Brooklyn Cyclones Open 15th Season in Staten Island

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Brooklyn Cyclones BBC

2001-2015

BROOKLYN CYCLONES: The Baby Bums are Back for the 15th Summer of Baseball by the Boardwalk.

The 2014 Brooklyn Cyclones finished the regular season with a fine 42-34 record, 4 games back of the McNamara Division winning Hudson Valley Renegades.

Despite posting an identical record as the Connecticut Tigers, Brooklyn additionally missed out on a Wild Card opportunity to the Stedler Division runner-ups.

The season was nonetheless an improvement over their 2013 season, in which they posted a more pedestrian 38-37 record.

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

So what do the 2015 Brooklyn Cyclones have in store?

Manager Tom Gamboa returns for a second season at the helm, and will be rejoined by pitching coach Dave LaRoche, and hitting coach Yunir Garcia.

The Mets relinquished their #1 draft pick when they signed free agent Michael Cuddyer during the off-season.  Their first selection in the recent June amateur draft came in the 2nd round.  With the 53rd overall selection the Mets drafted outfielder Desmond Lindsay, and in the 3rd round with the 88th overall selection they drafted southpaw pitcher Max Wotell.  Both remain unsigned.  In fact, the Mets' top five selections remained unsigned.

The Mets presently have just three players signed from the recent amateur June draft.  They will begin the season with Brooklyn.  The highest pick among them is 7th round pick right handed pitcher Corey Taylor.  Southpaw pitcher P.J. Conlon was selected in the 13th round, and infielder Vinny Siena was taken in the 14th round.  All three signed on Thursday.

THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS:

The rest of the 2015 Brooklyn Cyclones will be populated with returning players from last season, and promoted players from the rookie class Gulf Coast League Mets and Kingsport Mets of the Appalachian League.

Brooklyn has 5 infielders returning from last year's squad: Will Fulmer, Jeff Diehl, and Michael Katz all put in a half-season for the Cyclones in 2014.  Pedro Perez has played in 19 games with Savannah this season, but is slated to be on Brooklyn's opening day roster.  Same goes for Alfredo Reyes, whom despite a brief cup of coffee with Port St. Lucie this season, will return to Coney Island as well.

First baseman Zach Mathieu is a first-timer to Brooklyn.  He posted 29 RBI in 152 at-bats for Kingsport last season.

Returning for another tour in Brooklyn are outfielders Michael Bernal and Tucker Tharp.  They will be joined by Enmanuel Zabala from the GCL, and Oswald Carabello from Kingsport.

Behind the dish will be Jose Garcia up from Kingsport, and Manuel Hilario from the GCL Mets.

OPENING NIGHT

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

vs.

Staten Island Yankees

FROM

Rotten Island

The Battle of the Boroughs resumes!

Right-hander Tyler Badamo will climb the hill in Staten Island Friday evening against the Richmond County Bombers, opening the 15th Brooklyn Cyclones season.  Badamo, 22, hails out of Mount Sinai, N.Y.  Last year was his first as a pro.  He made 10 appearances (4 starts) for the GCL Mets, and posted a 1.74 ERA in 31 innings pitched, with a 7.5 K/9 and 1.7 W/9 average.

The Cyclones and Baby Bombers will play a 3-game weekend series.  Brooklyn will play their home opener at MCU Park on Saturday, then return to Staten Island for the series finale on Sunday.

Mike

L.I. Ducks: The Flock's Waddle is Strong

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LIBERTY DIVISION STANDINGS:

1) Somerset        37-16

2) Long Island   35-17

Long Island Ducks: Flock swat Sugar Land Skeeters to gain their latest series sweep; improve record to 16-1 in June.

The Long Island Ducks remain the Atlantic League's hottest team.

With Thursday night's victory over the Sugar Land Skeeters, the Flock completed their third series sweep in their last four, extended their most recent winning streak to 6 games, and improved their record to 16-1 in June after opening the month with a 10-game winning streak.

On June 1st, the Ducks lay 5 games back of the Liberty Division leading Somerset Patriots.  By close of business Thursday, Long Island cut Somerset's lead to just 1.5 games.  There are just 18 games remaining in the season's first half, and the teams are just 15 games away from what could prove to be a decisive head-to-head showdown for the first half crown.

Despite the Ducks torrid month of June, the Somerset Patriots have remained no less relentless.  They are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and 13-5 in June.  They just split 4 games with the Bridgeport Bluefish, and still lead the circuit with a 37-16 record.

Long Island will now host the Bridgeport Bluefish, whom given the Ducks quite a bit of trouble this season.  The Bluefish lead the season series by a 6-4 margin.  The Ducks were swept in their first meeting, and the Bluefish took 2 of 3 games in their second encounter.  Last weekend, the Ducks rebounded after losing the series opener to sweep the final 3 games.  On Friday they open a 4 game series at Bethpage Ballpark.

