Glimmers of Hope as Cyclones Conclude Season

The mention of any optimism in the New York Mets organization might seem absurd to any fan who has watched the club stockpile overpriced, embarrassing veterans only to purge the farm system of some of its best talents. To proud fans, the New York embroidered on players’ uniform is like a Dom Perignon label on a bottle of vinegar.Yet a mere 20 miles away from Shea Stadium, the Class-A Brooklyn Cyclones have provided a welcome respite from Mets games. Since their inception in 2001, the Cyclones have won three division titles, including one New York-Penn League championship (in truth, it was a co-championship, as the series was postponed and cancelled after the attacks of September 11, 2001).The Cyclones won their third division championship this year with a 43-41 record, although the club was eliminated in the semifinals over the weekend by the Tri-City (N.Y.) Valley Cats.While they may not take much solace in the final standings of the New York-Penn League, the increasingly distraught Flushing faithful need some glimmers of hope. The successful Cyclones are doing their part with a handful of such ballplayers.The Brooklyn player with by far the most potential for major league at bats is Ambiorix Concepcion, who was the Cyclones’ best bat, arm, and legs on the field for much of the 2004 campaign. Concepcion emerged as a prospect this season, hitting .305 with 8 homers, 46 RBI, a .475 SLG, and 28 stolen bases.Key to his success has been a newfound knack for hitting curveballs, with the help of hitting coach Donovan Mitchell. The wiry Dominican native still needs to work on his plate discipline – he struck out 54 times this season, and drew only 13 walks – but he’s primed for a quick move up the Mets’ organizational ladder.As for Concepcion’s ETA in Queens, it won’t be for at least two to three more years, but his reservation has been made.The only other players to succeed at the plate were outfielder Dante Brinkley (.316, 6 HR, 30 RBI), and infielder Tyler Davidson (.295, 6 HR, 45 RBI). Both arrived in Coney Island after struggling mightily at Class-A Capital City (one level above Brooklyn), and at 23- and 24-years-old, respectively, may arrive in Queens as nothing more than utility players.Nineteen-year-old pitcher Edgar Alfonzo (3-2, 3.21) may be the player most likely to wear a Mets uniform, if only for his age and his pedigree. The nephew of former Mets infielder Edgardo Alfonzo and son of former Cyclone manager and Met farmhand Edgar Alfonzo, Edgar Jr. doesn’t throw particularly hard, but has always found ways of getting batters out. And with that surname, the Mets will no doubt give him all the chances he needs to succeed.As for those relying solely on their arms, Joseph Williams, the Mets’ 17thround pick out of St. Xavier, heads the pack. Williams’s solid 7.68 K/9 IP rate, sparkling 2.28 ERA, and reliable left arm give him a good shot of moving up quickly, either as a back-end starter or middle reliever.Michael Devaney, 22, had a breathtaking year on the mound, recording a 1.95 ERA in 69.1 innings and going unbeaten in 14 starts with a 5-0 record. While he’ll have to move quickly to make a great impact at the major-league level, those numbers at the least bear watching.The team’s best prospect is one of the top three in the organization – even if he never took the mound at Keyspan Park. Phil Humber, the Mets’ first pick this June out of Rice, has what he calls the best curveball in the country, and many agree with him. Unfortunately, few Mets fans have seen it. The 21-year-old right-hander has yet to sign with the club. If he had done so earlier, he would almost certainly have stopped at Coney Island.While the major leaguers have struggled, Brooklyn’s success has almost become commonplace. Even this year, when their bats were not exactly stellar, the Cyclones found ways to win.First-year skipper Tony Tijerina has emerged as a great minor league manager, though he won’t be a candidate to replace Art Howe quite yet. While most of his players will never find their way to Shea, the aforementioned few represent a flicker of buoyancy – and for a troubled franchise, any glimmers of hope look like a fireworks display.***C YCLONES TOP DRAWBrooklyn outdrew every other New York-Penn League team in attendance, beating second-place Aberdeen by nearly 2,000 per game at 7,952, and leading the total attendance race at 294, 229 in 37 home dates.

Glimmers of Hope as Cyclones Conclude Season

Glimmers of Hope as Cyclones Conclude Season

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