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.

Jake Eigsti made his return to Brooklyn last week, making him the only player on the team to have played parts of four seasons with the Cyclones. In his eight games with the club so far, he’s hitting .258 with eight hits and an RBI.

Sam Honeck is hitting .243 over his last ten games, cooling down after an excellent July, where he hit .333. For August, the slugger is hitting just .156

Brandon Moore continued his excellent season on Thursday, giving up just one earned run in six innings, lowering his ERA for the season to a stellar 2.40.

After giving up three earned runs against Batavia on Tuesday, Cyclones closer Mike Powers bounced back and earned his tenth save of the season.

Photo by Conroy Walker.

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.

As a matter of fact, he’s pretty antsy.

Working hard all offseason, Lynn has put his hard luck rookie campaign behind him and is focused on excelling in ’09.

“I had surgery in September,” he said. “Some bone spurs and scar tissues in my elbow. It wasn’t a serious surgery, but I did need about six months to rehab it. It feels good to finally be healthy.”

Being used in a seventh inning relief role so far this season, the Louisville-native is happy to have an opportunity to prove himself and has responded marvelously, hurling three scoreless innings in two appearances this season.

With an added confidence and comfort in ’09, Lynn has set some lofty goals for the team- a NYPL championshp.

“I’m healthy and excited to be back here,” Lynn said. “Brooklyn hasn’t won a championship in a while and it’s more important here than anywhere else in the minors. Playing in front of these fans at home, we want to do our best for them. Winning a championship is something we are shooting for.”

Above all else however, he’s focused on becoming a leader.

Called down to Brooklyn before the season started after starting the season in Savannah, Henriquez knows exactly what the organization is looking for in him.

“They told me when they sent me here that it wasn’t a demotion, that it was a promotion,” Henriquez said. “I love it here and I’m happy to be back. I learned a lot from last season and I’ll do whatever I have to do to help the team.

Showing up to camp this season in much better shape and 15 pounds heavier, the now bulkier, yet toned backstop is ready to leave his best on the field.

Despite being just 22 years old, Henriquez has been in professional baseball since 2005. The son of Atlanta Braves roving catching instructor Ralph Henriquez Sr., the youngster comes from a good pedigree and is ready to cash in on his promise after a few mediocre seasons.

“I’m here to win a championship,” Henriquez, who has a homer and three RBI in just 28 at bats so far this season, said. “The added weight has helped a lot. I feel a lot stronger. In this game, strength means a lot. I feel much better [than he did last year] and I have a lot of confidence.”

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.

A two-way player in College, Turgeon was used to playing the field and then coming in to pitch. Now a full-time pitcher in the minor leagues, the Florida-native is still refining his game.

He even got help from an unlikely source this offseason.

“I worked out at this place called the Winning Inning this offseason,” he said. “I worked out with [Chicago White Sox pitcher] Gavin Floyd. He taught me his curveball; I owe a lot of it to him. Aside from that I just went hunting a few times and worked out all offseason. Last year was more about throwing the ball; this year I’m more a pitcher and I’m ready to go in at any time.”

Appearing in 11 games with Brooklyn last season, Turgeon was dynamic at times, striking out 23 hitters and walking allowing five in 16.1 innings while in a middle reliever role.

This season, Turgeon is splitting the closing duties with Mike Powers, a job he says he’s ready for.

“Closing is one thing that really gets me excited,” said Turgeon, who is also throwing a two-seam fastball this season to compliment a lively four-seam fastball, a changeup and curveball. “I’m looking to doing well there.”

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.

“I feel like Centeno was a better fit tonight,” Lopez, a former minor league catcher himself, said Friday night. “He’s retained a lot of information during the past two months in extended Spring Training. He runs well and handles the bat well and does a good job calling the game. It’s too early to say who the starter he, but he’s earned another start.”

Despite playing in only 39 games professional, Lopez has confidence in his young backstop.

“Last year in Spring training we really saw him as a number one guy somewhere,” said Lopez. “But there were little bumps in the road for him to get to St. Lucie. He’s putting everything together now.”

Centeno, on the other hand, is thinking too much about the future.

“I have a chance to play every day,” he said. “I just want to do things right. I’m so happy where I am right now.”

Brad Holt- 4-1, 3.02 ERA in nine starts between St. Lucie and the B-Mets.

Last season, I said that I saw Holt as a starter for the foreseeable future, mainly due to the fact that not many knew what his secondary pitches were capable of. On top of that his power curve showed significant problems and came an amazingly long way in just a summer of hard work. This season is obviously still foreseeable and Holt has been excellent, averaging over a strikeout an inning and keeping opposing hitters to a measly .203 batting average. With his last start at the AA level yesterday, the future looks to be getting brighter by the way for the youngster.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis- Eight homers, 20 RBI and five steals in 47 games.

Overall, Captain Kirk is proving he can survive on the High-A level and has shown that he has more power than people gave him credit for last season. With his excellent defensive ability as well, I think a call up to AA is an inevitable one at some point this season. Nevertheless, he has to cut down on his strikeout totals and improve his ability against left-handed pitching. Otherwise, he’ll project more as a fourth outfielder than the starting outfielder many thought and still believe he can be when they watched him in Brooklyn last year.

Dylan Owen- 0-5, 6.97 in 10 starts in AA.

It seems that Owen’s start power has diminished a bit and he’s come back to earth. Maybe a stint in St. Lucie can revitalize him.

Ike Davis- .283, four dingers, 21 RBI.

Aside from an alarming amount of strikeouts, Davis is making a believer out of many who thought he jumped the shark in Brooklyn last season. On pace for a solid 15 homer, 70 RBI season, Davis projects to be more like the Lyle Overbay-type player I projected him to be everyday.

Jenrry Mejia- 4-1, 1.97 ERA in nine starts in St. Lucie.

Just called up to AA, Mejia, just like Holt is proving he may have what it takes to move up through the system at a pace not many expected. Many questioned his maturity at times last season, so it’s important to see how he handles his first rough patch with the B-Mets. Nevertheless, at 19, he’s quickly becoming one of the best prospects in the system.

Photo by Ron Hatcher.

July 3, 2007- Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the Cyclones took on the Hudson Valley Renegades last Sunday, Danny McDevitt, the pitcher who threw the last pitch in Brooklyn Dodgers history, alongside the catcher who was behind the plate, Joe Pignatano, reminisced on their time at Ebbets Field.

“I don’t remember a whole lot, but this thing has become something special as time has gone on and it’s very important to me now,” said McDevitt, who had one of his best seasons in 1957 as a rookie, going 7-4 with a 3.25 ERA. “Back then, I was just a dumb left-hander.”

