Staten Island Yankees Down to Their Last Strike

From the desk: THE FORMER RICHMOND COUNTY NINE

Baby Bombers Take One Last Swing at Bronx County Bullies

That's it.  The Staten Island Yankees are officially folding.  With the New York Yankees essentially pulling the grass from under their cleats, Staten Island's ownership group, Nostalgic Partners, claims that joining the Atlantic League or newly created Draft League involves investitures they are not financially equipped to handle.  Nostalgic Partners have therefore filed a $20 million lawsuit against the Yankees and MLB.  Filed in the Supreme Court of New York State, the suit asserts the Yankees (who own 5% of the team) and MLB committed "breach of contract, promissory estoppel and tortious interference arising from Defendants' unlawful effort to destroy the business of 40 minor league baseball teams, including the Staten Island Yankees."

Cry as they might, Nostalgic Partners purchased the Baby Bombers in 2011 when they were one of the most successful teams of the NYPL, winning multiple championships and averaging upwards of 5,000 fans per game.  After assuming control, the operation experienced steady deterioration the Yankees understandably could no longer overlook.  That being said, addressing pressing issues with an affiliate and suddenly and completely turning your back on said affiliate are two entirely different matters.

I would gladly and routinely trek from Brooklyn over to Staten Island as a random walk-up just because I could.  When my teams were out of town, and I had an itch for baseball, I'd be at St. Goerge ballpark in twenty minutes, catch the game, and be home a mere twenty minutes later.  But overall conditions at the ballpark began taking a noticeable downturn.  The field itself became unkempt, marked by large blotches of brown dirt where lush green grass should have been growing.  Even worse was the ballpark food.  Simply put, it was terrible.  I've been to a great many minor league ballparks.  Some have outstanding food, while most have good selections.  The Ball Park at St. George offered nothing of the kind.  It was easily one of the worst parks to grab a bite.

However, the greatest factor I believe that led to the demise of the S.I. Yanks' daily operation has everything to do with all the massive ferry and waterfront reconstruction.  The team once featured one of the most convenient parking arrangements found anywhere.  But construction instantly made attending games an utter nightmare.  And therein lies a great deal of your day-to-day traffic.  I would endure the inconvenience for a Cyclones vs. Yankees showdown.  But my days of being a random walk-up ended through the fault of their own.

Then there are the New York Yankees lame justifications.  I'll say this: Richmond County Ballpark at St. George is a superior facility to Hudson Valley's Dutchess Stadium.  I'm not intentionally knocking Fishkill's field.  I've been there many times since their inaugural 1994 season, and they've made very nice improvements to the place.  But St. George is simply newer and better - just poorly run!

Home of the Hudson Valley Renegades

The Staten Island Yankees, on Dec. 3, 2020, issued a statement:

pic.twitter.com/Q5IjhztYk6

— Staten Island Yankees (@SIYanks) December 3, 2020

Truth be told, Staten Island may not have a bridge to stand on.  The once long-standing agreement between MLB and Minor League Baseball has officially expired.  No renegotiation; no extensions; the era of PDC's - player development contracts - at the present moment no longer exists.  Where is the binding language in the absence of a collectively bargained agreement?

Luring a team to Staten Island appears to be Richmond County's only remaining option.  Reportedly, Boro President James Oddo, the New York Economic Development Corporation, the New York Yankees, and MLB are looking into relocating an existing Atlantic League team to Staten Island.

At the end of November, the city pledged $5 million to update the stadium, including the installation of artificial turf.  Perhaps too little too late ...

The Somerset Patriots will be shifting over to the Eastern League as the Yankees new AA affiliate, while the Sugar Land Skeeters are in agreement to become an affiliate of the Houston Astros.  To date, that's two teams making their respective departure from the Atlantic League.

Not Even Close ..

N.Y. Yankees Throw Affiliates a Screwball

From the desk of: EVIL EMPIRE STRIKES AGAIN

BRONX BOMBERS ABANDON BABY BOMBERS

Over the last year, we've watched Rob "Simon Bar Sinister" Manfred and MLB owners radically alter the landscape of minor and independent league baseball.  Major League clubs are pairing down their farm operations to four affiliates each.  Over forty teams are presently either ostracised or face elimination, with even more teams and leagues slated for reclassification.  The (rookie) Appalachian League has already been reorganized into a wood-bat summer league for college freshman and sophomore players while the New York-Penn League and other short-A season leagues face a similar fate.  Major League Baseball also has struck partnerships with the formerly independent Atlantic League, Frontier League, and American Association.

MiLB said in a statement that MLB owners are solely interested in protecting their own profitability.  I must agree.  If I were an MLB owner - I get it - there's a clear advantage to maintaining all your affiliates within close proximity of the parent club.  However, the owners intentionally made no effort to renegotiate in good faith a new bargaining agreement with minor league baseball and have since steamrolled their agenda regardless of the impact on individual proprietors, local communities and economies, and above all, players.  

The New York Yankees are perceived to have employed a rather cold and distant tact in severing ties with Trenton, (Charleston), and a local affiliate here in Staten Island.  Trenton and Staten Island claim they first learned of the news through (social) media and not until after the New York Yankees official announcement.  In separate statements, the Trenton Thunder owner calls the Yankees action a "betrayal" while the Staten Island Yankees owner deems the decision to be "unacceptable."

So incensed is the Trenton Thunder owner he calls the New York Yankees despicable for leaving culturally diverse Trenton for a wealthier, higher socioeconomic area in Somerset.

