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.”

Ike Davis- .270 BA, 15 HR and 75 RBI combined with Savannah and St. Lucie. Contrary to what many think, I don’t see Davis making his major league debut until sometime in 2010, most likely in August or September. His swing still has a few kinks in it and I think spending some time in A-Ball before heading up to High-A will help him address those concerns. When I spoke to Savannah manager Edgar Alfonzo after the instructional leagues were over this past Fall, he believed Davis had come a long way. Rather than push him through the system quickly, I think the Mets, who still have Carlos Delgado at first, will make sure Davis matures into the extra base hitter and slick fielder he’s supposed to be. I see that process beginning this season.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis- .300, six HR, 60 RBI, 30 SB with St. Lucie. Notice the higher batting average than last season? That’s because Nieuwenhuis has the tools to be an excellent professional outfielder and I believe this is the season that he begins to show it. If he can cut down on his strikeout totals from last season as well, he’ll be able to produce even more and may even warrant a call up to Double-A.

Josh Satin- .285 18 HR 59 RBI with Savannah. Eventually showing the tools of a solid second baseman last season, I think Satin would have shown a lot more if the Cyclones made the playoffs. Patient at the plate with a great approach, Satin will make a full-season team out of Spring training and begin to show some promise.

Jordan Abruzzo- .295 14 HR 55 RBI with St. Lucie and B-Mets. Not only is Abruzzo a great catcher that has the skills and attitude to manage a pitching staff at any level of professional baseball, he’s an extremely clutch hitter. While he’d secure himself a spot in Double-A right now if he could hit for more power, I think that after about 30 games this season, you’ll see him in Binghamton where he’ll earn his stripes and show why the fans at Brooklyn loved him so much. Good defensive catchers that can switch hit for power don’t grow on trees and Abruzzo can do it all. This will be the season, unless injuries slow him down, that he shows what he is truly capable of.

Photo by Ron Hatcher.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Because for him, baseball comes first.

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

Link-

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

Photos by Ron Hatcher

That reason however is an easy one- pitching coach Hector Berrios.

Entering his tenth season as a pitching coach and his fifth with the Cyclones, Berrios has consistently taken young pitchers to the top in Brooklyn. This season is no different.

Coming into the season, everyone in the organization knew that supplemental pick Brad Holt was going to be the bee’s knees, but no one could have possibly pondered how successful relative unknowns Jimmy Johnson, Chris Schwinden, Erik Turgeon and Roy Merritt were going to be. All picked in the 22nd round or later in the 2007 and 2008 drafts, many believed these youngsters were simply needed to fill out the roster.

Instead, they’ve been stalwarts on the mound and have played an integral part in the team’s success, thanks in part to the hard work of Berrios behind the scenes.

“It’s been a real pleasant experience with these guys this season,” he said. “Once these guys got their feet wet this season, they all really took off. You’re seeing it right now.”

In his five years in Brooklyn, Berrios has kept the Cyclones in the top three in team ERA every season and has consistently made heroes out of the most unlikely. Take the 2008 22nd round pick Schwinden for instance, who came into the season coming out of the bullpen sparingly, to only find himself one of the team’s dominant starters by the All-Star break.

For players like Schwinden, Berrios is an angel that makes their first year in professional baseball a dream come true, rather than a nightmare.

“Hector is an amazing pitching coach,” said Schwinden, who made the NY-Penn League All-Star team this season under Berrios’ tutelage. “He’s always there for us and you know he’d take our side in a fight if he had to. He’s gives us so much information and he always leaves it up to us to take it. He prepares you for so many things on the mound and by doing that, he makes you a better pitcher than you were before.”

A ninth round pick of the San Francisco Giants in 1983, who played parts of two seasons at the Triple-A level, Berrios knows how tough life in the minors can be.

That alone has played a huge part in his success as a pitching coach.

“Your the first guy that they learn from and that experience lasts a lifetime,” said Berrios. “I don’t like to do this just so they get to the big leagues. I always try and make sure that they know I care about them and I’m very passionate about their success. That creates a real bond and I don’t think any of them ever forget Brooklyn and what they learned here.”

Becoming a father figure to the players he coaches, Berrios has put together quite a resume for himself over the past half decade in Brooklyn, as Florida Marlins reliever Matt Lindstrom, Royals starer Brian Bannister and current Mets relievers Eddie Kunz and Joe Smith have all passed through his bullpen in Coney Island.

That, Berrios said, is something he’ll never forget.

“It’s been an awesome ride and it’s great that I get calls back from guys that feel that comfort and they know they can talk to me when things are going bad or even when they are going good.”

The way the team has pitched this season, it’s fair to say that he’ll be getting plenty of phone calls this winter.

“I don’t even want to think about where I’d be without him this year,” said Turgeon. “I was so lucky that I got the chance to come here and work with him.”

Link-

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

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. and Ron Hatcher.

There was just one problem though.

He couldn’t hit well enough to stay in the lineup everyday.

A lifetime .197 hitter through his first season in professional baseball, Santana knew that in order to make his big league dreams come true, he’d have to do something incredibly drastic. Known for his defensive skills and amazing arm, Santana and the Mets organization decided it was in his best interest to become a pitcher.

