GaryMrMets
09-10-2003, 08:04 AM
WORKING PRESS ONLY Cyclones pitcher Brian Bannister was on the field at Shea Stadium on September 8th, but not in uniform. Instead of baseball, Bannister was pursuing his other love -- photography. Brian studied photography at USC (when not pitching in the College World Series), and is a dedicated amateur photographer. He was granted access to the Mets' photo booth, where he shot some images with the team's chief photographer, Marc Levine. "I've taken a camera to some of my team's special games before, and shot from the dugout," said Bannister, "but never a big league game. This was just amazing." Brian hopes that a combination of his two careers will bring him to many more big league ballparks in the future!
http://www.brooklyncyclones.com/new/bannister01.jpg
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09/08/2003 7:46 PM ET
Notes: Bannister boosts Brooklyn
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Brian Bannister pitched in the College World Series when he was at The University of Southern California. Monday afternoon at Shea Stadium, he was quick to point out that the prestigious NCAA event was a great deal like what he's been experiencing with the Brooklyn Cyclones.
Bannister, whose father Floyd won 134 games over a 15-year career, was on hand as the Class A Cyclones took a break from The New York-Penn League playoffs. A seventh-round pick in the June draft, Bannister pitched a pair of scoreless innings Sunday evening as the Cyclones ousted Oneonta in the opening round.
Brooklyn will begin the championship series Wednesday at Williamsport, Pa., before the series shifts back to KeySpan Park for the second and third game, if necessary.
"I got to pitch in the College World Series three times and this is the closest thing to the College World Series that I've been a part of," said Bannister, who was 4-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 12 games (nine starts) this season despite missing three weeks with a sore arm. "It's the closest thing you can get to the Major Leagues with the intensity and pressure. It was fun last night and it went down to the wire.
"Playing for Brooklyn, you have the feel of playing for a big-league team. It's fun. The front office treats you like Major Leaguers and that carries onto the field. I couldn't be happier with my first year in pro baseball."
Bannister was 6-5 with a 4.53 ERA in 18 games, 14 of which were starts, at USC. That might of contributed to the tired arm he experienced as the regular season drew to close. He's pitched over 200 innings in the last 12 months with Sunday's game being his first appearance since suffering the sore arm last month in Batavia. Bannister, a converted infielder, has only been pitching for three seasons so the Mets will be cautious and probably keep him out of the Instructional League and Winter Ball.
As for the Cyclones, they were set to face Williamsport for the league title two years ago but the series was called off after 9/11 with the two-teams finishing as co-champions after Brooklyn won Game 1. Tickets are still available for Games 2 and 3, all seats at KeySpan Park. Tickets can be purchased at the KeySpan box office or by calling 718-507-TIXX.
Ah, the memories: Bannister and Mets second baseman Danny Garcia were already well acquainted before Bannister arrived at Shea on Monday. Garcia was at Pepperdine when Bannister was at USC and the two waged more than few battles playing in the Alaskan Summer League as well during the college season.
Garcia was one of the league's hottest hitters and Bannister -- who played for the league's Hawaiian entry -- decided that he was going to give the infielder the Barry Bonds treatment.
"We always respected him," Bannister said. "He was one of the best hitters in the league. We couldn't get him out so we just hit him. We were trying to get to him, maybe get him into a cold streak. I hit him two times in a row but he probably doesn't even remember that."
Well, actually ... "I had a couple of good summers up there and everyone was gunning for me," Garcia said. "Not that they were intentionally trying to hit me but they knew when I was coming up. I was a target because I played hard and at that level they couldn't get me out. They would try to take out the second baseman, too, and I guess it got frustrating on the opposite end."
Garcia is looking to recapture some of that magic now. He was 1-for-13 in four games against Philadelphia over the weekend and his batting average is down to .150 after a hot start with the club last week.