Trenton is supplanted by the formerly independent Somerset Patriots as the Yankees' new double-A affiliate.  The Yankees also bid adieu to Charleston who will be replaced by the Hudson Valley Renegades.  

For now, Staten Island is without a team.

Brooklyn Cyclones Clinch Sixth McNamara Division Title

From the desk of:  CONEY ISLAND'S DIVISION CHAMPS!

Cyclones Sweep Yankees 3-0

I - BRK 11; SIY 2

II - BRK 5; SIY 4

III - BRK 4; SIY 1

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

McNAMARA DIVISION CHAMPIONS

2001    2003-2004    2007    2010    2019

Despite being limited to just one run on three hits, the Aberdeen Iron Birds win their season finale in a 1-0 whitewashing of the Hudson Valley Renegades at Dutchess County.  Aberdeen is subsequently eliminated once Brooklyn's victory over the Yankees at Coney Island goes final.  The Renegades appeared on their way towards securing the McNamara Division title with victories over the Ironbirds in games one and two, but fail to execute a sweep.  They finish the season 5-5 over their last ten games and thus end the regular season tied for the division lead with the surging Cyclones.  But Brooklyn owns the tie-breaker and thereby clinch their sixth division title.  More importantly this marks the Cyclones first appearance since 2012 in the New York Penn League playoffs.  The wild card Hudson Valley Renegades will oppose Brooklyn in the first round.  Game one is scheduled for Wednesday at Dutchess County.

LABOR DAY

Yankees    1

Cyclones  4

FINAL

On the last day of the regular season under thundering rain threatening storm clouds, Brooklyn pitchers join together in hurling a gem against the Staten Island Yankees at Coney Island.  Making his eleventh start for the Cyclones Frank Valentino surrenders just one earned run on one hit and two walks with nine strikeouts through 5.1 innings pitched.  He faces 19 batters, throwing 78 pitches with 49 going for strikes en route to his second victory with a 3.41 ERA.  Nick MacDonald throws 1.2 scoreless innings in relief of Valentino with three strikeouts.  Hunter Parsons pitches a scoreless eighth, and Reyson Santos strikeouts out the side in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.  Together they limit Staten Island to one run on just five scattered hits and two walks with 16 strikeouts over nine full innings pitched.

• New York Penn League

Brooklyn breaks out for three runs in the third and never look back.  Jake Ortega and Antoine Duplantis lead-off with consecutive singles against Yankees starter Alex Mejias.  With one out, Wilmer Reyes and Luke Ritter follow with consecutive doubles giving the Cyclones a 3-0 lead.  After trading single runs in the fourth, Brooklyn shuts down Staten Island for good en route to a 4-1 playoff clinching victory.

Tied with a league best 43-32 record, third year manager Edgardo Alfonzo has now guided the Cyclones to two straight 40-plus win seasons.  They also finish with a league best 24-14 record at home, and post a McNamara best 18-12 record within their own division.

Brooklyn Cyclones: One More Win and They're In

From the desk of: 

THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS  &  THE RICHMOND COUNTY RATS

BATTLE of the BOROUGHS

Brooklyn leads series 2-0

I - BRK 11; SIY 2

II - BRK 5; SIY 4

LABOR DAY

Staten Island Yankees

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Coney Island

Brooklyn Rallies For Ninth Inning Victory at Staten Island; Hudson Valley Clinches Playoff Berth With Win Over Aberdeen.

Brooklyn scores in their first at-bat, but trail the Yankees 4-1 after four.  The Cyclones make it a 4-2 game in the fifth.  Starter Garrison Bryant exits on the losing side after yielding four runs, three earned, on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts.  After which the bullpen pitches brilliantly whilst the Cyclones mount their comeback.

With two outs in the sixth Joe Genord, Jose Peroza, and Jake Ortega all single consecutively; Genord scores making it a 4-3 game in Staten Island's favor.  In the top of the ninth Yankees reliever Barrett Loseke commits a cardinal sin of baseball when he walks Brooklyn lead-off batter Kenedy Corona, who then advances to second on a wild pitch.  Antoine Duplantis singles putting runners on the corners.  Jake Mangum likewise singles to left scoring Corona.  With Wilmer Reyes at the plate, Barrett Loseke unleashes another wild pitch advancing Duplantis to third, whom then scores on a subsequent throwing error by catcher Carlos Narvaez giving Brooklyn a 5-4 lead and ultimate margin of victory.

Jared Biddy allows just one hit through two innings in relief of Bryant.  Josh Hejika pitches a scoreless eighth for the victory, and Nelson Leon tosses a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts for his fourth save.  The three relievers combine on four scoreless innings of one-hit ball with no walks and four strikeouts.

• New York Penn League

Hudson Valley breaks a scoreless tie with two runs in the fifth.  Aberdeen rallies for two runs in the top of the eighth, and into extra innings they go at Dutchess County.  The Renegades ultimately walk off with a 3-2 win in the tenth.  Hudson Valley clinches at least a wild card.  Heading into the last game of the regular season, the Renegades lead the McNamara Division by one full game over the Cyclones.  The Ironbirds are eliminated from the division race.  With another victory over Aberdeen on Monday the Renegades would clinch the division title.  In turn Brooklyn now leads the wild card race by one full game over the Ironbirds.  One more victory over Staten Island on Monday would stamp Brooklyn's ticket to the playoffs.  As a result of Sunday's loss the Yankees are eliminated from wild card contention.

