and continued the one-hit bid by getting Lowell in order. Stephen Clyne pitched the eighth and gave up a hit, but kept the score at 1-0. Continuing to pitch in the final frame, Clyne walked a batter and surrendered another hit, but a pair of errors, one by Lagares and the other by JR Voyles allowed two runs to score and gave Lowell their first lead of the night at 2-1.

Robert Romero made his season debut for Lowell in the ninth and got the Cyclones in order, securing the 2-1 Cyclone loss.

Losing the final game of the series with the Spinners, Brooklyn now has three games on the road with the Tri-City Valley Cats before coming back home for a three-game series with Oneonta on Wednesday.

Still confident of their playoff chances with only 13 games remaining, Brooklyn knows the bats have to start producing more.

“You can’t expect your pitchers to bail you out when you only score one run,” said Williams. “There’s nothing else they could have done. We know what we have to do.”

Notes-

Third baseman/Left fielder Eric Campbell was replaced by Sean Ratliff in the third. After the game, Alfonzo said it was a “manager’s decision” and refused to comment further on it.

Clones Outfielder John Servidio, who was leading the team in RBI for a large portion of the season, will be out for the rest of the year, according to a source inside the team. Injuring his hand a few weeks ago, it is reported that Servidio will undergo the same hand surgery that Mets prospect Fernando Martinez and MLB great Ken Griffey Jr. have had in recent years, this offseason.

Tim Stronach [2-5, 4.05 ERA] was sent to St. Lucie before the game.

Photos by Ron Hatcher and Jim Dolan.

That, however, is exactly what the Brooklyn Cyclones and Lowell treated the 7,341 fans in attendance at Keyspan Park to on Friday, but unlike the night before, it was the Spinners who were on the winning end, edging out the Baby Bums 2-1 in a game that produced only six hits between both clubs.

“Tonight was tough,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “You have to tip your cap to the way they pitched tonight.”

After Scott Shaw and the Brooklyn bullpen limited Lowell to only one-hit on Thursday, Mets first round pick Brad Holt was more than solid against the Boston Red Sox Single-A affiliate as well, throwing two scoreless innings to start the game. Holt [4-3, 1.75 ERA] ran into trouble in the third though, giving up a pair of hits, including an RBI double by Ronald Bermudez that put the Spinners ahead by one.

Those two hits were all Holt, who had 10 strikeouts on the night, gave up, but it wasn’t enough for to come out with a victory.

“A lot of the time, they weren’t even swinging,” said Holt. “They were just watching.”

As good as Holt was, Spinners starter Kyle Weiland was that much better, limiting the Mets Single-A affiliate to only one hit in five innings of work.

Righty reliever Charle Rosario replaced Weiland in the sixth, but Brooklyn was still unable to muster any offense in the inning. The Clones did catch a break however when Mitchell Herold came into the game in the seventh for Lowell with a runner on third with two outs. The first hitter he faced, Jordan Abruzzo, hit a routine ground ball to short, which should have ended the inning, but first baseman Ricardo Burgos couldn’t stretch out far enough to grab the throw, allowing Kirk Nieuwenhuis to score and tie the game at 1-1.

“It felt good to get that run in the eighth,” said Nieuwenhuis. “But it just didn’t happen for us tonight. Their pitchers were keeping us off balance all night.”

Clones closer Yury Santana replaced Holt in the eighth and kept the game at 1-1 until he gave up a monstrous solo home run off the top of the Keyspan Park scoreboard courtesy of Luis Sumoza in the ninth, giving the Spinners their one-run lead back at 2-1.

Seth Garrison then closed the game out for Lowell and retired all three hitters he faced, putting the finishing touches on a 2-1 Cyclones loss.

“If you don’t hit, it’s hard to win,” said Alfonzo. “Tonight was the first time in a long time that we only had two hits. We have to go out tomorrow and beat these guys.”

Notes-

Ike Davis continues to struggle this season and has hit .207 in his last ten games.

There is still no timetable on the return of Reese Havens or Matt Smith, who are suffering from groin and calf injuries respectively.

Havens is however expected to run the bases in practice tomorrow and will be evaluated again.

Video-

Brad Holt strikeout.

[youtube FLPcOuEv0ac]

Photos by Ron Hatcher. Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Winners of eight of their last 11 games, Brooklyn knows that as long as the victories keep coming, their season is far from over.

“We have the pitching staff, we just need to keep winning,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “We have a good chance, if everything continues to go the right way.”

Behind solid pitching from both starters, Lowell’s Yeiper Castillo and the surreptitiously-quick Shaw, the game remained scoreless through the fourth inning.

“I was locating my fastball and that’s always the key to success,” said Shaw [5-2, 2.76 ERA]. “When I pitch well, I also work very fast and I don’t throw a lot of pitches. That’s exactly what happened tonight.”

The stalemate was finally lifted in the fifth however, after a Josh Satin solo-homer in the fifth that gave Brooklyn a 1-0 lead.

“I’m starting to swing the bat better,” said Satin, who is hitting .333 over his past ten games. “I feel more comfortable at the plate and right now, it feels like something just clicked.”

Striking out ten and allowing only one hit, Shaw was again solid for Brooklyn and kept the Lowell bats dormant through his 6.2 innings of work.

“He had a good tempo going,” said Cyclones catcher Jordan Abruzzo. “The hitter’s were uncomfortable and they didn’t have time to think tonight.”

Roy Merritt came into the game with two outs in the sixth and a runner on first base and kept the Spinners off the scoreboard in the seventh, while Satin got his second RBI of the night on a double that scored Sean Ratliff in the bottom of the inning and gave Brooklyn a 2-0 lead.

After Merritt threw a scoreless inning in the eighth, Stephen Clyne came in and pitched a scoreless ninth, earning his ninth save of the season and inducing a hard-earned 2-0 win.

Winning the first game of the three-game series with Lowell, Brooklyn knows their season is hanging in the balance, but sees their pitching staff as the key to their playoff birth.

Giving up just one-hit as a staff on Thursday, it’s safe to say the Baby Bums are confident in their post season chances.

“I don’t see us slowing down,” said Shaw. “And if we don’t make the playoffs, it’s going to take a heck of a run by the teams in front of us. We’re going to catch them. I don’t see a way we wouldn’t.”

Notes-

Satin, who hit ninth on Thursday, was surprised where he hit in the lineup, but believes it’s because of the team’s depth and not because of any struggles on his part.

“I never hit lower than fourth in my life,” he said with a laugh. “Our team is just so good from top to bottom though. It’s one of those things that it doesn’t matter where you hit, you just have to capitalize when you get the chance.”

Video-

Josh Satin RBI Double

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Update- 5:25 P.M.

Catcher Ralph Henriquez was optioned to Savannah. As a result, Dock Doyle was called up from Kingsport, where he was hitting .308 with 20 RBI in 41 games.

Photos by Ron Hatcher. Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Looking at his stats, you’d think Turgeon would be a huge mass, armed with a plethora of tattoos, a Fu Manchu mustache and handle-bar sideburns.

Striking out 19 and walking only four in 14 innings this season for Brooklyn can do that kind of thing.

