The greatest Cyclone to don the uniform and never take the field is back.
Tom Gamboa will helm the Clones for his third-straight season, team officials announced on Feb. 17. The take-no-bull headman admitted the squad’s lineup is up in the air, but said he’s excited to get to work.
“We have no idea who our players are going to be, of course, but I’m looking forward to it,” Gamboa said.
The Cyclones organization is coming off its first losing season in franchise history — an anemic offense scraped together a 33–43 record in 2015.
The team struggled, but straight-shooter Gamboa never minced words about his group’s performance in post-game interviews, and fans can expect the same candor from the 67-year-old skipper, he said.
“When you’ve been around as long as I have, there’s no better way to be than honest,” Gamboa said. “I was never one for the bull—- stuff.”
Fan-favorite Edgardo Alfonzo once again split duties as coach and club ambassador for the Mets — roles he has played for the last three years. Alfonzo was an All-Star in 2000, when the Mets won the National League pennant for the first time in 14 years.
There are some new faces on the staff, too. Pitching coach Bill Bryk Jr. is relieving the retired Dave LaRoche, and Gamboa said he is itching to teach the new trainer.
“It’ll be fun mentoring him,” Gamboa said.
Bryk Jr. coached hurlers in the Independent League’s Frontier Greys the last season and was a special-assignment scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks for the 2013–2014 season.
Sean Ratliff is the new hitting coach. The former Clone notched seven homers playing for Brooklyn in 2008, but a freak injury took him out of play on the cusp of his major-league break.
Gamboa is the second manager to lead the Cyclones for three straight seasons. Rich Donnelly led the team during the 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons.
Brooklyn’s Boys of Summer play their home opener against the hated Staten Island Yankees on June 17.
Tickets at the box office, online, and over the phone [1904 Surf Ave., brook