Coming back to Brooklyn, where he was born and raised after his playing days were over in 1962, Pignatano still feels that the greatest moment of his career was playing in Ebbets field during his rookie season. It may have been 50 years since he was in a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform, but Pignatano’s eye shined with the exuberance of a young major leaguer when recollecting the early days of his career.

“I was happy as a pig in you know what to be here,” said Pignatano, who also played for the Athletics and the Mets during his career. “We were a family and our captain, Pee Wee [Reese] kept us together and working hard. It was just super.”

While it was obvious that both McDevitt and Pignatano loved their time in Brooklyn and despite the fact that they both would have liked to stay there, they understand why Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley moved the team to Los Angeles almost 50 years ago.

“The atmosphere was great and the fans were great. They were so knowledgeable. We were like their babies and when we left, you’d think they lost their kids,” said Pignatano. “Did I want to leave here? No, this was my home. I had friends and family here and this is where I wanted to stay, but I was a major leaguer and I was going to play with any team that game me a sweater. So in order to play, I had to go to LA.

“If I was in his [O’Malley’s] position, I probably would have done the same thing, regardless of if I lived here or not.”

Despite having similar feelings about the move to Los Angeles, McDevitt felt that the atmosphere in Brooklyn was one that thrived on baseball and brought the best out in the players.

“Making the move to LA probably took 15 years off of my career,” he said jokingly. “This was such a good baseball town and the players really got involved in the community. All the players were family men and they cared in the community. If you read Carl Erskine’s book, he mentions his grocery man, barber and butcher a lot. Those types of things just don’t happen anywhere else.”

Leaving Brooklyn was obviously tough for both of the New York natives, but their day at Keyspan is something they’ll never forget.

“I grew up a mile from here, born and raised,” said Pignatano. “And the team I played sandlot ball with was called the Cyclones, so to me it means a lot. There’s nothing better than being here today.”

Photo by George Napolitano

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?

Enjoy!

Anyone who knows anything about Brooklyn baseball still re­members the name Ralph Branca. Sure, everyone knows he was the pitcher who gave up the infamous Bobby Thomson home run in 1951 that cost the Dodgers the pennant, but few remember what a pivotal part of those successful Brooklyn teams the right-hander was, along­side Jackie Robinson, Sandy Kou­fax and Pee Wee Reese.

Throwing out the first pitch before the Cyclones took on the Jamestown Jammers this past Sunday, Branca looked back on his career and shared some of his favorite memories about his playing days in Brooklyn, reveal­ing just how much the game has changed since he hung up his cleats in 1956.

A key member of several Dodg­er teams that always found a way to win, Branca, 81, feels that because the team stuck together for so long, the fans in Brooklyn were able to connect with them in ways that aren’t possible anymore, due to free agency and the huge salaries pres­ent in today’s game.

“Brooklyn will always hold a special place in my heart,” said Branca. “The fans in Brooklyn were the greatest. However, I know those great times also had some­thing to do with the team I played for, which had so many great guys. They were so competitive. We won six national league championships and lost three more on the last day; we could have won nine out of 13 after the war.”

The reason why many believe that the Dodgers were somehow always involved in the chase for the pennant every season, despite injuries, was because the organi­zation at Brooklyn paid very close attention to the mental makeup of the players they signed, rather than their raw ability on the field. While Branca never knew what the inter­nal philosophy in the organization was when signing players, he did notice the team was always ready to play, loaded with a cast of char­acters with enough levity and cha­risma to star in a major motion pic­ture.

“I don’t know if he [Dodgers GM Branch Rickey] judged them on intelligence or playing ability, but we always had good teams,” said Branca who is a graduate of New York University. “We were all genuinely nice guys that were team-oriented. It was a great group of gentlemen, to be truthful. It was all basically led by Pee Wee [Re­ese]; he set the example. He and Jackie were really like the co-lead­ers of the club. So I don’t know if our team was brought together by those guys or by Rickey looking for intelligence or something else.”

As a matter of fact, Branca be­lieves it was just a coincidence that the Dodger teams he played on had an uncanny amount of character and respect for the community and be­lieves that all baseball players dur­ing the late 40s and early 50s had to be smart cookies to make it in the world of professional baseball.

“You had to be smart to play this game in the 40s, to remember all the stuff about the other teams. There were no computers back then, so this [pointing to his head] was your computer,” said Branca, with a laugh. “We never had any­thing written down; you’d just re­member what you pitched to guys and their reactions to certain quirks you had. I think it was all just part of the game and I think back then you needed to have that intelligence to be a good player.”

Despite the togetherness, intel­ligence and moxie that he and his fellow teammates exhibited on the field, Branca’s career was never the same after a terrible off-field accident that limited the former 20-game winner to only 22 starts and 12 victories over the last three years of his career. Instead of feel­ing sorry for himself, the straight-shooting Branca admits he didn’t take care of himself the way he should have during his career, but also feels that if sports medicine was a little more advanced dur­ing his time in Brooklyn, he could have played longer.

“At that time, they didn’t have anything in sports medicine that could have helped me. I went vir­tually untreated. When I went to Detroit (he was claimed off waiv­ers by the Tigers in 1953), the trainer worked on me really hard and he sent me to the Detroit os­teopathic clinic and they found out my back was really thrown out of whack, my pelvis was tilted and my left side went up an inch and a half,” said Branca, who was also a three-time All-Star during his 12-year career. “I could throw hard on some days, but not on others. In the end, all I really needed was a stilt on my shoe to prop me up a bit. I just wasn’t smart enough to take care of myself.”

However, what Branca misses more than the All-Star appearances and big games, are the Brooklyn fans.

“Dodger fans were just the greatest. They understood the game and respected the opposition. Stan Musial was called ‘Stan the man,’ that nickname was given to him by the fans in Brooklyn,” said Branca, whose eyes still burn with the in­tensity of a major leaguer. “When he came to bat, they gave him a standing ovation. I don’t think that happens anymore. The other aspect of it was the ballpark. Ebbets Field was just so intimate. It was built very tight on the field, there wasn’t much room in foul territory and because of that, I don’t think there was a bad seat in the house. You were always on top of the action.”

If the love of the fans in Brook­lyn was important to Branca during his playing career, the rivalry be­tween the Dodgers and the Giants may be a close second. However, back when he played, every team treated every opponent like a hated rival.

“We never talked to the oppo­sition, especially the Giants,” said Branca. “Just ‘hi and hello,’ and that’s it. If they weren’t on Brook­lyn, I didn’t want anything to do with them. That’s how it should be. Nowadays, they get on first, they have a conversation and then once they get to second, they have an­other. It’s different now, they’re in a union; they’re all brothers. Because of free agency, the guy you run into a few times this week could be your teammate next season.”

For some people, imagining baseball without multi-million dollar television and endorsement deals, video games and DVD box sets, highlighting every past glory and achievement, is almost un­imaginable.