However, the “real” Erik Turgeon looks more like a young soap opera star, sporting a scruffy black mop on his head and a trademark smile. Despite his unassuming and almost pretty boy look on the mound however, Turgeon has proved to be a commodity for a Cyclones team that depends on their pitching staff to win ballgames.

“He’s been very good for us this season,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “He has good command of his fastball and hits his spots. All of our guys have had a chance to pitch in all types of situations this season and they’ve proven themselves. He’s definitely done that as well.”

Coming from U-Conn after the draft, Turgeon knew he had to learn and adapt to get his game to the next level and wasted no time doing so. Dedicating himself to learning the art of pitching under the Confucius of pitching himself, Brooklyn pitching coach Hector Berrios, Turgeon feels he has transformed himself into a different player under his guidance.

“Hector has worked with me everyday,” Turgeon, who was originally drafted by the Red Sox in the 49th round in 2005, said. “This is my first season in professional ball and my first as just a pitcher and without him, I don’t want to think about where I’d be. Everything you see me doing on the mound, I’m working on in the bullpen. It’s been a year of changing things up, while working with the things that got me here. It’s been hard, but it’s been fun too.”

Now with the tools to succeed at the Single-A level, Turgeon doesn’t even want to think about what his game was like just a few months ago in U-Conn.

1-0 with a 6.67 ERA in 28.1 innings with the Huskies this season, before being drafted in the 25th round of the amateur draft by the Mets, Turgeon has grown by leaps and bounds as a player in a very short time.

“In college I threw a curve ball freshman and sophomore year, but they shut it down,” he said. “My junior year, I was throwing a slider, but it wouldn’t slide. It was like a straight 84-mph fastball. Now I’m throwing the curve ball and the slider and I still have my changeup. My go to pitch is still my fastball and I’m still learning, but I know I still have to develop more.”

Nevertheless, despite his struggles in college ball, Turgeon does use them as a reference point.

Refusing to stop developing his pitches, Turgeon has vowed to never be unprepared on the mound again.

Becoming a better pitcher everyday he’s on the mound, Turgeon has exhibited the arsenal of pitches and overall toughness to be a competent reliever at any level he performs at.

He doesn’t need a Fu Manchu mustache or handle bar sideburns to prove it either.

“Pitching in college, all I had was a fastball,” said Turgeon. “Aluminum bats and fastballs aren’t a good combination, especially when they know it’s coming. Here, I’ve worked on my off-speed pitches and in college I just threw them. Here, I have to also make sure I always work down. I’m happy it all got me here, but I’m happy college is over and I’m glad I’m here.”

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

By the time the eventual selections were made however, only Brad Holt, Chris Schwinden and Yury Santana managed to garner All-Star honors.

That doesn’t mean anyone in Brooklyn is upset though.

“They all deserve it,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo in reference to his entire pitching staff. “But those guys in particular have worked really hard this season. As far as I’m concerned, we have the best pitching staff in the league and they’re a very big reason why.”

The Mets first pitcher selected in the 2008 draft, Holt had some mighty expectations put upon him before the season began and hasn’t let anyone down yet, going 4-3 with a microscopic 1.98 ERA and a league-leading 69 K’s.

Humble and modest throughout the season, the likable Holt tried to not make too much of his appearance in the game, but couldn’t seem to wipe the smile of his face.

“I figured maybe, but it was wait and see,” said Holt. “I’m having a decent season, but I wasn’t expecting to be anywhere.”

While many believed that Holt was a lock to make the team, many of the media were a bit surprised with Schwinden’s selection to the team, not because of his stats, but because lack of a clear-defined role on the team for most of the season. Second in the league with a minuscule ERA of 1.31, Schwinden has been in the starting rotation for barely a month, after working as the team’s long reliever for most of the season. Nevertheless, Schwinden’s ability to make the most of opportunities has gotten him a deserved All-Star nod.

A 22nd round pick by the Mets this season, Schwinden has battled adversity all season and it’s paying off.

“It was a big surprise,” said Schwinden. “I just barely started in the rotation. I’m excited to be there and it’s a great opportunity to show people what I have.”

However, of all the three Brooklyn players selected to the All-Star game, Clones reliever Yury Santana is easily the most intriguing. A converted shortstop, the 26-year-old is making the first All-Star game appearance of his professional career. Originally losing his closer’s spot to Stephen Clyne halfway through th season, Santana has battled back to regain that role and is currently sitting fourth in the NYPL with 10 saves.

A fun-loving and energetic player, Santana was thrilled when he found out the news.

“I feel great,” said Santana. “This is something I never would have thought about before. I was surprised because there are a lot of guys playing well right now.”

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr., Ron Hatcher and Jim Dolan

Powered by a two dinger night from Sean Ratliff and three costly errors by their opponents, the Baby Bums kept their playoff hopes alive with a 6-5 win over the Valley Cats and go into this week’s All-Star game with a renewed sense of purpose.

“They are playing better now,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “I hope we continue to play the way we have been. It’s not over yet. Anything can happen.”

Things didn’t start Brooklyn’s way however, as the Valley Cats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first after a Jason Castro two-run homer off Brooklyn starter and NYPL All-Star Chris Schwinden. The Mets Single-A affiliate stormed right back in the bottom half of the inning however, getting four hits and a RBI single and sacrifice fly from Eric Campbell and Jose Jimenez, tying the score at 2-2.

With the score still tied in the bottom of the fourth, Brooklyn got the lead on a Ratliff solo homer and kept it behind stellar pitching from Schwinden. Hurling four scoreless innings after the rocky first, the 22nd round pick looked to be in prime position to earn his fourth win of the season.

Things abruptly fell apart for the 21-year-old in the seventh though, as an error by JR Voyles allowed a run to score to tie the game and a RBI double by Ronald Ramirez put the Valley Cats ahead 4-3.

“I was attacking hitters pretty well,” said Schwinden. “But I was throwing my curve ball too much to some hitters and they capitalized. You can only get away with things for so long.”

With two outs in the seventh, Schwinden was replaced by Yury Santana, who gave up a RBI single from JT Shuck that gave Tri-City a two-run lead with only two and a half innings left to play.

The Mets Single-A affiliate came right back in the game in the bottom half of the seventh again after a solo homer from Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Santana kept Tri-City scoreless in the eighth and Roy Merritt pitched a scoreless ninth, giving the offense every opportunity to get back in the game and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Brooklyn did just that in the ninth, as Ratliff homered again, tying the game at 5-5.

“I got some good wood tonight,” said Ratliff. “It feels real good to start hitting balls hard now. Hopefully, it continues.”

After Merritt hurled another scoreless frame in the tenth, the Cyclones offense got cooking again, as Seth Williams lead off the inning with a single, while Jordan Abruzzo reached on an error and advanced to second to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. After a Jimenez strike out, Ike Davis was intentionally walked, loading the bases for Juan Legares.

What looked like an innocent double-play opportunity, after Legares grounded right to Tri-City pitcher Ashton Mowdy, turned into a disaster for Tri-City when Valley Cats backstop Castro threw the possibly inning-ending out into right field, allowing Abruzzo to score, giving Brooklyn a 6-5 win

Still five games out of first place after the victory, the Clones feel confident going into the All-Star break and feel they still have a shot at nabbing a post season birth.