The Patriots will open a weekend series against the Sugar Land Skeeters in Somerset.

Ducks win series over Skeeters 3-0

I - LID 4; SLS 1

II - LID 3; SLS 1

III - LID 2; SLS 0

Mickey Jannis toed the rubber Thursday night for Long Island, and was opposed by Sugar Land's Roy Merritt.  The two dueled for 7 innings.

Jannis faced 24 batters and threw 94 pitches, with 55 going for strikes.  He allowed no runs on just 3 hits, walked 3 and fanned 5 batters before exiting on the winning side of a 2-0 game.

Merritt faced 25 batters and threw 91 pitches with 62 going for strikes.  Ducks DH Randy Ruiz hit Merritt's only mistake of the evening over the left field wall to give the Ducks their 2-0 margin of victory.   Lew Ford, who previously singled, scored.  Merritt otherwise limited the Ducks to 5 hits, walked none, and fanned 3 batters.

Mickey Jannis improved his record to 5-2, lowered his league leading ERA to a 1.31 mark, and now boasts the league's lowest (.183) batting average against.  He is also 4th in the league behind his team mate John Brownell with 49 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched, and owns a .950 WHiP.

Randy Ruiz's double in the second game of Wednesday's double-header proved to be the game winning RBI, as did his 2-run clout on Thursday.

Delta Cleary Jr., has batted lead-off the last 2 games, while Bryan Sabatella nurses a leg injury incurred during the first game of Wednesday's double-header against the Skeeters.  He went 3 for 4 in Wednesday's first game while batting the second slot, but went 0 for 7 in 2 games batting lead-off and watched his average dip from .339 to a .319 mark.

Lew Ford, however, is tied for the league lead with a .340 average, and still leads the circuit with 44 RBI.  First baseman Jon Griffin remains right behind him with 36 RBI.

Dan Lyons went 3 for 7 with 3 RBI in 3 games against the Skeeters.  He is now 6th in the league with 26 RBI, and kept his average hovering at the .300 mark.

On the mound, pitcher Andrew Barbosa continues providing the Ducks with high quality starts.  He started in Wednesday's first game of a double-header, pitched 6 innings, allowed no runs on just 3 hits, walked 3 and fanned 7 batters en route to his 3rd victory of the season.  He is 3-0 since joining Long Island with a 1.96 ERA.  Moreover, the Ducks are 6-0 in games he pitched.

Closer Ryan Kussmaul earned a save in each Long Island's 3 victories over Sugar Land, which included a pair during Wednesday's double-header.  He has a 2-0 record with a 2.03 ERA, and a league leading 16 saves.  He has struck out 23 batters in 26.2 innings pitched.

The Ducks offense have scored the most runs in the Atlantic League to date.  They also own the league's best team slash with a .279/.349/. 384 mark, and have stolen the most bases.

On the mound, Somerset and Long Island are running first and second in team ERA, batting average against, slugging against, and team WHiP.  However, Patriots pitchers have tossed 5 complete games, while the Ducks have tossed none.



Mike

N.Y. Mets: Nelson Doubleday Restored NYC's National League Tradition

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Nelson Doubleday Jr.

1933-2015

Owner: 

New York Mets

1980-2002

NEW YORK METS: Nelson Doubleday Jr. Helped Restore New York City's National League Baseball Crown.

One of the very few, and very best owners of the New York Metropolitan Baseball Club passed away at his home in N.Y. Wednesday at age 81 of pneumonia.

Nelson Doubleday used his family's publishing empire to form Doubleday and Company with the purpose of purchasing the Mets from the late Mrs. Joan Payson's estate.  Nelson put up 80% of the $21.1 million to purchase the Mets.

He was a hands-off type, but his presence resonated throughout the organization.

The club enjoyed their greatest prosperity while Mr. Doubleday presided.  He took over a perennially last place club in 1980, and hired Frank Cashen as general manager whom turned them into a 90-win club by the 1984 season.

By 1986 the Mets were World Series champions, and in 1988 won their second division title in three years.  They returned to the playoffs in 1999, and won the National League championship in 2000.

His relationship with Fred Wilpon grew to a 50/50 partnership, then deteriorated, and ultimately dissolved by the end of 2002.  After 22-years as co-owner of the Mets, Nelson Doubleday sold his half share in the team to his former partner.

Nelson Doubleday was instrumental in initially acquiring catcher Mike Piazza, then retaining him with a strong financial commitment.  Doubleday was also in favor of renovating Shea Stadium over Fred Wilpon's preference to build Citi Field.

I personally started my teenage years in 1980, and so Nelson Doubleday was somewhat of a savior.   The team was obviously mired in a very bad condition, and quite incapable of reorganizing after the passing away of Mrs. Joan Payson.