But for Branca and a small con­tingent of fans, this is what baseball was and hopefully what it could be again sometime in the future; a game played at 110 percent by great athletes, that care about the community they live in and have the time to talk to their barber and butcher on the way to work every day.

Nowadays, the chances of see­ing A-Rod or Tom Glavine and their wives at the same church on Sunday with the average Joe is as unlikely as seeing the Dodgers come back to Brooklyn.

Branca would not only have gone to the church service, he would have shook your hand afterwards, the same way he’d shake it today – with conviction and benevolence.

Photo by Wikipedia.

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.

Jimmy Johnson- Easily one of the best middle relievers in the NY-Penn League last season, Johnson, who came out of nowhere after being drafted in the 28th round, sparkled with excellent control and was able to consistently get himself out of jams. He also only gave up 20 hits and 11 walks in 36 innings of work. Without an explosive fastball however, Johnson will be tested much more at Savannah, where I see him at least starting the season due to the fact that former Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo loved his game and used him a ton. There, he can gain some confidence before he heads up to St. Lucie.

Wendy Rosa- Unlike Johnson, Rosa’s biggest weakness is his control, which was a huge reason why he was demoted to Brooklyn last season. There were times when it looked like he had his problems solved, but overall, he still has serious work ahead of him before he can move up the organizational ladder. Expect a full season in Savannah, where he can earn some bumps and bruises.

Roy Merritt- Expect the same for Merritt, who will be asked to continue to develop his secondary pitches at either Savannah or St. Lucie after a marvelous season in Brooklyn last year. His slider aside however, Merritt isn’t equipped to handle the everyday pressures of Double-A and until he can either develop another pitch or find a niche in a Mike Myers-esque role, facing one hitter in the lineup and then calling it a night, he’s going to have problems at higher levels.

Yury Santana- At 26, despite an excellent season last year, time is running out for the fiery righty. He needs a big season at St. Lucie and some time in Double-A. In order for that to happen though, he’s going to have to find a way to not only be consistent on the mound, something that was a problem at times last season, but he’s also going to have to learn to take it easy on himself. Showing Carlos Zambrano-esque fits at times, Santana was usually unable to put the pieces back together on the mound after a few bad at bats. If that continues, he may find himself out of the game all together.

Edit- Santana was released earlier in the month. Sorry for the confusion guys, as I am currently swamped covering the EPHL’S Brooklyn Aces.

Jeffries Tatford- 11 homers, 50 RBI in Savannah with a cup of coffee in St. Lucie. After wasting away in Brooklyn for two seasons, many believed he was going to eventually be released. However, he was called up to Savannah and responded marvelously, hitting .276 with 12 RBI in 30 games. If Ike Davis is promoted straight to St. Lucie this season and doesn’t hit Savannah first, Tatford will get more playing time and will continue to move up the organizational ladder.

Sean Ratliff- 15 homers, 55 RBI in Savannah and St. Lucie- Despite alarming strikeout totals, Ratliff showed some power towards the end of the season last year in Brooklyn and much like Servidio, showed an ability in the outfield that any team in the organization would be happy to possess. Simply put, Ratliff has the ability to be a star, he just has to find some sort of consistency at the plate. If that happens, expect those numbers I have posted up there. If not, expect a low batting average and high strikeout totals.

Eric Campbell- eight homers, 60 RBI in Savannah and St. Lucie- While he didn’t put up the power numbers many thought he would last season, Campbell is a good contact hitter with a penchant for clutch hits. He also has good patience for a youngster, a trait that is almost impossible to teach and something that should benefit him as he moves up the ladder. His ability to play a few infield positions and left field also make him extremely versatile and make it that much easier for him to get in the lineup. As well, his defense and speed are much better than most people give him credit for. If he can hit in the sixth spot and has a few guys in front of him that can get on base, Campbell will have a very good year this season.

Brad Holt- 12-6, 2.95 ERA, while averaging a strikeout an inning in St. Lucie; expect a mid to late season call up to the B-Mets as well. It’s a big assumption to make, but I do think that Holt will continue the success that he had in Brooklyn, but won’t be as dominant. His ERA last season was 1.87 and this season, I feel it’ll go up another full point. Nevertheless, the way his breaking pitches progressed last season, he’s still going to be successful and yes, he will still be a starter [well, in my crazy mind anyway]. That may change when he gets comfortable in Double-A though.

Dillon Gee- 15-9 3.50 ERA combined with B-Mets and Buffalo, while eventually making his MLB debut. Watching this guy pitch in Brooklyn in 2007 was a blast as he has some phenomenal control and pitched great in tight spots. That success has carried over into higher levels as well as he was rock solid with both St. Lucie and Binghamton last season. Unlike Owen, who relies on the strikeout more to get out of jams, Gee induces a ton of ground balls in addition to getting a decent amount of K’s. Because of that type of versatility, I expect a ton of success from him in the future. Remember, you heard it here first.

Jenry Mejia- 8-13, 4.75 ERA in Savannah, with some time in St. Lucie. Let me just say for the record that I love this kid’s off-speed pitches. His fastball also has a ton of pop at 96 MPH. He’s got a ton of talent, but he’s still extremely green. Watching him walk a half dozen hitters in a row one game in Brooklyn last season proved that more than anything. Nevertheless, he’s got so much natural talent that you can never count him out. In spite of that, I see him going through some growing pains this season as he learns to become more of a complete pitcher both on the mound and off. Reminding me a lot of a young Jose Lima or Carlos Zambrano, Mejia lets his emotions get to him at times and it will be something that he’ll have to learn to control before he can truly be successful.

Photo by Daniel Wos.

Chatting with DBB on the phone from California on Feb. 4, Satin talks about his offseason, what it was like playing Brooklyn last season and what he expects from himself in the future.

You can listen to the file here:

http://www.switchpod.com/users/dembrooklynbums/DemBrooklynBumsPodcastJoshSatinInterview204.mp3

Or go to the site’s page on I-tunes and listen there:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=284456470

In June, the team will have a promotion in which they will wear jerseys sporting a combination of Brooklyn and the first name of our current President-elect for one night. While some people think it’s a great idea and are huge supporters of this promotion, I have a serious problem with it for one simple reason.

You don’t mix politics with sports.

As a guy that thoroughly enjoys the looks on the players faces when they have to wear some of the jerseys the Cyclones produce for promotions, I love the fact that this jersey, unlike some of the old ones in the past [anyone remember Hawaiian Night in 06?] actually looks good. I also love bobble heads, as they are a great collectible and something that all baseball fans love.

However, I can’t escape the feeling I have in my stomach right now, a feeling that gets scared when they see a person’s name and a politician’s name at that, on the jersey of a professional baseball team.

