Newark Bears ~ Worcester Tornadoes Rip Through The Den

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY NINE

NEWARK BEARS: Series Against Worcester Tied 1-1.

Game One:  Monday Final - Bears 4;  Tornadoes 3

Newark's DH; Kyle LaMotta; drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday night in the first game of a four game series against the visiting Worcester Tornadoes.

Anthony Pluta got the win in relief as Coach Raines used four Bears' pitchers to eek out a win.  Aaron Kalb started for Newark and lasted 5.1 innings.  He gave up six hits and all three of Worcester's earned runs.  He walked four and struck out four along the way.

The bullpen took over for Newark and turned in a stellar effort.  Chris Collins was called on first.  He turned in 1.2 innings and gave up one hit.  Second out of the pen was Matt Fitton.  In 1.1 innings, he gave up a walk; one hit; and pounded the catcher's mitt with three strikeouts.  Anthony Pluta closed it out and earned a win as the beneficiary of Kyle LaMotta's game winning hit.

Game Two:  Tuesday Final - Tornadoes 10;  Bears 4

Starting pitcher Alex Smith and the Bears suffered a calamitous first inning against Worcester.  Three errors; two walks; and three hits all led to an quick 5-0 deficit.  Only one Tornado run was earned.  And after only two innings pitched, it was off to the showers for Smith.

Recently signed shortstop; Juan Martinez (Jeff Toth was released); committed two of the Bears' errors while right fielder Danny Santiesteban committed the third Newark miscue of the inning with an errant throw.


Over the third and fourth innings, things just proceeded to get worse for Newark.  Three more runs came across the plate for a 8-0 Worcester lead.  Eric Eden was summoned to pitch in the third inning as Coach Raines made an early call to the bullpen.  And Eric fared little better.  He pitched 4.1 innings and allowed Worcester another five runs on eight hits. 


Last night's winning pitcher; Anthony Pluta; was then called upon to take over in the seventh.  But the Bears were behind 10-3 by then and had committed six errors in the game.  Pluta pitched a scoreless eighth.  Mikey Mehlich was tasked with the ninth inning as the third reliever used by Coach Raines.  He served up a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.


Worcester starting pitcher; Ryan Bicondoa cruised, but ran out of gas in the fifth inning.  After getting the first two outs, he allowed three straight singles before walking Danny Santiesteban with the bases loaded for the Bears' first run of the game.  Over his first four innings however, he struck out nine Newark batters, while allowing only three hits and two walks.


The Tornado bullpen picked up where Bicondoa left off.  Worcesters' relievers struck out another six batters in wrapping up the second game of this four game series; knotting things up at a game apiece.  Danny Santiesteban was ejected after striking out looking for the second out of the ninth inning.


Fifteen hits and six errors; you can't win like that.  And that's the kind of game it was for the Bears; frustrating.


The Brockton Rox defeated the Rockland Boulders tonight, and coupled with the Bears loss, means the two teams are tied again for second place overall in the CanAm League with 15-10 records respectively.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. COSMOS ~ ...Spotted In Brooklyn

NEW YORK COSMOS

Bedford Avenue and Grand Street: Wall Mural

 

 

 

Mural Credit:

Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Mike Parisi Loses Strong Start To Camden

From the desk of:  WEBBED INSANITY


Long Island Ducks:  Camden Takes First Game Of Series; Deny Mike Parisi A Win After Fine Effort.

Mike Loree and Mike Parisi continue to provide the Ducks with a formidable combination at the top of the rotation.  And although he took a tough loss last night against the Camden Riversharks, Mike Parisi still pitched a gem.

Mike Parisi's Line:
8 ~ innings.
8 ~ hits.
2 ~ runs/ 1 earned.
1 ~ walk.
9 ~ strikeouts.


Long Island scored one run in the second inning.  Camden scored an unearned run in the third inning in what turned out to be a costly error by Ray Navarrete at second base.  And that's the way the game stayed through the seventh inning.  In the eighth inning, Camden rallied against Parisi with a clean double and single to go ahead by one. 


The Ducks could muster nothing more than their lone run against Camden starter; Josh Towers.  He kept the potent Long Island offense relatively quiet; surrendering eight hits; one run; and one walk through eight innings pitched.




Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ 2011 Season Ticking Like A Time-Bomb

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET



NEW YORK METS:  The General Manager Has Punched In.  Now Everyone Is On The Clock.