Under Nelson Doubleday, National League baseball once again ruled New York City.



Mike

The Friday Recap: Colon Wins 9th, and Flores Hits 10th in 5-3 Win Over Braves

Here's my Friday Recap for 

RisingApple.com

Friday Night Final:

Braves   3

METS   5

Bartolo Colon Wins 9th, and Wilmer Flores Hits 10th in 5-3 Victory Over Braves

Check in every week for my

Friday Night Recap

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

L.I. Ducks: Look What Bridgeport Did to the Flock, Again

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Bridgeport leads Ferry Cup Series 6-1

I - BPT 10; LID 2

II - BPT 9; LID 0

III - BPT 7; LID 6

IV - LID 5; BPT 2

V - BPT 7; LID 3

VI - BPT 9; LID 7

VII - BPT 3; LID 2
VIII - Friday Night

Long Island Ducks: Bridgeport Continues Giving Flock the Bunker Fish Treatment.

Not hear; not tonight; the Bluefish said ten was enough.

After sweeping a pair of four game series from the Camden Riversharks and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, the Long Island Ducks had their league high 10 game winning streak snapped by the Bluefish Thursday night at the Ballpark at Harbor Yards.

A costly error by Lew Ford in the 5th inning of Thursday's series opener provided Bridgeport's margin of victory.

Not incidentally, it was Lew Ford who opened the scoring with an RBI single in the 1st.  Reegie Corona then scored on DH Randy Ruiz's ground ball to give the Ducks an early 2-0 lead.

Bridgeport got on the board in the bottom of the 3rd.  A lead-off single by shortstop Matt Wessinger off Ducks starter Ian Marshall, and a 1-out single by third sacker Sean Burroughs set up right fielder Welington Dotel's RBI sac-fly.  In the 4th, second baseman Luis Rodriguez led-off with a double off Marshall, and shortly scored on left fielder Jake Luce's ground ball put-out, tying the game at two.

In the fateful 5th, first baseman John Alonso stroked a 1-out single of Marshall.  With 2-outs, Lew Ford misplayed DH Frazier Hall's hit for a 2-base error.  Alonso scored the go ahead, and inevitably the winning run on the play.

Starting pitcher Ian Marshal battled himself over 6.2 innings pitched walking 6 batters, but otherwise allowed a pair of earned runs on 4 hits with 5 strikeouts.  He now owns a 3-2 record in 8 starts, with a 2.54 ERA (10th in the Atlantic League).

The Ducks fell to the Bluefish for the 6th time in 7 meetings this season.

With Thursday's victory, the 3rd place Bluefish improved their record to a 19-26 mark.  They've scored the 2nd least runs in the Atlantic League this season, yet are 2nd in team batting and feature 10 of the league's top 10 hitters.

They especially love hitting against the Ducks.  In their 7 games thus far, the Bluefish have nearly doubled Long Island's output, outscoring them by a 47-25 margin, or, 6.7 runs per game against just 3.5 runs per game for the Ducks.

Bridgeport's staff owns the league's 3rd worst ERA, and the 2nd worst WHiP.  Just don't tell the Ducks.  In 3 of their 7 losses against the Fish, Long Island was shut out once and held to just 2 runs on two other occasions, including Thursday's game.

This all means the Ducks had better get the Bluefish figured out, and quick.  Long Island has 7 more games remaining against Bridgeport prior to what's shaping up as their first-half ending showdown against Somerset over the 4th of July weekend.

Long Island's 10 game winning streak nevertheless cut the Somerset Patriots lead to just 2.5 games (down from 5 games back) in the standings.  However, Somerset defeated the Barnstormers Thursday night to reset their division lead at 3 games over the Ducks.

FLOCK FRACKERS:

Lew Ford still leads the Atlantic League with 16 doubles and 39 RBI.  He's 3rd with a .511 slugging mark, 4th with a .324 batting average, and 5th with a .403 OBP.   Jon Griffin is 2nd behind Ford with 36 RBI, and is 2nd in the league with 8 home runs.  Ford and Griffin are the only two league players to surpass 30 RBI so far this season.

Setting the table for them is lead-off batter Bryan Sabatella.  He tops the the league with 200 at-bats, 61 hits, 39 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases.  He presently sports a .305 average and .359 OBP.



Mike

N.Y. Mets: The Night Flight Podcast and the 2012 Brooklyn Cyclones

Here's some of my latest STUFF for 

RisingApple.com

Monday Night Baseball

Podcast: Monday, June 8

guests: Gary Mintz from the N.Y. Giants Baseball Preservation Society, Gary Mac from MetsMusings.com, and Sam, aka, the converted Met fan.

The six/five man starting rotation, Michael Cuddyer draft day remorse, split series in Arizona, preview of S.F. Giants series, the 2006 New York Mets season, the New York Giants baseball club, Coogan's Bluff, Mrs. Joan Payson, Californication... and other stuff. 

