Earlier this year, new Cyclones manager Tim Teufel said he would make sure his players would be cleanly shaven and well dressed, but he didn’t mention anything about penmanship — until Monday.
While talking with reporters Monday morning, manager Teufel was clutching a baseball with some scribble on it.
While Teufel’s name could be clearly seen equidistance between the stitches, it was surrounded by what could only be described as chicken scratch.
What was going on? Could his players even write?
“I had to teach them how to sign the ball,” Teufel explained. “They were doing it all wrong, signing along the stitches and stuff.”
So Teufel, former Mets infielder, gave his players a crash course in the art of autographing.
“I told them, ‘You save this spot for the manager then keep everthing even,’” he said. “So now I’ve got an example to show them.”
Finally!
On Saturday, the Cyclones held their first practice at Keyspan Park, giving reporters their first chance to meet the manager and new players in person.
Some, like outfielder Seth Pietsch, were in Brooklyn for the first time.
“It’s a lot different than what I expected,” he said. “I come from Oregon, so I’m used to big mountains and big trees, and now I just see big buildings and a lot of people. So it’s a total cultural change for me.”
And getting here wasn’t that easy.
“I arrived this morning. I flew at 10 pm from Oregon, and I arrived here at 9 o’clock this morning New York time, so I haven’t eaten dinner yet,” he said. “I signed on Wednesday and I had a final [exam] on Friday. I had to wait until school was done.”
Duke who?
Between batting practice swings and his photography session with “Video” Vic Christopher, outfielder Ryan Harvey — who wears Duke Snider’s No. 4 — is asked if he knows who wore the number for the Dodgers. Harvey doesn’t know.
Of course, he was born 22 years after the Dodgers departed Brooklyn. So how did he end up with the number?
“I was going for number 15,” said the 6-foot, 190-pound Harvey. “But the jersey was a triple-X size, so I took No. 4.”
Luck of Hector
Hector Berrios, the new Cyclones pitching coach, grew up in the Bronx and played for James Monroe High School, the runner-up this year in the New York City Public School Athletic League’s A Division Championship, won by Tottenville.
Berrios was all-city as both a pitcher and center fielder for James Monroe. But, he said, he played a large part in the life of former Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo.
“Edgar and I were playing Double-A ball for Midland, Texas,” he recalled. “There was a pool party at the complex where we were staying, and we had a day off, so I asked Edgar if he wanted to go. He said, ‘No, I don’t want to go anywhere.’ So then I kind of pulled him there and he met his wife there, and now they have two beautiful children.”
Berrios later discussed the upcoming Brooklyn experience for his pitching staff.
“This is a unique situation here, with the fan base and the attention and all the media coverage,” he said. “Here, everything is magnified, so we have to teach the players how to conduct themselves both on and off the field. They have to be on their best behavior.”
Who’s a Bum!
Infielder Travis Garcia, who grew up in the Bronx and went to college at Iona, is excited to be playing on a Met farm club, despite the fact that he grew up with an allegiance to a certain rival.
“Growing up in the Bronx, my team was the Yankees,” he said. “But I’m a ‘Bum’ now.”
Asides
Warner Fusselle will be back broadcasting Cyclones games, which can be heard on Kingsborough Community College radio, WKRB-90.9 FM, and on the Internet at www.brooklyncyclones.com … Fox Sports Net will broadcast 10 Cyclones’ games this season on their MSG affiliate. Two additional games will be broadcast on Metro Channel. Fox Sports Net will broadcast the home opener on June 23 against the Staten Island Yankees. Game time is 7 pm … “Video” Vic Christopher is involved with a new television show. It’s called “The Brooklyn Cyclones’ Dugout Show.” In Brooklyn, the show can be seen on Channel 67, Cablevision, or on Time-Warner, Channel 34. The first show airs on Saturday, June 21 … Tim Teufel was the International League’s Most Valuable player when he played for the Toledo Mud Hens, who were, as Teufel describes it, “Klinger’s team.”
— Ed Shakespeare and Vince DiMiceli
June 23 , 2003 issue