Dare I contemplate a McNamara Division tie?

Brooklyn Cyclones Tie For Wild Card Lead With Two Games Left

From the desks of: 

THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS  &  THE RICHMOND COUNTY RATS

Battle of the Boroughs

NATIONAL ANTHEM

LABOR DAY WEEKEND BEGINS

SATURDAY

Staten Island Yankees     2

Brooklyn Cyclones        11

FINAL

First Pitch

With everything riding on these next three games, Brooklyn seizes game one with an 11-2 triumph over the Staten Island Yankees at old Steeplechase Grounds.  The teams waste little time trading runs in the first.  In the second Staten Island takes a 2-1 lead on a lead-off single from left fielder Pat DeMarco, and a follow up double from right fielder Juan DeLeon against Cyclones starter Matthew Allan.  Luke Ritter doubles leading off the fourth and eventually scores via a pair of effectively productive sacrifice fly outs.  Brooklyn pushes two more runs across the plate in the sixth on doubles from Robinson Cano and Joe Genord and a gift error by Yankees third baseman Andres Chaparro.  Catcher Jose Mena is struck by a pitch leading off the seventh.  After which the Cyclones bats strike back with seven runs on five hits highlighted by Joe Genord's three run blast off Yankees reliever Marcus Evey.

(RHP) MATTHEW ALLAN

Mets Third Round Selection 2019 June Draft

Promoted from the GCL Mets, Matthew Allan makes his Brooklyn Cyclones debut Saturday afternoon against the Yankees.  The plan heading in called for a brief appearance.  In turn he faces eleven batters and throw 34 pitches with 25 (73%) going for pitches.  Nice on paper, in fact the very first batter he faces, second baseman and lead-off hitter Ezequiel Duran, fans looking at a very nifty curve ball.  But Allan winds up yielding two earned runs on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts through two innings pitched.

Hand out gold stars to the four Cyclones relievers who join together in pitching seven scoreless innings of three hit ball with ten strikeouts in relief of starter Matthew Allan.  Mitch Ragan picks up his third victory for a scoreless sixth and seventh inning with three strikeouts.

ROBINSON CANO

New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano's compromised hamstring is coming along far quicker than anyone anticipated.  He makes the start at second for Brooklyn against the Yankees and is generally received well by the Brooklyn crowd.  Robinson  reciprocates the warm welcome by going 2 for 4 with a double, run scored, and a run batted in.

CANO in the FIELD

3B - BRETT BATY

Mets First Round Selection 2019 June Draft

Brett Baty also makes his Brooklyn debut with the Cyclones.  He is promoted from (rookie) Kingsport where he hit six home runs with 22 RBI in 42 games and 156 at-bats.  He goes 0 for 3 with a walk, and a run scored.

LUKE RITTER at the PLATE

Designated hitter Luke Ritter and Joe Genord are big men on campus.  Ritter is 3 for 5 with a double, three runs scored, and four runs batted in.  Genord goes 2 for 2 with his ninth home run of the season, and five runs batted in.  Unlike their parent club of late, the Cyclones are 7 for 15 with RiSP, and leave only five runners on base.

Manager Edgardo Alfonzo

Hudson Valley defeats the Aberdeen Ironbirds at Dutchess County.  The Renegades score early and often, then pour it on again in the late innings for good measure.  They batter Aberdeen pitching for 16 hits and nine runs.  In turn the Renegades limit Ironbird hitters to just one run on a mere three hits.

Now what?

• New York Penn League

Hudson Valley is alone in first place of the McNamara Division, with Brooklyn and Aberdeen tied for second just one game back.  Scenario two: the Brooklyn Cyclones and Aberdeen Ironbirds are now tied for the wild card lead.  With Friday's loss against the Cyclones the Staten Island Yankees are eliminated from the division race.  However, they're still alive in the wild card chase albeit a precarious 1.5 games back of the Cyclones and Ironbirds with just two games left.  Sunday brings a new day but the mission remains the same.  Now that the Renegades have jumped out to a series lead, Brooklyn needs Hudson Valley to complete the sweep.  In the meantime Brooklyn must continue handling their business against the Yankees.  The series shifts to the Ballpark at St. George for game two on Sunday.

Brooklyn Cyclones Open Wild Season Finale at Coney Island

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

SHOWDOWN

Staten Island Yankees

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

CONEY ISLAND

The schedule makers can pat themselves on the back for this one.  In one of the most gripping division races I can recall, all four McNamara Division teams have at least forty victories.  The playoff fates of them all lay in the balance as we enter the regular season's weekend finale.  Hudson Valley hosts Aberdeen.  Brooklyn plays a home and home series against Staten Island with games one and three at Coney Island.  One of these teams will emerge as division champs; one will enter the post-season as the wild card; the other two will pack up and embark on their respective off-seasons.

McNAMARA DIVISION

• 1) Aberdeen             41-31  *
• 2) Hudson Valley     41-31  *
• 3) Brooklyn             40-32  1 GB
• 4) Staten Island       40-33  1.5 GB

WILD CARD

• 1) Aberdeen          *
• 2) Husdon Valley  *
• 3) Brooklyn           1 GB
• 4) Staten Island     1.5 GB

The Cyclones do themselves no favors by dropping two straight against the Ironbirds at Aberdeen.  Leading Friday's game 4-3 through eight innings they surrender two runs in the bottom of the ninth.  Therefore instead of entering today's action tied for first with Hudson Valley the Cyclones relinquish to the field any self determining autonomy.