Episode #106 - The Rising Apple Report: Night Flight; Here Come the Champs

Monday's article:

  The 2015 Mets Are Eerily Imitating the 2012 Brooklyn Cyclones Season

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

N.Y. Mets: The Friday Recap - DBacks Sink Fangs Into Jon Niese and Bullpen

Here's my Friday night game recap for 

RisingApple.com

This time, it wasn't Jon Niese's fault..., kinda.

Mets @ ARIZONA

June 5 Recap: 

Diamondbacks sink fangs into Jon Niese and Bullpen in 7-2 Victory Over Mets

Check in every week for my

Friday Night Recap

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

Rising Apple Podcast: Episode #105 - Still Hangin' Around...

For your listening enjoyment, or just for the Mets fan in you, 

here's Thursday night's podcast at
RisingApple.com

Among the many topics Rich and I discussed:
the 6-man rotation,

an infield illogically playing out of position,
David Wright,

#FreeMatz,
Prospect Wuilmer Becerra,

a look back the 2005 season,
players who've worn #5 throughout Mets history, 

and of course,

Happy Harvey Day!

Episode #105 - Rising Apple Report: Still Hanging Around, Despite The Lull

Mike

senior staff writer/Rising Apple

N.Y. Mets: Amazin's conclude first third of season with a failure to seize the day

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS: The Mets will be playing very meaningful games in June.

The Mets lost 2 of 3 against the San Diego Padres, lowering their record to 29-25, with an 8-17 road mark, and a stellar 21-8 record at home.

With Game #54 in the books, so ends the first third of the New York Mets season.

Despite a long list of key injuries they still have yet to recover from, the Mets ended play on June 3rd one half game behind the first place Washington Nationals.

After posting a 77-85 record in 2014, new San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller launched a furious effort aimed at chasing down and overtaking the Giants and Dodgers.  The Padres were the easy winners of the off-season with the acquisitions of Matt Kemp, James Shields, Will Myers, Justin Upton, Will Middlebrooks, Brandon Morrow, Josh Johnson, and a few others.  His white hot Winter efforts, however, have yet to produce a .500 record on the field.

San Diego inched closer though.  With the successful conclusion of their series against the Mets, the Padres improved their record to a 27-28 mark.

They still trail the Dodgers and Giants by a hand full of games, however, unless something changes over the summer months, the Padres will become the latest club to attempt a rebuilding all in one off-season, and fail.

New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson has taken a much more (painfully) methodical approach in his rebuilding efforts.  While losing 2 of 3 to San Diego offers little proof, Alderson is garnering better on-field results than his San Diego counterpart, and appears better armed for future contention as well.

On that note, the Mets implemented their new 6-man rotation Wednesday, which obviously did not start well.  Dillon Gee took the mound for the first time since May 3rd, and allowed 4 earned runs in 4 innings pitched.

On this night, the Mets also failed to overtake the faltering Nationals in the standings.  They will sleep this evening still trailing Washington by one half-game.

As David Wright's return to action becomes murkier by the day, Sandy Alderson seems to be gearing up to strike a deal.  Acquiring a second baseman, shortstop, or third baseman are all options.

A proactive approach is most certainly warranted.




Mike

L.I. Ducks: The Wednesday Swim; Battle of the ERA Kings

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

NEXT

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

vs.

CAMDEN RIVERSHARKS

FROM

Underneath 

Ben Franklin Bridge Park 

Long Island Ducks: Somerset's Sean Bierman and the Flock's Mickey Jannis continue tossing gems; both lead Atlantic League with top ERA's.

After closing out the York Revolution on Tuesday, the Ducks packed their bags, locked up the Pond, and headed south to Camden, New Jersey, in preparation for Thursday's start of their 4-game week ending series against the Riversharks.

The Somerset Patriots, however, were far from idle.  On Wednesday, they increased their lead over the 2nd place Ducks to 5.5 games with a victory over the struggling, nonetheless defending Atlantic League champion Lancaster Barnstormers.

Lancaster starter Matt Packer pitched well enough to win on any other night, just not this particular night against the Patriots.  Packer lasted 7 innings, and allowed just one earned run on 5 hits and a walk, with 4 strikeouts.  He left the game on the losing side of a 1-0 game.

That's because in the bottom of the 2nd, who else but Chris Marrero led-off with a single, and soon came around to score on Robert Andino's 1-out RBI single for the game's only run.

In his last start, southpaw Sean Bierman dueled Long Island's Mickey Jannis.  Sean pitched 8 shut out innings, allowed 6 hits, walked one and fanned 4 batters, but exited to a no-decision as it took the Patriots 12 innings to gain a 1-0 victory.  Jannis pitched brilliantly as well, matching Bierman inning for inning.  He allowed no runs on just 3 hits, walked none and fanned 8 batters before likewise exiting to a no-decision.