Meanwhile....  Back at Mets R Us; Day Manager; Lil' Jeff (Wilpon) said Sandy Alderson is free to sign players as he sees fit without any restrictions.


Right.


Now, we can take that either one of two ways.  The choices are take his words at face value, or, think to yourself - We heard that line before.  Jeff Wilpon has been spinning that line on us for three years now.  I can knit a sweater from the string of Jeff Wilpon re-assurances that the team was in a position to spend money.


How's this...., because I really don't care to get into The Saul B. Katz Dilemma in depth today.  The way I see it, the Mets have $7.5 million spare dollars to spend on an acquisition should they find themselves in realistic contention for the Wild Card in about five weeks from now.  In the absence of contention, there is a very distinct possibility the Age of Wilponianism may finally come to an end after nine years.  Sandy Alderson came in to replace the 30 year string of in-house Front Office executives.  And as a GM, he is now OFFICIALLY on the clock, and I hardly think he agreed to come here only to pick-up where Omar Minaya left off.


How did I arrive at that $7.5 million dollar number?  Sandy Alderson scoffed at the notion the Mets would substantially increase payroll this coming deadline.  To paraphrase, he flatly said adding $15 million dollars was basically out of the question.  I factored in Son of Pon's obligatory pitch to supply Sandy with ample Jeffery Dollars and then decided to cut Sandy's $15 million dollar number in half.  I don't think they'd even add ten million.  No, not the Wilpons; I mean Sandy.


The GM basically said the next five and six weeks will decide most matters and that signing Jose Reyes was largely unrelated to the Mets being in contention come July.  With Jose, it's more a matter of the Mets' ability to ante up than it hinging on the Mets' position in the standings.


And so New York Mets, you're officially on the clock now.  Or should I say we're all sitting on a ticking time-bomb.  Either way, your General Manager has spoken.  And it's all in the uniformed members of this club's hands between now and the dead-line to change minds and keep that bomb from going off.


Dillon Gee will try and get the Mets headed back in the direction of .500 again.  His mound-mate Jon Niese, had a rough go of it last time out.  But now we ask Dillon to truly be a stopper tonight and straighten the ship after the Angels came to CITI and took two of three games.  Dillon Gee is 7-0 this season, and now for really the first time, we desperately need a win from of our new Ace.  It's an unfortunate position for Gee to be in; considering the absence of Johan Santana and the underachieving Mike Pelfrey.  But as of yesterday, the GM declared from the golf course, the team could either land in the rough in a few weeks, or land on the green.  He said it's up to them.  That means tonight it's up to Gee and whatever offense we can scrape together for him.


If this team ever needed to pull together; for need of pure self-preservation; they need to have their kumbaya moment really, really soon.  A .500 record is two games away; the Wild Card is a little farther than that.  But somehow, the trade-deadline is closer than we think.  Today is Day One for a great many things regarding METropolis. 


So, in a sense, after an off-day, the Mets will re-launch their season today in the hopes of staving off a shut-down next month.



Let's Go Mets!






Mike.BTB

BKN CYCLONES ~ Angel Pagan Receives Ultimate Honor

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

Brooklyn Cyclones:  ANGEL PAGAN Bobble Head Day

#35 is one of three Cyclone players to have their number retired.

On an off day for the New York Mets, the Brooklyn Cyclones brought back one of their earliest heroes.  Angel Pagan returned home today, in a manner of speaking.  He was the center fielder in the Inaugural Season of the Brooklyn Cyclones back in 2001 and was an integral part of that Championship team.  As a 19 year old, he batted .314 for those Sensations by the Seashore.


Angel Pagan, and that 2001 team had us at hello.  Baseball was Back In Brooklyn and in exchange, we gave them our famous Brooklyn Fan Loyalty and Devotion.


They say you haven't really made it until you have a bobble head made in your honor.  So, the Cyclones finally presented Angel Pagan with his.

Kevin Burkhardt and Bobby Ojeda were on hand to call the game for SNY.   After leaving field level, the two made their way up to the broadcast booth right next to the Catbird Seat, where Warner Fusselle would be calling the game for Brooklynites over the radio.

 

 

 

The First Pitch would be thrown out by the evening's Guest of Honor; Angel Pagan.  He received a hearty and warm ovation from the near capacity crowd which was still filing in.

