BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP JUNE 16 – JUNE 22, 2017 45 Gamboa passes Cyclones managerial reins to Fonzie BY JIM DOLAN A er three years (2014-2016) as the manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones, “baseball lifer” 69-year-old Tom Gamboa is turning over the reins of the New York Mets Short Season-A minor league club to fi rst time manager Edgardo Alfonzo. Spending the past three years as the Cyclones bench coach, Alfonzo will have big shoes to fi ll in order to match his older brother Edgar, who was the Cyclones’ fi rst manager in Brooklyn’s inaugural 2001 season. That fi rst year in Coney Island was a magical season for the New York Mets’ new minor league franchise that fi nished with a 52-24 record, a high water mark that has not been matched or surpassed in the team’s 16-year history. Alfonzo will become the fi h former New York Met to manage the Cyclones in the 2017 season that starts June 19 against the Yankees in Staten Island. Other former Mets to manage in Brooklyn have been Howard Johnson in 2002, Tim Teufel in 2003, Mookie Wilson in 2005 and Wally Backman in 2010. The 43-year-old native Venezuelan comes well credentialed to manage the Cyclones after anchoring the infi eld for the Mets for the 1995 to 2002 seasons. In 1999, he was a part of “Major League Baseball’s Best Infi eld” that consisted of John Olerud at fi rst, Fonzie at second, Rey Ordonez at short and Robin Ventura at third. In 2000, Alfonzo had his best major league season, earning an All Star spot and fi nished the year batting .324, 25 home runs, 40 doubles and 94 RBIs. A er working with Fonzie over the past three years as his bench coach, Gamboa gave him his endorsement, stating, “He has the right experience and temperament for the job.” Additionally Gamboa stated, “He’s calm yet aggressive. He shares my philosophy, just don’t hope that something happens; make something happen!” Completing his stint as the Cyclone manager, Gamboa fondly looked back on his fi rst season when the team made a late August run to capture the Wild Card and was just edged out from the playo s on the last day of the season in Staten Island. For the 2017 season, former (2014-2016) Brooklyn Cyclone Manager Tom Gamboa (left) turns over the managerial reins to rst time manager Edgardo Alfonzo, who served as bench coach for the past three years. Besides the team fi nishing with a 42-34 record in 2014 for second place, Gamboa enjoyed seeing the growth of then-prospect and now New York Met Michael Conforto who gave a much-needed li to that 2014 team at mid-season. Besides Conforto, former scout Gamboa stated that another “can’t Photo by Jim Dolan miss” player will soon be coming to the New York Mets from that 2014 Cyclone team – “fi ve tool” shortstop Amed Rosario who is currently tearing it up in Triple-A Las Vegas. “Rosario along with Conforto will become cornerstones for the Mets for the next decade,” predicted a confi dent Gamboa. Crossword Across 1. Whimper 5. Beginning 10. Inevitably 14. Knowing, as a secret (2 wds) 15. Dabbler 17. They're tapped 18. Census collector 19. Ring bearer, maybe 20. The "p" in m.p.g. 21. Middle Eastern princes 22. House 24. Exchanged 27. Artist's asset 28. A fi sherman may spin one 29. Univ. of Nebraska-Kearney athlete 31. ___-bodied 32. Causes to be lost 37. Cares for a young bird 39. Curvature 40. Union of states under a central government 42. And others, for short 43. Found a new tenant for 44. Coastal raptor 45. Garfi eld, e.g. 48. Hook up 51. Catchall abbr. 52. Met expectations? 54. Basic monetary unit of Romania 55. Little bird 56. Nannies 59. Josip Broz, familiarly 60. Bows and curtseys 61. Field worker 62. Astronaut's insignia 63. Flip, in a way 64. Aims Down 1. Long pole with spearhead 2. Not safe to consume (food) 3. Pass legislation by exchanging favors 4. "Star Trek" rank: Abbr. 5. Crack 6. Lid or lip application 7. Words denoting more than one 8. Alter, in a way 9. Absorbed, as a cost 10. "Yes, ___" 11. Loosen, as laces 12. Alibi 13. Breviloquent 16. Exchange (2 wds) 23. Garden tool 25. Opportunities, so to speak 26. Erasable programmable read-only memory (acronym) 30. Cash in 32. Gave out 33. ___ of Langerhans 34. Food assimilation 35. Passed across or through 36. Choosers 38. Lubricates 41. Slanted typeface 45. Religious law 46. Caribbean cruise stop 47. Fatigues 49. Gives up 50. Brazen one 53. ___ Minor 57. More, in Madrid 58. "___ Ng" (They Might Be Giants song) 59. Not just "a" Answers rubbish removal ARIK J Rubbish Removal Low Prices Guaranteed Cleanouts, Basements, Attics, Yards FREE ESTIMATES 24-HOUR SERVICE AFFORDABLE RATES 877-668-3186 646-261-7019 VISIT BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM FOR THE LATEST LOCAL NEWS
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