BKN CYCLONES ~ Season Opens In Staten Island Tonight

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

2011
NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

Start Season In Staten Island Versus Rival Yankees.

Whether you call it the

Battle of the Boroughs;

 Battle of the Bridge;

or

The Ferry Series

The long wait is over.  Let the summer begin.


The SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS;
The CYCLONES BY THE SEASHORE;
The CONEY ISLAND NINE;
The BABY BUMS OF THE BOARDWALK;


They're back!


Yes, Brooklyn's beloved Cyclones are back for another season of BASEBALL BY THE BEACH.


A team by any other name is still just a team.  But this is our team.  Because in Brooklyn, a baseball team takes on an entirely different meaning.  And some of you out there need to recognize.  You know who you are.


The 2011 New York-Penn League season kicks off tonight at the home of the Cyclones' chief rival; the Rotten Island Yankees; winners of FIVE New York-Penn League Championships.  And perhaps to a higher degree than I would say towards Staten Island's parent club in the Bronx, to these guys I truly say..., "Stick it!"


"Mike"....some might say, "...it's too early to start slinging arrows." 


To that I say....PFFFF!  It's Staten Island and it's the Yankees.  Need I say more?


Fugheddaboudit!


This is about bragging rights; Borough Pride; and this is about turf.  This is about sticking it to everybody who abandoned their Brooklyn homes and moved to Staten Island because; - just because.


Many people move from Brooklyn.  The big city is after all, transient by nature.  Heck; Once upon a time a baseball team once moved away and went west.  Where ever y'all go, you still like to wear "Brooklyn" on your chests like a badge of courage.  You still like to say you came from Brooklyn.



I AM Brooklyn and live it everyday.  The Cyclones Are Brooklyn!



You?  Frauds!



Don't let the Cyclone Fans drown you out too much as you root for your new adoptive team.

GAME ONE of the SEASON

TONIGHT

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

vs.

Staten Island Yankees

From Richmond County Ballpark at St. George

N.Y.C.

...and you know I could have said much worse!

Enjoy the game and Good Luck this season.

Let's Go Cyclones!





Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ Mets Balk At Chance To Go Above .500

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

New York Mets:  Take A Deep Breath And Hold It.  We're Going Under .500 Again.


The Mets have been bobbing near, but not quite at .500 for a while.  And Wednesday they finally got a full breath of air when Dillon Gee and the bullpen defeated Atlanta for a second consecutive night.  The big deal was Wednesday night's game finally got New York back to the .500 mark. 


In the last game of this three game series on Thursday, the Mets were trying to sweep Atlanta in their park which has been a virtual Spook-A-Rama for the Mets over the years.  And so, sadly after tonight, kiss .500 good-bye; take a deep breath; and hold it.  We're going under again.

 
The Mets came back in a game they seemed out of early, trailing 6-2.  R.A. Dicky had perhaps his worst, or one of his worst outings of the season and was gone after four innings.  The Mets then managed to take a 2 run lead with the score reading 8-6 heading into the ninth inning.  Got to hand it to the gritty Mets again on that one.


But then, surprise! - Francisco Rodriguez picked the worst time imaginable to tap into his inner Armando Benitez and blow his first game after 19 consecutive saves.  He surrendered a game tying, two run bomb to Brooks "freakin" Jacobs Who?!


Then, if that wasn't good enough to make you shake your head, maybe ending the game on a BALK! - will.  A balk called against the Mets' RJ Carrasco with a man on third base sealed it for the Braves..


And so the Mets aversion to .500 continues.  Another fleeting moment of having a balanced account is gone.


Farewell .500;  until we meet again.





Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Add Another Game To First Place Lead

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



Long Island Ducks:  Improve Lead In Liberty Division To 2.5 Games.  Mike Parisi and Mike Loree Providing Long Island With Strong One-Two Punch On Mound.  Offense Among League's Most Potent.



In game two in a series between the Atlantic League's two first place teams, Kennard Jones hit a two out home run in the third inning for an early 1-0 Ducks' lead. 


Long Island followed up in the fourth inning with two more runs.  John Rodriguez led off with a double and advanced to third base on a wild pitch.  Matt Esquivel drove him home with a single.  Esquivel stole second and reached third on a ground ball to second retiring Matt Padget for the first out.  J.R. House then drew a walk putting runners on first and third.  Freddie Thon reached first base on a fielder's choice scoring Esquivel from third to make it a 3-0 Ducks lead after four.


In the fifth inning, the Ducks struck for more.  Kennard Jones and Ray Navarrete led off the inning with a pair of singles.  After Javier Colina popped up foul to first, John Rodriguez hit a booming home run over the right center field wall to put the Long Islanders up by a 6-0 score.


Lancaster's starting pitcher; Yunior Novoa; was removed from the game after only three innings pitched.  Justin Segal was called on to relieve.  Both pitchers were roughed up for an equal amount of runs by the Ducks; three apiece through five innings.  Two more Lancaster pitchers kept Long Island quiet through the ninth.