 

* * * * * * * * *

 

Another packed house watched the Brooklyn Cyclones defeat the Aberdeen Iron Birds.

FINAL

Iron Birds      4

CYCLONES  5

3-1  First Place; McNamara Division

 

From over the right field fence, the breeze blowing in off the Atlantic Ocean kept temperatures in the 70's making another night of Baseball By The Beach........Glorious.

Mike.BTB

BKN CYCLONES ~ Staten Island; Phil Hughes Bow To Brooklyn

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Bronx Bomber Phil Hughes Not Enough For Staten Island.  Coney Island Nine Take Rubber Game In First Meeting In The Battle Of The Boroughs.



The Staten Island Yankees needed Bomber's starter Phil Hughes, who's on rehab from the Bronx, to help get them out to an early two run lead against Brooklyn in the rubber game of their respective 2011 Opening Day Series.


The Lil' Spankees were feeling pretty good about themselves as Phil Hughes manhandled the Cyclones over his first four innings of work.  He walked one and gave up two hits to that point, but struck out seven Bums.  You might say his rehab was going pretty well today.


The Staten Islanders sent Phil Hughes out for the fifth inning.  That's when the catcher for the Surf Avenue Sluggers; Nelfi Zapata, who hails from the Bronx himself; stepped up and deposited the Major Leaguer's one out offering over the wall in left for a solo home run.  And with that blast, Phil Hughes' work was done for the day.


And so was the Staten Island Yankees' day for that matter.  With their Major League loan out of the game, the Cyclones went to work against the Yankees' bullpen; and more specifically Yankees' reliever; Wilton Rodriguez.  Over the next 2.2 innings, the Cyclones touched him for five hits and four runs.


The Cyclones grabbed their first lead of the afternoon in the sixth inning.  Ismael Tijerina doubled to to lead-off.  He advanced to third base and scored on a Richard Lucas sac-fly to center field.  Luke Stewart singled and moved to second when Juan Torres was hit by a pitch.  Travis Taijeron then singled home Stewart for a 2-1 Brooklyn lead.


The Yankees picked up a run in the top half of the seventh.  In the bottom half, Brooklyn added two more runs when Javier Rodriguez came through with a single off the second baseman scoring runners from second and third, giving the Cyclones a 5-3 lead they'd keep.


Brooklyn starter; Jeffrey Walters; handed in a representative effort.  In 4.1 innings, he allowed two hits and two runs (both earned).  He walked two and struck out four pitching to a no-decision.


Three Cyclone relievers kept the Yankees quiet the rest of the way.  Guillaume Leduc relieved Walters with 1.1 innings; two hits; and two strikeouts.  Today's winning pitcher; Hunter Carnevale; pitched two innings, allowing 2 hits and an unearned run while striking out four.  T.J. Chism closed things out for the Cyclones pitching the ninth inning.  In recording his first save of the season, he gave up a hit and struck out one.


7, 966 fans packed the park tonight.

MONDAY

June 20, 2011

Angel Pagan Bobble Head Night

Pagan is scheduled to throw out the First Pitch.

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

vs.

Aberdeen Iron Birds

From Surf Avenue, Coney Island

 

See You There!

Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Mike Loree Blasts By The Road Warriors

From the desk of:  WEBBED SPIKES


LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Sweep Series; Up Division Lead to 3.5 Games.  Now Waiting For Sharks To Enter The Pond.


Starting Pitcher MIKE LOREE Adds To Already Impressive Numbers.

In sun splashed Bethpage Park, the Atlantic League's top hurler breezed by the Road Warriors today with the top down.  Ducks' starting pitcher Mike Loree picked up where he left off in his last start which was a three hit, nine strikeout win over Lancaster that upped his record to 6-1.

Today, he followed up that performance with another equally strong outing. 


Mike Loree posted seven rather dominant innings in allowing the Road Warriors a scant 3 hits on the day, while striking out another nine batters, against only one walk.  He now leads the Atlantic League with seven wins versus only one loss.  His League leading ERA dropped from 2.12 to 1.82 after today's game. 


He upped his League high 48 strikeouts to 57 with his second straight 9-K performance.  In his last two appearances against the Road Warriors, he struck out 19 batters.  Ten of those came in his last outing against them four starts ago.  Over those last four starts, he has 30 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched.


