Brooklyn Cyclones: Wait Till Next Year

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn Cyclones: Despite Last Ditch Victory Over Staten Island, Coney Island Falls Half-Game Short of Wild Card.

Brooklyn entered Monday's action trailing the Wild Card leading Auburn Doubledays by a mere half game.  Auburn and Batavia were scheduled for an early game, with Brooklyn and Staten Island slated for late afternoon.

The Doubledays build an 8-5 lead, but heavy rain at Batavia causes a delay of game in the eighth.  By then the Cyclones trail Staten Island 2-3 in the middle of the seventh at Coney Island.  When the skies over Batavia clear, Auburn completes their post-season clinching victory over the Muckdogs.  With Brooklyn's game against Staten Island now rendered inconsequential, the Yankees tie the game in the eighth, sending their respective season finale into extra innings.  Staten Island pulls ahead in the top of the tenth, but Brooklyn rallies for two in the bottom half of the frame to capture one last regular season victory.

Second year manager Edgardo Alfonzo and the Cyclones break a string a three consecutive losing seasons, posting forty victories for the first time since 2014 and 13th time in their history.  They send six representative this year to the New York Penn League all-star game, with standout outfielder Ross Adolph capturing MVP honors.  The Cyclones lead the regular season in runs scored, total bases, team average, and team OPS.  Meanwhile, starters Jaison Vilera and Christian James lead the league in ERA, finishing one and two respectively.  Collectively, the Cyclones staff finishes second in team ERA, and third in WHiP.  All of which makes the conclusion of 2018 regular season bittersweet, as the Brooklyn Cyclones miss the post-season for a sixth consecutive year.

I will continue singling out getting sacked at Troy as the reason why.  The Cyclones were fresh off taking three of four from the Hudson Valley Renegades, but then got swept at Troy by the Valley Cats.  And therein lies their biggest misstep, because at the same time Hudson Valley was sweeping the Connecticut Tigers.  Between Aug. 20 and Sept. 1, the Cyclones go just 4-9 entering Sunday's penultimate game against Staten Island.  Hudson Valley, meanwhile goes 10-3 over the same stretch, leaving Brooklyn's hopes of a Wild Card berth out of their hands, and securely in Auburn's.

It was a fun season nonetheless.

Unfortunately, it's time to dust off the Borough's old refrain: Wait till next year!

#LetsGoCyclones

Brooklyn Cyclones: Christian James Stares Down Connecticut Tigers

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Calling on All Kings County's Horses

TONIGHT

Connecticut Tigers

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Coney Island Grounds

Brooklyn Cyclones: Christian James Pitches Gem; Keeps Brooks Within Striking Distance of Hudson Valley; Tied With Staten Island for Wild Card.

Brooklyn, at a most crucial time, slams the brakes on their ill-timed skid with a convincing, and very necessary 12-1 drubbing of the Connecticut Tigers Friday night at Coney Island.  The Cyclones, on the heels of getting swept at Troy, extend their losing streak to four after falling 7-2 in Thursday's series opener against the Tigers.

On Friday, all-star Ross Adolph led the offensive barrage going 3 for 4 with a walk, two triples, three RBI, and three runs scored.  Chase Chambers drove in two runs, while Jose Miguel Medina homered and likewise drove in a pair.

Starter Christian James improves to 4-1 with eight innings of scoreless, two-hit, baseball, issuing no walks, and fanning four.  His 1.76 ERA ranks second in the NYPL behind team mate Jaison Vilera.  James faced 26 Connecticut batters, and threw 96 pitches with 64 (65%) going for strikes.

The rubber game is slated for Saturday night at Coney Island.

Brooklyn is down to their final ten games of the regular season.  They enter this evening's action three games back of the Hudson Valley Renegades.  Meanwhile, the Wild Card is up for grabs.  The Cyclones and Pizza Rats are presently tied for the lead, with five other teams hot on their tails.

On Monday, the Cyclones open a series at Vermont, whom are a mere 3.5 games back of the Wild Card.  Brooklyn will then host first place Hudson Valley in the penultimate series of the season which could very well decide this year's McNamara Division title.  The Renegades are the defending division, and NYPL champions.  After which, the Cyclones end the regular season with a home and home against Staten Island.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Trying to Unseat Lowell Spinners from Wild Card Perch

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Edward L. LeLacheur Park 

Lowell, Massachussetts

Game Called

Saturday's series opener against the Lowell Spinners at LaLacheur Park is postponed do to rain.

Recent storm activity is a clear indication the dog days of baseball are upon us.  For Brooklyn that means seizing upon upcoming opportunities set to present themselves over their final 22 games of the regular season.

Six of those games will be against the first place Hudson Valley Renegades who the Cyclones presently trail in the McNamara Division standings by 3.5 games.  Brooklyn must also fend off equally tough Staten Island who they lead by two games, with three more against them yet to play.  That's nine games remaining against their primary competition with little margin for error.

In the Wild Card race, Brooklyn trails the Auburn Doubledays by 1.5 games, and are just one-half game behind the Lowell Spinners, therefore adding a sense of urgency to this weekend's series.  They have no games scheduled against Auburn.