• On Tuesday, Mickey Jannis brought the Ducks to within 5 games of the Patriots with 7.2 innings of no-hit baseball and 9 strikeouts en route to a 3-0 victory over the York Revolution.

In Wednesday's start against the Barnstormers, Somerset's Sean Bierman (indirectly) demonstrated to Long Island just how tough their quest of toppling the Patriots will be.  Bierman tossed a 3-hit, complete game shutout, while issuing just one walk.

Bierman lowered his ERA to a league leading 1.46 mark.  Mickey Jannis owns the league's 2nd best mark with a 1.55 ERA.

The Patriots 1-0 win over Lancaster stretched their lead over Long Island back to 5.5 games, with 32 first half games remaining on the schedule.




Mike

L.I. Ducks: Mickey Jannis Tosses One-Hitter Over York

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Long Island Ducks: Mickey Jannis Loses No-Hit Bid After 7.2 Innings Pitched; Flock Win Rubber Game Over York.

On an atypically dank night for June baseball, Long Island Ducks right hand starter Mickey Jannis toed the rubber at Bethpage Ballpark in Tuesday's rubber game against the York Revolution.

The Ducks needed a win in order to keep pace with Somerset, whom won earlier in the day to extended their 1st place lead over Long Island by 5.5 games.

The Ducks promptly gave knuckle-baller Jannis a 3-0 lead in the 1st inning with help from opposing starter Rommie Lewis, whom walked in 3 straight runs with the bases loaded.  He issued 5 walks overall and 4 hits before being relieved after 5 innings

Meanwhile, Mickey Jannis enjoyed a far better experience.  He allowed no runs and no hits over his first 6 innings pitched, issued 3 walks and fanned 7 batters.  He walked 2 in the opening frame and another in the 2nd, then gained control, and struck out the side in the 5th.

Jannis walked his 4th batter in the top of the 7th, but remained untouched for a hit after 25 batters faced.

Mickey returned to the hill for the 8th inning already having exceeded 105 pitches for the night.

He quickly fanned York's first batter, third baseman Steve Proscia, to tie his season high of 8 strikeouts.  Next, number nine hitter and center fielder Sean Smith drew the 5th walk issued by Jannis.  Back to the top of the order, right fielder Shannon Wilkerson popped out foul to first baseman Jon Griffin.  Ironically, shortstop Wilson Valdez then grounded a weak tapper to short that left Dan Lyons little chance for throwing out the speedy Valdez.  Unfortunately, he indeed legged out an infield hit to spoil Mickey Jannis' no-hit bid.

Jannis then fanned his 9th and final batter of the evening to establish a season high.  He departed on the winning side of a 3-0 game, after having faced 30 batters, and tossing a stellar mix of 134 pitches, of which 84 (63%) went for strikes.

• Mickey Jannis is now 3-2 and leads the Atlantic League with a 1.55 ERA and a .189 BAA.  He is 4th with 38 strikeouts in 46.1 innings pitched, and owns a 0.970 WHiP.

Ryan Kussmaul entered the game to close out the 9th in relief of Jannis, and earned his league leading 10th save of the season.

The victory gives the Ducks a series win over York, lifts their record to 21-16, and gets them back to within 5 games of the 1st place Patriots, whom won Tuesday over Bridgeport.

Long Island has 32 games left with which to close the gap with Somerset before the first half expires.


Mike

L.I. Ducks: Keeping Pace With Somerset Proving Difficult

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Series tied 1-1

I - YRK 4; LID 3; 15 inn

II - LID 4; YRK 3; 11 inn

TUESDAY

York Revolution

vs.

Long Island Ducks

FROM

Suffolk County Grounds

Long Island Ducks: Jon Griffin Enters June Wielding a Lethal Bat.

Weather permitting, the Ducks host the Revolution for the rubber game of their series this evening.

In each of the first two games, extra innings were required to extract victory.

On Sunday, the Ducks followed up the previous day's victory over Somerset with a game they let slip away.  Ahead 3-1 after 4 innings of play, the Revs tied the game in the 6th off starter Ian Marshall.

The game remain deadlocked at three for the next 8 innings.  Then, leading off the top of the 15th inning, York center fielder Sean Smith promptly homered off Mark Rogers.  Long Island went down in order in the bottom of the frame to close out a crushing defeat.

On Monday, the Ducks found themselves on the winning side of an identical 4-3 final.

Once again, Long Island jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the 1st inning.  After a 1-out single by Delta Cleary Jr, followed a 1-out single with a steal of second, then scored on Cody Puckett's RBI single.  Jon Griffin followed with his 7th home run of the season, Puckett scored.