Hence their dilemma ...

Best case scenario: Hudson Valley or Aberdeen sweeps the other, and the Cyclones sweep the Yankees.  Anything less and the Cyclones are in a real pickle.  In turn Staten Island's only recourse is to sweep the Cyclones.

New York Penn League

Brooklyn Cyclones Remain Tied For First With Victory at Aberdeen

From the desk of:  

THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS  &  THE RICHMOND COUNTY RATS

Wednesday

Brooklyn Cyclones  9

Aberdeen Ironbirds  8

FINAL

What we have here is a classic fight to the finish.  With just five games remaining in the regular season, the tightest division race in the New York Penn League, and the wild card chase for that matter, remain undecided as ever.  On Wednesday Brooklyn defeats the Ironbirds in their series opener at Aberdeen, while the Yankees defeat Hudson Valley in their series opener at Staten Island.  As a result the Cyclones and Hudson Valley Renegades end the night tied for first in the McNamara Division and the wild card race.  Aberdeen now trails both races by one full game, while Staten Island closes to within 1.5 games.

Despite bum rushing the Ironbirds for a 7-0 lead after two and a half innings of play, Brooklyn barely holds on for Wednesday's victory.  While single runs in the fourth and in the eighth cap the Cyclones output at nine, the Irondbirds answer with a trio of runs in the third, four more in the sixth, and one more in the eighth.  But they're never able to push an eighth run across the plate.  Designated hitter Gavin Garay is 3 for 5 with a run scored and two runs batted in.  Ranfy Adon goes 2 for 3 with two walks, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.  Joe Genord is 1 for 5 with three runs batted in.  Starter Michel Otanez earns his second victory of the season, despite yielding three runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts through five innings.  Reliever Mitch Ragan is roughed up for two runs on four hits in just two innings pitched.  But Nelson Leon pitches the final two innings and fans four in picking up his third save of the season.  The Cyclones ar 7-3 in their last ten games and now join Hudson Valley in the forty victory club.

WEDNESDAY

Hudson Valley Renegades  2

Staten Island Yankees         3

FINAL

At Staten Island, Hudson Valley maintains a 2-0 lead through six innings.  But the Baby Bombers finally break through for a pair in the seventh.  With the bases full catcher Thomas Gallardo scores from third on a sac-fly from third baseman Andres Chaparro, and shortstop Joe Smith scored on an error by Renegades first baseman Jacson McGowan.  Staten Island goes ahead in the eighth when designated hitter Carlos Narvaez leads-off with a double and is replaced with pinch runner Isaiah Pasteur.  After a passed ball advances Pasteur to third, pinch hitter Borinquen Mendez drives him home for a 3-2 Yankees lead, and final score.  Fading fast, Hudson Valley is now 4-6 in their last ten games.

New York Penn League

Brooklyn Cyclones Off to Maryland for Wild Showdown Versus Ironbirds

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Cyclones defeat Lake Monsters 2-1

I - BRK 12; VMT 3

II - BRK 2; VMT 0

III - VMT 3; BRK 2

WILD CARD SHOWDOWN

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

vs.

ABERDEEN IRONBIRDS

FROM

CAL RIPKEN'S WORLD

Vermont Salvages Victory in Series Finale at Coney Island

Brooklyn designated hitter Gavin Garay's double plates pinch runner Ranfy Adon with the game's tying run in the ninth, and into extra innings they go at MCU Park.  With the obligatory runner stationed at second base starting off the tenth, Vermont's Josh Watson successfully bunts Shane Selman to third.  Then, of all things Cyclones reliever Matt Mullenbach unleashes a wild pitch allowing the go-ahead run to score from third.  The Cyclones are retired in order in the bottom half of the frame ... game over.  Wilmer Reyes goes 2 for 4 with a run batted in, and Gavin Garay is 3 for 4 with a run batted in.  Together they account for five of the Cyclones seven hits.

The other bad news is that Hudson Valley defeats the Connecticut Tigers and retake sole possession of first place.  Otherwise Aberdeen and Staten Island both lose, leaving Brooklyn and the Ironbirds tied for second, one game back of the Renegades.  However Brooklyn and Aberdeen still remain tied for the wild card and will open a three game series at Aberdeen on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Staten Island is two games back of the division lead and 1.5 games back of Brooklyn and Aberdeen for the wild card.  They open a three game series against the Renegades at Staten Island.

Six games remain in the regular season.

• New York Penn League

Brooklyn Cyclones: Tied in Knots With Seven Games Left

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Cyclones lead series 2-0

I - BRK 12; VMT 3

II - BRK 2; VMT 0

Vermont Lake Monsters

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Coney Island

Make that two straight against the Lake Monsters.  However, Hudson Valley, Aberdeen, and Staten Island, also win on Monday.  Therefore everything remains as it was as of close of business Sunday.  The Cyclones, Renegades, and Ironbirds, will spend another day locked in a three way tie for both first place of the division and the wild card standings, and for the league's best record as well.  That said, the Staten Island Yankees sit a mere 1.5 games back of both the division lead and wild card race.  In fact the league's four best clubs (four top records) all reside in the ultra competitive McNamara Division.  But time is running short as only seven more games remain in the regular season.  It seems apropos the Cyclones and Yankees should play a home and home series to close out the regular season.