“It was a huge win tonight,” said Ratliff. “It’s good to gain ground and to go out on a positive note before we come back to work after the All-Star break.”

Notes-

Brooklyn Dodger Carl Erskine was honored before the game and played the National Anthem on his harmonica.

Reese Havens groin pull will apparently keep him out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, as Alfonzo had no time table for his return.

“We’re trying to be careful with him,” he said. “We don’t want him to get hurt again.”

New Podcast!

Interview with Sean Ratliff after the game. Like always, you download it here on I-Tunes or stream it on the web here. Enjoy!

Pics by Jim Dolan and Ron Hatcher.

Five games back of the McNamara Division leading Yanks after the split, the Clones know they still have enough time to surprise a few people before the season’s climax.

“We know that there is time left and we’re playing well,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “We’re right in the middle of everything.”

Jose Jimenez got the Cyclones on the board in the first on a RBI double off Tri-City starter Shane Wolf that scored JR Voyles and gave Brooklyn an early 1-0 lead. Recent addition Juan Lagares then added an RBI single, giving the Mets Single-A affiliate a 2-0 advantage after only one inning of play.

After giving up two hits in the first inning, Brooklyn starter Jenrry Mejia threw two scoreless innings in the second and third, but wasn’t able to get himself out of a base-loaded jam with no outs in the fourth. Giving up a run on a Jonathan Gaston RBI single, Mejia was saved by a double play that got him out of the inning with the Cyclones still ahead by a run.

The Baby Bums got the two-run lead right back after a Kirk Nieuwenhuis RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, but Mejia got himself into another bases-loaded dilemma with two outs in the fifth and walked in a run that made it a one-run ballgame once again. Yury Santana was then summoned from the Brooklyn pen and got the Clones out of the inning with the score still 3-2.

“He was very inconsistent today,” Alfonzo said of his 18-year-old starter. “He was all over the place. I think he was trying to do too much out there today.”

Santana had problems of his own as well and left in the sixth with no outs and the bases-loaded for Stephen Clyne, who gave up a sacrifice fly that tied the score at 3-3. A J.B. Shuck ground out then sent another Tri-City Valley run across the plate, giving the Valley Cats their first lead of the game at 4-3.

The Clones offense wasn’t able to come back in the sixth and after a Caesar Cordido strike out, Alfonzo was ejected for arguing the called strike three with home plate umpire Matt Jones.

“I wasn’t upset about the call,” said Alfonzo. “I was mad that he made the call before the pitch got to the catcher. The ball was halfway there when he called it a strike. I don’t think it was right. I was disappointed about it.”

Clyne continued to pitch in the seventh and hurled a scoreless inning, but it wasn’t enough, as Brooklyn left the tying run on first base, after a Jimenez strike out ended the game with Valley City victorious 4-3.

Game two of the twin bill started eerily similar to game one, as the Cyclones jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first courtesy of RBI doubles by JR Voyles and Eric Campbell. In the second, the Mets Single-A affiliate got two more runs after a Nieuwenhuis single and error by Tri-City starting pitcher Jarred Holloway, stretching the lead to 4-0.

Clones starter Pedro P. Martinez supported his teammates by allowing only one run and striking out six in 5.2 innings of work.

“He had a good sinker and breaking ball tonight,” said Alfonzo. “All season-long he’s pitched well for us.”

With Martinez baffling Tri-City, Campbell padded the Cyclones lead in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run bomb that put the Mets Single-A affiliate ahead by five runs.

U-Conn product Erik Turgeon came into the game in the sixth with two outs and gave up a run in the seventh, but pitched well enough to secure a 6-2 Brooklyn win.

Splitting the series, the Baby Bums will look to win the rubber game tomorrow before taking a three-day breather for the NYPL All-Star Break.

Still hanging around a playoff spot with 18 games remaining, Brooklyn knows how important the next stretch of games are in determining their post-season hopes.

“This is very exciting,” said Alfonzo. “We’re right in the middle of things for the wild card and I know these guys are playing hard.”

Notes-

Lagares had hits in both games of the twin bill and until Reese Havens is completely recovered from another groin injury he suffered on the road this week, Lagares figures to be the team’s starting shortstop.

“He brings a lot to the table,” said Alfonzo. “He can hit, run and he’s very smart. I hope he keeps doing what he’s doing.”

Brooklyn Dodgers legend Carl Erskine will be at Keyspan Park tomorrow and will play the National Anthem on his harmonica in addition to having his number retired by the team.

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

Anyone that knows anything about the Brooklyn Cyclones or baseball history knows that Warner Fusselle is the former voice of “This Week in Baseball” and the only play-by-play announcer the Mets-Single-A Affiliate has ever known.

But many haven’t the slightest idea that one of the biggest passions of the Louisville, Kentucky-native’s life is music.

“I’ve always been interested in music and I have all of the records I ever got since I was a little baby child,” said Fusselle. “I think I have the best music record collection that I have ever seen. I mean some people have more records than I do; some disc jockeys have more, but I have about 15,000 albums and records. I’ve got sports and rock mostly, but I have a little bit of every type of music and because of that I was contacted by a record company and I put out a couple of records, ‘Baseball’s Greatest Hits’ and ‘Baseballs Greatest Hits: Lets Play Two’ and then a video and a book came out of that.”

As a youngster, Fusselle spent much of his adolescent days listening to Harry Caray and Jack Buck calling St. Louis Cardinal games on KMOX radio in the 60’s, but also developed a love for rock n roll and the blues. However, despite his love for music, Fusselle unfortunately could never master an instrument and recollected how painful his childhood experiences were with the piano.

“I couldn’t do that [play any instruments],” said Fusselle. “I took piano for a few years, I tried to play piano, but I didn’t like it. I probably shouldn’t say this, but one of the ten happiest days of my life was when my piano teacher recommended I quit playing.”

Spending a majority of the Cyclones season on the road, Fusselle sometimes has the time to kick back and enjoy some music and loves every second of it.

“It’s funny, I don’t like to put the headphones on when I’m on the bus” said Fusselle. “I carry around all my CDs with me and it seems every year I would have all of these CDs, but every time I pull out Pink Floyd and I listen to it over and over and never get tired of it. On the bus late at night, I get tired and put some Pink Floyd on and get comfortably numb.”

Fusselle is even playing to go to a Pink Floyd concert later this month, but that’s only if the Cyclones season is over. If not, he’ll be right back up in the cat bird seat calling all of the action for everyone to enjoy.

“I want to go,” said Fusselle. “But see, it’s either that or if the Cyclones are in the playoffs, there could be a championship game and certainly I would pick that. That’s just a back up for September 13. It’s Roger Waters, who was in Pink Floyd and he’s going to do his concert and the second act he’s going to perform the entire album, ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon,’ which is one of the greatest albums ever and sounds like something I’ve got to see.”

With the Cyclones currently in the playoffs, Fusselle may not be able to see Waters perform, but he will be able to grace thousands more with a play-by-play performance that can’t be heard anywhere else.

