It’s a process. That’s really all you can say about the Cyclones start of the season. But you have to hope things are turning the corner.
In the past 48 hours, the Cyclones had a fifty percent increase in wins, after taking the opener of a double header yesterday in Staten Island and then coming back and beating the first place Yankees again today, 6-4.
So, at 6-14 after 20 games, you have to think there is some hope for this club. Sure, Short-Season-A is designed for player development, but doesn’t that include winning.
“I think winning games is a big part of player development,” said Cyclones manager Edgardo Alfonzo.
Amen.
In all honesty, Brooklyn got a raw deal here when it came to the 2017 schedule. For some odd reason, the Cyclones have been playing more road games early on in the season and haven’t had a long homestand.
For a Major League team, this isn’t that big of a deal and in fact, sometimes manager prefer long road trips early on to build team unity. In the lower levels of the minors, though, not so much.
Many of the Cyclones have not played on the professional level for more than a season. They need to learn how to deal with the professional game. Being on the road with long bus rides takes away time from education with the coaching staff.
“We can’t do grounders or pop fly drills, because we are getting in so late on the bus rides,” Alfonzo said. “This isn’t an easy stadium to play in, so we have to learn to play here.”
MCU Park is basically a throwback to old Candlestick Park in San Francisco. It swirling winds make fly balls an adventure, as evidenced by a dropped fly ball by Quinn Brody in the fourth inning of today’s game. These players must learn how to play in these tough conditions, being on the road isn’t doing them any favors.
The good news is that the Cyclones will be playing more at home later in the season. By then it could be too late for a winning season, but you never know.
“Whomever did the schedule, didn’t do us any favors,” Alfonzo said.
Right now, though, it’s just too early to count the Cyclones out or even anoint Staten Island as the champion with their great record.
It’s a process, though, Alfonzo knows it and he needs more time with these young players to make them successful.
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