Ducks' starter; Mike Parisi; cruised through the first seven innings striking out six batters while surrendering only four hits and one walk.  In the eighth, the first out was a hard liner to Esquivel in right.  Parisi recorded his seventh strike out of the night for the second out.  Then Mike Parisi powered a fastball; his 96th pitch of the night; past Lancaster's Gilberto Mejia for out number three.

Then out came Mike Parisi for the ninth in pursuit of a complete game shut-out.  Lancaster's two; three; and four hitters lie ahead.  The Barnstormers' Matt Watson flied to left for the first out.  Third baseman Tommy Everidge, ran a full count against Parisi who then surrendered his second walk of the game.  Fernando Seguignal was robbed by a brilliant backhand play by L.I. first baseman Freddie Thon who made the putout at first unassisted.  With two outs, Parisi got the count to 0-2 against Aaron Herr, and yes, ended his complete game shutout with his 9th strikeout of the game.


Mike Parisi's performance gives the Ducks their first 9-inning complete game shutout of the season.  He improved his record to 5-1, with five being good enough for third in the league.  Mike Loree is tied for the Atlantic Lead with six.  Parisi also lowered his ERA to 3.81.  His 47 strikeouts now place him second in the League behind his staff-mate; Mike Loree.  He and Mike Loree are emerging as a dominant starting combination who, backed by a robust offense, are leading the Ducks during the first half Liberty Division race.


Offensive Contributors Like Tonight's trio:
Kennard Jones; 3 for 4; home run; rbi; run scored.
John Rodriguez; 2 for 4; home run; 3 rbi; 2 runs scored.
Matt Esquivel; 3 for 4; rbi; run scored.


...when combined with starts like Loree yesterday and Parisi today, are what successful seasons are built upon.  Forty-five home runs ties them for second in the Atlantic League.  And the Ducks lead the league in runs scored.


Long Island is now 26-14 on the season and winners of four in a row.  Over the last ten games, the Ducks are the hottest team in the League.  The Camden River Sharks took it to the South Maryland Blue Crabs again defeating them 6-3.  So that ups the Ducks lead over South Maryland to 2.5 games.


The series concludes Thursday before the Ducks go back home to play the Road Warriors.




Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Take Rubber Game Against Worcester Tornadoes

From the desk of:  GROWLINGS FROM BROOKLYN


NEWARK BEARS:  Leave Worcester With Second Best Record In CanAm League.


FINAL:
BEARS...........6
Tornadoes......1

Newark wins first series between each other two games to one.



The Worcester Tornadoes won their first shut out of the season Tuesday night against these Bears, and they were looking to do it again in the rubber game of this series.   Worcester starter; Nick Serino; and Bears' starter; Alex Smith traded zeroes through the first sixth innings.


The Bears were stymied trying to overcome a one and two run deficit last night and were having trouble again getting on the scoreboard Wednesday.


But with the commencement of the seventh inning, the second game started; i.e. - late innings.  Serino started the seventh but got into quick trouble.  Worcester deferred to their bullpen with Ryan Walfield.  And by the time the seventh inning was over, the Bears were leading 5-0.  The Bears' at-bat was highlighted by an RBI single by Kyle LaMotta; Brandon Watson had an RBI sac fly; Tim Raines Jr.'s two run triple; and a double by Ward scored Raines.


Alex Smith completed the seventh inning for Newark before he too was done for the evening.  He left surrendering only four hits and no runs allowed.  A high, five walks and two strikeouts complete his line.  It was his third win this season.


Chris Rollins would give up a run in one inning of relief and Mikey Mehlich closed out the ninth in a non-save situation.


The win improves the Bears' record to a League second best 13-7, behind Quebec.


After a travel day tomorrow, the Bears start a series against Brockton in Newark.




Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Looking For A Win Before Heading Home

From the desk of:  GROWLINGS FROM BROOKLYN




NEWARK BEARS:  Rubber Game Versus Worcester Tornadoes.

The Worcester Tornadoes blew back in the face of the Bears Tuesday night with a 2-0 white-washing of Newark.  Four Tornado pitchers combined on a five hit shut-out.


Tornadoes' winning pitcher; Kevin Cooper; pitched five innings of four hit ball.  He walked three Bears and struck out two before giving way to the bullpen. 


In four innings the bullpen allowed only one hit; walked one and struck out three.  Those three strikeouts came in the eighth inning when Albert Ayala struck out the side.  Rick Asadoorian pitched the ninth against Newark and picked up his third save of the season.


Bears' starting pitcher; Victor Gonzalez picked up the loss.  In the third inning, Worcester touched him for three singles as he also uncorked a wild pitch that led to the Tornadoes' first run of the game.  He left the game after the sixth on the losing side of a 1-0 game.  Gonzalez struggled with control as he walked six batters and allowed five hits.


TJ Hose allowed Worcesters' only other run in relief of Victor Gonzalez in the seventh.


Only Newark's Paddy Matera was able size up Worcester's pitching in game two of the three game series.  Paddy was 2 for 3.  The meat of the batting order; Tim Raines Jr.; Daryle Ward; Danny Santiesteban; and Billy Alvino were a combined 1 for 12 against the Tornadoes.


The rubber game of this series is tonight.  They'll have an off day tomorrow before starting a series against Brockton back home in Newark.







Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ The Tom Seaver Trade; Then and Now

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET



NEW YORK METS:  A Happy Anniversary Out Of Left Field.

Today, Met Fans across METropolis commemorate the 34th anniversary of the day Tom Seaver was traded to the Cincinnati Reds.

In exchange for The Franchise, the Mets received Doug Flynn; Pat Zachry; Dan Norman; and a young left fielder named Steve Henderson; considered at the time to be the Reds' crown jewel.

Steve played 99 games for the Mets in 1977. 
In 350 at-bats that season:
67 ~ runs.
104 ~ hits.
16 ~ doubles.
6 ~ triples.
12 ~ home runs.
65 ~ rbi.
6 ~ stolen bases.
.480 ~ slugging avg..
.297 ~ batting avg.



Jason Bay has now played in 137 games for the New York Mets over two seasons.
In his 498 at-bats in a Met uniform:
68 ~ runs.
121 ~ hits.
24 ~ doubles.
6 ~ triples.
8 ~ home runs.
58 ~ rbi.
14 ~ stolen bases.
.338 ~ slugging avg.
.233 ~ batting avg.



Happy Anniversary everybody!





Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ Dillon Gee; Mets' Best Chance At .500 - Tonight

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET



New York Mets:  The Amazins Can Finally Reach The Long Elusive .500 Mark Tonight With Dillon Gee On The Mound And Give ALL Met Fans Something They Can Finally Agree On.

With a win over Atlanta Tuesday night, Jon Niese managed to push his personal won/loss record over .500, while earning his sixth win (6-5) of the season.  It also extended a string of brilliantly pitched games by the Mets' starting staff during the month of June.

Jon Niese pitched 6.1 innings; allowing 2 earned runs on five hits.  His best stat of the night? - No walks.  The kid threw 95 pitches and 63 of them went for strikes.  He had 4 strikeouts on the night and lowered his season ERA to 3.46 (and dropping).

The Mets have remained tantalizingly close to the .500 mark but haven't been able to seize it yet.  The number one reason why this team is even in a position to achieve such a stepping stone has been the starting pitching.  With a little more consistent offensive productivity, the Mets could very well be making an assault for the Wild Card.  But lets not digress.


This is something I said back on Memorial Day:

Dillon Gee gets the start today against Pittsburgh; a young team on the uptick and playing at a comparable winning percentage as the Mets.   Since Dillon Gee's first call up last season, he's done nothing but provide quality starts for the New York Mets.   He's 4-0 (3.83 era) since his call-up this season and 6-2 overall.

But what's important to me is that we begin to see, Jon Niese, Gee, and Mike Pelfrey start to double, and triple-up on victories.   If they are to be mainstays in a young Mets' rotation of the future (Sandy Alderson transactions aside) they need to start operating as a staff and not surrendering to their own little Private Idaho's.   Yea; that was a little cheap shot at Pelfrey.

But it's Dillon Gee who's stepped in several times and stopped losing streaks.   Jon Niese has pitched some hard luck games.   But Dillon Gee has pitched consistently.   I joked and tabbed him a Stopper once before.   Let's leave it at that.   The Mets won yesterday so he's not stopping anything today.   But what I do want this evening is a well pitched game by Dillon Gee to double up on Jon Niese's Sunday outing.

Consistent outings by these three pitchers will determine whether the official start of Summer ushers in Hot Times In The Citi, or, a fan base falling victim to heat and team exhaustion.

If they double-up and triple-up on good, quality starts, everything will be cool.

Well, the results since then have been phenomenal and everything is cool relatively speaking.  Mike Pelfery has had his good moments, and then some not so good moments.  The same can be said of Chris Capuano who's coming off a rather brilliant outing his last time on the hill. 


R.A. Dickey is losing some really tough games he's deserved to win.  He is now closer to being last year's pitcher than being the pitcher from this past April.


But what has transpired over the last month, is Dillon Gee and Jon Niese have developed into a fine one-two punch for the Mets.  They've been doubling-up each other's starts while the rest of the staff has been plugging in competitive outings. They have kept the Mets in virtually every game.  With injuries decimating the offense in yet another season, the starting pitching, and bullpen for that matter, are the reasons why this team hovers near success (key word there is near; this team is not a success story however much we are enjoying the moment).


The offense has proven resilient and resourceful.  They have a knack for scoring late in games.  And those are endearing qualities, but they just aren't robust enough.  They have their days, but consistent slugging has been lacking from this offense for some time now.  It's unfortunate.  But it's our reality.  And as a result, we continue to chase .500 like a carrot on a stick.


But I don't view that as bad news.  Mike Pelfrey strikes me as a bigger concern than the offense does.  We at least have an explanation for our offensive woes; outside of Jose Reyes that is.


I had this to say on June 2nd, regarding Mike Pelfrey, the Mets' staff, and the offense, that are all still relevant today:

I'm Not Breaking Out The Party Hats And Noise Makers After Today's Win.

.....Because Mike Pelfrey couldn't handle The PIRATES!