• New York Penn League

Game two starter Garrison Bryant, Jared Biddy, and Josh Hejka, join together in limiting Vermont to just five hits and no walks with a combined 14 strikeouts en route to a 2-0 whitewashing of the Lake Monsters Monday night at Coney Island.  Bryant yields just two hits and no walks with nine strikeouts through 6.1 innings.  He throws 73 pitches with 53 (73%) going for strikes en route to his fifth victory against one loss with a declining 2.18 ERA.

Meanwhile Brooklyn batters outlast Lake Monsters starter Michael Murray whom tosses a gem of his own, yielding no runs on just one hit and no walks with five strikeouts.  But once out of the game, Antoine Duplantis and Wilmer Reyes each drive in a run apiece against reliever Jack Cushing.  After which Cyclones relievers Jared Biddy and Josh Hejka take care of the rest.

Brooklyn hosts one more against Vermont before traveling down to Maryland for a three game showdown versus the Aberdeen Ironbirds.  And keep a close eye on Staten Island versus Hudson Valley, as the Yankees can leapfrog em all.

Brooklyn Cyclones Forge Three-Way Tie For First Place

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES IMPROVE TO 

A LEAGUE BEST 21-13 RECORD AT HOME

GAME ONE

Vermont Lake Monsters  3

Brooklyn Cyclones         12

FINAL

Brooklyn scores early and often en route to a 12-3 slaying of the Vermont Lake Monsters in Sunday afternoon's series opener at Coney Island.  The Cyclones score ten runs in the first three innings alone with tack on runs in the fifth and seventh.  Starter Matt Cleveland faces 20 batters and throws 82 pitches with 47 going for strikes.  He limits the Monsters to just one run on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts through 4.1 innings, but does not figure in the decision.  Andrew Edwards earns the victory in relief of Cleveland despite yielding two runs on four hits with two strikeouts.  Christian Tripp takes care of the final two innings allowing no runs on one hit while fanning two.  Brooklyn strikes for 15 total hits in 38 at-bats, with five going for extra bases, and go 8 for 16 with RiSP.  Center fielder Kennie Taylor hits his second home run of the season.  Antoine Duplantis, Wilmer Reyes, Joe Genord, and Ranfy Adon each drive in a pair of runs apiece.

Sunday's victory forges a three way tie along with Aberdeen and Hudson Valley for first place of the McNamara Division.  The three teams are likewise locked in the three way tie for the Wild Card with only eight games remain in the regular season.  Connecticut lends Brooklyn an assist with an extra-inning victory over Hudson Valley.  Lowell however is soundly beaten by Aberdeen.  Staten Island splits a double-header up at Troy and close out the weekend 1.5 games out of both the division lead and the wild card.

• New York Penn League

Brooklyn Cyclones: Staten Island Yankees Continue Playing Guardian Angel

From the desks of: 

THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS  &  THE RICHMOND COUNTY RATS

Cyclones split series with Tigers; 2-2

I - CON 1; BRK 0

II - BRK 4; CON 0

III - BRK 5; CON 0

IV - CON 6; BRK 5

SUNDAY

Vermont Lake Momsters

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Coney Island

Thank goodness for the Staten Island Yankees.  At least they got things right Saturday night ... insofar as the Cyclones are concerned and the race for the McNamara Division title, that is.

Leading Connecticut 5-2 entering the eighth inning at the Dodd, Brooklyn surrenders two runs in the eighth, and two more in the ninth en route to a deflating loss against the Tigers.  Net result is yet another huge blown opportunity to impact the standings.  That's because despite Hudson Valley's best efforts Tri City prevails in 13 innings for a 4-3 victory at Dutchess County.  Meanwhile the Yankees outlast Aberdeen in a tightly contested 1-0, three-hit whitewashing of the Ironbirds.

• Yankees starter Blakely Brown tosses a gem, allowing no runs on just two hits and one walk with five strikeouts through six innings pitched.  Relievers Nick Ernst, Marcus Evey, and Barrett Loseke, join together on three innings of one-hit ball with one walk and three strikeouts to complete Saturday's shutout over Aberdeen.

While nothing is lost, nothing is gained either.  After an uneventful Saturday night Hudson Valley remains in first place with a one game lead over the Ironbirds and Cyclones.  The Yankees however close within two games of first.  Meanwhile Aberdeen and Brooklyn remain locked in a tie for the wild card with Staten Island now threatening just one game behind.  In the meantime the clock is ticking and time is running short.  Nine games remain in the regular season.

• New York Penn League

NEXT:

• Vermont @ Brooklyn
• Staten Island @ Tri City
• Connecticut @ Hudson Valley
• Aberdeen @ Lowell

This upcoming series marks Brooklyn's third against the Lake Monsters.  The first two take place at Burlington where the Cyclones sweep three games in July, and the Lake Monsters sweep three just over one week ago.  The series now shifts to Coney Island for the first time.

Let's go Cyclones!

Brooklyn Cyclones: And Then There Were Ten

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Cyclones Lead Series 2-1

I - CON 1; BRK 0

II - BRK 4; CON 0

III - BRK 5; CON 0

SATURDAY

Brooklyn Cyclones

vs.