It feels like something you’d see in in a bad post WWII propaganda film. And guess what, it wouldn’t be the US doing it, it would be out socialist and fascist enemies. I can see it now, the Cuban Castros or something along those lines.

To me, baseball is a sport that transcends politics. It’s the only place where a Republican, Democrat, Independent or even a Liberal can talk freely and not feel forced to beat the living crap out of each other. It’s also the only place where religion isn’t a factor as I, an agnostic, have been to baseball games with people of all types of faith and there has never been a religious war in the bleachers.

Why?

Because the game is one of the most powerful things in this country and people understand that. Simply put, they come to the game to forget about all of those things and have a good time for a few hours.

In these tough political times, sports are the one solace left for people just looking to escape the reality of the everyday nonsense and what it entails.

It’s a very delicate balance and it should not be tampered with.

Another reason is because the trend of hyping up Barack Obama to the point where he’s already achieved an iconic-like status without spending a day in office is a complete joke. The college that I teach at has flyers all over the school for a History Club meeting a few weeks ago asking if he’s the next Abe Lincoln. Are you kidding me? What makes this guy so special that he deserves this type of treatment? Is America this desperate for a leader?

Maybe yes, maybe no. However, this post wasn’t supposed to be about politics.

The game shouldn’t be either.

Photo by the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Matt Smith- Stay healthy and consistent. His first dozen games with Brooklyn this season, Smith was an on-base machine. He drew long counts and wasn’t scared to take a pitch in a hitter’s count. He was so good that after about a week, it seemed like the Clones had found their temporary replacement Reese Havens. However, after about 50 ABs, he started to swing a bit more than he was before and all of a sudden, his batting average was under .200 and his on-base percentage was average, rather than stellar. Playing through a few injuries during the time, Smith’s season was finished, leaving the Aces to look for another shortstop in what turned out to be an injury-riddled season for both Smith and Brooklyn. If healthy, he can and will be a solid middle-infielder at the Double-A level and perhaps even higher, despite being known more for his glove than his bat. It’s just a matter of him getting in the at-bats he needs to show the Mets what he’s truly capable of.

Nick Carr- Bring down those walk totals. 5-2 with 74 K’s and a respectable 3.80 ERA in 2007 with Brooklyn, Carr was starting to look like a sleeper prospect. Shedding 25 pounds before the season, the 2005 41st round pick seemed to be beginning to understood what it took to be succesful in professional baseball. That seemed to go out with window last season in Savannah and St. Lucie, where his walk totals were beginning to become a bigger problem than they were before. Never having amazing control to say the very least, Carr was averaging a K an inning in Brooklyn and less than a hit an inning as well, which made up for his mediocre at best control. Last season in St. Lucie, not only were his strikeout totals down, but his walk numbers were up as well as his hits allowed. In order for him to continue to develop into a solid power pitcher at higher levels, those numbers will obviously have to change.

Luis Rivera- Hit for more contact. Aside from hitting .318 with the B-Mets in 2007 in just 17 games, Rivera hasn’t hit over .260 since he hit .272 with the Cyclones in 2007. Already a great defensive player, all Rivera has to do is get himself over .260 and he’ll be able to get himself to stick in double- A. After that, he just has to continue to work hard at the plate and who knows what could happen. Once looked at as a more than solid contact hitter after hitting over .300 in every season he spent in college and both seasons he spent in the Cubs organization, Rivera hasn’t been the same offensive player in nearly two seasons.

Photo by Ron Hatcher.

Last week, I shared my thoughts on a trio of pitchers I thought would provide some interesting stories for the new season.

Here are my best bets as far as infielders go.

Reese Havens- Spending all of that time injured in Brooklyn last season didn’t diminish his star power one bit if you ask me. In the limited time he was there, he showed he can be a more than a solid gap to gap hitter and can even thrive in the leadoff spot if given a chance. The only question is, what position will he play? For that reason alone, I think this upcoming season will be an interesting one for him.

Wilmer Flores- There’s no way I could have had this list and not put him on it. Simply put, the kid is built like a god and is only 17. He’s got quick hands and even though he’s shown a lack of composure against off-speed pitches, he in no way, shape or form is a Pedro Cerrano [the dude from “Major League” that needed the power of VooDoo to hit a curveball] clone. Unless he gets injured, I expect a more than solid season from the kid, hopefully in Brooklyn, where I can keep my eyes on him.

Emmanuel Garcia- This guy really showed me something when he was here a few summers ago. However since then, he’s been average at best. Nonetheless, I really think he’s due for a good season in 09. Good pitch recognition skills and excellent speed don’t run on trees and luckily, Garcia has both.

On another note, I just want to say that I would have really liked to put two other players on this list, but I feel that for their own reasons, may be too tough to judge. One is Ike Davis, who in spite of playing excellent defensively all season in Brooklyn last season, just never put it together with his bat. Before I saw him play, I heard a few people comparing him to someone like Derek Lee, but for my money, I see him in more of a Sean Casey, Lyle Overbay or Sid Bream [old reference, I apologize to some of my younger readers] role in the bigs. Rather than being a 30 homer and 100 RBI guy, I see him as a 15-80, .275 type of player that may eventually be shifted to the outfield if the team can find a slugging first baseman once he gets to the bigs. Nothing wrong with that if you ask me, it’s just not what the Mets ordered when they saw him on the draft menu last season.

The other player is Zach Lutz, who I feel that when healthy, is a top 10 prospect in this system. The only problem is getting him healthy and if he’ll ever really have that chance to show how talented he really is. If he does, you heard it here first: lock up your daughters and watch out; this kid has the goods.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Jason Jacobs- Probably my all-time favorite Cyclones position player, Jacobs was the feel-good story of 2007. After sharing catching duties with Danny Cummins in 2006, Jacobs blossomed in 2007, leading the team in both home runs and RBI. However, there was so much more to Jacobs than his game. A true professional, Jacobs too was a guy that was always available to the press, regardless of the situation. When he came back for a few games when the team was dealing with injuries in 2008, I told him I hoped I never saw him in Brooklyn again. In a Cyclones uniform that is.

Dylan Owen- When Owen first joined the team in 2006, he was a spare part. However after injuries partially ravaged the Cyclones staff he was thrust into action and responded by putting together one of the best seasons in team history. So quiet and timid at first, Owen eventually warmed up to life in Brooklyn and despite his southern accent, was a full-blooded New Yorker by September. Humble in spite of his success, Owen always remains gracious of his time in Brooklyn and of the opportunity to had to prove his worth.

Joe Smith- Smith’s month in Brooklyn went by so quickly that many fans don’t remember it very well. Nevertheless, the Mets reliever is without a doubt the most dominant closer in the team’s history. After fouling up his professional debut against the Yankees, giving up a bunch of unearned runs, Smith responded and quickly became a force to be reckoned with. Combining a wicked slider and a 94-mph fastball, Smith was a blast to watch as well. Calm and cool in the clubhouse, Smith was another guy that was always fun to talk to after a game.