That's why I'm only playing marbles with Jon Niese and Dillon Gee for now.   I've been talking about our young pitchers learning how to be a staff instead of just being pitchers. I've been speaking about doubling-up and tripling-up on effective starts.   And when I mean our young staff, I speak directly to Niese, Gee and Mike Pelfrey.

R.A. Dickey, in spite of the Mets' implosion the other day, provided a stellar start within a sequence of good starts by the Mets and is starting to show more consistency himself.   If he pitched the way he did with a bad heel, then break his foot and he might throw the Mets' first ever no-hitter.   But he's not part of our young staff; not of the future anyway. But right now, yes, we'll take him, obviously; hands down.

Even in the Mets current situation, there's still a case to be made for stringing together quality starts and playing sound defense.   Timely hitting is third in the equation.   The Ol' Amazins proved that out once before.   But today, Mike Pelfrey is becoming problematic in that age old Met formula.   We have absolutely zero indication which direction his mind; pitching; season; and career will go at this point.   As if by choice, he remains an enigma.  Where are we with Mike Pelfrey?

He above all pitchers on the Mets was supposed to be taking a huge step forward this season.   There's foolish expectations; slim expectations; and then there are logical expectations.   Pelfrey fell into the latter and he's failing like a broken umbrella in a monsoon.

The Mets surged back to beat the Pirates this afternoon in dramatic fashion.   Whoo-Hoo! But Mike Pelfrey suffered another personal mind-blowing and debilitating loss.

Big Pelf did have a good start that he deserved to win last time out.  It didn't work out though.  But yes, as the Mets are proving, stringing together quality starts and playing sound defense will keep you competitive.  Timely hitting is third in the equation.


Frankie Rodriguez and Jose Reyes combined to make a winner of Jonathan Niese Tuesday night in Atlanta to put the pitcher over the .500 level.  Tonight against the Braves, Dillon Gee and his remarkable 7-0 record take the mound.  So tonight just might be the night the New York Mets finally get their hands around the neck of .500 and can squeeze it for all it's worth.


There's still a chance these players can convince Sandy Alderson this team is worth salvaging.  You have to speak fairly regarding the situation the Met fans are in.  METropolis is a house divided between the those who detest the idea of trading Wright and Reyes, and those waiting around for the final demolition of the House Of Minaya.


I myself, do not think Sandy Alderson came on board to piggy-back nor promulgate the Omar Minaya Treatise on Met Baseball.  We all know this is still Omar's team on the field and coming through the farm system. 


Which ever side of the fence you're on, everything going on in METropolis lends itself to a completely bizarre season for Met fans who clamoured for change in our Front Office and Management, and got it.  Then we found out our Ownership's situation was more dire than anyone initially realized causing to bring into question the Mets' ability to retain some our most favorite players.  Our most reliable player over the years; David Wright; has been lost to a bad back for a still undetermined time.  The snake bite of this season starts there..., in what has been a series of snake-bitten years for the Mets and their fans.


This year, we've been chasing that confounded .500 mark like a junk-yard dog chasing down a stray cat through a fence.  But it has been a fun journey through 2011 when you ask most Met fans.  So like I said, how bizarre.


Dillon Gee will try and pitch well enough so as to provide the Mets' offense with a good chance to outscore the Braves in Atlanta tonight.  Should our newest Met hero come through and the offense obliges, then this dog will finally have a day ALL Met fans can celebrate before the uncertainty of the future grips us all again.


Let's Go Mets!!!

TONIGHT

NEW YORK METS

(SP- DILLON GEE)

vs.

Atlanta Braves

(SP - Tim Hudson)

From somewhere below the Mason/Dixon Line

Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ The Night The Impossible Happened; Seaver Traded

From the Desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET


NEW YORK METS:  June 15, 1977; the Day The Mets Traded Tom Seaver.


The memory of that day is still too painful; even now, a full 34 years after the fact.  I was 11 years old.


More so than the trades of Rusty Staub and Tug McGraw, the trade of Tom Seaver wounded me like no other occurrence in Mets' history.  That, and having to endure my favorite Met; Jerry Koosman; suffer through a 20-loss season were more than an 11 year old should have been made to suffer.

Oh the pain!

When the Mets announced they'd let Met fans purchase bricks to be placed in front of Citi Field, my wife the Yankee fan, wanted to get me one.  As a joke I told her to get "1977 Still Hurts!" inscribed on it.  But the more I thought about what I had actually said, the quicker I came to the decision to let it rip!  I may have been mad at the time about Fred Wilpon's shrine to the Dodgers.  But something during those days triggered that 1977 response from me.

It might stand as the only negative speaking brick in the lot, but I do not regret my decision to let it fly.  I'd even bet that many Met fans my age or there abouts, stumbles across it from time to time and nods quietly to him/herself in acknowledgement of not only the trade, but that whole season; and the ensuing era.

If you're a glutton for punishment, (like I am), and want to see and relive parts of that Summer of '77 - Visit:

Mets Police and 

Mike Silva's Baseball Digest.

They are the leads in today's commemoration of this fateful anniversary in Mets' history.  And having been reminded of that day, instead of throwing my brick through my TV, I figured I show it to you first.

Let's Go Mets!!