Connecticut Tigers

FROM

THE DODD

With just ten games left in the regular season both the McNamara Division and Wild Card remain up for grabs.  On Thursday Brooklyn bows to the Connecticut Tigers in a rain shortened five inning game.  First baseman Joe Genord records the Cyclones lone hit of the night.  Meanwhile starter Frank Valentino is once again the hard luck loser upon yielding just one earned run on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts through 4.2 innings pitched.  Heavy storms continue through the evening postponing game two of a scheduled double-header (stemming from yet another 7/22 PPD).

On Friday the teams finally play two at the Dodd where pitching wins the day.  Brooklyn hurlers join forces on back to back shutout efforts over the Tigers yielding a mere six total hits through 18 innings pitched.

Michel Otanez starts game one throwing 4.1 innings of scoreless one-hit ball with three walks and three strikeouts.  Mitch Ragan enters in relief of Otanez, allowing no runs on two hits with a strikeout.  Josh Hejka then pitches a scoreless ninth.  Ragan earns his second win of the season to go along with a 2.32 ERA.  Otanez lowers his ERA to a 2.49 mark.  Brooklyn gets runs batted in from Luke Ritter, and Joe Genord, and Wilmer Reyes hits his fifth home run of the season en route to a 4-0 Cyclones final.

• Game one marks Edgardo Alfonzo's 100th victory as manager of the Cyclones.

In game two Brooklyn and Norwich duel through six scoreless innings before the Cyclones finally break through for five runs in the top half of the seventh.  Tigers starter Jack O'Loughlin stymies Cyclones batters through six full, yielding just three hits and two walks while fanning six.  Coming off Wednesday's NYPL all-star game, Brooklyn starter Dan Goggin is limited to a pair of innings during which he allows just one hit, but walks three and fans four.  Hunter Parsons pitches two innings in relief of Goggin allowing just one hit and one walk while fanning six.  Jared Biddy is then tasked with pitching the final three innings.  He faces nine batters, yields one hit, walks none and fans four in completing Brooklyn's second straight whitewashing of the Tigers.  The Cyclones three combine for a three-hit, 14-strikeout effort.  Biddy now sports a stellar 0.40 ERA through eleven appearances and 22.1 innings pitched with 28 strikeouts.  Ranfy Adon is big man on campus going 3 for 3 with a run batted in.  Wilmer Reyes drives in his 25th run of the season.

The Cyclones enter Saturday's McNamara Division race tied with Aberdeen in second place one game behind first place Hudson Valley.  Meanwhile Brooklyn and Aberdeen are now tied for the wild card.  Staten Island loses their second straight to Aberdeen, getting limited to just six hits and no runs against the Ironbirds on Friday.  In fact Aberdeen are winners of three straight.

• New York Penn League

Staten Island Hosts New York-Penn League All-Star Game

From the desk of:  THE RICHMOND COUNTY RATS

Richmond County Ballpark at St. George

home of the Staten Island Yankees

Site of the 2019 New York-Penn League All-Star Game

Yankees All-Stars

• Second baseman Eziquiel Duran is slashing .269/.340/.523/.863, with twelve home runs and 34 runs batted in through 56 games and 216 at-bats.  
• Catcher Carlos Narvaez is slashing .252/.338/.303/.641, with four extra-base hits and eleven runs batted in through 34 games and 119 at-bats.
• Right-hander Anderson Munoz owns a 6-2 record with a 2.77 ERA 1.13 WHiP.  He's allowed 39 hits and fanned 50 through 52.0 innings pitched.

• ICYMI: Five Cyclones Representing Brooklyn in Wednesday's All-Star Game

Brooklyn Cyclones Complete Very Necessary Sweep of Valley Cats

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Cyclones Sweep Valley Cats 3-0

I - BRK 2; TRI 1

II - BRK 5; TRI 3

III - BRK 5; TRI 0

Four Cyclones pitchers each do a little, and together accomplish a lot.  Nathan Jones makes the start in game three at MCU Park, allowing just two hits and two walks with two strikeouts through three scoreless innings.  Corey Gaconi takes care of the next three innings, yielding no runs on two hits with five strikeouts.  Hunter Parsons enters the game in the seventh and contributes two more scoreless innings of one-hit ball with a pair of strikeouts.  And finally Josh Hejka pitches a scoreless ninth completing the combined effort shutout.  Together the four man line reads no runs on five hits and just two walks with ten strikeouts.  Brooklyn scores single runs in the first, second, and fourth, and two more in the six for good measure.  Catcher Jose Mena is big man on campus going 3 for 4 with a double, home run, and three RBI.  Luke Ritter drives in his 25th run of the season, and designated hitter Gavin Garay drives in his eighth.

AND LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR ... STATEN ISLAND IS THERE

Yankees sweep Renegades 3-0

I - SIY 4; HVR 3

II - SIY 4; HVR 1

III - SIY 4; HVR 3

Richmond County has been a tremendous help of late, likewise completing a three game sweep over the first place Hudson Valley Renegades.  That ties the Yankees with Aberdeen at one game out of first place.  Brooklyn meanwhile is now within one-half game of first place, but hold a half-game lead in the wild card race over Aberdeen and Staten Island.  And the Batavia Muckdogs have suddenly arrived on the scene, one full game behind the Cyclones.

• New York Penn League

Five Cyclones Representing Brooklyn at New York-Penn League All-Star Game

From the desk of: THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

New York-Penn League

2 0 1 9

ALL STAR GAME

Five members of the Brooklyn Cyclones have been selected to participate in this season's New York-Penn League All-Star Game this coming Tuesday at Staten Island's Ballpark at St. George.