The Ducks gave Loree a 1-0 lead in the first inning off a Ray Navarrete double and a single by Matt Padgett to drive Ray home.  In the second, Long Island picked up two more.  Kraig Binick was hit by a pitch.  Dan Lyons drove him home with an RBI triple to right.  Then Kennard Jones singled to knock in Lyons for a 3-1 Ducks lead.


In the home fourth, Kennard Jones hit his own triple to right.  Ray Navarrete; who was 3 for 5 for the game; drove Jones home with a single. 


Two more runs in the seventh inning and this game was a wrap.  An RBI single by Freddie Thon and a Dan Lyons' RBI single capped off Long Islands' Father's Day win and series sweep over the Road Warriors.


Jeremy Hill and Bob Zimmermann pitched a scoreless inning each in relief of Mike Loree to finish the game. 


For the Ducks', this was their division leading twenty-ninth win versus fifteen losses.  The South Maryland Blue Crabs lost another game to the Somerset Patriots today by a score of 11-6 which drops them 3.5 games behind the Ducks now.  Bridgeport, whom I thought would leapfrog over the Crabs remain six games back of Long Island; hovering around .500 with a 23-21 record.


Now winners of their last three games, the Ducks host a series against the Liberty Division's last place club; Camden River Sharks starting Monday evening.







Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Ninth Inning Win On Father's Day

From the desk of:  The Brick City Sluggers


NEWARK BEARS:  Paddy Matera Delivers A Ninth Inning Single To Salvage Game Three In Series Against Brockton Rox.


On Riverfront Stadium -

"Just about any ball hit in the air can leave the park at any time!" - in 7th inning.

That quip came later in the game.  Earlier, my new favorite announcer took exception with the Bears' bullpen.  Not their pitchers; he had a problem with not knowing who was warming up for the Bears at any given time because in Riverfront Stadium, the bullpen is "completely obscured" from view.


He didn't start in on the bullpen pitchers till the eighth when he began questioning how long Tim Raines Sr. was leaving Anthony Pluta in the game during a 6-6 game (at the time).

"He's known to do anything at anytime...."

"No sign of Tim Raines from the Newark dugout."

But he got a few things right today.  Tim Raines Sr. allowed Brockton to retake the lead at 7-6; and Newark killed themselves with sloppy fielding.


Newark got on the board right away. Tim Raines Jr. doubled in the first inning with two outs and Daryle Ward drove him home with a single.   But Brockton scored a run in the second to tie things at one.


In the third inning, Daryle Ward doubled with the bases loaded, delivering two more Bears across the plate for a 3-1 lead.


Paddy Matera homered in the fourth for his seventh of the season.  In the fifth, with Burt Reynolds at-bat and Tim Raines Jr. on third base, Brockton's Freddy Flores unleashed a wild pitch allowing Raines to score and giving the Bears a 5-1 lead.


They were cruising and in seemingly in control through five innings.  Then Brockton knotted this game in the top of the sixth with a two run home run followed by Todd Gossage's error which led to two more unearned Brockton runs.


The Bears' implosion continued in the seventh.  An overthrown ball by Bears' catcher; Eric McGee; led to another unearned run and a 6-5 Brockton lead.  But the Bears showed resiliency when they tied the game again at six apiece.  Tim Raines Jr. hit one of his many doubles on the day and was driven home by a Danny Santiesteban single.


The two teams traded runs again in the eighth to make it a 7-7 game.  Juan Martinez drove home Paddy Matera with the Bears' eighth inning run.


In the home ninth, Newark got a runner in scoring position after Burt Reynolds was hit by a pitch and advanced to second.  Todd Gossage drew an intentional walk with two outs.  Paddy Matera worked his way to a 3-1 count then delivered a game winning single for an 8-7 Bears' win.


The two team are now tied again for second place overall in the CanAm League behind Quebec.


Can you see the bullpen now? 


Somehow, Coach Raines found his way to gut it out with Anthony Pluta during a rocky 2.1 innings of patience testing and lead blowing while his counter-part; Brockton manager Bill Buckner; went through five pitchers trying to stop Tim Raines Jr. and Daryle Ward from going 6 for 8 this afternoon, with three runs scored and three RBI between them. 


But Anthony Pluta's team mates; Kyle Morrison working the ninth inning with 2 strikeouts; and Paddy Matera; 2 for 2, HR, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI; were there to pick up Coach Raines; starter Victor Gonzalez; and all the Bears from what could have been a dreadful loss to their Massachusetts rival.