Notes-

By the way, just because the game was postponed, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t fun to be had at Keyspan Park.

Check out these pics:

Storm Troopers at Keyspan Park last night!

Ike Davis fishing from the dugout? Yes!

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. and Ron Hatcher

Brooklyn pitcher Chris Schwinden however, actually prefers to burn the midnight oil on a consistent basis.

As a matter of fact, he even believes it makes him a better pitcher.

“I don’t know why, but I do pitch much better when I don’t get a lot of sleep,” said Schwinden. “If I get too much sleep, I feel lazy on the mound and usually get hit pretty hard. When I don’t, I’m more energized out here and I win.”

So what does he do during all those late nights, you ask?

“Our catcher Ralph Henriquez has a Playstation 3 and I stay up playing MLB:08 The Show or Tiger Woods a lot of the time,” he said. “Most of the guys usually head to bed around 1 am, but I stay up a few hours longer than them.”

You’d expect a ballplayer who stays up all night exercising his thumbs and index fingers on Sony’s newest video game console to be a bit lethargic come game time, but with a 3-1 record and a 1.09 ERA in 10 appearances this season,Schwinden is one of three Cyclones appearing in the New York Penn-League All-Star game next week.

Armed with four pitches, a 92 mile-per-hour fastball, changeup, curve ball and slider, Schwinden has baffled hitters consistently this season, striking out 45 hitters in 41 innings with only six walks, indeed making it look like he’s playing a video game, rather than facing professional hitters. Allowing only 28 hits in that time as well, Schwinden hasn’t given his teammates on the field much work to do, making up for the fact that he keeps some of them awake with his late-night gaming escapades.

“He’s easy to play behind,” said Cyclones third baseman Eric Campbell. “He comes ready to play every time his name is called upon. The main thing with him is that he throws strikes. I think he has the best control of any pitcher on our staff.”

While his teammates have to deal with his late-night habits, the coaching staff only sees the 21-year-old’s successes on the mound. Starting the season as the team’s spot starter and long reliever out of the bullpen, Schwinden got an opportunity to start and hasn’t faltered yet. Pitching into the sixth inning in each of his last three starts, Schwinden has proved he belongs in a rotation consisting of hot shot prospects such as Brad Holt and Jenrry Mejia and has quickly become a cornerstone of the pitching staff.

Schwinden has been so good as of late that the coaching staff sees him in the rotation for the rest of the year, something that appeared quite unlikely for the 2008 22nd round pick when the season first began.

“He’s worked really hard to get to where he is right now and he deserves it,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “He’s one of my starters now and I’m happy for him.”

The Visalia, California-native is pretty proud of his accomplishments on the field this season as well and as a result, has vowed to continue playing video games this season.

As a matter of fact, Schwinden has already been talking about picking up a new game in the near future: Madden 09.

“A bunch of us have been talking about getting it,” said Schwinden on August 11, a day before the game was released to the public. “I’m looking forward to playing it soon.”

Notes-

Got word of a few Cyclones currently nursing injuries such as John Servidio, Ike Davis and Reese Havens. However, there is no clear word on the what the actual injuries are. When th team comes back home on Friday, expect an update after the day’s article.

Link-

Box Score to last night’s 3-1 Cyclone loss.

Update-

New Podcast up!

Interview with Ralph Henriquez on 8-10.

You can download it from I-Tunes here, or stream it from the web, here. Enjoy!

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. and Jim Dolan

DemBrooklynBums.com: When you were originally drafted, did you have a conversation with your dad to talk about what to expect in pro ball?

Ike Davis: Well, I was originally drafted out of High School [19th round 2005 by the Tampa Bay Rays] and I know a lot of people at this level, so I really knew what to expect.

DBB: You have this aire about you, I wouldn’t call it cocky, but I think it revels between confident and self-assured. You seem to always know what you want to say before you say it. Considering that, do you think you were trained at any early age to become a pro ballplayer?

Davis: I wouldn’t say that, but I have been in the spotlight for a while and it’s just something that I’m used to now. I’ve done stuff like this a lot from a very young age and now I’m accustomed to it. It’s a lot easier then it used to be back in the day.

DBB: You weren’t flustered at all the first time you stepped on to the field here like many of the younger player either.

Davis: Not at all. Like I said, this is nothing new for me. I’ve played in front of 30,000 people before. But I do think there is something special here in the park and the fans though. They don’t give up on you and they’re there with you until the end of every game. Hopefully we can start playing a little better at home for them.

DBB: You started your season off very strongly and now you’ve tailed off a bit and you’ve been injured. Considering that, where do you see your season going? Any expectations?

Davis: Before I got hurt [fouling a ball off his ankle that caused him to miss a few games], I was driving the ball hard and I was really happy with that. I’m still adjusting to the strike zone in this league. The strike zone in PAC-10 is much smaller; it’s almost like the major leagues. It wasn’t helping matters that I was going out there and arguing calls every night. I just have to go out there and hit.

DBB: Despite your struggles though, you’ve remained pretty poised and have never thrown your helmet or vented on the bench. Guys in similar situations at the big league level would kill to have that kind of patience. Considering your outgoing personality, has being this calm and focused been tough for you?

Davis: I’ve wanted to [lose his cool] at times, all the time actually. But baseball is a game of failure and it’s never about what you just did. The more you hang on to that, the less successful you’ll be. I always try and focus on what I’m going to do my next at bat and that’s why I can remain calm when things don’t go my way.

Notes-

Reese Havens appeared fine on Monday, but was scratched from Tuesday night’s game. If he is injured, I’ll have an update later in the day. The same goes for Davis who was taken out of the game as well yesterday.

Links-

Box Score to last night’s 6-2 Cyclone win

Also…

For those who didn’t know, you can vote for your favorite Cyclones to play in this year’s All Star game. Click Here to cast your vote!

Update- 8:00 a.m.

According to the team’s official website, Brad Holt, Chris Schwinden and Yury Santana will represent the team at the NY-Penn League All-Star game.

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

“They were great,” said shortstop Reese Havens, who ended up with the game-winning RBI. “As far as I’m concerned, they’ve been great all season.”

Just like Sunday, the Mets Single-A affiliate got on the board first. Batavia starter Zach Pitts wasn’t sharp in the early going and gave up a pair of doubles from Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Jordan Abruzzo, sandwiched in between a wild pitch that allowed Nieuwenhuis to score and gave Brooklyn a 1-0 advantage. Havens then padded the lead with a two-out RBI single that scored Abruzzo and gave the Clones a 2-0 lead after one inning of play.

“When you get an early lead, it helps,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “You play harder. It happened tonight.”

Coming off of his first win of the season on Aug. 6, Brooklyn starter Pedro P. Martinez [1-2, 3.20 ERA] wasn’t his normal solid self early on and was unable to work his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the second, giving up a Jairo Martinez RBI single that cut the Brooklyn lead in half.

That’s all the Cardinals Single-A affiliate could muster off the righty however, as Martinez stifled them over his last three innings pitched, striking out a season-high eight batters and keeping the game at 2-1.