• New York-Penn League (stats as of Saturday, 8/18/2019)

As of close of business Saturday 21-year old Wilmer Reyes was fifth in the New York-Penn League in batting with a .328 average, seventh with 57 hits, and tenth with .792 OPS.  The Cyclones infielder has eleven extra-base hits, 23 RBI, and ten stolen bases, through 46 games and 174 at-bats.

First baseman Joe Genord may presently be slashing .203/.277/.401, but he is fourth in the league with eight home runs and sixth in runs batted in.

Twenty-year old Garrison Bryant sports a 4-1 record with a league best 0.86 WHiP, and a league second best 2.59 ERA.  He's allowed just 38 hits and 13 walks with 55 strikeouts through nine starts (eleven appearances) and 59.0 innings pitched.

Starter Matt Cleveland is 3-3 with a 3.70 ERA and 1.20 WHiP through twelve starts and 58.1 innings pitched.  He's allowed just 45 hits but has yielded 25 base on balls.  Opposing hitters are batting just .211 against him.

Reliever Mitch Ragan is 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA and stellar 0.79 WHiP through eleven appearances, with just 19 hits allowed and two walks with 22 strikeouts through 26.2 innings pitched.

Home of the Staten Island Yankees

Site of the 2019 NYPL All-Star Game

Walk-Off at Coney Puts Cyclones Back In Control of Wild Card

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Cyclones lead Valley Cats 2-0

I - BRK 2; TRI 1

II - BRK 5; TRI 3

GAME THREE
Tri City Valley Cats

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

FROM

Steeplechase Grounds

When play resumes as of Saturday's postponement in the sixth inning on Sunday, the Valley Cats break a scoreless tie with a run on four hits off the Cyclones Jared Biddy pitching in place of Garrison Bryant.  In the bottom half of the frame Brooklyn loads the bases against Tri-City's Kyle Serrano whom then walks in two runs.  And that's a wrap on Saturday's conclusion.  Biddy earns the victory, and Matt Mullenbach earns his fifth save.

In Sunday's regularly scheduled game, albeit abbreviated, the teams dueled to a three all stalemate through seven innings requiring over time.  With Antoine Duplantis starting the bottom of the eighth at second base, Yoel Romero connects off Valley Cats reliever Miguel Figueroa on a game ending two run home run.  Nelson Leon earns the victory in relief of starter Michel Ortanez and Mitch Ragan.  Brooklyn also gets runs batted in from Duplantis and first baseman Gavin Garay.

WALK OFF!

Meanwhile the Staten Island Yankees spend the weekend taking two straight from the first place Hudson Valley Renegades while the Lake Monsters defeat Aberdeen on Sunday.  As a result Brooklyn claws back to within 1.5 games of the McNamara Division lead, and close the weekend once again in control of the wild card.  All four McNamara Division clubs are playing above the .500 mark.  The very viable Staten Island Yankees are only two games back of the Renegades and trail Brooklyn by one-half game in the wild card race.

Thirteen games remain in the Cyclones regular season.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Saturday Night Fog Out at Coney Island

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

MOTHER NATURE SAYS FOG YOU 

AND THE BEACH YOU CAME FROM

Tri-City Valley Cats

vs.

Brooklyn Cyclones

SUSPENDED GAME

Fog me?  Fog you ... 

The Cyclones and Valley Cats duel through five scoreless innings before Mother Nature chases home everyone attending Saturday's game at MCU Park.  Brooklyn's all-star game bound Garrison Bryant yields just two hits and no walks with six strikeouts.  He faces 17 batters, throwing 68 pitches with 49 (72%) going for strikes.  Troy starter Juan Pablo Lopez surrenders three hits and one walk with five strikeouts.  Second baseman Luke Ritter accounts for two of Brooklyn's three hits.

Mother Nature shortly thereafter makes her appearance at Dutchess County, where the Staten Island Yankees were within three outs of defeating the Renegades before being delayed.  However by 11:30pm the game had been declared official.  And so for a change the Cyclones actually get a helping hand from their Richmond County neighbors.  Bout damn time, too.

Thus the Cyclones enter Sunday's action 3.5 games back of the Renegades with an opportunity for affecting two positive outcomes.  A little more help from Staten Island wouldn't hurt either.

• ICYMI: Brooklyn Cyclones Fading With Fifteen To Go

Aberdeen proves the biggest beneficiary of Saturday's weather.  In defeating the Vermont Lake Monsters - something Brooklyn could not do - the Ironbirds close to within 2.5 games of first, and now lead the wild card race by a half-game over West Virginia.  The Cyclones trail by one full game.

Cyclones Take Second Straight From Yankees

From the desks of:  

THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS  &  THE RICHMOND COUNTY RATS

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

Brooklyn Leads Series 2-0

I - BRK 11; SIY 4

II - BRK 4; SIY 1

TUESDAY

Brooklyn Cyclones

vs.

Staten Island Yankees

Michael Gibbons - no stranger to Brooklyn - returns to Coney Island and no-hits the Staten Island  Yankees ... for the first few innings, that is.  He faces eleven batters, throwing 43 pitches with 26 (60%) going for strikes.  Gibbons yields no hits, no runs, and two walks with two strikeouts in three innings pitched but does not factor in the decision.  Usual starter Garrison Bryant enters this game in the fourth.  He surrenders Staten Island's lone run of the game on three hits and no walks with five 

strikeouts in earning his fourth victory of the season against just one loss with a 2.59 ERA.  Nelson Leon closes out the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.  