Mike.BTB

BKN CYCLONES ~ 2011 Roster Starting To Take Shape

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS


BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Organization Goes Off Campus For Brooklyn's New Manager. 

Old Favorite Frankie-V Will Teach Brooklyn's Hurlers The Art Of Making SWEET MUSIC Together.


The 2011 Cyclones' manager will be Rich Donnelly.  He is new to the Mets organization but comes on board with over three decades of Baseball coaching experience.  He's a graduate of the Jim Leyland School of Thought having spent 14 years coaching under him with three different teams.


This year's Pitching Coach; Frank Viola; will try and see if he can get Brooklyn's young arms to make Sweet Music of their own.  The Long Island native returns to the organization he pitched with from 1989 through 1991.  He won twenty games for the Amazins in 1990.

Hitting Coach; former Cyclone player; Bobby Malek was a 2002 4th round Mets' draft pick.  He played 28 games for Brooklyn in 2002 and 3 more games for them in 2006.  He spent the last two seasons working for the Mets in Kingsport.  Therefore he will have a lot of familiarity with several of the up-coming Surf Avenue Sluggers expected to make the team.


With the First Year Amateur Draft out of the way.  The Cyclones' roster is finally taking form.  The Brooklyn Cyclones have issued a preliminary roster as/of June 14, 2011.


View that here:  Tentative Brooklyn Cyclones' Roster


We know who the starting pitchers will be for the first two games of the season against the Staten Island Yankees.  To open the season in Staten Island, Brooklyn will start with righty, Eduardo Aldama on the mound.  In Saturday's Coney Island Home Opener, the Cyclones will go with lefty, Carlos Vasquez.






Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Mike Loree Emerges As Atlantic League's Best Hurler

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Long Island Ducks:  Mike Loree Continues His Domination of the Atlantic League.  Ducks Add A Full Game To Their First Place Lead.



In Lancaster, Ducks' hurler Mike Loree added another sparkling start to his 2011 resume as Long Island won the first game of a three game series against the Barnstormers by a final score of 5-3.


J.R. House homered for Long Island in the 5th inning for the first run of the game.  Kennard Jones and Ray Navarrete starting things off for the Ducks in the 6th with back-to-back lead-off singles.  Javier Colina and John Rodriguez drove them in with another pair of consecutive singles to put Long Island ahead 3-0 after six full innings.


Tying his longest start of the season, Mike Loree came out to pitch the seventh and faced three batters.  After a lead-off single and a fly out to center field, Mike Loree hit the next batter.  That prompted a visit from Coach Baez who made a move to the bullpen calling on Jeremy Hill for relief.  The Barnstormers loaded the bases against Hill, and brought a run home with a sac fly to break the shut-out.  That run was charged to Loree.  Jeremy Hill kept the Ducks out of further trouble by striking out the next batter for out number three.


Long Island picked up two insurance runs in the top of the eighth with a two out rally.  John Rodriguez drew a walk.  He scored on Matt Esquivel's double.  The next Ducks' batter, Matt Padget drove Esquivel home with a single upping Long Island's lead; 5-1.



Jeremy Hill pitched himself into trouble in the bottom of the eighth inning by allowing the first two batters to reach base with no outs.  After getting one out, Jeremy surrendered a single allowing Lancaster to plate their second run.  Lancaster's park helped the Ducks when it held a Terry Tiffee (DH-Lancaster) blast from leaving the park.  The Barnstormers were held to one run scoring on that blast off the wall but the spread on the scoreboard was closing.


Coach Baez made his way to the mound again and gave Jeremy Hill the hook with the score at 5-3.
Ehren Wasserman was called in by Coach to get the Ducks out of this jam.  Wasserman got the second out of the inning by striking out his first batter.  Wasserman completed the job by inducing the next batter into a ground out to short.


Ducks' closer, Bubbie Buzachero, was called upon to close the ninth inning.


Give the bullpen credit tonight even though they made things very interesting.  Jeremy Hill pitched the Ducks out of Mike Loree's jam in the seventh.  Ehren Wasserman got them out of Jeremy Hill's jam in the eighth.  And Buzachero made things most interesting of all.  After getting the first two outs, he allowed the next two batters to get on base.  That brought the potential winning run to the plate.  Javier Colina had trouble handling a blast to short, but composed himself to record the last out of the game and preserving a well pitched game by Mike Loree.  Mr. Excitement; Bubbie Buzachero; managed his 8th save of the season.



MIKE LOREE's LINE:
6.1 ~ innings pitched
3 ~ hits.
1 ~ run.
2 ~ walks.
9 ~ strikeouts.

SEASON RECORD: 
6 wins;  1 loss



Tonight's effort by Mike Loree now ties him for the CanAm League lead in wins with six while also lowering his already League leading ERA from 2.25 down to 2.18.  After nine strikeouts tonight, he now has 48 for the season which also now places him first in the Atlantic League.  A tremendous start to a season for a guy cashing in on a second chance continues.


Long Island and South Maryland started Tuesday evening with the Ducks in front by a mere half game.  Tonight's win coupled with the South Maryland Blue Crabs' loss to Camden increases Long Island's first place lead in the Liberty Division to 1.5 games. 