Scott Shaw- Easily one of the smartest players I’ve ever interviewed, Shaw could describe his performances with such detail that you almost wondered if he even pitched. It was almost as if he watched someone else pitch and described what he saw. It was a different type of experience for me as a reporter, as my recaps during the games that he pitched possessed a certain amount of depth that I never thought was possible before. I also always liked that he made eye contact with the reporters that asked him questions, letting them know that he was extremely serious when being interviewed. If his class in the clubhouse wasn’t enough, the guy had a great arsenal of pitches and was one of the most efficient pitchers I’ve ever seen in person.

In other news, my Islanders site, TheDriveForFive.com, has been nominated for Islanders blog of the year on YesIslanders.com. However, in order to win, I need votes from you, my readers! If you wish to support me in my quest to become an award-winning blogger, just click the following link and then register [They won't spam you, I promise]. It’s easy!

Thanks in advance!
Photos by Conroy Walker, except the Turkey .

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.

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

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.

Dem Brooklyn Bums: How has Brooklyn been treating you so far?

Mike Lynn: I’ve been dealing with a bunch of injuries, but it’s been a really good experience. Playing here in Brooklyn is second to none and something you really appreciate it when you go on the road. We have 8,000 fans here every night and you go to some other places and they barely have a thousand; it just doesn’t compare.

DBB: What kind of injuries are you dealing with?

Lynn: Just some elbow soreness. I saw the doctor today and there’s no tears or anything. I had Tommy John surgery in 2004 and I just wanted to make sure I didn’t re-injure that. I also got a cortisone shot today and should be throwing in the next couple of days. [his last appearance of the season and next appearance after this interview ended up being on August 14 with GCL Mets, where he pitched one inning of shutout ball in spite of giving up two walks.]

DBB: Where did the soreness start?

Lynn: It started in mini-camp. I threw a ball down the line on a bunt play and I felt something; it hasn’t felt the same since. It’s been hard to sit here on the bench because I want to pitch.

DBB: Do you think the injury has played a role this season?

Lynn: Absolutely. I haven’t felt right this season and my recovery time in between appearances isn’t what it should be. Any time you’re injured, it’s really hard to get in a groove. It’s tough, especially as a reliever. It’s not easy.

DBB: Considering the injuries, you haven’t been able to really show the fans what you’re made of. With that being said, can you tell us a little bit about your game? Is there anyone in the big leagues you try to pattern your game after?

Lynn: There’s not a major leaguer that I try to emulate, but I do think that I’m a power pitcher. My fastball was 90-94 in college. I pitch with a lot of energy and I work fast on the mound. I’m very aggressive too and I wish I could show fans what I’m made of. It’s killing me not to be out there on the field.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

Jordan Abruzzo- The team’s leader in the clubhouse and the calming factor behind the plate. Simply put, Abruzzo didn’t have to be in Brooklyn. He hit over .300 in St. Lucie and Savannah and is excellent at managing a staff. While it was obvious he wasn’t exactly thrilled to be in Brooklyn, he played his heart out and was a driving force in their success. Struggling at times, Abruzzo eventually proved why he was so successful at higher levels and even flashing some serious power from both sides of the plate as well. Combined with his other stops in the organization, Abruzzo hit .290 with 14 homers, 131 hits and 59 RBI in 122 games and 451 at-bats. Next season, he’s a guy that I see starting in High-A and ending up in Double-A. When it’s all said and done, he’s got the drive and tenacity to be a success wherever he plays. Now in winter ball with the Honolulu Sharks, it’s obvious this kid wants to play in the bigs.

Final Grade- A

Luis Alen- Another guy with a ton of desire, but unlike Abruzzo, his bat never materialized and was forced to deal with a variety of injuries. Making stops in New Orleans and St. Lucie by season’s end, Alen is someone that will benefit immensely from time off to heal. Nevertheless, his solid game-calling abilities aside, Alen wasn’t very impressive in Brooklyn this season.

Final Grade- D

Caesar Cordido- He was a pleasant surprise after being called up from Kingsport last season and while his defense was especially solid most of the season, his bat was often sporadic. He did hit .320 over his last 10 games to somewhat solidify his presence in the organization, but I truly believe that Cordido is someone that has to start everyday to see what he’s truly capable of. 74 at bats is just not enough for him. He’s pushing 24 and needs more playing time.

Final Grade B-

Ralph Henriquez- Another guy that needed more playing time. Much like Abruzzo though, Henriquez showed some pop from both sides of the plate, but never got enough of an opportunity. Traded for Josh Appell before the season started, many saw Henriquez, a former second round pick, as the team’s starting catcher this season. That obviously didn’t happen. However, after leaving Brooklyn, he hit .273 with Savannah, but in the end, only accumulated 95 AB’s by the end of the season. If this guy is going to move up in the organization, that’s going to have to change fast.

Final Grade- D+

Photos by Ron Hatcher

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.

Jeff Kaplan: In the beginning of the year, I came from pitching a lot of innings in college and I was on a strict pitch count from the start. We had seven guys who could start and the organization thought I was worn out a bit and decided I’d be more effective out of the bullpen. So this season I’ve been trying to get my arm strength back to were it was when I was in college and I feel that I have. So far, so good.

DBB: What do you think of Brooklyn?

Kaplan: It’s fun to play in front of all of these people. It’s really a test and it takes some people some adjusting to get used to playing here. I played in front of some big crowds in college though [Cal State Fullerton] and I love this. The atmosphere is great here.

DBB: You have this really laid back attitude, almost stoic on the bench, but on the field, you’re a pretty tough customer. Where did that attitude come from?

Kaplan: My persona changes when I step on the field. I’m the kind of guy that doesn’t like to talk a lot. I just like to do my job and I do whatever I have to do to help the team win. It’s a switch that I’ve learned to turn on when I have to go into a game and with the switch from starting to relieving this season, I’ve had to work on that as well, so my mind is right when I get on the mound in a tight situation.

DBB: Stephen Clyne has that type of mentality as well. As a matter of fact, he looks downright mean on the bench sometimes. Has he helped you at all wit that or is that something you had before?

Kaplan:It’s something that I’ve had pretty much my entire life. Stephen is very similar to me though. It’s funny because we’ll talk about things and we usually have the same opinions. I’ve learned a lot from him on the mound though and in the bullpen this season. He’s a great guy.

DBB: What do you think of the team’s playoff chances?

Kaplan: We have to concentrate on what we do and win games. We can’t worry about what the other teams do. If we make it ,great, if not, then we don’t. But it won’t be because we didn’t work hard enough out there.

Link:

Box Score to last night’s 5-1 Cyclones Loss.