Who was that?: Pedro Astacio was back in Queens Monday, if only for an evening or two. The Mula, who underwent season-ending surgery on his right rotator cuff and labrum in June, was at Shea so he could be examined by Dr. Joseph Bosco, the associate team physician. Astacio, who is a free agent after this season, says he will begin playing catch either this week or next week.
Astacio has been rehabbing and receiving treatment in Port St. Lucie. He says he feels good and he's spending time focusing on his arm and getting it healthy, not worrying about where he will be pitching next season. It's unlikely the Mets will re-sign him.
"I'll have time to think about that later," Astacio said. "I just want to start throwing now, see how I feel and get stronger."
Wait another day: Class A St. Lucie dropped the third game of the Florida State League championship series to Dunedin, 13-5, on Monday. David Wright and Frank Corr (two RBIs) each had two hits for St. Lucie, who will send Scott Kazmir to the mound Tuesday in Game 4 at Dunedin, Fla.
The Mets are seeking their fourth FSL title in their 16-year history. St. Lucie also won in 1988, its first year in the league, as well as 1996 and '98. Dunedin has been in the league 19 years and has yet to win a title.
Great Scott: The United States Olympic Team has reportedly expressed interest in Kazmir, the Mets' former No. 1 pick. The US squad will be playing in the Americas Qualifying Event in Panama in November with the top two teams in the 12-team event will qualify for next year's summer Olympics in Athens.
This was Kazmir's first full season of professional ball and he has already thrown 113 1/3 innings. The Mets might grant Kazmir permission to play, but he would likely be on a very limited pitch count.
The South Korean National Team made a similar request of Jae Weong Seo last month. Since Seo was on the Major League roster after Aug. 31 he would need special permission, not only from the Mets, but from Major League Baseball as well. Kazmir would require only the Mets' approval.
Goings and comings: Home plate umpire Greg Gibson threw Roger Cedeño out of Monday's game in the first inning when the right fielder jawed with him from the dugout after striking out. It was the second time in eight days Cedeño got tossed for arguing balls and strikes. He also got the ejected on Aug. 31 in the ninth inning against the Phillies.
Prentice Redman replaced Cedeño in the batting order and took over in centerfield with Raul Gonzalez moving to right. Redman later turned in a fantastic defensive play in the fifth, making a spectacular catch on a Miguel Cabrera drive. Redman dove while running at full speed and snared the ball on the backhand while fully extended in mid-air.
Photo op: Bannister was originally supposed to come to Shea Stadium on Aug. 14 but couldn't get into the ballpark because of the blackout. He was going to meet up with Mets team photographer Marc Levine and shoot the game from the first-base photo box. So, Monday night he got the chance to shoot some pictures during the game alongside Levine.
Minor notes: The Mets announced their organizational Base Runner of the Year Awards. Esix Snead took home the honor at Triple-A Norfolk after setting the club's single-season stolen base record with 61. Jeff Duncan has spent quite a bit of time with the parent club, but he also spent half a season with Double-A Binghamton where he stole 24 bases in 76 games, tying for the team lead with Ron Acuna, who played in 125 games. It was the second such award for Duncan, who won in 2001 with Class A Capital City. This year Corey Ragsdale took home the crown at Cap City, stealing 31 bases. He won last year while at Brooklyn. This season Jonathon Slack won for Brooklyn, stealing 17 bases. Jamar Hill stole 14 bases to win kudos for Class A Kingsport.
St. Lucie's Wayne Lydon swiped a Florida State League-leading 75 bases to set a club record and earn his second award. He won last year at Cap City. Lydon was honored with the Brian Cole Memorial Baserunning Award, given out each year to a player in the organization in memory of the late outfielder and top Mets prospect.
This and that: Duncan was out of the lineup Monday, still suffering the effects of neck/back spasms that KO'd him Sunday night. He is day-to-day though Mets manager Art Howe said he would pick Duncan's spot the rest of the way anyway because of how he is struggling at the plate. Duncan was examined by team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases and all tests were negative. ... Howe added that Garcia's appearance in the outfield Sunday night was only because it was an emergency and that it wouldn't happen again. "It was an emergency situation, so it was him or me," Howe said. "And I liked him a little better than me." ... The seven homers by Mets outfielders since the All-Star break is the fewest in the Major Leagues.