“He did his job tonight,” Alfonzo said. “He pitched well enough to win.”

Jimmy Johnson came out of the Brooklyn bullpen in the sixth and kept the Muckdogs scoreless through the eight and left with two outs in the ninth. Yury Santana was then inserted and got the final out, securing the team’s 29th win of the season in the process.

With Staten Island’s doubleheader split on Monday, the Baby Bums are now only three games out of first place and feel confident going on the road against Auburn, before coming back home for a three-game series with the Tri-City Valley Cats this weekend.

“We’ve played great on the road this season,” Johnson said. “The offense always steps it up away from home and the way we’ve been playing as a team lately, we know this is an important stretch.”

Notes-

The rumor circulating around the park tonight was that Mets closer Billy Wagner will be making a rehab appearance at Keyspan this weekend.

Video-

Amazing grab by Kirk Nieuwenhuis in the eighth

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Photos and Video by Ron Hatcher.

On Sunday, he proved good things come to those who wait.

Going two for four with two RBI, Havens played a pivotal role in a crucial 6-5 Brooklyn extra-inning win and answered any questions about his ability on the field.

“He looked really good today,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “He was ready to play and so was the team. I had faith in them.”

Jordan Abruzzo got the Cyclones on the board in the first with an RBI double that was followed by a two-run triple by Havens and an Eric Campbell sacrifice fly that gave Brooklyn an early 4-0 lead.

Continuing to add to their lead in the second, the Baby Bums got another run on a stand-up triple by Kirk Nieuwenhuis that scored John Servidio and stretched the lead to 5-0.

Cyclones 18-year-old starter Jenrry Mejia [2-1, 4.03 ERA] wasn’t on his game however and gave up three runs in five innings of work, but nevertheless left in the sixth with Brooklyn still ahead 5-3.

“He was working very slow today in between pitches,” said Alfonzo. “He wasn’t hitting his spots with his fastball or breaking ball either.”

Lefty side-armer Roy Merritt then made his 16th appearance of the season and kept the Muckdogs scoreless through the sixth, but left the game in the seventh in one out and runners on first and second.

Yury Santana, who made his first appearance after straining a muscle in his throwing arm on the road, wasn’t able to clean up Merritt’s mess though and allowed a pair of RBI singles from Colt Sedbrook and Shane Peterson that tied the game at 5-5.

After a scoreless eighth, Stephen Clyne pitched the ninth for Brooklyn and kept the score 5-5. Havens led off the bottom of the inning and was sent down swinging, while Eric Campbell and Ike Davis were also retired, sending the game into extra-innings.

With Clyne coasting, Alfonzo was confident of Brooklyn’s chances.

“When Clyne came in and pitched the way he did, it made me feel confident,” said Alfonzo. “I knew we were going to win.”

Clyne continued to silence Batavia’s bats in the tenth and that’ when the Clones were able to put something together offensively for the first time since the second inning.

After a Sean Ratliff lead off single and a sacrifice bunt by Servidio, Nieuwenhuis singled for his second hit of the game to score Ratliff, giving the Baby Bums a hard-earned 6-5 win.

“Any time you can lead off an inning like that, you feel like it can end it with a swing of the bat,” said Ratliff. “I was happy I got on base and when Servidio moved me over, I knew we were in good shape. Kirk [Nieuwenhuis] took care of the rest.”

Winning the second game of the three-game series, Brooklyn currently finds themselves three and a half games behind the Yankees, who had today’s game canceled due to inclement weather.

Winners of four of their last five games, they know they’ll have to keep up the pace in order to stay in the playoff hunt.

“There’s plenty of baseball left and we’ve been playing well,” said Ratliff. “We just have to keep it going.”

Notes-

Josh Satin is still recovering from a bone bruise on his right knee and is expected to be out for another week.

Alfonzo was asked for an update on Clones third baseman Zach Lutz and said that he hadn’t heard anything from Florida where the 2007 fifth round pick is rehabbing.

Alfonzo also said he was a little worried about Havens when he legged out a triple in the first, but believed he got more comfortable with him as the game went on.

“I wasn’t used to seeing him at shortstop either,” he said with a laugh. “I’m happy he’s on the field with us now.”

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr., Jim Dolan and Ron Hatcher.

However, unlike the pitching staff that was again on it’s game, Brooklyn’s bats couldn’t lend a helping hand in a 2-0, three-hit loss to Batavia.

11-12 at home this season, the Cyclones still seem confused at the plate behind their hometown fans and are searching for answers as the season begins to wear down.

“It’s hard to win when you have only one hit going into the ninth inning,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo.”

The game remained scoreless through the third, as Brooklyn starter Brad Holt [3-3, 2.08 ERA] and Batavia’s Thomas Eager [3-3, 1.83 ERA] were strong early on, allowing only a hit apiece.

“I got ahead early and got a lot of ground balls,” said Holt. “I felt really good and the defense was strong behind me.”

Things opened in the fourth however, as Holt got himself into a bases loaded jam and ended up coughing up a Chris Swauger single that gave the Muckdogs a 1-0 lead.

Throwing 36 pitches in the inning, Holt was replaced by Mattias Carrillo in the fifth. Carrillo gave up two hits in 1.2 innings pitched, with one being a solo home run by Colt Sedbrook that stretched the Batavia lead to 2-0.

Jeff Kaplan was then summoned out of the bullpen to finish the fifth and kept the game at 2-0 the rest of the way. The Mets Single-A affiliate’s offense continued to struggle off Eager and George Brown however, who replaced him in the sixth and gave up just one hit through the final three innings. Adam Reifer then had mop up duty and despite leaving two runners on, retired Ike Davis for the last out of the game .

With State Island’s win, the Cyclones now find themselves four games back of the McNamara Division lead and know they have to start producing at home if they want to make the playoffs this season.

“We can’t explain it, it’s crazy” said catcher Ralph Henriquez in reference to the team’s play at home this season. “On the road, we’re much more aggressive and at home we freeze up. With four weeks left, we know we’re still in it though. We just have to come out and play hard and anything can happen.”

Notes-

Mets first round pick Reese Havens made his return to the starting lineup on Saturday after missing over two weeks with a pulled groin.

According to Alfonzo, Havens will most likely start at shortstop today as well.

Alfonzo also said that Holt was taken out of the game due to the team’s late arrival today and didn’t want to tire him out. After the game, Holt was fine and actually said he thought he could have pitched into the next inning.

Henriquez reached base twice in the game, once on an error and once with a single in the ninth.

Video-

Reese Havens bomb dies in the Coney Island wind.

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Pics by Ron Hatcher and Jim Dolan. Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.

But after just two appearances, it was apparent that something was wrong with the southpaw, who threw a whopping 93 innings and compiled an impressive 9-3 record at Southern Connecticut State University before being drafted this season. Suffering from a strained left arm for over a month, Fuller’s absence created a void in the bullpen that the team never fully recovered from.

However, since making his first appearance back with the team on Aug. 2, where he threw two scoreless innings, Fuller has proved that good things come to those who wait. During the outing, Fuller showed just how thrilled he was to be back in the lineup by fielding a pair of ground balls and firing them over to first baseman Jason Jacobs with an intensity that could only be described as “energetic.”