This was Long Island's third consecutive win.  They are 8-2 in their last ten games.



Bridgeport fell to 4 games back in the standings and are losing a rain delayed game 4-2 to the Road Warriors in the sixth inning as of this post time.







Mike.BTB

N.Y. GIANTS ~ Lack of Plax Was Never Really Eli's Problem

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS:  Eli and Plaxico Burress Flourished Together.  But Eli's Struggles Were Never Due To Plaxico's Absence from The Team.



The fact that Coach Tom Coughlin and Plaxico Burress didn't get along all that well is not new.  We knew that while Plax was still here and getting fined on a weekly basis.  And now that Plaxico Burress has completed his judge ordered time-out from Football, all speculation as to what team he'll wind up with have begun in earnest.



As a Giants fan, would I welcome him back?  Sure.  But I don't think he'd be our best receiver anymore.  I don't think we have a terrible need at receiver that we should go in hot pursuit of Plax.  We have talent there.  The Club has said they're open minded to whatever makes the team better.  But if Coach Coughlin has a say, he'll most likely wind up playing somewhere else.  And good luck to him.



Here's the part of the Plaxico Burress discussion that compelled me to jump in with my two cents today.  Many are saying Eli Manning has never been better than when he and Plax joined forces.  They point to that 2007 Super Bowl and the way Eli and Plax dominated the Packers in the Championship Game.



That's fair; very fair.



Arguments making a direct correlation between Plaxico's ability to haul-in less than stellar passes from Eli because of his height; then his absence from the team; followed by Eli's dramatic spike in interceptions have been attempted and have many in the Media and fans convinced of it.


I'll agree with that observation only to a point; and to a limited point at that. 


Chris Palmer was hired to be the New York Giants Quarterback Coach in January of 2007.  He and Tom Coughlin worked together in Jacksonville.  And I believe he more than Plaxico, was highly instrumental in Eli's surge in improvement during that Super Bowl season.


Due to not having Plax on the roster, Jerry Reese quickly rebuilt the wide receiver corps.  But last season, although the unit as a whole remained remained effective, they suffered through the season in a state of constant injury.  Coincidentally, prior to last season, in January of 2010, Chris Palmer retired from the Giants three years after being hired.


It was later reported Chris Palmer left the Giants in a contract dispute over clauses allowing him to interview for Offensive Coordinator positions in the League.  So, he left the Giants to pursue other career paths.  The Giants promoted their Wide Recievers' Coach; Mike Sullivan to the position of Quarterbacks Coach as a result.  And Eli's troubles began. 


Not having Plaxico Burress around was a small to minimal part of Eli's problems last season.



Mike.BTB

NEWARK BEARS ~ Find Worcester To Their Liking

From the desk of:  GROWLINGS FROM BROOKLYN

Newark Bears:  Brick City Nine Gain Victory In First Trip To Worcester.


FINAL:
Newark Bears 6;  Worcester Tornadoes 2

Pitching!

Pitching; pitching; pitching.  Thank you!  Good night Worcester.

Well..., basically.



Aaron Kalb won his first game in two tries as the Bears gained victory over the Tornadoes in Newark's first ever trip to Worcester.  It was the Bears, behind seven strong innings pitched by Kalb, who blew into Worcester and disturbed the Massachusetts night.  Kyle Morrison relieved Kalb with two innings of scoreless work.


Aaron Kalb's Line:
7 ~ innings.
5 ~ hits.
2 ~ runs; earned.
2 ~ walks.
4 ~ strikeouts.

Kyle Morrison; relief:
2 ~ innings.
1 ~ hit.
0 ~ runs.
1 ~ walk.
2 ~ strikeouts.


Brandon Watson led-off the game for Newark with a single.  Number two hitter, Kyle LaMotta, then lost an 0-2 pitch over the wall for a two run home run.  Worcester came back with a pair of runs in the third to tie the game at two.


Billy Alvino scored on a Paddy Materra sac fly in the fourth inning for the go ahead run, and a lead the Bears would keep.


For good measure, the Bears put together a three run rally in the fifth inning.  Consecutive singles by Raines Jr, Ward, and Santiesteban plated one run when Raines scored on Santiesteban's hit.  A ruinous error by Worcester's shortstop; Boomer Blanchard; allowed both Daryle Ward and Danny Santiesteban to score.  That made it a 6-2 game.  The Bears' pitching took care of the rest.


Danny Santiesteban's RBI was his 17th, and places him second behind teammate Tim Raines Jr.'s 21 for the League lead.


The Bears are now 8-2 in their last ten games.  They improved their season record Monday night to
12-6 which places them a game behind Quebec as the League's best.


The Quebec Capitales, at 12-4, have as many wins as the Bears but with two less losses.  They are also winners of eight out of their last ten games, and are riding a four game win streak.  They were inactive Monday.

Game two of this three game series between the Bears and Tornadoes is Tuesday night.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ Brooklyn To Flushing; Cyclones Abound

From the desks of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET and the SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

NEW YORK METS:  The Pipeline From Brooklyn Is Serving Flushing Well.


