L.I. Ducks: Flock Will Go As Far As Triumvirate of Starting Pitchers Take Them

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks own 4.5 game lead over Somerset Patriots 

with nineteen games to go.

Long Island Ducks: Weight of Flock's World Falls on Triumvirate of John Brownell, Jake Fisher, and Matt Larkins.

Less than twenty games remain in the regular season, and the Sugar Land Skeeters have thus far proven themselves to be the most balanced team in the circuit, ranking first or second in near every major pitching and offensive category.  With a first-half title already in the books, the Skeeters again lead the Freedom Division by 6.5 games over the second place Lancaster Barnstormers.

For Long Island rooters, that's a race worth monitoring as Lancaster presently tops the Wild Card standings by 2.5 games over the Flock.  As luck would have it, the Barnstormers arrive on Long Island Tuesday night to open a four game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

In the midst of a six-game win streak, the Ducks enter Tuesday with a 4.5 game lead over the Somerset Patriots.  With their head-to-head regular season series complete, the Flock and Patriots do not meet again down the stretch, thus setting the stage for a rather intriguing race to come.

Somerset, like Sugar Land, has already clinched a first-half title.  Therefore if the Ducks are to face off against the Patriots in a fourth straight Liberty Division post-season showdown, it would behoove them to sustain their present standing and capture the second-half flag, or at the very least, outplay the Lancaster Barnstormers and any other Wild Card contenders.

Easier said than done ...

Long Island's final six games of the regular season are against the Skeeters, all at Sugar Land.

ATLANTIC LEAGUE RANKINGS:

Team Average

• Sugar Land #1;  LONG ISLAND #2;  SOMERSET #5

Team Slugging

• Sugar Land #1;  LONG ISLAND #2;  SOMERSET #7

Team OPS

• Sugar Land #1;  LONG ISLAND #2;  SOMERSET #6

Runs

• Sugar Land #1;  LONG ISLAND #2;  SOMERSET #5

Home Runs

• LONG ISLAND #1; Sugar Land #2; SOMERSET #8

Total Bases

• LONG ISLAND #1; Sugar Land #2; SOMERSET #6

Team ERA

• Sugar Land #1; SOMERSET #2; LONG ISLAND #5

Team WHiP

• Sugar Land #1;  SOMERSET #2;  LONG ISLAND #6

Average Against

• Sugar Land #1;  SOMERSET #2;  LONG ISLAND #6

Strikeouts

• SOMERSET #1;  Sugar Land #2;  LONG ISLAND #3

Which team wins the Liberty Division's second-half title boils down to a pair of factors: whether Long Island's hitting outlasts Somerset's pitching, and how well the Ducks emerge from their six game series against Sugar Land.

The loss of starter Bennett Parry (contract purchased/Taiwan) earlier this month was clearly a major blow to Long Island's rotation.  They've have also negotiated the last two months without the injured Jair Jurrjens.  The Ducks in turn have relied on Tyler Badamo and Hector Silveste to back fill the rotation with mixed results.  The one time Mets farmhand and former Skeeter himself, Tyler Badamo is 3-2 since coming over to the Flock, with a 3.37 ERA through seven starts.  Silvestre comes to the Flock via the Washington Nationals system, and thus far has struggled through his first seven appearances.  He's 2-0 but with a 6.23 ERA, having surrendered 39 hits, 11 walks, and striking out 16 through 30.1 innings pitched.

It goes without saying, then, the burden of leading Long Island towards future successes or failures now rests in the arms, elbows, and shoulders of veteran Flock starting pitchers John Brownell, Matt Larkins, and Jake Fisher.  I'm sure all three would agree their respective performances haven't exactly been up to snuff.

• John Brownell: 9-10 with a 4.56 ERA, 1.713 WHiP, and .271 average against.
• Jake Fisher: 6-6 with a 4.23 ERA, 2.104 WHiP, and .293 average against.
• Matt Larkins: 7-4 with a 4.23 ERA, 2.12 WHiP, and .307 average against.

Despite some unsightly numbers, they're an experienced lot.  But can they seize the day one last time?

L.I. Ducks: Home Sweep Home

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks sweep series 3-0

I - LID 11; SOM 5

II - LID 2; SOM 1

III - LID 6; SOM 4

Long Island Ducks: Flock Closes Within Two Games of First Place Somerset Patriots.

Backed by home runs from David Washington, Cody Puckett, and Daniel Fields, the Long Island Ducks power past the Somerset Patriots in Wednesday's series finale at Bethpage Ballpark, thus completing a three game sweep of the Liberty Division leaders.

The Ducks inflict all their damage against Patriots starter Duane Bellow, who allows six earned runs on twelve hits, a walk, and strikes out three.

David Washington stakes starter Tyler Badamo and the Ducks to an early 1-0 lead in the second with his team leading 13th home run of the season.  After the Patriots tie the game in the top of the fifth, Cody Puckett homers with one on in the bottom of the frame for a 3-1 Ducks lead.  An inning later, Daniel Fields increases their lead to 5-2 upon hitting his fifth home run of the season (Taylor Ard scores).

After trading runs in the seventh, Somerset threatens with two runs in the top of the ninth, but would score no more.  Francisco Rodriguez is called upon to record the final out, and converts for his 19th save of the season.

Making his sixth start for Long Island, Tyler Badamo (who this season also pitched for Sugar Land and New Britain) allows just one earned run on eight hits, no walks, and strikes out three over six innings pitched en route to his third victory against two losses.