NEXT UP FOR THE BEARS:

Four Game Series vs. Worcester Tornadoes @ Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ Amazin Yo-Yo's and Super Novas

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET



NEW YORK METS:  Mike Pelfrey Reels in The Mets' Yo-Yo.  We're Back To Within A Game Of .500..., Again.


Carlos Beltran:  A Phantom Star Going Super Nova Just Before His Time As A Met Flickers Out.



It was One; Two; and Three runs that scored in the Ol' Ballgame.  A run in the third; two in the fourth; and three runs in the fifth inning were more than enough to cover Mike Pelfrey's clipping of Anaheim's wings.


The hand-licking enigma pitched a complete game with only one home run marring his line for the day.  Good Pelf allowed the Angels a mere five hits; no walks and stuck out five in a 123 pitch nine inning effort.  But because of inconsistency, he only improved his season record to 4-5. These last nine innings dropped his ponderous ERA to 4.70, and well, we're forced to take that at face value. 


Mike Pelfrey's fourth win at least sets up the chance the Mets can win the rubber game of this series with the Angels and regain a grip on .500 baseball again today.  The Mets' young, emerging, curve ball specialist; Jon Niese; will attend to that matter today.


Carlos Beltran powered the Mets yesterday.  If he hasn't done so already, I'm sure he has many a GM's attention now.  Carlos Beltran now has 10 home runs on the season to go along with 43 RBI, and it's way before the All-Star break!  And not to mention, the oft-cranky kneed and misunderstood former All-Star has been a horse this season playing with nary a day-off to his credit.


There will be none of the "he's playing for a contract" rhetoric here.  Carlos Beltran is merely doing what he can do when healthy.  With regret, it is our particular situation as fans and an organization, that makes Carlos Beltran a phantom star for the Mets these days.  We can not get compensation picks if we let him walk away as a free agent.  That clause was given to him by Omar Minaya.  And so the better he plays, the sooner Sandy Alderson may strike a deal for the re-emerging and genuine star.


The compartmentalizing of the 2011 season for me continues in what I can only describe as a very odd year.  As we speak, the Wilpons are breaking out in a rash over the K-Rod Clause should that kick-in based on appearances.  Yet he is having an All-Star Game worthy season while helping keep the Mets in relative contention.


Jose Reyes is making a legitimate early argument for National League MVP.  As he enters his prime age, he's also entering into his own as a player (if you'll allow me to butcher that phrase).  He's in the midst of a career year.  And for someone who's taking life one day at a time and enjoying the moment while leading the; once again crippled; Mets, he went and secured the services of Agent Impossible; Scott Boras; to worry about his future for him. 


Forget the K-Rod Rash; this situation has the Wilpons breaking out in hives!  Additionally, Met Fans officially find themselves on one of two clearly defined sides of the fence.  The foxholes have been dug.  On one side of the Jose Reyes Front is the TRADE HIM contingent.  On the other side, the KEEP REYES CAMP is at the ready.  Unfortunately for both sides of the argument, finances might ultimately make this decision for us.


Compartmentalization?  What then?


CORRECTION: Apparently Jose Reyes will not switch agents.

TODAY

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

vs.

NEW YORK METS

(SP - Jon Niese)

Roosevelt Avenue Grounds,  Flushing

QUEENS

Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Aiming For A Father's Day Sweep

From the desk of:  WADDLING AROUND BROOKLYN




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Cruising Past The Road Warriors At High Speed.


The first place Ducks will try and make today a Happy Father's Day for all the Long Island Pops out there, as they go for a series sweep against the Road Warriors in Bethpage Park.


Winners of their last two in a row, the Ducks have maintained their 2.5 game lead over the South Maryland Blue Crabs in the Liberty Division first half standings.  With last night's win over the Road Warriors, Long Island upped their record to a division best 28-15.  The are 8-2 in their last ten games.


In yesterday's second game of this series, Long Island broke a one all dead-lock in the sixth inning with three runs highlighted by a Javier Colina two run single.


Ducks' starter Heath Phillips kept the Road Warriors relatively quiet in his 5.2 innings of work allowing only four hits.  But he left with the score tied at one apiece and was awarded the ol' no-decision.  Shane Youman earned the victory in relief.  He pitched 2.1 stellar innings in relief of Phillips and was the beneficiary of Long Island's three run outburst in the sixth.  He struck out four batters and surrendered no hits. 