In 2007, the Brooklyn Cyclones dominated the New York-Penn League's McNamara Division from start to finish.  The Cyclones by the Sea Shore enjoyed one of their finest seasons ever in their decade long history as they rolled to a 49-25 record and a fourth division title.

Dillon Gee was on that pitching staff.  In eleven starts for Brooklyn, he achieved a 3-1 record while sporting the League's sixth best ERA with a 2.47 mark.  In sixty-two innings pitched that season, he allowed seventeen earned runs and gave up fifty-seven hits and only one of those hits was a home run.  He walked a mere nine batters while compiling fifty-six strikeouts.

In 2011, it's now well documented how Dillon Gee is currently anchoring the Mets' staff after not coming north with the team out of Spring Training.  The plan for him was another season at Buffalo.  But then Chris Young was lost for the season with re-occurring arm injuries and Gee was called upon to step in.  But he didn't just step-in; he emerged as the unlikely new leader of the Mets' staff.

What he's accomplished so far is nothing short of remarkable; unless you're someone like me who was privy to his talents a few years ago in my backyard by the beach.  Because then, if you're a Cyclones fan like I am, you would have been eagerly anticipating his arrival on the Big Club after watching him progress through the Mets' system.

Just as in 2007 when he had 62 innings pitched for Brooklyn, he is now at the 62 innings pitched portion of his Rookie Season.  The similarities are striking.


Dillon Gee's 2011 Season:
7-0 record.
62 ~ innings pitched.
48 ~ hits.
21 ~ earned runs.
2 ~ home runs!
20 ~ walks
44 ~ strikeouts.

Aside from his win/loss record, which no one could have anticipated, Cyclone fans have known full well, Dillon Gee's walks have been a little high since being called up.  And I took an early note of that.  But again, that's because I'm familiar.  But he seems to have corrected that aspect of his game in recent starts and his walks-to-strikeouts should start taking a near dramatic turn for the better.  Just watch, I say. 


For me personally, Dillon Gee's rookie season reminds me a lot of his 2007 season in Brooklyn.  But he wasn't the ACE of the staff that season.  That distinction belonged to Dylan Owen.  He completely dominated opposing batsmen that year.  In thirteen starts, Dylan led the New York-Penn League with nine wins while also sporting the League's best ERA; a 1.49 mark.  In seventy-two innings pitched, he allowed fifty-one hits and only twelve earned runs.  He walked twelve batters and struck out sixty-nine.


But Dylan's ascension through the Mets' farm system has been a bit more bumpy than Gee's.  His strikeouts to innings pitched has remained strong, but at the AA and AAA levels, he's become far more hittable since his days in Brooklyn.


The Dillon and Dylan Show were supposed to make their MLB debut together; just like when they pitched in Brooklyn.  But Dillon Gee was also called up at the end of last season.  And so he's separated himself from Dylan in a sense; not just by an eight hour car ride to Buffalo, but in ability.


Met fans can expect Dylan Owen in Spring Training next season and hopefully making the Big Club.  And I'm hopeful he'll be closer to the pitcher I remember pitching in Brooklyn during that sensational 2007 season, than the pitcher making a start tonight for the Buffalo Bisons. 


Dylan Owen is a combined (Binghampton and Buffalo) 3-3 on the season so far.  But he's sporting an alarming 5.26 ERA.  Tonight against the Columbus Clippers, Dylan Owen was knocked out of the game after only 4.2 innings pitched.  He walked six Clippers while giving up three earned runs.  And so, when compared to Dillon Gee, Owen's more perilous journey through the Mets' Minors continues.


Dylan was considered the prospect with more potential.  He was the power pitcher; Gee not so much.  These days, Dylan Owen struggles while Dillon Gee is flourishing with his opportunity to pitch in the Bigs.  I still have high hopes for Dylan Owen; very high hopes.  I also have very sweet memories of him pitching during that 2007 season.  Another full year at Buffalo will serve the youngster well.


There will always be special bonds between Brooklyn fans and their former Cyclones; especially as they make their way through the system and onto the Big Club.  I even still felt an attachment to Angel Pagan after we traded him to Chicago back when.  And that 2007 season, although it did not end in a championship for Brooklyn, stays with us as one of the most memorable summers spent by the Boardwalk.


Lucas Duda was also a member of those 2007 Surf Avenue Sluggers.  In sixty-seven games played, he batted .299 that season.  With 234 at-bats, he amassed twenty doubles; four home runs; and thirty-two RBI.  Earlier this season, he was tearing up AAA-Buffalo before his most recent call up.  Like other former Cyclones before him, he is a familiar and most welcome sight.


The Brooklyn Cyclones open their eleventh season this Friday night against their cross-city rival; the Staten Island Yankees.  And so right off the bat, we'll be treated to the first installment of the Battle of the Boroughs.  Saturday will be Brooklyn's home opener.  I'm excited to see what my 2011 Baby Bums will look like this season.  Every year is different at A-level.  But every season brings with it, a little glimpse of the future.


