Brooklyn Cyclones clinch first losing season in 15-year history

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

32-39*

Set club record for most losses in a season; 

ensures first sub .500 season in club history.

BROOKLYN CYCLONES: The Young Bums have 5 games left for making this the most futile season at Coney, ever.

I was gonna go all Bluto, and Animal House on this, but....

A little context is probably in order.

I say with great certainty, every season attending games at MCU Park has been time well spent.

This season was no exception.  The beach, the boardwalk, the breeze, Nathan's, Ruby's, and being spoiled with competitive baseball have all made this a modern day golden era for our little seaside hamlet of Kings County.

Yes, spoiled....

During their 14 previous seasons, the Brooklyn Cyclones posted an overall 621-430 (.591) record, for an annual 44-31 seasonal average.

They set a (still standing) franchise record with 52 victories during their inaugural 2001 championship season.  The very next year, however, they finished at .500 with a 38-38 record, and thus established their franchise mark for losses.

The closest Brooklyn ever came to resetting either mark came in 2010 when they posted 51 victories, and in 2013 when they barely managed a 38-37 record.  Each time they crept within a game of tying the franchise mark.

This season, you might say they nailed it...

The Tri City Valley Cats recently completed a series sweep over the Cyclones, whilst Tuesday's game in particular resulted in Brooklyn's franchise tying 38th defeat of the season.

With a 31-38 record, the Cyclones entered Wednesday's (abbreviated) twin bill against the Connecticut Tigers needing victories in their final 7 games of the season.  Anything less would clinch Coney Island's first losing season in their 15-year history.

The Cyclones emerged victorious in Game One:

Let's just get that out of the way, because in truth, the contest was more reflective of their entire season than anything else.

• Game One starter Edioglis Villasmil registered 6 strong innings, allowed one earned run on 6 hits and one walk, while fanning a pair.  Reliever P.J. Colon pitched a scoreless 7th inning, likewise striking out two.

At the plate however, Brooklyn offered no deviation from their year long average, going a combined 7/27 for a .220 team mark, with just 2 walks.  Connecticut helped the Cyclones along with 3 errors, contributing to 5 unearned runs and an eventual 7-1 Brooklyn win.

Game One was also game #70 of Brooklyn's season, during which the Cyclones have hit exactly .220 as a team, ranking them last in the NYPL.

Hitting home runs hasn't necessarily been a problem for them.  They're 7th in the circuit - middle of the pack.  But that's as good as it gets.  The Cyclones remain last in OBP, slugging, hits, total bases, and runs scored, and lead the circuit in strikeouts.

On the mound, the Cyclones have been top tier all season.  Brooklyn pitchers have surrendered the least hits, and the second least home runs.  They've struck out the second most, boast the circuit's second best WHiP and third best ERA, and registered the fourth most shutouts.

Wednesday's Game Two:

Why waste time, they lost.  More of the same....

Starter Jose Celas and reliever Nicco Blank combined on 6.2 innings, allowed 2 runs (1-earned) on 5 hits and 4 walks, with 5 strikeouts.  Connecticut got last licks, converting a walk and 2 hits into the winning run off Blank.

It wasn't a bad pitching line by most standards, however, Brooklyn's offense continued mustering too little, and now it's too late.

Jeff Diehl opened the scoring with a lead-off home run in the 5th.  Otherwise, the Cyclones manged just 3 other scattered hits, and nothing more.

So, there it is:

• LOSS #39 of the season - a new franchise mark.  What's more, the Brooklyn Cyclones have officially clinched their first losing season in 15 years of existence.  

The only question remaining is by what margin will they reset the mark by with 5 games left to play?

The Cyclones also end the regular season against the Staten Island Yankees, and could very well wind up playing major spoilers in Staten Island's pursuit of the division flag.


If they were trying to mimic the 2012 Cyclones, they missed by a wide margin, as even that pitching strong, yet offensively challenged edition still posted a 45-31 record, and qualified for the club's last post-season appearance.