He hasn’t looked back since.

“In the beginning it was tough and all I could do was throw hard,” he said. “[Former Met] Randy Niemann worked with me a lot and showed me how to throw strikes and taught me to not focus on throwing hard. I used to get in trouble a lot because that’s all I could do. Now, I feel like a pitcher.”

Things didn’t originally start out the way the 26-year-old would have liked however, as he was lost for most of the 2006 and 2007 seasons after Tommy John surgery. Originally signed as a free agent by the Mets in 2003, Santana knew that his 2008 season would have to be a special one or his career would most likely be over.

Making the NY-Penn League All Star team after leading the team with 10 saves and striking out 28 hitters in only 20 innings this season, Santana has not only cemented his spot in Brooklyn, but he’s become a prospect worth watching.

Seeing his development throughout the season, Brooklyn pitching coach Hector Berrios has loved what he’s seen from the fiery reliever and believes that despite his age, he has a bright future ahead of him.

“He’s got three pitches he can throw for strikes, but it’s more about the mental game with him,” Berrios said. “He’s not used to being in the pitcher’s shoes yet. When he does well, he as high as a roller coaster ride, but when he does bad out there, he’s really hard on himself. That’s what we’ve worked on this season with him. He’s come a long way in a short period of time.”

Under the tutelage of Berrios, Santana has thrived out of the Brooklyn bullpen and quickly become a leader in the clubhouse. Giving Berrios credit for his swagger on the mound and the development of his slider, Santana doesn’t want to think about where he’d be without his pitching coach’s help this season.

“I’ve worked with Hector a lot,” said Santana. “With his help, I have become a much better pitcher. We’ve worked everyday on my slider and it’s made a big difference on the mound.”

With the confidence and experience of a veteran and the work ethic of a rookie with everything to prove, Santana isn’t ready to let his feel-good story come to an end just yet.

“I love having the game in my hands,” he said. “I love being a closer. I’ve worked really hard this year in Brooklyn and I think I’m ready to pitch in Double-A next season. I just have to keep throwing strikes. It’s the same ball there, nothing different.”

Link-

Box Score to last night’s 7-2 Cyclones Win.

Update- 5:45 P.M.

Second baseman Kyle Suire and center fielder Rafael Fernandez were added to the Cyclones roster from Kingsport today. Suire was hitting .297 with nine homers and 36 RBI in only 48 games. Fernandez was hitting .259 with four dingers and 31 RBI in 57 games. Neither will be in the starting lineup tonight.

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. and Ron Hatcher

After seven years in the sport, six of those with the Mets organization, Malek was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers and seemed out of options.

That’s until the Mets called and gave the 27-year-old’s career a second life.

A lifetime .262 hitter through 2,286 at bats at the minor league level, Malek was far from a superstar, but was a hard-working and gritty player that never gave up on the field. Because of that desire and perseverance on the field, the Mets gave him an opportunity to help coach their affiliate in the Gulf Coast League.

“I think because of the way I handled myself on the field when I was playing, they asked me if I wanted to come back as a coach,” said Malek, who had only 57 at bats in 28 games this season with the Dodgers Double-A affiliate before rejoining the Mets organization. “I did the right thing off the field and I played the game the way it should be played. I think that’s why they called me. Before that, I didn’t even consider getting into coaching.”

With Cyclones hitting coach Guadalupe Jabalera tending to personal matters last week, an opening at Brooklyn sent Malek back to the team he started his professional career with in 2002, making him the first former player in the team’s short history to ever coach in Brooklyn. While he only played 28 games with the Baby Bums that season, the lore behind his arm in right field is one of legend. Despite only spending a week with the team before heading back to the Gulf Coast, Malek has been a positive influence on them.

Seen spending time with Cyclones outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who was on top of his defensive game while Malek was with the team, making several solid catches, it’s obvious he’s gotten through to the players.

“I knew how to play the game right and I was smart,” Malek, who had his best season in the minor leagues in 2004 when he hit 13 home runs and 58 RBI with St. Lucie, said. “I feel like I got the most out of my ability and I had some great coaches. I feel like I could have played in the big leagues defensively with my arm and because of that, I have a lot of knowledge to share with these guys.”

Quickly making the transition from player to hot-shot coaching prospect, Malek is focused on becoming the best coach he can be.

If the reputation he had on the field during his career is any indication, he’ll be just fine.

“I had a really good player career; it was an enjoyable seven years,” he said. “I put my blood, sweat and tears into getting to the big leagues, but it just didn’t happen. I feel like if I looked myself in the mirror now, I know that I gave it everything I had. Considering that, I thought it was time to move on. Now, I’m looking forward to making it to the big leagues one day as a coach. I know this is a learning experience, but I feel like I’ve gotten off to a good start.”

Link:

Box Score to last night’s 9-1 Cyclones win.

Update- 5:36 p.m.

Juan Lagares will be starting tonight’s game in place of injured the Matt Smith, who was ironically taking the place of an injured Reese Havens.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Link:

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

Video:

Cyclones in Pictures July

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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.