The Cyclones have not qualified for the post-season since 2013.  Two years later they post their first ever losing, and haven't had a winning season since.  Last season is Edgardo Alfonzo's first as manager, who has them playing competitively with a 29-25 record.

*          *          *          *          *          *

Six players will represent the Brooklyn Cyclones in this year's New York-Penn League All-Star game.

Standout pitcher Jaison Vilera leads the New York-Penn League with five victories versus just one loss with a league leading 1.43 ERA.  He also leads with 63 strikeouts through 50.1 innings pitched, and is second with a 0.87 WHiP.

Billy Oxford is tied for the league lead with Vilera with five victories all in relief.  He owns a 1.80 ERA over 17 appearances and 30 innings pitched, and a 1.30 WHiP.  Fellow reliever Yeudy Colon is 3-2 with a 1.18 ERA and two saves.He has 26 strikeouts in 22.1 innings pitched too o along with a 1.15 WHiP.

Outfielder Ross Adolph is slashing .261/.326/.425 with two home runs, 21 RBI, and seven stolen bases.  His fellow outfielder Wagner Lagrange is slashing .291/.370/.352, but with seven home runs and 30 RBI.  Second baseman Carlos Cortes is slashing .284/.349/.422, with three home runs and 19 RBI.

The New York-Penn League All-Start Game is scheduled for Aug 14, at Medlar Field, home of the College State Spikes.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Ross Adolph Leads Coney Island Over Staten Island Yanks

From the desk of: 

THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS  and  THE ST. GEORGE SAUSAGE RATS

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

Series tied 1-1

I - SIY 3; BKC 1

II - BKC 7; SIY 4

GAME THEE

Staten Island Yankees

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Ballpark by the Beach

CONEY ISLAND

Brooklyn Cyclones Even Series With Victory at Richmond County Yard.

After going down meekly in the first, the Coney Island bats ignited in the second inning against Staten Island starter Juan De Paula.  Leading off, first baseman Chase Chambers (fifth in the league in batting) squeezed a grounder through the infield.  Center fielder Ross Adolph then followed with a home run over the right/center wall.  Catcher Nick Meyer kept the hits coming with a triple to right, then scored on shortstop Manny Rodriguez' one-out base hit through the left side of the infield.  Second baseman Oliver Pasqual added a single, but the Yankees escaped further damage by turning  5-4-3 double play.

Monday Night Baseball

Cyclones     7

Pizza Rats  4

final

Leading off the bottom of the third, Staten Island center fielder Junior Soto homered off Brooklyn starter Christian James.  An inning later, the Yankees knocked James out of the box upon taking a 4-3 lead with three runs on three hits and a walk.  Coach Alfonzo relieved him with by Billy Oxford.

After Coney Island left fielder David Miranda drew a walk leading off the sixth, Chase Chambers put runners on the corners with a single to center.  After a pitching change, Ross Adolph delivered the game tying run with a hit to right.

Staten Island's bullpen struggles continued, surrendering three more runs through the eighth inning.  The Cyclones pounded Yankees pitching for twelve hits overall, five for extra bases.

After just 3.2 innings pitched, starter Christian James escapes with a no-decision.  Billy Oxford earns the win for his 2.1 innings of scoreless work.  He allowed three hits and fanned one.  Yeudy Colon pitched both the eighth and ninth innings for his first save of the season.

The Cyclones even the series against the Yankees; the series finale shifts back to Coney Island Tuesday.  With Monday's victory, they also avoid losing their third straight.  Instead they gain their eleventh victory of the season.  The Hudson Valley Renegades defeated the Iron Birds at Aberdeen, and therefore maintain their slim one game lead over the second place Cyclones.  Meanwhile, the Yankees remain anchored in last place of the McNamara Division with a 5-12 record to start the season.


New York-Penn League:

• Chase Chambers - #5 Avg; #5 OBP
• Jose Brizuela - #9 OPS
• Jose Miguel Medina - t-#2 Doubles

Brooklyn has struck for at least twelves hit in three of their last five games.  One night after stroking a season high fifteen hits against the Lake Monsters, they one-upped themselves, battering Vermont pitching for another record setting sixteen hits.

They're yet to play twenty games, but this year's Cyclones have easily distinguished themselves from last year's team, and the prior year's team for that matter.  Under manager Edgardo Alfonzo the Surf Avenue Sluggers are playing up to their name:


New York Penn League Team Offense:

• Runs - #1
• Hits - #1
• Doubles - #1
• Triples - #1
• Total Bases - #1
• Team Avg - #2
• Team OBP - #2
• Team Slugging - #3
• Walks - #7
• K - #6 most
• Home Runs - #10

When compared to the others, that last stat is quite telling, isn't it?  Something the Queens Mets should be paying closer attention to.

I digress ...

However, The Cyclones on the mound are doing themselves no favors.  In a pitcher's league, the Coney Island hurlers are lagging, to say the least.  In a fourteen team league, Cyclones pitching presently rates below league par.

New York -Penn League Team Pitching:

• ERA - #10
• WHiP - #10
• Earned Runs - Fifth most
• Hits Allowed - fourth most
• Home Runs Allowed - sixth most
• Base on Balls - sixth most  
• Strikeouts - sixth most

No Sleep Till Brooklyn

#LetsGoCyclones