Starter John Brownell retired his first 6 batters, and kept York scoreless through his first 4 innings.   In the 5th, the Revolution scored a pair on 3 hits and a walk.  In the 6th, an E-3 by Jon Griffin paved the way for another York (unearned) run, and a tie game.

For a second straight game, York and Long Island went into extra innings.

After 7 innings pitched, John Brownell exited to a no decision.  He faced 31 batters, and threw 125 pitches with 73 going for strikes.  He allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks, with 7 strikeouts.  He leads the circuit with 47 strikeouts.

Blake Davis played shortstop on this night, and led-off the home 11th with a hit.  Mike Blanke sacrificed him 90' to second.  Prentice Redman's base hit then plated Davis for the winning run.

The bullpen combined on 4 innings, no hits, and 6 strikeouts.  Nick Struck earned the win in relief.

Center fielder Delta Cleary Jr. went 4 for 4 with a double, lifting his average to a .333 mark.  Since his arrival, he is 18 for 54 with 6 doubles and 6 stolen bases.

Wielding a Lethal Bat: Jon Griffin

In April, the Ducks opened the season against York, then played a 4-game series against Southern Maryland.  During those 7 games, Jon Griffin went 4 for 24 (.167), with a home run, 6 RBI, and struck out (9) 37% of the time.

On May 13th, Griffin finally broke through the Mendoza Line.  In his 17 games since, Jon has gone 23 for 67 (.343), with 5 home runs and 16 RBI, and cut his strikeouts to (19) 28% of the time.

In his last 3 games, he's 4 for 11 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI.  In 35 total games played and 134 at-bats, Jon Griffin is now slashing .269/.347/.463, with 5 doubles, 7 home runs and 25 RBI.

Patriots Keep Setting the Pace:

Somerset still leads the league with a 26-11 record.  Since their meeting against the Ducks, they have gone 3-0, which includes an early game and a rain cancellation on Tuesday.

With Monday's victory, the Ducks are now one of three teams to reach 20 victories, however, they enter this evening's game trailing the Patriots by 5.5 games.

After Tuesday, the Ducks will have 32 games games left remaining to close the gap with Somerset.

Yeah, about that division realignment...,

Welcome to year two.



Mike

N.Y. Rangers: There's a Canadian Goalie in King Henrik's Court

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

NEW YORK RANGERS: If Mike Ritcher needed The Messiah, what can Glen Sather possibly offer The King?

The Rangers season is over.  At least three generations of Rangers fans will pass the summer months wrestling through a full gambit of emotions, only to return in October still shaking their collective heads over what transpired, (or didn't) in Game Seven against Tampa.

Two years into a new system, the organization is once again at a crucible.

I agree with Coach Vigneault, and with the general consensus of the players: to use their words, I believe this team still has a championship core.

For how much longer is debatable.

The Rangers must nevertheless take stock after falling short in the 2012 conference finals against the Devils, in the 2013 semi finals against the Bruins, in last season's Stanley Cup finals against the Kings, and this year's conference finals against the Lightning.

Henrik Lundqvist

Placing blame on Henrik for any of the Rangers' failures is not only misguided, but ignorant as well.

We'd have to weed through the recurring defensive breakdowns in front of him, the team's ponderous neutral zone neutrality, their physical inhibitions in the offensive zone, and revisit the decision making process of a certain head coach before even contemplating pointing a finger at Lundqvist.

Since the salary cap era started in 2005, there's been a range of very good, to rather extraneous goalies that helped their teams win a Cup.  Count Cam Ward/Martin Gerber, Marc Andre Fleury, Chris Osgood/Dominik Hasek, Jean Sebastien Giguere/Ilya Bryzgalov among them.

In each of the Rangers last four post-season eliminations, Henrik Lundqvist was opposed by Martin Brodeur, Tuukka Rask, Jonathan Quick, and Ben Bishop - again, very good to pedestrian...

The other two goalies in this year's Final Four were Frederik Andersen of the Ducks, and Corey Crawford of the Blackhawks, whom merely add to the hodgepodge without enhancing it.

You can rank all those goalies any way you chose.  It makes no difference to me, because in my opinion Henrik Lundqvist has never been an issue.  Henrik was/is as good, if not better than any one of his contemporaries.

Maybe that's just partisan Rangers bluster on my part, or maybe not.  Regardless, my point remains.   The King can hang with anybody, and so I suggest we seek elsewhere to uncover why this team keeps falling short of the Cup.

• My ire lies with the team's forwards, my issue is with the team's softness, and my specific problem with Game 7 was Coach's failure to properly adapt.  Therefore, I view elimination as a failure on the Rangers part, more than a Lightning victory.

However, the Cam Talbot led proletariat are getting restless, and making themselves heard.  They're enraged by Ben Bishop's two shutouts and three victories at MSG, which goes in hand with Henrik's perceived failure to defend their house.