For some of those 2007 Brooklyn Cyclones, like the ones mentioned above, their 2007 future and that of the Mets is now.  Dillon Gee is becoming one of the biggest stories in Baseball this season and is building a serious case to pitch in the All-Star Game.  Lucas Duda is trying to add some much needed slugging to an, at times, anaemic offense.  And I wish them all well.


So from the beaches of Brooklyn, another summer of Cyclones' Baseball is upon us.  And to that I say, "Play Ball!"


And to all my former Cyclone favorites and Amazin's of today I say, "Let's Go Mets!"






Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Keep Their Slim Lead Over Hot Crabs

From the desk of:  WADDLING AROUND BROOKLYN


Long Island Ducks:  Win Rubber Game Against Bluefish.  But Blue Crabs Won't Go Away.

Long Island took the rubber game in their series against Bridgeport.  The problem is, South Maryland hasn't gone away yet.  They stayed in second place behind the Ducks by a mere half game even after losing their two top hitters to the Mexican League last week.  But that hasn't stopped the Blue Crabs from winning their last six games in a row to keep pressure on first place Long Island.  Sunday, they shut-out the York Revolution 3-0.


In the rubber game against Bridgeport, Ray Navarrete hit his seventh home run of the season in the third inning to give the Ducks a 2-0 lead.  The Bluefish got one back in the bottom half.  Then in the seventh, Ray skied a sacrifice fly to right scoring Dan Lyons from third base for his third RBI of the game.  The Ducks won by a final score of 4-2. 

Shane Youman picked up his first win of the season in relief of Heath Phillips, who left the game after five innings with the score tied at two.  Youman pitched two innings, allowing only a walk while striking out two.  Bubbie Buzachero pitched the ninth inning for his seventh save.


No games are scheduled for Monday.  Tuesday the Ducks start a three game series in Lancaster.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ A Likeable Team During Strange Times

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

New York Mets: Anxiety, Thy Name Is Jose Reyes.


Saturday's game was another chance to be a .500 team again.  But like times before during this season, the Mets got close only to let it slide just out of their reach.  And that's the way things have gone for this team; Good; but not good enough.  We're playing like a .500 team.  But we're just a game short (after Sunday's win).  We might achieve that win that gets us to .500 tomorrow.  But then that would make us just that, a .500 team.  And that's exactly what I thought we'd be since Spring Training.  I think you know that if you read me.


Unlike our most recent years past, I'm having more fun watching this edition, than say...the last two years?  I think we (..us Met fans) all feel similarly.  Changes in the Front Office; at manager; and several players on the current roster have all contributed to give this season a wholly different feel than ones we've been subjected to in the recent past.


But; yes, there is always a but; I compartmentalize.  So, while I'm enjoying the team's tenacity and the chances our starting pitchers have been giving this team to win, I am a stickler for adhering to The Plan. 


Yes, The Plan.  We all knew what The Plan was coming into this season and we all knew why we were in the position we found ourselves in.  I'm not going to try and beat you down tonight with opinions I've shared many times before.  But because I can't totally walk away without saying anything, I'll only say this tonight:


I won't be teased again.


Now, having said that, this season, I live in the moment with this team while I keep an eye on said Plan.  ........As such, R.A. Dickey was a hard luck loser again Saturday.   His eight inning effort should have, for all intent and purpose, earned him a win.   But the Mets' offense hasn't been that kind at times.   And against the Pirates, attribute the Mets' 3-2 loss due to going 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.  I'd feel better if it wasn't the Pirates.   But Baseball is like that.   Otherwise, for yet another game, not just Dickey, but the staff as a whole pumped out another competitive start.


Then Sunday, the Mets had the kind of rebound game that keeps them on our good sides.  And it was Chris Capuano this time, who pitched-in with his fifth-share effort as a member of the New York Mets pitching staff.  And what an effort it was.



Chris Capuano's Line:
7 ~ innings.
95 pitches; 62 strikes.
3 ~ hits.
0 ~ runs.
2 ~ walks.
5 ~ strikeouts.


Capuano, Izzy, and Bobby Parnell combined to shut-out the Pirates.  Only this time, the Mets offense gave the staff seven runs to work with after pounding out twelve hits. 


Watching him hit a home run today, it's disturbing to think about Jose Reyes' future not wearing a Mets' uniform.  And today we stand closer to having his Met future determined one way or another than we did on Opening Day.  Only with great anxiety can we enjoy this great season he's having.   He stepped up to the plate in Pittsburgh this afternoon and just continued to rake; like he has all year long to the tune now of a .346 batting average.


What a bizarre situation we fans find ourselves in with regard to the greatest shortstop this organization has ever known and/or groomed.  How is it that Jose Reyes chose to have The Best of Times, during the organization's Worst of Times?  How did the timing of Jose Reyes' final emergence as a star and the downturn in organizational stability so diabolically work against us?  It's disheartening.  I share that with most of you.  But; yea, there's always that but....


We don't know what will happen with Reyes.  But we are getting closer to finding out.  In the mean time, he helped us get to within a game of .500 again.  And despite growing anxiety as July looms closer, perhaps the Mets can attain that elusive .500 mark on Monday in Pittsburgh, and make being a Met fan fun for another day running, back here in METropolis.


Let's Go Mets!








Mike.BTB