Obviously happy to be back on the mound, Fuller is ready to be a influential member of the Brooklyn staff and seems fully recovered from the arm problems that took him off the roster for most of the first half of the season.

“It was the first time I was out there in a month, so I was really anxious to get started,” said Fuller, who’s fastball clocks in at 92 miles-per-hour. “It’s hard sitting on the bench for a month not knowing when you’re going to be ready to come back. All you can do is stick with your rehab and do whatever it is you have to do to get back out there and that’s exactly what I did. I’m so excited to be back”

Aside from his fastball, Fuller also throws a curve ball, slider and a changeup, which gives him an uncanny amount of versatility out of a Brooklyn bullpen that hasn’t been very solid over its past few games.

Looking for more depth in the middle of a pennant race, the Cyclones coaching staff is fully aware of what Fuller brings to the table and plan to use him accordingly.

“We’re happy to have him back and healthy,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “We don’t know where he fits in right now, but I do know that we’re going to be working him in as much as we can the rest of the season. He’s going to get plenty of innings.”

Despite the coaching staff’s fondness of his repertoire and poise on the mound, Fuller knows with crafty relievers like Roy Merritt, Chris Schwinden, Wendy Rosa and Jimmy Johnson in the bullpen that playing time may be harder to come by than the coaching staff thinks.

Nevertheless, he’s focused on making the most of what’s left of his season.

“It feels great to know that this team is going to give me an opportunity to prove myself ,” Fuller, who models his game after Mets closer Billy Wagner, said. “I want to help this team win and we’re playing well right now, so it’s good that I get to be a part of all of this. I want to contribute as much as I can.”

Notes- According to a source, former Cyclone Bobby Malek was coaching first base in place of Guadalupe Jabalera, who has left the team for personal reasons. To my knowledge, Malek is the first former Clone to ever serve as a coach.

Link-

Box Score from last night’s 7-0 Cyclone win.

Update-New Podcast up!

Interview with Jordan Abruzzo on 8-04.You can download it from I-Tunes here, or stream it from the web, here. Enjoy!

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. and Ron Hatcher.

Their bullpen somehow failed to receive the message however as another solid pitching performance by Jenry Mejia and timely hitting were wasted in an ugly three-error, four-run seventh inning that resulted in a 9-4 Staten Island win.

“We didn’t play that bad until the seventh inning,” said outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis. “Then we made mistakes and the Yankees took advantage.”

Staten Island got on the board first, courtesy of a Brian Baisley RBI ground out in the opening frame, but starter Mejia [2-1, 4.30 ERA] limited the damage and kept it a 1-0 ball game after striking out Marcos Vechionacci to end the inning. Brooklyn carried that momentum into the bottom half of the first and quickly tied the game on a Nieuwenhuis lead-off triple and an RBI ground out of their own from JR Voyles.

Mitch Abeita wasn’t too fond of the Brooklyn comeback attempt however and nailed a solo-homer over the left field wall in the second that gave the Yankees their one-run lead back. Staten Island spot starter Andrew Shive then rebounded after a sloppy first and managed to hurl 3 2/3 scoreless innings on 57 pitches before being replaced by Drew Shetrone with runners on first and second with two outs. The Mets Single-A affiliate couldn’t get back in the game though, as Caesar Cordido was retired on strikes to end the inning and keep the game at 2-1 through the fourth.

The Clones didn’t waste another opportunity in the fifth though, as Eric Campbell doubled home Nieuwenhuis, who reached base on a walk, tying the game. The next hitter, Ike Davis, then hit an RBI ground out that gave Brooklyn a 3-2 lead.

Things continued to go the Baby Bum’s way in the sixth as Mejia settled down and kept the Yanks scoreless and kept the game deadlocked at 3-2.

“I felt great out there today,” Mejia said through a translator. “In my earlier starts, I wasn’t as comfortable and I felt hitters were waiting on my pitches. It felt like they knew what I was going to throw. I’m comfortable out there now.”

Brooklyn then replaced Mejia with lefty side-armer Roy Merritt, who had an even bigger cushion to work with after a Nieuwenhuis RBI double in the top of the sixth gave the ‘Clones a 4-2 lead.

Uncharacteristically erratic, Merritt, who threw a wild pitch and committed a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt, wasn’t helped either by two errors by his teammates in the inning, one of which allowed Jahdiel Santamaria to score and made it one-run ballgame.

Lasting only two out into the seventh, Merritt was replaced by Erik Turgeon, who couldn’t get the Clones out of trouble either, giving up a Vechionacci RBI double that tied the score. Things continued to get worse for Turgeon, who left the game in favor of Wendy Rosa after Jack Rye added an RBI single that gave the Yankees a 5-4 lead.

“That’s when it all started to fall apart,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “Merritt was throwing outside and was staying away from contact. It wasn’t any of their faults though. Our last few starters went short and I’ve been using them a lot.”

Rosa, like Merritt and Turgeon wasn’t his usual self, as Dan Brewer enjoyed the same success as Rye, slapping an RBI single that gave the Yankees a two-run lead.

Losing their lead and most of the 8,667 fans in attendance after Josue Selenes shut them down in the seventh and eighth, Brooklyn looked demoralized and exhausted. Staten Island continued to feast on Brooklyn’s bullpen however, scoring three runs in the ninth off reliever Jim Fuller on a Steven Strausbaugh RBI single and a Santamaria sacrifice fly, which gave them a five-run lead.

Still unable to mount a comeback over the final inning, Brooklyn went down without a fight against Staten Island reliever Nick Asselin, resulting in an ugly 9-4 loss.

Now three-games back of the Yankees with no games left between them this season, the Clones know they’ll have their work cut out for them if they want to catch their cross-bridge rivals for first place in the McNamara Division this season.

“The bullpen is usually great,” said Mejia. “But it’s not going to be that way everyday.”

Notes-

Despite the loss, Brooklyn is 11-4 in their past 15 games.

Cyclones first baseman Jason Jacobs was sent to St. Lucie following the game.

According to manager Edgar Alfonzo, Clones reliever Yury Santana suffered a strained muscle in his throwing arm on Sunday in Staten Island and his current status is unknown.

Video-

Caesar Cordido strikes out in the fourth.

[youtube aabKViONEB4]
Photos by Ron Hatcher. Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Enter 2007 Cyclones infielder and fan favorite JR Voyles.

Nicknamed J-RBI last season after hitting .387 with two home runs and 13 RBI through his first nine games last season, Voyles was a crucial member of the Brooklyn offense before injuring his hamstring and enduring a nasty bean ball to the head that limited his production to just three homers and 29 RBI in 49 games.

Healthy in 2008, some considered him a sleeper prospect with a future as a utility man at higher levels in the organization.

However, before coming to Brooklyn this season, Voyles was struggling in limited duty with the St. Lucie Mets, hitting .216 with only four homers and in 41 games.

“There were some older guys in St. Lucie and the organization felt it would be good if I came back,” said Voyles. “I know what my job is here and I’m looking forward to getting more ABs and producing.”