I'm not in favor of trading Henrik Lundqvist.  In and of itself, retaining him is a no-brainer.  But if you allow yourself to expand your mind, there are reasons why dethroning The King actually makes sense:

• Cam Talbot becomes the starting goaltender.  Pondering a trade of Lundqvist is only possible with a quality goalie ready to step in.  Take an honest look at Cam's performance and potential, then revisit the record of several goalies who've played on recent Stanley Cup winning teams in order to justify such a downgrade.

• Time slows for no one.  The King is now 33-years old.  The Rangers can still sell high, and Glen Sather can still potentially plunder a team in exchange for Henrik's services.

• The Rangers potentially clear up considerable salary cap space - at least short term.  They need to come up with more money for Derek Stepan...again, figure out what to do with Carl Hagelin, invest money into the 3rd and 4th lines, etc., or, overspend on another front line scoring threat. They also need to address the 3rd defensive pairing.  You get the picture...

• Most importantly, if the Rangers trade Henrik to a really crappy team, perhaps they can obtain (or recoup?) a pair of #1 draft picks, or a comparable package of picks.  Trading for prospects shouldn't be ruled out either - Ryan McDonagh, after all, was acquired through a trade.   Any transaction involving Henrik, though, would need to be inspired by theft.  Anything less should prevent Sather from ever agreeing to such a deal.

During Henrik's time, the Rangers tried trading for potential premium forwards, and tried signing others as free agents.  To date, none provided a franchise lifting post-season performance the Rangers have lacked, but not for a lack of money.  By and large, most of Sather's big money acquisitions have just grossly underachieved.

So let's face it, Mark Messier aside, NHL history says the Rangers need to secure a franchise forward like most other NHL teams go about it; they need to draft one with a very (very) high selection, something the Rangers have long lacked.  Unless the Rangers plan on spending a few years in the cellar, drafting will remain relatively inconsequential and middle of the road.

The Rangers have not had a top five draft pick in this new century.  You have to refer back to 1999, when they used the 4th overall pick of the draft to select Pavel Brendel.  He still stands as the Rangers highest ever pick since they won the Stanley Cup in '94.  With the 9th overall pick of the same draft, they selected Jamie Lundmark - hardly franchise altering picks to say the least.

Since then, the highest the Rangers ever picked was 6th overall in the 2004 draft, when they selected goalie Al Montoya (just prior to King Henrik beginning his reign at MSG).

They did not have a #1 pick in the 2000 and 2002 entry drafts, although it was their great fortune to draft Henrik Lundqvist in 2000 with the 205th (7th round) overall selection.  More recently, they failed to own both a #1 and #2 selection in the 2013 draft, and lacked a #1 pick in last year's draft as well.

In the 12 years between 2001 and 2012, the Rangers averaged the 14th overall selection.  Here is a list of their hits, and mostly misses:

2000 - No #1
2001 - Dan Blackburn #10 overall
2002 - No #1
2003 - Hugh Jessiman #12
2004 - Al Montoya #6, Lauri Korpikoski #19
2005 - Marc Staal #12
2006 - Bob Sanguinette #21
2007 - Alexi Cherepanov #17
2008 - Michael Del Zotto #20
2009 - Chris Kreider #19
2010 - DYLAN McILRATH #10
2011 - J.T. Miller #15
2012 - Brady Skjei #28
2013 - No #1, No #2
2014 - No #1

That list is less a product of Glen Sather's scouting department, and has more to do with the Rangers consistently making the playoffs during the salary cap era starting with Tom Renney and through the present time.  Being good, but never good enough, commits you to a vicious cycle of mid-round and otherwise ordinary drafting, or worse (see 2012-2014).

This is not an endorsement to trade Henrik Lundqvist.  The most likely scenario is just the opposite; Glen Sather trades Cam Talbot.  In a perfect world, we keep both.  But, in the new NHL, smart sacrifices must be made for the sake of advancement of the team.

The Rangers have youth, they just happen to be on the team already.  Otherwise there's nothing coming over the horizon that remotely resembles an offensive hero.  Instead, they have Dylan McIlrath, a big tough blueliner whom Alain Vigneault seems to have little use for.

Sometimes you just have to step back, and rethink things.


Mike

N.Y. Mets: Dark Night Rising

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS: The Dark Knight has Gotham fans feeling slightly uneasy.

Other pitchers wish they could be as good as Matt Harvey when he struggles.

The Dark Knight has failed to win a game in his last 5 starts, and warranted or not, citizens of Gotham are becoming increasingly riddled over the status of their ace pitcher.

Seeing his first MLB action since undergoing Tommy John surgery, Matt Harvey won his first 5 decisions of the season.  After his initial start, the next 3 were made on normal rest, while his 5th start was made on 6 days rest.  He exceeded 100 pitches once, and averaged 6.2 innings per start, with 33.2 total innings pitched.  He allowed an average of 1.8 runs per game, 5.4 hits, 0.8 walks, with 6.8 strikeouts and fanned 34 overall.  Matt allowed 3 home runs, and posted a 2.44 ERA.