Bubbie Buzachero nailed down his tenth save of the season.  In 18 innings pitched this year, he's allowed 17 hits; only walked 3 batters; and has 14 strikeouts.  He has a 2-1 record in relief and a minuscule 1.50 ERA.







Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Pelted Again By Brockton Rox

From the desk of:  GROWLING IN BROOKLYN



NEWARK BEARS:  It's Raining ROX in Brick City.

OK; - These Rox from Brockton are starting to become a real problem.  After giving them a good clawing in their place a week ago, Brockton packed their nail files for this follow-up series in Newark.  And after two games in The Den, Brockton remains scratch free.


In two games since returning from Massachusetts, the Bears have suffered two losses thanks to Brockton.  Although in Friday night's slug fest, it wasn't for a lack of trying.  In something more akin to a softball game in the school yard, the Bears fell three runs short in a 17-14 game.  But then allowing Brockton to score another eleven runs in Saturday's affair...?  Twenty-eight runs in two games?  Yea, that's a problem.


Newark starting pitcher; Jacob Wild; and his follow-up; Kyle Morrison; quite simply, got wrecked by the Rox.  Brockton pelted Jacob with eight hits on their way to seven runs in five innings.  Jacob Wild helped them along with four walks.  Done with him for the day, Brockton then stoned Kyle Morrison for another four runs on three hits over one and a third innings in relief.


Pitching; Pitching; Pitching......in Newarks' case is like salmon.  As it goes, so will the Bears.  Good pitching equals fat Bears.  A scarcity in pitching and these Bears will go hungry. 


Scoring twenty runs in two games should be worth something.  Newark's Saturday night line-up sported a combined .299 batting average.  That ain't just berries.  However that number has been in decline lately.  Tim Raines Jr.'s batting average has dropped from the lofty altitudes of .400 down to below .350 (.348).  Early season hot hitters, Billy Alvino and Danny Santiesteban, have cooled off also.  But even in decline, there has been enough offense for Newark's pitchers to work with.


Brockton now overtakes Newark for the second best record in the League.  Last night's Rox win gives Brockton a record of 14-8.  Newark drops to 13-9; good for third best overall.  But everyone is looking up at the Quebec Capitales.  Winners of their last ten in a row, the overall season leaders sport a sparkling 18-4 record on the young season.


The Bears will try and salvage the last game of this series against Brockton today and hopefully start getting their recent pitching woes turned around.  Newark's Jersey local; Aaron Kalb; will start for the Bears.






Mike.BTB

BKN CYCLONES ~ Damn Yankees Spoil Opening Day

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Staten Island Dumped A Loss In Our Backyard.


In what has become the Borough's new annual rites of Summer, Paganism and Baseball were center stage in Cone Island today.  Brooklyn's Mermaid Parade kicked off festivities at Kings County's favorite playground early in the afternoon as thousands of revelers turned out like Dionysian Maenads to either partake or be a spectator in our annual Freakfest by the Beach in honor of King Neptune and those delectable half-femmes of the sea.  But that really is another story.


For fans of the Coney Island Nine, the yearly reunion was scheduled for 6:35pm and everyone showed up.  Wayne; Mr. T; Nick; Ribsy...and all the familiar faces were there.  Them, and about 9,000 other family members and close friends gathered for Brooklyn's unofficial; official start of Summer - Opening Day at MCU Park; Home of the Brooklyn Cyclones.


Friends; Freaks; and Fireworks - Ah Yes!  Let the summer begin indeed.

Before this afternoon's game against the Staten Island Yankees, the Brooklyn Cyclones were 9-1 on Opening Day.  Their lone loss came in a blow-out against...the uh, ...Staten Island Yankees some years ago.

Last night, Brooklyn ruined Staten Island's Home Opener for Yankee fans with a 5-3 victory.  This afternoon, the Richmond County Nine struck back; defeating Brooklyn in their Coney Island Opener by a score of 3-2.

The Cyclones and Yankees conducted pre-game warm ups while

Cyclones' Pitching Coach; Frank Viola; (below) attended to matters in the bullpen.

 

* * * * *

 

 

Then it was time for the traditional player introductions

before the playing of our National Anthem.