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.

[youtube WYRNLR4HKnU]

Photos by Ron Hatcher. Video by Patrick Hickey Jr.

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

For the first few weeks of the season, things seemed to be going according to plan, as he was outshining every player on the team, including the trio of Mets first round picks, Ike Davis, Reese Havens and Brad Holt.

Coming into the season with a vastly redefined upper body, Lutz appeared to be in the best shape of his life.

Looks can sometimes be deceiving though.

Currently rehabbing in Florida after re-injuring his foot a few weeks ago, Lutz was hitting .333 with three homers and 12 RBI in only 24 games with Brooklyn this season and admits now that he was only playing at 75-80 percent during that time. Skeptical of his return to Brooklyn this year, Lutz has been told by the organization to put this season behind him and focus on 2009.

“I hate to say this, but from what we’ve been talking about, the focus is really on the long-term,” he said. “The organization and I really don’t want to come back and risk anything. I want to play more than anything right now and everybody knows it, but everyone is telling me to look out for myself and my future. It really hurts when you hear something like that, but when you sit down and think about it, it makes perfect sense.”

Seen icing his foot after nearly every home game this season in Brooklyn, many reporters wondered just how hurt Lutz actually was, but considering how exceptional his play was on the field, no one thought it was anything more than soreness from a year on the shelf.

Things were a lot worse than they seemed however.

“Every three or four games, I’d have to sit out because it [his foot] was acting up,” said Lutz. “There were times after games this season where I couldn’t even walk without it hurting. Right now, I really don’t know what the point would be in trying to come back because I’m not even at the level I was at when I was there. I don’t feel I’m even close to that level now. I have a walking boot on now and I still have problems with my quad.”

For a 22-year-old that has been a star at every level of baseball he’s played at, staying away from the game may be a bit tougher than it seems. A student of the game, Lutz spent the offseason in 2007 throwing baseballs with his mother and working out his upper body with his father, all while keeping his foot elevated like the Mets wanted him to, for nearly five months. By doing so and playing injured this season, Lutz has proven he’s a warrior that wants to succeed in professional baseball, perhaps more than anyone else in the sport today.

Knowing that, the next few months may be difficult ones for him.

“When I was in college, I’d have a game at three right after school and by six, I’d be home running or have my mom throw golf balls at me,” Lutz said. “I’d have a class the next day at 7:45 and I’d be up at 5:30 running and hitting. This is what I love to do and it hurts so bad not to be able to do it. I just have to be patient now. I’m only 22 and I don’t want to risk losing my career. There’s nothing I can do. ”

Nevertheless, Lutz is focused on coming back a better player and one that is completely healthy.

“I’m going to come into Spring Training in great shape,” he said. “I want to get back to where I was before and I’m going to everything I can to get there. I know I was doing well when I was in Brooklyn, but I know I could do more. When I would hit a ground ball toward the line at third, I know that I could run it out if I wasn’t hurt. The same thing goes for some of the singles I hit that could have been doubles. I stole a bunch of bases in college too and to not be able to do that was really frustrating. I want to make sure it never happens again.”

Link-

Box Score to last night’s 8-3 Cyclones Win.

Photos by Jim Dolan and Ron Hatcher.

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

[youtube 1vesQ4NvLs4]

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

As a matter of fact, he was younger than many of the players that currently play in the borough today with the Mets Single-A affiliate, the Cyclones.

Despite his rural upbringing, Erskine quickly found a home in Brooklyn and carved out a successful 12-year, 122-win tenure with the Dodgers, helping them win the World Series in 1955, where he went 11-8 with a 3.79 ERA in 194 innings of work. A few years later in 1957, he and his teammates were shipped off to Los Angeles, where he played the final two years of his All-Star career, but it was never the same for hard-throwing righty, as he won only four games in his final two seasons.

During his time in Brooklyn, the borough became his second home and his second family, the players he shared a clubhouse with in Ebbets Field for ten years, slowly left the team once they got to Los Angeles via trade or retirement.

“The Brooklyn team that I came up with in 1948, basically stayed together until 1958,” said Erskine. “It wasn’t until we moved to Los Angeles that they started making changes. On our off days, the whole team would go on picnics together and our children were raised together. In the Ebbets Field clubhouse, before every game, Roy Campanella would stand up and say ‘The same team that won yesterday is the same team that’s going to win today,’ He put that in our minds and we knew that’s what we had to do.”

Coming back to Brooklyn on Aug.17 to have his number 17 honored by the Cyclones, Erskine, now 81, was thrilled to be back where his major league career began over 60 years ago.

The Brooklyn fans turned out for the occasion as well, as a standing-room only crowd of nearly 8,000 filled with many of whom grew up watching Erskine hand-cuff hitters as children, stood and watched their childhood idol talk about his playing days in Brooklyn.

“Even with all the World Series experience and playing on all those great teams, I think this is probably the cream on the top of everything,” Erskine, who had a street named after him in Brooklyn in 2002, said. “To be back on Brooklyn soil after all these years and in a ballpark in Brooklyn is very meaningful to me. It’s almost like a fantasy.”

Spending time with some of the Cyclones before the game started, the two-time author shared some of his knowledge of the game with them as well. Considering them “his grandchildren,” Erskine was happy to give advice to the youngsters and “continue the bloodline of Brooklyn baseball.”

“There are two things we don’t know about life,” he said. “One is when we are going to die, which is a good thing. The other thing is we never know what we can really accomplish in life if everything went right and we push ourselves as hard as we can. Look at me, I got more out of this skinny little body because I played on a great team and no one tried to change who I was. You have to believe who you are is better than something you read about or something you’ve seen somewhere else.”

Looking back on his career, Erskine couldn’t help but smile when remembering how he felt when he first found out he was coming to Brooklyn.

Originally worried that he’d have a hard time adjusting to life in the borough after growing up in Anderson, Indiana, Erskine was surprised at how accommodating the place really was.

“I was a skinny kid from Indiana, who could throw hard. But to be picked out of the Midwestern culture and placed in a big city like Brooklyn was unbelievable,” Erskine, who also threw two no-hitters during his career, said. “Only to find out that Bay Ridge, Brooklyn was exactly like my hometown. I knew the barber and the butcher and everyone knew me. If I pitched a good game, I’d come home from Ebbets Field and be in the middle of a street party, with balloons in the trees and the whole nine yards. It was amazing.”

Like all good things in life though, Erskine’s playing days had to come to an end, as arm troubles plagued an otherwise solid major league career.

Ironically however, his playing days also played a big part in his life after baseball as well, as his natural abilities as a leader played a big part in his future success as a college coach at Anderson College, where he won four championships in 12 years and several successful business ventures in his home state of Indiana.