With three homers and seven RBI in only 11 games with Brooklyn this season, Voyles has given the offense a much needed lift and has gone from a seldom used utility man to a pivotal member of a team fighting for a playoff spot.

Some players may look at a demotion such as Voyles’ as a detriment one when assessing their future success, but the 24-year-old is focused on making the most of his opportunity to get more playing time and helping a team with the fan base like the Cyclones succeed.

“I love playing here and I love the atmosphere,” said Voyles. “I was a little frustrated after my first game [where he went 0-4], but I’m starting to get comfortable and I’m happy I’m helping the team win.”

The coaching staff in Brooklyn couldn’t agree more and loves the versatility and extra base power Voyles has shown in his second stint in Coney Island. Three games out of first place as on Sunday afternoon, the Cyclones staff know that production from players like Voyles is extremely important.

“He’s a guy that can do a lot of things for us,” said Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo. “He can play second base and third and has power. He knows what it’s like playing here and I know he’s capable of producing here.”

Link-

Box Score to last night’s 5-3 Cyclone win

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

John Servidio though has been the most consistent of the ragtag bunch of Brooklyn players that have kept the team in playoff contention this season.

Neverthless, in a move reminiscent of the 2006 Cyclones that some felt made more roster moves than their big league counterparts in order to win ballgames, the Barry University product was sent to Kingsport on July 11 in an effort to spark the offense that was collectively hitting just under .250. Scoring only eight runs in four games without their leading RBI man, Servidio was back in the Cyclones lineup on July 15, completing a wild four-day trip along the East Coast.

10-7 since Servidio rejoined the team, the coaching staff doesn’t see him going anywhere again this season.

“He was our best player the first few games,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “We’re happy to have him back now too. He makes us better and does a lot of things for us.”

Despite missing a few games while in Kingsport, Servidio is still leading the team with 16 RBI and is tied for the team lead with three home runs this season, which has cemented himself as the everyday right fielder in Brooklyn. Possessing a rocket of an arm in the outfield as well, Servidio has four outfield assists and has made several spectacular catches at Keyspan. That all combined with a big smile and boundless energy on the field have quickly made him a fan favorite.

For those reasons, Servidio originally had a hard time understanding why he had been demoted. However, he believes his time away from Brooklyn gave him a better understanding of how the business of professional baseball works and how things can change in an instant.

“There was a lot of different emotions running through my mind at first,” said Servidio. “I was really bitter at first, but ultimately it comes down to the way I play and it doesn’t matter if it’s the Gulf Coast League, here or anywhere else. I was upset at first because this is the first pro team I’ve ever played for and all the guys that have been here since the beginning bonded. I didn’t want to play anywhere else.”

Obviously never getting an opportunity to acclimate himself in Kingsport, Servidio is thrilled to be back in Brooklyn.

“I was happy and excited to pack my bags,” Servidio said. “Everything feels like it’s coming back together now. Over there [in Kingsport] is more like you’re put on the field every day to play, but here is more of like a college mentality. This team wants to win every day and we’re all really close. I really love it here.”

Now with an opportunity to continue to thrive with teammates he respects and cares for and fans that cheer for him as soon as he steps on to the field, the 23-year-old doesn’t have to be reminded to soak in every special moment.
Because to him, being able to play professional baseball everyday is a dream come true.

“I’m where I dreamed to be,” he said. “Even when I’m struggling, I’m not in a bad place. I know that I’ll work through it. I know I’m not here by accident, but I’ll never take it for granted that I’m here. I go to bed every night happy and I wake up every day ready to have the best day of my life.”

Link:

Box Score to last night’s Cyclones 3-2 win

Video:

Cyclones in Pictures July

[youtube BoeqC3jrS4Y]

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

Eric Campbell isn’t one of those players.

Hitting .283 with 13 RBI through the team’s first 35 games in ’08, the Brooklyn Cyclones third baseman/left fielder believes he’s just getting started proving what he’s capable of on the field.

At 6’3 and 220 pounds, many originally saw Campbell as a DH or someone who would contribute more with his bat than his glove and legs. After half a season in Brooklyn however, Campbell has shown a more than adequate arm from the hot corner and has even proved he could play left field when asked upon. The same thing can be said about his legs, which he’s used to get to balls down the third base line and up against the left field wall that no one thought he had any business near.

Modest and laid back off the field, Campbell is the kind of person that would have a problem telling the collective baseball world, “I told you so.”

He does understand where those same people are coming from though when they try to put a book together on him.

“It’s been like that my entire life,” he said. “After about 30 games, people begin to notice that I’m not a big slow guy.”

Much like the soup that bears his surname, this Campbell comes in many flavors. A lead-off hitter in High School, Campbell knows how to get on base. While his one homer in 35 games may not be eye-popping for a guy with his size and strength, his 17 walks and .392 on-base percentage are stats too big to fit inside a can of “Chunky Minestrone,” making him a hitter that can hurt you with a lot more than a long ball.

Originally looking like he was lost in the shuffle while Dan Murphy and Ryan Church were rehabbing with the team in late June, Campbell has become one of the main ingredients in the team’s offensive attack this season. With Zach Lutz still nursing a variety of injuries as well, it seems that Campbell’s playing time will only increase as the season goes on.

Campbell isn’t thinking about where he’ll be in the lineup once Lutz comes back however and is instead focusing on making the most of the opportunity that has been given to him.

“All I can do is go out there and produce when my name is called,” said Campbell. “Obviously, I want to be in the lineup every day, but I know if I start to do what I have to when they call on me that I’ll stick in the lineup. I think that’s starting to happen now.”

With the team finally back at .500 after a week or so of consistent baseball, players like Campbell will be counted on down the stretch if the Cyclones are to make the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

Confident his game will continue to improve, Campbell is determined to make a lasting impression with the fans in Brooklyn and help the team get back on track.

“Wherever they put me on the field, I have to continue to produce,” he said. “If I keep hitting the way I have been and can get even hotter, I know that I can stay in the lineup.”

Notes-

From the look of the box score, 2007 hero Jason Jacobs is back in town, which may be indicative to the seriousness of Ike Davis’ ankle injury he suffered on Monday in Staten Island. When the team comes back home on Saturday, expect a full-status update on Davis as well as a catch up with Jacobs, who is easily one of the nicest guys to ever put on a uniform in Brooklyn.

Link:

Box Score to yesterday’s 5-4 Cyclones win.

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. and Ron Hatcher.

Giving up 15 runs on 17 hits, the Cyclones were put to bed early and tucked in without a bedtime story in an abysmal 15-2 loss to the Staten Island Yankees.

“They hit the ball all over the place,” said Brooklyn first baseman Ike Davis. “You can’t really do anything when a team is hot like that.”

Tim Stronach made his first start since July 10 and lasted only one out into the first, surrendering four runs on RBI hits by Brian Baisley, Addison Maruszak and Daniel Brewer before being replaced by Jeff Kaplan.

However, despite the new hurler, Brooklyn continued to have problems as Kaplan gave up a triple to the first hitter he faced, Michael Lyon, that scored another Staten Island run, giving the Baby Bombers a 5-0 lead before the Cyclones came to the plate.