With Wednesday's 6-4 victory, the Ducks improve to 13-8 in the second half, and close within two games of the division leading Somerset Patriots.

BK Cyclones vs. S.I. Yankees: Battle of the Boroughs - II

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BATTLE of the BOROUGHS - II

Cyclones lead season series 2-1

I - BKN 3; SIY 2

II - SIY 8; BKN 3

III - BKN 6; SIY 4

WEDNESDAY

Brooklyn Cyclones

vs.

Staten Island Yankees

FROM

Rotten Island

BROOKLYN CYCLONES: Richmond Bombers Host Series Opener 2 games back of 1st place Bums.

Baby Bums taking cue from parent club; 

contending with strong pitching, but with little hitting to speak of.

All four McNamara Division teams are playing above .500 baseball, led by the Brooklyn Cyclones.   The Coney Island Nine own a 2-game edge over the Staten Island Yankees, and a 3-game lead over the the Aberdeen Ironbirds and Hudson Valley Renegades, respectively.

The Cyclones (15-8) are in 1st place today based largely on the strength of their pitching.  Their 1.09 WHiP leads the league and their 2.47 ERA ranks second.  They are second in the league in strikeouts, allowed the second least hits and runs, and lead the circuit with 4 shutouts.

• After five starts and 31.1 innings pitched, Tyler Badamo is 1-2 with a 2.87 ERA, and a 0.93 WHiP.   He is fourth in the circuit with 26 strikeouts.  Team mate Matt Blackham leads the league with 30 strikeouts.  He is 2-0 with a 3.09 ERA, and a 0.99 WHiP.  Closer Alex Palsha has yet to surrender a run over 11.1 innings pitched, and leads the league with 5 saves.

The 2nd place Staten Island Yankees (13-10) rank fourth with a 3.41 ERA, a 1.25 WHiP; they're fourth in strikeouts, and have allowed the fourth least hits, and the sixth least runs.

• With a 3-1 record, right-hander Luis Cedeno is tied for the league lead (with team mate Derek Callahan) in victories, and owns a 1.37 ERA, and 0.99 WHiP over 26.1 innings pitched, with 18 strikeouts.

Staten Island owns a distinct edge at the plate.  They are second in the league in runs scored and fourth in hits.  They lead the circuit in OBP, and rank fifth in slugging and team average, and sixth in home runs.

• Outfielder Griffin Gordon leads the team with 6 doubles and a .342 average.  Jhalan Jackson leads the team with 4 home runs and 14 RBI.

The Cyclones on the other hand, are last in the New York Penn League in hits, team average, and OBP, rank twelfth in slugging, eleventh in runs scored, struck out the fourth most times and are tied for fourth in home runs.

• Vinny Siena is second in the league in hits, second with a .361 batting average, and sixth in OBP.  He is presently the Cyclones' lone .300 hitter.  Right fielder Michael Bernal leads the circuit in runs scored and is fifth in slugging.  He leads the team with 5 doubles, 3 home runs and 10 RBI.

The Cyclones will open the series in Richmond County, then host the Baby Bombers on Thursday.   The series will conclude on Friday back in Staten Island.



Mike

BK Cyclones: Bring on the Renegades

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn leads season series over Hudson Valley 2-1

I - BKN 7; HVR 0

II - BKN 2; HVR 1

III - HVR 4; BKN 1

TONIGHT

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

vs.

Hudson Valley Renegades

FROM

DUTCHESS STADIUM

Wappingers Falls, N.Y.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Renegades have been a thorn in Baby Bum's side over past three seasons.

After enjoying a day off, the Cyclones start a 3-game series against their Dutchess County rivals, Hudson Valley Renegades this evening.  It was Hudson Valley who stood center of the Cyclones' path in 2 of the last 3 season post-season bids.

In 2012, the Cyclones fell short in the division race to the Hudson Valley Renegades, and as Wild Card qualifiers were ultimately eliminated from the post-season by the 'Gades as well.

Last season, Coney Island finished the regular season with a fine 42-34 record, 4 games back, however, of the McNamara Division winning Hudson Valley Renegades.

After 17 games played this season, Brooklyn leads the McNamara Division with a 12-5 record, and a 2.5 game lead over the Staten Island Yanks.  Hudson Valley is in 3rd place, just 3 games out, so this is indeed an early season division showdown against the Renegades.

Brooklyn took 2 of 3 games from the 'Gades to open the month, then swept 3 games from the Williamsport Crosscutters making them 5-1 in July.

Michael Bernal and Vinny Siena have lead the Cyclones offense through the early going.  Bernal leads the circuit with 14 runs scored and is 2nd with 3 home runs.  He leads the team with 4 doubles and 10 RBI.  Siena is 2nd in the NYPL with a .390 batting mark.  He leads the team with 23 hits and is 2nd behind Bernal with 12 runs scored.

Catcher Brandon Brosher is batting .250, with a pair of home runs, and is 2nd on the team with 9 RBI.  Seven of those came during Sunday's 9-2 victory over the Crosscutters setting a new Brooklyn Cyclones record.

On the mound, right-hander Tyler Badamo was named New York-Penn League Pitcher of the Week for the period ending July 5th.  In 4 starts and 26.2 innings pitched thus far, Tyler is 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA and 0.67 WHiP.

Closer Alex Palsha has thrown 9.1 innings over 6 appearances.  He is yet to yield a run, allowed 3 hits, and has 3 saves.



Mike