Because of that, Erskine has no regrets and is grateful for the opportunities playing in Brooklyn has afforded him.

“It would be unreal for me to say there was something I didn’t get to do,” he said with a smile. “I stayed in the big leagues for 12 years and even though I didn’t get into Cooperstown, how many guys have a street named after them in Brooklyn? I guess a lot of people in the safety department are still Dodgers fans. How could you wish for anything other than that?”

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr., Ron Hatcher 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.

Subbing for injured first baseman Ike Davis who injured his foot a few days earlier, Jacobs was brought to Brooklyn to provide a jolt to an offense in desperate need of one and the leadership that comes with being a two-time New York Penn-League All Star. Hitting just .176 with three hits in four games with his former team, Jacobs’ time in Brooklyn didn’t go exactly as planned, but it did serve a purpose.

Alone in the Cyclones clubhouse after a 9-4 loss against Staten Island on Sept. 4, the shaggy haired catcher packed his bags and talked about his season with the same reporters that watched him slug 12 home runs and 46 RBI last season.

“I’m not hitting the ball as good as I was last year, but I’ve learned a lot,” Jacobs said. “The game is simpler and even though I still make mistakes all the time, I know what they are now and it’s much easier to fix them than it was before. It’s a slow process, but I feel like I’m learning and that’s what being in the minors is all about.”

Spending a week in Brooklyn has afforded the slugger the opportunity to work on his game and continue that process. Quickly becoming one of the boys, Jacobs grew a mustache because every one else on the team had been doing so for about two weeks in a ritualistic effort to get the offense rolling. While Jacobs insists he won’t let his wife see it when he gets home, he proved in a short time that he’s still the same leader in clubhouse he was last season and the year before.

His play on the field isn’t exactly what it was last season however. Before being sent to Brooklyn, Jacobs, In spite of a solid .380 on-base percentage and 20 walks, was hitting .223 with 14 RBI in 38 games with St. Lucie,. Because of those struggles, Jacobs relished the chance to get to work with a coaching staff that watched him flourish last season.

“My swing is not the same as it was last year at all,” said Jacobs. “The coaches here, [Edgar] Alfonzo and [Guadalupe] Jabalera know me better than anyone. The coaches in St. Lucie are just starting to know what to expect from me. Over the past week, I’ve worked really hard and I feel a lot better about my game and I’m looking forward to going back to work.”

Despite heading back to St. Lucie, Jacobs wasn’t about to dismiss his week back in Brooklyn or the two All-Star years that preceded it.

Instead, he deflected the attention to his now former teammates, believing that they have what it takes to do something the teams he was an instrumental part of didn’t- win a NYPL championship.

“It was nice to be back. I missed you all,” he said to the handful of reporters surrounding him. “This a great place to play and winning matters a lot here. Most of the time in the minors, it’s about development, so it’s fun to have that type of competition, it takes you back in college. But being back here for a few days, I’ve gotten an opportunity to play with some great guys that I’ve seen develop in just the week that I’ve been here. I’m looking forward to hearing about this guys taking it home this season.”

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

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Dem Brooklyn Bums: You were the closer in Brooklyn a good chunk of last season. How does it feel to be back in that role this season?

Stephen Clyne: It feels great to be back. They brought me back because they were having problems late in ballgames. When I was in St. Lucie, they told me they got a call from management saying they needed me here and they wanted me to be their guy so I packed my bags and headed here. I was starting to pitch much better in St. Lucie and I’m hoping I can convert that into some success over here as well.

DBB: How are you a different pitcher from last year?

Clyne: I’m smarter. I’m a lot smarter. I respond better in different situations and I know that I’m a pitcher now, not a thrower. Being able to think my way through situations on the mound has helped me a lot in St. Lucie and again, I hope I can use it to my benefit here.

DBB: Do you have any idea if you’re going to spend the rest of season here or if your assignment is temporary?

Clyne: I have no idea. Like I said, I was brought in to help this team in the late innings and that’s what I’m going to do.

DBB: How were you getting along in St. Lucie?

Clyne: Things were going great. I loved the coaches down there and I had a good relationship with them. I put in a lot of work down there. I didn’t have a very good first half. It was really bad actually, but I managed to get myself back on track and started pitching really well. I think that’s why I’m here now.

DBB: You said you started off weak this season. What do you think was the turning point?

Clyne: I started off the season with a bunch of little mechanical problems and I think it got to the point where my hard work started to pay off. They had me doing a lot of drills that made me stay back more. Before, I was trying to throw as hard as I could. Now, I’m a pitcher and I feel a lot better on the mound.

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Box Score to last night’s 2-1 Cyclone win.

Photo by Patrick Hickey Jr.

At 6’2, 195 pounds, he already has the physical makeup of a future major leaguer, but it’s his patience at the plate and intensity in the outfield that may eventually send him there one day.

Watching him play, with his eyes steadily focused at the plate, or running full boar in the outfield, you’d expect him to be just as high energy off the field.

Right?

However, soft-spoken and unassuming, Nieuwenhuis is quietly carving up a solid season for himself, hitting .263 with 10 RBI, 17 walks and three stolen bases in 38 games.

“I’m definitely more laid back,” Nieuwenhuis said in comparison to some of the other players in Brooklyn this season. “We have a lot of high-energy guys here and they’re all good guys. They’re a lot of fun to play with. I’m a little bit more reserved and my personality is a little more quiet and calm. On the field though, I try and bring as much intensity and focus as possible.”

Despite not being a vocal leader in the clubhouse, the well-manned Nieuwenhuis lets his game do the talking. Leading the team in games played this season, the workhorse has had plenty of opportunities on the field to show the fans at Keyspan Park and his teammates how capable he is.

He hasn’t let them down yet.

“I try and set the bar as high as I can,” said Nieuwenhuis. “Fortunately, I’ve had a chance to show what I’m capable of and I’ve been injury free. I think that’s playing a big role in how I’ve played this season. I’ve had time to hit the weight room and I’ve kept myself in good shape.”

Beginning to heat up at the plate and in the outfield after a mediocre start, Nieuwenhuis sees himself producing even more as the season goes on.

“I’m finally starting to get comfortable offensively,” he said. “Right now, I’m just trying to hit the ball hard every at bat and taking it one pitch at a time. Defensively, it’s pretty much the same thing because I’ve only played outfield for a couple of years. In High School, I played the first and second, but I was getting too big for second and too quick for first. I tried the outfield and it’s worked for me. ”

With the team starting to come around after a weak start as well, it seems like the Clones are in fact mirroring the season of Nieuwenhuis.

If the 20-year-old has his way, he and Brooklyn’s best games this season haven’t been played yet.

“I think as long as we continue to work hard and pace ourselves, we’ll be fine,” he said. “I’m looking forward to playing down the stretch with these guys.”