 

* * * * *

The Boardwalk Bums took the field, and finally,

the first pitch of the 2011 season kicking off another summer of

Baseball By The Beach was on it's way.

 

 

Yea..., they got us tonight and ruined a second Opening Day for the home crowd.  That's fine.  It just makes me (and us) dislike them more.  It's what a good rivalry is all about; ruining the other team's day.  Tomorrow's rubber game is scheduled for 5:35pm.

See you there.

* * * * * * * * *

There were exactly 9,003 fans in the park tonight.  And we pack it in like that often.  It was only technically built to seat 7,500; and that's only because they added 1,000 bleacher seats after the first season's demand was so high.  I think we need a bigger park guys.  Just sayin'.

Game details?  Nah.  We're not doing that yet.

So what - We lost today; Big whoop.  But it's great to have ya back guys!

Mike.BTB

BKN CYCLONES ~ Brooklyn's Voice Of Summer

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE

OPENING DAY

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

vs.

Staten Island Yankees

FROM

CONEY ISLAND, BROOKLYN



Brooklyn Cyclones:  The Great Warner Fusselle Is Back In The CATBIRD SEAT For His 11th Season Behind The Mike.


For ten years now, Warner Fusselle has been one of the sweetest sounds of summer in Brooklyn.  The former This Week In Baseball narrator has been sitting in The Catbird Seat calling games for the Brooklyn Cyclones since the team's inception. 


Since his very first call in 2001, his voice never once failed to take me back to my days as a teenager and before, when I watched the weekly Baseball series before NBC's Game of the Week aired.  That was must see TV back then; -  back in the days before the Cable Companies had their Big Bang and suckered us into paying for TV with a promise of no commercials.


Maybe there-in lies a reason why Warner Fusselle is an out-and-out Legend.  He connects us with a wholly different era.  He provides Cyclones' listeners with equal parts of nostalgia and modern professionalism, while providing the team with major journalistic prominence in the booth.  And as such, he commands respect spanning generations of Baseball fans.


Quite honestly, it's a privilege listening to Mr. Fusselle call our beloved Cyclones' games.  As a Class-A organization, Brooklyn Cyclone fans are lucky and honored to have an announcer of his caliber, not to mention an individual held in such high regard as Warner Fusselle is, behind the microphone giving us every detail of Brooklyn Baseball as it unfolds before him.


But then, the Cyclones aren't just a Class-A organization to me.  They are Brooklyn.  And we got one of the best voices EVER, calling our games.


In the immortal words if Jackie Gleason, "How Sweet It Is!"

Friday Night's Final

BROOKLYN CYCLONES   5

Staten Island Yankees    3

BROOKLYN CYCLONES GAME ONE LINE-UP:

ss - Daniel Muno

rf - Javier Rodriguez

2b - J.B. Brown

dh - Richard Lucas

1b - Luke Stewart

3b - Brian Harrison

cf - Travis Taijeras

lf - Dylan Brown

c - Amauris Valdez

The Cyclones drew first blood in the Battle of the Boroughs.  Brooklyn knocked Yankee pitcher; Bryan Mitchel out of the game early.  He did himself in with walks and a wild pitch, but with a single from Luke Stewart; a single from Amarius Valsez; a single by Dann Muno....Badda Beep and Badda Booop;  ....and the Cyclones were winning. 


A triple by Travis Taijeron in the sixth inning and an RBI single by Dylan Brown gave Brooklyn their lead again.  They tacked on another in the ninth and held on to secure their first victory of the season.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. METS ~ The .500 Dream Sequence Redux

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET




NEW YORK METS: Hit The Dream Sequence Thing....


Dillon Gee Seizes The Moment; Helps Pitch Mets Back
To .500 Baseball.

Dillon Gee didn't resume pitching after the second rain delay in Atlanta.  But the bullpen, starting with DJ Carrasco then Bobby Parnell finished where Gee left off after four innings pitched.  Through eight innings, the Mets pitchers limited the Braves to two hits while the offense staked the team to a four run lead.

In the top of the eighth, Angel Pagan, who put the Mets ahead in the fourth inning with a two run home run, inexplicably attempted to steal second base but went in standing up and as a result, was tagged out.  Hmmm.  I'm sure Jerry Manuel was somewhere chuckling.