  

Since May 8th, Matt is 0-3 (w/2 no decisions), with an uncharacteristic 3.82 ERA.  He exceeded 100 pitches 3 times.  In 33 innings, he allowed 14 earned runs on 27 hits and 7 walks.  Harvey's strikeouts are actually up.  He totaled 37 strikeouts and averaged 7.4 K/9.

However, two stellar efforts against the Cubs and Cardinals went unrewarded.  In 2 no-decisions, he totaled 15 innings pitched, allowed no runs on 9 hits and 3 walks, and totaled 18 strikeouts.

Then on May 23rd Terry Collins did some babbling regarding Harvey potentially suffering from a dead arm right after enduring the worst performance of his short career in Pittsburgh.  

Matt followed that up with another loss against the Marlins, although at times he appeared dominant. Harvey tied for his second longest outing of the season.  In 8 innings he allowed 4 earned runs on 6 hits and a walk, and posted a season high 11 strikeouts.  It was the 9th time he achieved double-digit strikeouts in 46 career starts.

His fastball velocity is down only slightly from 95.4 mph prior to his surgery, to 95.0 mph since his return, and he's throwing it only fractionally more often this year than in 2013.

From 2013 to the present, Matt's curveball has down ticked from 83.4 mph, to 83.0 this year, while his usage rose from 13.0%, to 13.9% so far this season.

If he's using his fastball and curve more this season, as a simple matter of accounting then, his slider and change naturally experienced down ticks in usage.

In 2013, his slider averaged 89.7 mph, but has dropped to 88.8 mph thus far, while his usage dropped from 18.7%, to 15.2% this year.  His use of the change-up also dipped from 8.4%, to just 4.9% this season.

Perhaps somewhere within those numbers lies the reason why he has surrendered 7 home runs in 10 starts.  In 2013, he led the N.L. with an 0.4 HR/9 average.  This year, he's up to a 0.9 mark, and his overall H/9 is up as well.

But, in truth, only Matt Harvey's outing against Pittsburgh was truly distressing because Andrew McCutchen made it seem so.

On Thursday, June 4th, Matt will make his 11th start of the season in Arizona against Paul Goldschmidt and the Diamondbacks.  He will do so on 6 days rest, as the Mets begin implementing their 6-man starting rotation this week.

The biggest question worrisome fans of Gotham nevertheless want answered is whether they can expect the Real Deal of his first 5 starts, or, if they're in store for something resembling his most recent performances.

While that's not such a bad thing, we'll nevertheless just have to wait and patiently be on the lookout for the Matt Signal rising over Phoenix.

Mike

L.I. Ducks: Salvage Split Against Somerset Patriots.

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Ducks and Patriots split series 2-2

I - LID 7; SOM 6

II - SOM 1; LID 0

III - SOM 3; LID 0

IV - LID 3; SOM 0

LIBERTY DIVISION

1) Somerset       23-11

2) Long Island  19-15

Long Island Ducks: Flock enters the second leg trailing the Somerset Patriots by 4 games.  After Saturday's performance, Andrew Barbosa appears poised to help close the gap,

Starter Andrew Barbosa delivered a message Saturday, which Somerset heard loud and clear.  His Game Four performance boldly proclaimed - Careful how you proceed forward, the Ducks can pitch too!

Andrew Barbosa's signing allowed Eric Niesen, whom struggled as a starter, to return to his customary reliever role.

Making his third appearance as a Duck, Barbosa out-dueled Somerset starter Matt Zielinski for 7 innings.  He allowed no runs on just 4 hits, walked 2 and fanned 10 Patriots batters.  He exited on the winning side of a 3-0 game.

His opponent threw 7 innings as well, but allowed 3 earned runs on 9 hits.  He walked none and fanned 4 batters before exiting on the losing side.

Jon Griffin put the Ducks ahead with a 2-run home run in the top of the 4th, and Mike Blanke's base hit in the top of the 7th scored Reegie Corona to give the Ducks their 3-0 margin of victory.

Ryan Kussmaul earned his league leading 9th save.

The Ducks are now 19-15 for the season, and with a series split in Somerset they've gotten back within 4 games of the 1st place Patriots again.

While starter Mark Rogers continues trying to straighten himself out, Andrew Barbosa joins John Brownell, Mickey Jannis, and Ian Marshall to form an effective quartet as the Ducks try and chase down Somerset in the second leg of their race for a first half flag.

These teams will meet again over the 4th of July weekend.  The series also closes out the first half, and might even decide who captures the first half flag.

The Ducks second leg starts Sunday against the visiting York Revolution.  The Patriots head to Bridgeport for an encounter with the Bluefish.

Mike