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Box Score to Last Night’s 5-2 Brooklyn Win.

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In 2008 however, the Mets Single-A affiliate’s play at home has been less than inspiring, evidenced by a mediocre 5-7 record at home through their first 12 games there.

Three games out of first place in the McNamara Division, a place where they’ve grown quite accustomed to being on top of over the past few years, having four division championships to their credit, the Baby Mets can’t seem to get on the right foot at home this season.

“I’ve spoken to the players about it a few times now,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “They know they have to start playing better baseball at home. I’m starting to get a little worried. I don’t understand why we can’t hit here.”

Despite getting more than adequate pitching this season at Keyspan being the arms of Brad Holt, Pedro P. Martinez and Scott Shaw, Brooklyn’s offense has been problematic. Scoring only 31 runs at home so far this season, Alfonzo and his coaching staff have tried several different hitters in the lead off spot to give the team’s bats a jolt. However, in spite of their willingness to tinker with the lineup card, the team’s problems with the bats has only been exacerbated.

Losing two of their last three games at home over the past week, the team is quickly running out of excuses as to why they can’t produce offensively at home. Knowing that, the team understands they are in a situation that needs to change very quickly.

“We have a great team and we know everything is going to turn around,” said Brooklyn catcher Luis Allen, who hasn’t recorded a hit this season in five games and 19 at-bats. “Things are rough now, but we know we’re going to start winning here.”

Away from home this season, the Cyclones have looked like a completely different team. On a recent road trip to Williamsport from Jul.2 – Jul.4, the team rocked the Cross Cutters for 25 runs in a three game sweep. Away from Keyspan Park this season, the team has a 6-5 record and have scored 49 runs in only 11 games.

With a die-hard fan-base cheering ardently for them every night and Keyspan Park being one of the best minor league ballpark’s in the country, you’d expect the Cyclones to be more than comfortable playing half their games there.

“In all the time that I have spent with this team, we’ve always scored runs and won games at home,” Alfonzo, who is in his third season with the team and is attempting to win his third McNamara Division Championship this year. “I hope we figure this out and start to score some runs. Right now, they’re trying too hard to make something happen.”

With 24 games left at home this season, Alfonzo, like his team, is confident the team will come around offensively though.

“We have too many good hitters on this team for this kind of thing to go all for a long time,” he said. “I know this team can hit and I know they will. I think it’s just a matter of them getting comfortable and doing the little things. Once they do that, I think this team is going to hit very well.”

Photos by Ron Hatcher.

Dem Brooklyn Bums: This is the second book of this nature that you’ve released in the past two years and while the narrative is strong, the best part of the book are the quotes you get from players. How much work went into that kind of reporting?

Ross Bernstein: I interviewed about a hundred players for this book and I’ve always maintained that I’m not going to win a Pulitzer Prize for my work. So far, I’ve written about 40 books and I’ve had a lot of fun doing it, but I’m a fan first and foremost. I just try and have fun when I do this, I’m not going to try and suggest that I’m some sort of investigative journalist curing cancer. A big part of the book is me talking to players to shed light on other people’s thoughts of what goes on during a baseball game. With that being said, I tried to get as many players as I could and the way it worked was one player would usually lead to another. I also have a lot of players from the Minnesota area, where I’m from, which helped because I have a lot of contacts and access there. Nevertheless, it was still hard to get some of the great stories, but it also helps when you can call a guy at his home where he’ll really open up to you. Some guys didn’t want to talk on the record and some poured their hearts out to me. That’s just the way it worked out. I read a lot of books on the subject as well and tried to really do my homework on this one. Plus, I had a lot of insight because I used to play in high school, so I tried to combine what I knew with what these players were telling me.

DBB: After writing the hockey book, what made you want to crossover into the world of baseball?

Bernstein: I think it was always something that fascinated me. With the hockey book, I had really great access. It was during the lockout and I was playing hockey with a lot of them, I was just one of the guys. With baseball, it just made sense because this was one of the only other sports that had a true code. You can’t go out on a baseball field and just do whatever you want. You have to be held accountable for your actions, much like hockey. In hockey, if someone challenges you to a fight after you’ve hit them with a high stick and you don’t “show up,” your teammates won’t want you on the bench. The same kind of thing goes on in baseball. If someone shows you up, you have to respond.

DBB: While the book relies heavily on quotes from players and many of them are the types of things hardcore fans would already know, there are a few quotes that really stand out as special. Was there anyone in particular that really shocked you with what they had to say?

Bernstein: You’d be surprised; there was a lot of that going on. I just never knew what I was going to get. Some guys were really open and went with it while some were guarded and reserved. There is one chapter in book where I discuss sign stealing and the effort that goes into coding signs so they are not stolen. That is where I myself was the most fascinated. In any one game, there can be a thousand signs being passed. Before I talked to a few pitchers and catchers, I had no idea that they always have to change their signs so they aren’t stolen. I then talked to [seven-time MLB All-Star] Paul Molitor, who I’ve known for years, who also wrote a forward for a book I did a few years ago and he is a master decoder of signs. He told me how some pitchers almost had poker tells and that he could tell by the way a pitcher reacted on the mound after the sign was delivered what pitch was going to come. I’m sure it’s because of guys like him that pitchers cover their mouths now when the catcher comes up to the mound. For a guy to be able to do something like that just by watching on the bench, he’s a huge asset to his team and a great baseball mind, but at other times in the sport’s history, there were people with telescopes stealing signs. I was so fascinated by all of this tradition and information.

DBB: You said earlier that you’ve interviewed over 100 players for this book. Was there anyone that you were really itching to talk to?

Bernstein: I refer to those guys as my “white whales,” to make a “Moby-Dick” reference. I really wanted to talk to Nolan Ryan and I tried, tried and tried, but there always seemed to be one degree of separation. I came close though. He’s just one of those guys that don’t like talking about this stuff. I would also have loved to talk to Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax and I tried and tried, but again, these guys didn’t really want to talk about the things that went into this book, so in the end, I had to take what I could get. I am really happy with what I got, though. I loved talking to Rob Dibble and Mike Marshall gave me some great stuff as well. Bert Blyleven was also a guy that was a lot of fun to talk to as well. With a book like this, every author will have a different bunch of guys they’d want to talk to and when it’s all said and done, I’m really proud of the bunch of players I decided to interview.

DBB: You wrote this book during the unveiling of the Mitchell Report and the climax of the whole steroid controversy. Did you find it more difficult to write the book because of this?

Bernstein: Not at all. I think it helped because it was a hot topic and a lot of players wanted to talk about it. For many of them, they feel like it’s a big violation of the code. It was really great to hear from a guy like Dave Winfield, who is outraged at all the steroid abuse in the game today because his records are falling as a result of it. To give someone like that an outlet was very rewarding for me as well.