Live Scouting: Amed Rosario and the Brooklyn Cyclones

I had the pleasure to attend the Thursday matchup between the Aberdeen Ironbirds (Orioles) and the Brooklyn Cyclones on 6/26 and was able to see some of the talent in the Mets system first hand.  I highly recommend going out to MCU park and watching the Cyclones play, it’s a very good time.  You’ll even see an old face, Edgardo Alfonzo, coaching from first base.

I had the additional pleasure of seeing the Cyclones win a game where they outplayed their opponents on all sides of the ball but one.  The third base coach for Brooklyn needs to get some fundamentals.  Twice, with 1 away and the infield in, the coach sent less than speedy runners home on ground balls that left them easily dead to rights.  Let’s move onto the players:

Tucker Tharp – Had himself a pair of hits, one on a slow roller that the shortstop couldn’t throw him out in time (barehand play would have worked) and the other a solid double down the left field line on a broken bat.  Tharp also took out one of the Beach Bums (the dancers) in the first inning with a foul ball.

Amed Rosario – Was 1 for 5 on the night and reached base on a couple of different errors as the evening wore on.  He looks good in the field and can swing hard, but he also swings right out of his shoes.  He was responsible for the ugliest swings of the night for either team.  I’m not sure he’s ready for the level the Mets have him at.  He’d be well served by (at least) a full year in Savannah next season.

Jhoan Urena – Was only 1 for 5 but hit the ball very hard in 4 of those at bats.  He’s also a very smooth and sharp third baseman.  I was very impressed with Urena (whose first name is pronounced like Johan) on both sides of the ball and for some heads up base running in the bottom of the third to retake the lead.

Michael Katz – The Left fielder for the Cyclones was entertaining to watch.  His first hit was a towering fly ball that was perfectly placed in no-man’s land.  He didn’t hustle and only got to first.  He was later picked off by the pitcher.  What you’ll love about Katz is that whenever he does anything well they play cat videos on the scoreboard.

Michael Bernal – Started in Right Field and I expected him to look the best at bat, but he’s really not anything to write home about.  He also nearly got tossed in the first for arguing balls and strikes.  He was on base once with a HBP.

Tomas Nido – Is another player whose line does not reflect the way he swung the bat.  He was sharp at the plate and made good contact in most at bats.  He simply hit it where Ironbird players could field them.

Jeff Diehl – Was responsible for another of the Cyclone’s four doubles.  Diehl looked very good at the plate and around first base.  He’s got plenty of room on his frame to build muscle too.

Adrian Abreu – Was the DH and is still without a hit on the season.  He reached on a walk, the only one drawn by the Cyclones all night.  Abreu’s swing is good but he wasn’t putting the ball in play.

Dimas Ponce – Did his job well.  He played good defense and even knocked a double.  He’s not a hitter, so his .105 batting average doesn’t bother me.

Casey Meisner – Started for the Cyclones and was very good.  Meisner mixed his fastball and changeup heavily (almost to an even ratio) through his six innings and spotted his slider only occasionally.  His line looks very dominant, but the reality was less so.  His velocity is ho hum and he gave up two blasts when his pitch wasn’t on its mark.  He’s good, but probably not someone to pencil in at the major league level.

Mike Hepple – Threw two scoreless innings of relief without incident.  His strikeout I’ll credit to umpire theatrics.

Brad Wieck – Finished things out and was very impressive.  His fastball had as much zip as any pitcher featured that evening and seemed to move a fair amount as well.  Either way, the Ironbirds couldn’t touch it.

Humor For The Evening

Riley Palmer: I believe that’s Arnold Palmer’s grandson.  The golfer?  No, the drink.

Jamil Moquette: These moquettes are delicious, but so fattening.

Tanner Murphy: Whose he tanner than?  Alex Murphy?

Tad Gold: He’s only a tad gold.  He’s mostly copper.

Cory Segui: Is that David’s son?  No, it’s his father…

Tucker Tharp: Twyla’s younger brother.

Jhoan Urena: But he pronounces it, “Kevin”

Tomas Nido: Whose family was so poor they needed to sell the H from his first name.

Jeff Diehl: Who failed to earn the hosting gig from Howie Mandel due to a spelling error, ‘Diehl or no Diehl’