Play’s the Thing: It’s the lament of an August swoon: “We can’t hit!” cried one fan. “We’re falling apart!” said another. Were these expressions of abject pessimism coming from fans of the New York Mets, cellar dwellers in the Eastern Division of the National League? Were these cries of futility pouring forth from fans of the last-place Staten Island Yankees? Comment.

Play’s the Thing: The old expression goes: “Where were you when the lights went out? Down in the cellar eating sauerkraut,” On Thursday night, Aug. 14, the answers to the above question for many Brooklynites were varied. But when the lights went out for 50 million people in the northeast United States and southeast Canada, where were the members of the greater Cyclones community — the players, fans and staff of Brooklyn’s professional baseball team? Comment.

Play’s the Thing: The Cyclones are a Southern team — southern Brooklyn, anyway — and following the heritage of Brooklyn baseball, a southern gentleman has been painting a picture of the games on the radio. Comment.

Play’s the Thing: Don Zimmer, the New York Yankees bench coach, is the last player from the Brooklyn Dodgers who is still in uniform every day. Soon a new person with Brooklyn on his resume will be in the majors. Comment.

Play’s the Thing: Two’s company, three’s a crowd, and four … well four’s a baseball team. Comment.

Play’s the Thing: Brooklyn invaded Otsego County, N. Y., this past weekend. Patrick Witt played general to his band of 50-plus Brooklyn Cyclones fans who left the county of Kings on Saturday for a bus incursion to Oneonta, N.Y. — population 13,292 — and home of the Tigers. Comment.

Play’s the Thing: When Bud Abbott and Lou Costello did their famous “Who’s On First?” routine, they used several different versions. They would tailor their skit for different performances — having five, seven and nine-minute versions — and, with various ad libs, the piece almost never came out the same way twice. Comment.

Play’s the Thing: Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ed Roebuck was gazing at the walls of the Brooklyn Baseball Gallery in Keyspan Park, a gem of a place run by the Brooklyn Cyclones. Roebuck and some other old Dodgers came to Coney Island Friday night to check out the display, meet the next generation of Brooklyn ballplayers, and have dinner with some fans. Comment.