Kevin T. Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://www.brooklyncyclones.com/new/bannister01.jpg
====================
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nym/news/nym_news.jsp?ymd=20030908&content_id=517626&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyn
09/08/2003 7:46 PM ET
Notes: Bannister boosts Brooklyn
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Brian Bannister pitched in the College World Series when he was at The University of Southern California. Monday afternoon at Shea Stadium, he was quick to point out that the prestigious NCAA event was a great deal like what he's been experiencing with the Brooklyn Cyclones.
Bannister, whose father Floyd won 134 games over a 15-year career, was on hand as the Class A Cyclones took a break from The New York-Penn League playoffs. A seventh-round pick in the June draft, Bannister pitched a pair of scoreless innings Sunday evening as the Cyclones ousted Oneonta in the opening round.
Brooklyn will begin the championship series Wednesday at Williamsport, Pa., before the series shifts back to KeySpan Park for the second and third game, if necessary.
"I got to pitch in the College World Series three times and this is the closest thing to the College World Series that I've been a part of," said Bannister, who was 4-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 12 games (nine starts) this season despite missing three weeks with a sore arm. "It's the closest thing you can get to the Major Leagues with the intensity and pressure. It was fun last night and it went down to the wire.
"Playing for Brooklyn, you have the feel of playing for a big-league team. It's fun. The front office treats you like Major Leaguers and that carries onto the field. I couldn't be happier with my first year in pro baseball."
Bannister was 6-5 with a 4.53 ERA in 18 games, 14 of which were starts, at USC. That might of contributed to the tired arm he experienced as the regular season drew to close. He's pitched over 200 innings in the last 12 months with Sunday's game being his first appearance since suffering the sore arm last month in Batavia. Bannister, a converted infielder, has only been pitching for three seasons so the Mets will be cautious and probably keep him out of the Instructional League and Winter Ball.
As for the Cyclones, they were set to face Williamsport for the league title two years ago but the series was called off after 9/11 with the two-teams finishing as co-champions after Brooklyn won Game 1. Tickets are still available for Games 2 and 3, all seats at KeySpan Park. Tickets can be purchased at the KeySpan box office or by calling 718-507-TIXX.
Ah, the memories: Bannister and Mets second baseman Danny Garcia were already well acquainted before Bannister arrived at Shea on Monday. Garcia was at Pepperdine when Bannister was at USC and the two waged more than few battles playing in the Alaskan Summer League as well during the college season.
Garcia was one of the league's hottest hitters and Bannister -- who played for the league's Hawaiian entry -- decided that he was going to give the infielder the Barry Bonds treatment.
"We always respected him," Bannister said. "He was one of the best hitters in the league. We couldn't get him out so we just hit him. We were trying to get to him, maybe get him into a cold streak. I hit him two times in a row but he probably doesn't even remember that."
Well, actually ... "I had a couple of good summers up there and everyone was gunning for me," Garcia said. "Not that they were intentionally trying to hit me but they knew when I was coming up. I was a target because I played hard and at that level they couldn't get me out. They would try to take out the second baseman, too, and I guess it got frustrating on the opposite end."
Garcia is looking to recapture some of that magic now. He was 1-for-13 in four games against Philadelphia over the weekend and his batting average is down to .150 after a hot start with the club last week.
Who was that?: Pedro Astacio was back in Queens Monday, if only for an evening or two. The Mula, who underwent season-ending surgery on his right rotator cuff and labrum in June, was at Shea so he could be examined by Dr. Joseph Bosco, the associate team physician. Astacio, who is a free agent after this season, says he will begin playing catch either this week or next week.
