After seeing the contributions of Brooklyn Cyclones alumni in the first week of the 2008 season, anyone who still says that Brooklyn is bad for player development isn't paying close enough attention.
In the recent past, some so-called minor league "experts" have said that the Brooklyn Cyclones organization, the Short Season affiliate of the New York Mets, isn’t good for player development. After watching the opening Mets-Marlins series that features 4 Cyclones alumni on the collective rosters, I’d have to think that the "experts" have inserted foot into mouth.
As Brooklyn enters its eighth season, there have been 17 former Cyclones that have made it to "The Show". The most recognizable ones being Mets outfielder Angel Pagan and reliever Joe Smith, Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs, Tampa's ace lefty Scott Kazmir, and KC's Brian Bannister (who opened 2008 with a complete game shutout win.).
Recently, Pagan has been tearing it up for the Mets. After a torrid spring, Pagan has a .400 batting average with four RBIs and two doubles for the Mets in their first three contests. While Jacobs hasn’t had the same breakout performance as he did when he exploded on the scene with the Mets, an injury shortened 2007 saw Jacobs have a .265 batting average with 17 homers, 27 doubles and 54 RBIs. Both Pagan and Jacobs played for the Cyclones in 2001 where they were considered to be among the more promising prospects on the team. Pagan and Jacobs had averages of .315 and .288 respectively, with Jacobs showing off his power, and Pagan being the speed demon on the basepaths.
Looking at their past stats and present performance, I don’t see how anyone can say that Brooklyn is bad for player development.
If you're still not convinced, look at the pitchers from Brooklyn that have made it to the majors. It is obvious that there is no detriment to having pitchers perform in the pressure cooker that is Brooklyn. Kazmir, Bannister and Smith are all pitching in the majors now for Tampa Bay, Kansas City and the Mets respectively. These hurlers raced through the rest of the Mets farm teams after playing in Brooklyn. Bannister made it to the Mets within three years, Kazmir made it to the Majors in two years and Smith got to "The Show" in a year. Now, math was never my strong point (just ask my 10th grade Trig teacher), but it seems to me that one, two or three years aren’t long periods of time, especially when compared to other players who waited half their careers to make it to just one appearance in the Major Leagues.
Add to this that these pitchers are not just treading water - they're thriving. Kazmir, currently on the DL to open 2008, led the AL in strikeouts at age 23, and is expected to again be among the American League's top power arms. Smith and his sidearm delievery was a main reason for the Mets' early success in the first half of 2007 - his first full professional season - at age 22. Bannister has succeeded against all odds (and predictions by statistics junkies) in Kansas City at age 26. Just a few more facts to debunk the naysayers.
I guess I once could've seen some of the naysaysers' points when it came to Brooklyn. Anyone who frequents Keyspan Park can see that it isn’t your average Short Season A experience. There is more of a big league atmosphere like more media coverage and, some have said, more pressure to win since they are so close to their parent team and because of the fan base's insatiable demands for a winning product. Yes, at a first glance, this may seem intimidating and maybe even unnecessary considering the level of play in Brooklyn. But, the results contradict that assertion. Players that have played in Brooklyn are succeeding, and seem to respond well to the atmosphere.
There is something to be said about teaching players not only their on-the-field skills, but what it takes to win when the chips are down.
Brooklyn bad for development? I think not - and I am going to safely assume that seventeen major leaguers feel the same.
