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Holy Moises! Alou is a Cyclone!

Holy Moises! Alou is a Cyclone!
The Brooklyn Paper / Gary Thomas

Moises Alou, the Mets’ outfielder on the disabled list since May 13 with a strained left quadriceps, made a rehab appearance with the Cyclones on Sunday, July 22.

Alou played left-field for seven innings went 1-for-4 in the Clones victory over the Tri-City Valley Cats.

Alou, 41, a six-time All-Star with a lifetime batting average of .301, drove in a run with a groundout in the first inning and also had a single to center in the fourth inning.

His play in the outfield was uneventful.

After his removal from the game, Alou discussed how he felt (though not entirely honestly, as it turned out).

“After being out [for] two-and-a-half months, I felt a little rusty, but I was pleased with today’s work,” said Alou.

Alou analyzed the difference between major league pitching and the New York–Penn league variety.

“The pitchers throw just as fast,” he said, “but they need polish.”

The outfielder, the son of former major leaguer Felipe Alou and the nephew of big leaguers Matty and Jesus Alou, called his temporary return to the minors “a reality check.”

Brooklyn manager Edgar Alfonzo said Alou’s Cyclones teammates were excited to suit up with a major-leaguer.

“He’s a star, and they wanted to talk to him, and he encouraged them,” he said.

But the purpose of the day was Alou’s condition and performance.

“He looked good,” said the skipper. “He had some good at-bats, and he ran well.”

Maybe too well. Alou was supposed to return to the Mets on Tuesday, but he apparently strained his shoulder in his last at-bat and is now out indefinitely.

The good news, if there is any, is that perhaps another Cyclone rehab start is in Alou’s near future?

Cyclones: Then & Now

The 2001 Cyclones won the New York–Penn League Championship under the leadership of manager Edgar Alfonzo. Now that Fonzie is back, many fans are assuming that the 2007 Cyclones will repeat the franchise’s former glory. Here’s how this year’s team compares to that fabled squad:

2001

Record through 35 games: 24–11

Highlight of the week: Ross Peeples continued to dismantle opposing lineups, as he struck out six and allowed one unearned run in six innings on July 22. Joe Jiannetti hit two solo shots and had another RBI in a 7–1 thrashing of Staten Island.

2007

Record through 35 games: 25–10

Highlight of the week: The Clones crushed Tri-City 11–2 on July 21, thanks to breakout star Will Vogl, who is batting .303 and leads the team in stolen bases with nine. He hit his first home run in the third before driving in two in the sixth.