Astacio has been rehabbing and receiving treatment in Port St. Lucie. He says he feels good and he's spending time focusing on his arm and getting it healthy, not worrying about where he will be pitching next season. It's unlikely the Mets will re-sign him.
"I'll have time to think about that later," Astacio said. "I just want to start throwing now, see how I feel and get stronger."
Wait another day: Class A St. Lucie dropped the third game of the Florida State League championship series to Dunedin, 13-5, on Monday. David Wright and Frank Corr (two RBIs) each had two hits for St. Lucie, who will send Scott Kazmir to the mound Tuesday in Game 4 at Dunedin, Fla.
The Mets are seeking their fourth FSL title in their 16-year history. St. Lucie also won in 1988, its first year in the league, as well as 1996 and '98. Dunedin has been in the league 19 years and has yet to win a title.
Great Scott: The United States Olympic Team has reportedly expressed interest in Kazmir, the Mets' former No. 1 pick. The US squad will be playing in the Americas Qualifying Event in Panama in November with the top two teams in the 12-team event will qualify for next year's summer Olympics in Athens.
This was Kazmir's first full season of professional ball and he has already thrown 113 1/3 innings. The Mets might grant Kazmir permission to play, but he would likely be on a very limited pitch count.
The South Korean National Team made a similar request of Jae Weong Seo last month. Since Seo was on the Major League roster after Aug. 31 he would need special permission, not only from the Mets, but from Major League Baseball as well. Kazmir would require only the Mets' approval.
Goings and comings: Home plate umpire Greg Gibson threw Roger Cedeño out of Monday's game in the first inning when the right fielder jawed with him from the dugout after striking out. It was the second time in eight days Cedeño got tossed for arguing balls and strikes. He also got the ejected on Aug. 31 in the ninth inning against the Phillies.
Prentice Redman replaced Cedeño in the batting order and took over in centerfield with Raul Gonzalez moving to right. Redman later turned in a fantastic defensive play in the fifth, making a spectacular catch on a Miguel Cabrera drive. Redman dove while running at full speed and snared the ball on the backhand while fully extended in mid-air.
Photo op: Bannister was originally supposed to come to Shea Stadium on Aug. 14 but couldn't get into the ballpark because of the blackout. He was going to meet up with Mets team photographer Marc Levine and shoot the game from the first-base photo box. So, Monday night he got the chance to shoot some pictures during the game alongside Levine.
Minor notes: The Mets announced their organizational Base Runner of the Year Awards. Esix Snead took home the honor at Triple-A Norfolk after setting the club's single-season stolen base record with 61. Jeff Duncan has spent quite a bit of time with the parent club, but he also spent half a season with Double-A Binghamton where he stole 24 bases in 76 games, tying for the team lead with Ron Acuna, who played in 125 games. It was the second such award for Duncan, who won in 2001 with Class A Capital City. This year Corey Ragsdale took home the crown at Cap City, stealing 31 bases. He won last year while at Brooklyn. This season Jonathon Slack won for Brooklyn, stealing 17 bases. Jamar Hill stole 14 bases to win kudos for Class A Kingsport.
St. Lucie's Wayne Lydon swiped a Florida State League-leading 75 bases to set a club record and earn his second award. He won last year at Cap City. Lydon was honored with the Brian Cole Memorial Baserunning Award, given out each year to a player in the organization in memory of the late outfielder and top Mets prospect.
This and that: Duncan was out of the lineup Monday, still suffering the effects of neck/back spasms that KO'd him Sunday night. He is day-to-day though Mets manager Art Howe said he would pick Duncan's spot the rest of the way anyway because of how he is struggling at the plate. Duncan was examined by team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases and all tests were negative. ... Howe added that Garcia's appearance in the outfield Sunday night was only because it was an emergency and that it wouldn't happen again. "It was an emergency situation, so it was him or me," Howe said. "And I liked him a little better than me." ... The seven homers by Mets outfielders since the All-Star break is the fewest in the Major Leagues.
Kevin T. Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.