John From Albany - Interview with Brooklyn Cyclones' Manager Ed Blankmeyer

 

Before Brooklyn took on the Hudson Valley Renegades on August 7^th, I got a chance to talk to Cyclones’ Manager Ed Blankmeyer.  Ed, the former Head Coach at St. John’s University is in his first year as the Brooklyn Manager.

JFA: So far, how do you like it here in Brooklyn.

Ed Blankmeyer: Brooklyn is great.  The Fans are great.  Atmosphere is great. A Great experience, not just for me and the coaching staff.  It’s been a great experience for the young Mets.

JFA: What is the biggest difference between here and college?

Ed Blankmeyer: There’s a couple differences, one is obviously the [college] season is much shorter. A 56-regular season versus a 120-game season, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish…that’s one thing. From a development perspective – in collegiate baseball – you are looking to win baseball games and get into a conference tournament.  That’s the highlight of the season.  In professional ball at the lower levels, minor league ball, it’s about the development of players.  We are not putting winning behind us but the priority is development and getting players the opportunity to be evaluated, to make a determination of who advances, and who could be a major league player. 

JFA: What are the types of things do you try to instill in your players to try and develop them?

Ed Blankmeyer: First of all, how to play the game the right way.  How to be a fundamentally sound baseball player.  The players that have advanced, have the skill sets to advance but they achieved success at a level and they have shown consistency - that’s the major key – you want to see them make the necessary changes – you want to see some consistency in their approach…but the bottom line as a manager is to teach them to play the game the right way.  To teach them how to be a professional baseball player.  That’s just not on the field.  That’s off the field as well.

JFA: Is there an overall philosophy that the organizations tried to instill to all the minor league teams? 

Ed Blankmeyer: Obviously, the organization is looking at the different data that is out there -  you’re taking a player’s strengths – you’re evaluating what they need to improve on based on the data that is provided. Everybody gets caught up in some of the data – sometimes it gets misinterpreted.  But you take a look at a player – you see what he brings to the table – you see if you can enhance that ability with the data that is provided that – from a pitching perspective – from a hitting perspective - every player has a plan – how they execute that plan – their development plan - is going to determine where they go –

JFA: What has been the biggest challenge this year for you and the team?

Ed Blankmeyer: My challenge and organizational challenge is keeping players healthy, getting a fair evaluation of the players and hopefully preparing them for a regular baseball season next year.  This is not the typical baseball season.  Minor league season started late.  It’s condensed.  These guys haven’t played in over a year and a half.  So, you have to monitor the work, you want to make sure they are healthy, and you want to make sure they are progressing and getting a good evaluation of the talent you have in the organization moving forward.  

JFA: One of the things you mentioned that has got to be a big challenge – making sure everyone gets enough opportunities – especially this year with two less farm teams – it seems like all the rosters are very packed -  how do you try to give everyone an opportunity? 

Ed Blankmeyer: You try to be as fair as possible. The players that don’t get as many opportunities as other players have to take advantage when they get the opportunity.

JFA: This is a very tough park to score runs in because of the ocean being so close – is there anything you do to counteract that?  Maybe have players hit the other way?

Ed Blankmeyer: You don’t want to change their swing. It’s more of a pitcher’s ballpark.  Ronnie’s ball the other night was a missile.  In order to hit a ball out, you better hit a low line drive with a little heat on it.  It’s a tough ballpark to hit in and we take that into account. Sometimes it can become psychological when you hit balls and don’t get rewarded for it.

JFA: I’d like to ask you about your impressions about cert players and what they need to do to get to the next level – starting with Ronnie Mauricio –

Ed Blankmeyer: Ronnie is a special talent – tremendous upside – he’s become a special defensive player – sometimes he tried to do too much.  Offensively – great upside with the bat – like everyone else he has to learn the strike zone – as a switch hitter – that might take longer.  But very, very, special player.

JFA: You talked about his defense and sometimes he tried to do too much – do you see him staying at Shortstop?

Ed Blankmeyer: Yes I do.  He’s a shortstop.  His range is very good.  His arm is a plus.  Very good hands. The way you evaluate a shortstop – can he go in the hole and throw someone out – the answer is clearly yes – the world is his oyster –

JFA: What about Francisco Alvarez?

Ed Blankmeyer: The Baby Bull? He’s a young guy that obviously has not yet played a played a full season.  He’s passionate - high energy guy.  He is wired differently in a good way – he’s 100 Miles per hour – all the time – I use the word pacing with him – not in a negative way – sometimes he has to back down a little bit – he’s a fire cracker- he’s ready to explode all the time – typical of a young guy – catching is a prime position – he no doubt has the skills – it’s learning his trade behind the plate – learning how to call a game which he is becoming a better game caller – his receiving has improved – his blocking has improved – his throwing – he has a good arm – but again he has to work at it.  Now his bat – like Ronnie – the ball comes off his bat special – like anything else – as you move up the levels – you have to learn how to hit – when people make mistakes and it’s in the zone – he can do damage – he has a lot of home runs this year and he’s playing a prime position.  We have to monitor him, he’s a young guy, first full season, again big prospect at a premium position - -

JFA: Justin Lasko –

Ed Blankmeyer: He knows how to pitch – work effort and preparation is spot on – he knows how to execute – he knows  how to attack weaknesses with his strengths and he’s a competitor – he’s a bull dog – I think he showed that he is no doubt a quality started in High A – he’s another guy that is ready to move to another level – (Note: Justin Lasko was promoted to AA shortly after this interview)

A lot of credit goes to Ricky Meinhold our pitching coordinator and Royce Ring has done a nice job with a lot of our guys because he’s here on a day to day basis.

As a manager you don’t want to lose guys but it’s about the player getting an opportunity to advance.

JFA: Brian Metoyer –

Ed Blankmeyer: Brian has come off an injury.  He’s been electric and everything is spot on.  We are just cautious with him and making sure he gets the proper rest but he’s performed extremely well – just a little more trust in his off speed stuff and I think he can be a special talent. 

JFA: Bryce Montes de Oca  –

Ed Blankmeyer: What can you say about him.  You have two guys on the same team that can throw over 100 miles per hour.  I don’t think many organizations have that and we have a minor league team with two.  Both those guys – it is fastball command – once the achieve that and the consistency of the breaking ball – both those guys get back in the count with the breaking ball.  If they can put both together – then you have something special and I think it is there. 

JFA: Lots of great information.  Anything you’d like to add? 

Ed Blankmeyer: Just understand for our Mets fan base, that we have good young men here.  They’re working hard, hang with us a little bit, the bottom line is that we want to provide resources for the big club.