“There’s nothing you can do about it when the team your facing is hitting everything you’re throwing,” said Brooklyn manager Edgar Alfonzo. “Our pitchers made a lot of mistakes tonight.”

Kaplan kept the score at 5-0 until the fourth, when Baisley stroked a grand slam that put the Yankees up by nine runs. Staten Island wasn’t done pummeling Kaplan in the fourth either, as Lyon added an RBI double to his resume, giving Staten Island a 10-0 lead.

Erik Turgeon was then summoned to replace Kaplan and wasn’t his usual solid self early on either, coughing up a Taylor Grote three-run homer that stretched the lead to 13-0.

14-3 this season after scoring the first run, the Yankees offense destroyed the Baby Bums’ pitching staff and thanks to stellar starting pitching from David Phelps, the Mets Single-A affiliate was held to just two hits through the game’s first five innings.

Turgeon kept the Yankees scoreless through the fifth and sixth, striking out four Yankees out in a row at one point, but the offense was unable to put anything together. Nick Asselin replaced Phelps in the sixth and like his Brooklyn counterpart, was solid, throwing a scoreless frame. His successor, Tim Dennehy, also kept the Cyclones bats quiet, but allowed a bases loaded walk to Brooklyn shortstop Matt Smith that finally got them on board.

“They did a great job of throwing first pitch strikes today,” said Smith. “They got ahead of us early and made us pay.”

Wendy Rosa replaced Turgeon in the eighth and gave up a pair of RBI singles from Ray Kruml and Jahdiel Santamaria in the ninth, which gave the Yankees a 13-run lead. Brooklyn’s offense did show a small flicker of light in the eighth however, after a Jose Jimenez solo bomb off Jacinto Gonell, but was silenced in order by Andrew Shive in the ninth, wrapping up an ugly 15-2 loss.

Losing their second in a row after winning three straight, the Cyclones have been unable to find the consistency needed to reassert themselves in the playoff hunt. Now six games back of Staten Island, Brooklyn knows they have to come back strong in the final game of the series.

“If we win tomorrow, it’s not that bad,” said Alfonzo. “I told the guys that they need to forget about this game and go in strong tomorrow.”

Notes-

The most runs the Cyclones have have ever given up in a game was 21 on August 21, 2006, against the very same Staten Island Yankees.

Check out the recap from that game here.

Turgeon had eight K’s in only 3.1 innings pitched.

“He was really good out there,” said Alfonzo. “He over matched those guys with his fastball. He threw some good sliders too.”

Davis had two of the five Cyclones hits on the night and has three hits in his past two games.

Video:

Josh Satin single

[youtube rhBoN2a9IvA]

Photos by Ron Hatcher. Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.

The rest of his teammates didn’t help the cause much either though, amassing only two extra-base hits and committing two costly errors in a 6-4 loss.

“We scored four runs today,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo of his team that ended up with 12 hits on the night. “I know this team is going to score runs. Again, we were one hit away from winning the game. We finished the game strong too, so I’m proud of them for that.”

Jim Fuller made his first professional start for the Cyclones and despite giving up two hits to start the game, the lefty managed to keep the Renegades off the board in the first. Giving up another hit in the second, Fuller was saved after John Servidio made his fourth outfield assist of the season, nailing Michael Ross at the plate and keeping the game scoreless.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis got the Cyclones on the board with an RBI single in the second, scoring Mets fourth round pick Sean Ratliff, who singled earlier in his first professional at bat.

The lead wouldn’t last for long however, as the third inning was also an adventure for Fuller, who left the game with the base loaded in favor of reliever Wendy Rosa.

“He threw the ball well for his first start here in Brooklyn,” said Cyclones catcher Ralph Henriquez of Fuller. “He had good stuff. He was a lot better than it looked.”

The Cyclones reliever couldn’t keep Fuller’s shutout though, walking Ross and allowing a run to cross the plate to tie the game. That was all the offense Hudson Valley could muster however, as catcher John Mollicone grounded out to Brooklyn third baseman Zach Lutz to end the inning.

Brooklyn then got back on top in the third, as Davis scorched an opposite field double that scored Matt Bouchard. Things then began to fall apart for Renegades starter Chris Andujar, who ended up surrendering an RBI ground out from Zach Lutz, giving the Mets Single-A affiliate a 3-1 lead.

Both teams then made pitching changes in the sixth, as Manny Olivares came into the game for Brooklyn and Rob Della Grotta came out of the Hudson Valley bullpen and replaced Andujar. Both pitched scoreless frames in the sixth, but Olivares ended up coughing up the lead, giving up a bases loaded single to pinch-hitter Anthony Scelfo, which tied the score at 3-3.

Mike Lynn came into the game in eighth for Brooklyn and only lasted two hitters, getting Mark Thomas to ground out and walking Jason Appel. Lefty side-armer Roy Merritt made his Keyspan debut and instead of getting out of the inning on a routine ground ball that should have been converted into a double play, Cyclones shortstop Matt Bouchard missed second baseman Josh Satin and threw the ball into right field, allowing a run to score and gave Hudson Valley a 4-3 lead with only one out.

A Jason Corder sacrifice fly later in the eighth also padded the Renegades lead, giving them a two-run cushion with only two innings left to play.

“Roy gave me exactly what I wanted with the bases loaded,” said Bouchard. “I rushed it a bit though and I was a bit off balance. I was too quick with it. I really wanted to get the double play.”

Unlike earlier in the week, the Cyclones didn’t have any come from behind magic in them tonight, as Joshua Satow, who replaced Della Grotta in the seventh, kept the Baby Mets off the scoreboard in the eighth. Merritt continued pitching in the ninth and gave up a Mollicone RBI single, giving the Renegades a three-run lead with Brooklyn’s last licks on the way.

Coming in after Satow gave up a Henriquez single, Renegades closer Travis Risser proved to be no where near as potent as his team’s offense, but was saved by solid defense. Giving up a RBI single from Murphy that scored Henriquez, Risser got Zach Lutz to ground into a a game-ending double-play, putting the finishing touches on a 6-4 Renegades win.

“We had a lot of chances, but we didn’t take advantage of them,” said Bouchard, who had two hits on the night, to go along with two errors. “Our hits weren’t timely either, we put together a couple of good innings late. If we would have put them together earlier, things could have turned out different.”

Notes-

According to a source in the organization, the Mets other first round pick, Reese Havens, is expected to DH today in the second game of the series against Hudson Valley.

Daniel Murphy concluded his rehab assignment with the Clones last night, amassing seven hits and two RBI in just three games and is scheduled to rejoin the Double-A B-Mets today.

“He’s a professional hitter,” said Alfonzo. “He can hit.”

Alfonzo also announced that outfielder Brandon Kawal [stiff back] and Luis Alen [chin laceration] have been added to the Disabled List to make room for Havens. Alfonzo also expects a roster move to take place tomorrow to help sort out a team that is currently carrying six outfielders and three catchers.

Video-

Cyclones LF Sean Ratliff singles in his first pro AB

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Photos by Ron Hatcher, Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.