Antoine Duplantis is 2 for 4 with a triple, a run scored, and an RBI.  Jose Peroza is 1 for 4 with a two run home run in the eighth, and Wilmer Reyes is 3 for 4 with a run scored and one run batted in.  

Brooklyn's victory coupled with Hudson Valley's loss against Lowell places them just 1.5 games back of the division lead with 19 games left to play.

Brooklyn Cyclones Steamroll Staten Island Yankees

From the desks of:  

THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS  and  THE HYLAN BOULEVARD RATS

BATTLE of the BOROUGHS

GAME ONE

Brooklyn Cyclones      11

Staten Island Yankees  4

FINAL

Brooklyn wallops the Yankees at the Ballpark at St. George to square up their season series with Staten Island at three.

The surging Yankees waste no time putting Brooklyn at a disadvantage.  With two on and two outs in the bottom half of the first inning Staten Island third baseman Mitchell Robinson doubles to left field plating both runners.  First baseman Nelson B Alvarez then grounds to second baseman Luke Ritter who mishandles the opportunity permitting Robinson to score for a 3-0 Yankees lead.  In the third inning designated hitter Jacob Sanford strokes a one out double to right, then advances to third on a wild pitch.  Isaiah Pasteur's sac-fly to center scores Sanford putting Staten Island ahead by four.

Brooklyn starter Matt Cleveland lasts 4.2 innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits and two walks.  Andrew Edwards enters the game in relief of Cleveland.

The Cyclones finally break through for a run in the sixth.  Antoine Duplantis leads off with a single then scores on Jose Peroza's double to right.  Brooklyn explodes for another six runs in the seventh highlighted by a Luke Ritter RBI double, a two RBI double from Jose Peroza, and a three run home run from Joe Genord.  The sudden onslaught continues in the eighth.  Jose Peroza works out a bases loaded walk against Yankees reliever Wellington Diaz.  Joe Genord then clears the bases with a double to left.

Jose Peroza and Joe Genord account for ten of the Cyclones eleven runs batted in.

Andrew Edwards departs after 2.1 innings of scoreless no-hit baseball with two walks and three strikeouts.  Manager Alonzo hands off to Jared Biddy in the eighth whom obliges with another two scoreless innings of one hit ball with two strikeouts.  Edwards is awarded his second victory of the season to go along with a 2.42 ERA.

Yankees starter Anderson Munoz yields no runs on four hits and two walks through 3.2 innings but does not factor in the decision.  The bullpen however yields all eleven runs on nine hits and five walks with five strikeouts through 5.1 innings pitched.  Marcus Evey is tagged with a blown save and the loss.

With Sunday's victory the Cyclones improve to 31-23 (.574) with only twenty games remaining in their regular season.  However Hudson Valley sweeps a double-header from the Lowell Spinners.  Therefore despite Sunday's victory the Cyclones close the weekend 2.5 games back of first place.

McNamara Division Standings through 8/11/2019:

• Hudson Valley   34-21; *
• Brooklyn            31-23; 2.0 GB
• Aberdeen           30-26; 4.5 GB
• Staten Island     29-26; 5.0 GB

Brooklyn leads the wild card race by two games over the West Virginia Black Bears and Aberdeen Ironbirds whom Sunday handily defeat the Lake Monsters in an 11-0 whitewashing at Vermont.  Staten Island trails the wild card standings by 2.5 games.

Brooklyn Cyclones Still Chasing The Leader

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Cyclones defeat Connecticut 2-1

I - BKN 3; CON 2

II - BKN 12; CON 1

III - CON 5; BKN 2

Brooklyn Cyclones

vs.

Staten Island Yankees

FROM

Ballpark at St. George

The Cyclones win their series against the Connecticut Tigers but lose a game in the standings after Saturday's 5-2 loss at Coney Island.  Despite center fielder Kennie Taylor's first inning home run, the best Brooklyn can manage is a two all tie through four.  Catcher Jose Mena singles in Brooklyn's second run in the fourth.  Cyclones starter Frank Valentino surrenders a home run in the fourth.  But the game gets away from him in the sixth.  Valentino winds up allowing four earned runs on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts.  He record falls to 1-3 with a 3.96 ERA.  Dan Goggin allows a run on two hits and a walk through 2.1 innings in relief of Valentino.  Matt Mullenbach pitches a scoreless ninth but the Cyclones comeback would not come.  Brooklyn is just 5-5 over their last ten games and just 8-7 over their last 15 games with just 21 games left in the regular season.

Meanwhile the Hudson Valley Renegades have spent the last three days trouncing the Tri-City Valley Cats.  The Renegades are winners of four in a row and own a two game lead over Brooklyn.  Despite losing their series finale against Aberdeen, Staten Island wins that series and moves into third place ahead of the Ironbirds just 3.5 games back of Hudson Valley.

Staten Island and Brooklyn resume the Battle of the Boroughs Sunday at the Ballpark at St. George.  They flip venues on Monday, and conclude the series back at Staten Island on Tuesday.  The Yankees have hit the most home runs in the New York Penn League this season.  They own the second highest OPS and scored the third most runs.  Brooklyn is eighth in home runs, tenth in team OPS, and seventh in runs scored.  However Brooklyn is second (2.96) in overall team ERA.