But otherwise, with six more outs separating the Mets from a .500 record, into the eighth inning they went.  Bobby Parnell remained in the game for a second inning trying to hold on to this 4-0 Mets' lead.  He surrendered Atlanta's second hit of the game.  But he also blew away several Braves batters for five strikeouts in two innings of work.

The Mets would go down quietly in the top of the ninth inning.  Then, only three more outs separated the Mets from .500.  The job of closing out this bench-mark win would go to Francisco Rodriguez.



And then you had that falling sensation in your sleep and abruptly woke up
sweaty and in a panic!



It's OK....wake up now.  That was just me toying with Total Recall.  But do you remember that?  If this thing crashes and burns and they recover the little Black Box, that's the stuff you'll hear the last time things appeared all-systems-go before the Mets flew over the Bermuda .500 Percentage Triangle.  Just when they thought they were headed northward in the standings and of .500 itself, they now find themselves headed south again but not really sure where the heck they are.


R.A. Dickey looked lost the other day, and Capuano just looked a little unsure Friday night against the No Where Near Los Angeles Angels.  But put both those margins of error together, and what we find is the Mets are headed way off course of .500 again.


Remember last year right about this time?  They were eleven games over .500 weren't they?  You remember.  I know you do.


I leave you with this little line from THE WHO:

".....I get on my knees and pray....., We don't get fooled again!"


The trick is to compartmentalize.  Tap into your inner pragmatism.






Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Brockton Rocks In Return To The Den

From the desk of:  GROWLING IN BROOKLYN



NEWARK BEARS:  Brockton Provides A Rude Return To Riverfront Stadium For Bears.

After a rather successful road trip to Massachusetts and an off day Thursday, the Bears' return home to The Den wasn't quite what Newark had in mind.  There were no jars of honey waiting on the dinner table; nor puppy-like creatures happy to see master again.  Instead, Brockton showed up at Riverfront Stadium's door armed with bats and a complete lack of respect for being in some one's else's house.  You know how Friday night party crashers can be.


The Newark fans were supposed to greet their team with cheers upon them returning from their first ever CanAm visit to Massachusetts in triumph, having been victorious in two consecutive series wins.  And after a 2-1 first inning lead, they did just that; cheer.  But jeers quickly found their seats and settled in to watch as Brockton pounded the Bears early; often; and late; once they began play after a two and half hour rain delay.


Brockton scored one in the first and three more in the third inning.  Then, The Den's roof just caved in under the weight of eleven more Brockton runs.  That seven run fifth inning seemed like too much for Newark to recover from.


With the score 15-5 by the seventh inning, hibernation would have been an acceptable option at this point.  More torrential rain would have been OK too.


Now, either the Bears are starting to face better pitching with most teams having played 20 games or so, or the Newark hitters, like Raines Jr; Alvino; and even Santiesteban are starting to come down to earth a bit.  Tim Raines Jr. has cooled off considerably in his last three games or so after maintaining a torrid streak that kept his batting average above .400 for a spell.


Then while I was putting this together, other Bears stepped up and started to radically change the complexion of this game.  They scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Daryle Ward smashed his ninth home run of the season; a solo shot.  With one out, Burt Reynolds jacked another solo home run; his seventh.  Gossage was hit by a pitch and Matera singled setting up Brandon Watson's single for another Bears' run.  Then, shortstop Juan Martinez tripled, scoring Watson and Matera making it a 15-11 game with two more innings to go in the game.


Continuing to claw back, the Bears gamely picked up one more run in the eighth inning making it a
15-12 game now.


But in the top of the ninth and final frame, Brockton had about a much as they cared to put up with tonight.  They came to Newark intent on busting up the Bears and retaliated for Newark's little show of resiliency by scoring two more runs in their top half for good measure.  And it's a good thing for them they did.  Because the Bears showed still yet a little more fight in them by taking those two runs back.  But they still ended up three runs short by the time this 17-14 contest was finally over.


Newark's starter; Jesse Estrada, suffered and allowed the brunt of the damage incurred by the Bears tonight.  In 4.2 innings pitched, he relinquished twelve hits and eleven runs.


Tonight's result aside, so far, this is shaping up into a marvelous rivalry.


Quebec has won 9 out of their last ten games and continue to sport the Leagues best record.  Newark's record after Friday night's loss drops to 13-8, which is still second best in the League, but four games behind the Capitales.


Game two of this three game series with Brockton is tomorrow; Saturday - 6:35pm.




Mike.BTB