Obviously, being in the playoffs in the Class A New York Penn League isn’t the same as it is in the majors. Bobby Ojeda has been to both, so he should know.
“I’ve enjoyed coaching and preparing for these playoffs more than at the major-league level,” said the pitching coach for the Brooklyn Cyclones, before they faced the Staten Island Yankees in the first game of the league’s postseason last night at Richmond County Park. The winner of the three-game set plays the Williamsport-Jamestown survivor for the title.
Ojeda then considered his statement before speaking again. “It would be wonderful to win this whole thing, but this really is a totally different animal,” he said.
Ojeda is experiencing it with a former teammate from the 1986 World Series-winning Mets, Howard Johnson.
“If you had told me then that this is where we would be 15 years later, I would never have believed you,” Ojeda said. “A year ago, I wouldn’t have believed you. Being with Hojo has been the best part.”
Both were key elements to the Mets’ championship season and have played an instrumental role in guiding the Cyclones to the best regular-season record in the league.
“It wouldn’t have been as much fun without Bobby,” said Johnson, the squad’s hitting instructor. “We were pretty tight when we played, and I think we’ve been able to impart some knowledge to the players.”
While Johnson harped on the fact that this league is about development, but he acknowledged that success is very important.
“Even at Class A, we’ve told the guys that this is a job that they have to take seriously,” Johnson said. “Part of that is winning. Nothing beats winning a World Series, but this kind of experience is invaluable in teaching them how to do it.”
Johnson also admitted that their opponents were important.
“To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,” Johnson said. “Even though this is the minors, it’s still a rivalry and they are a great organization.”
The two have been careful not to lecture their young players about the good old days too much, but that doesn’t mean they ignore the subject entirely.
“We have conversations ourselves when we talk about certain things in a way that the guys can hear it,” Ojeda said. “You can’t talk about it unless you’ve been there and done it.”
Both former players came into this situation with trepidation. They discussed working together at a baseball card show in January.
“Neither of us had any idea what we were getting into,” Johnson said. “But it’s been a blast.”
Nothing has been better than knowing that they were getting a chance to win another title together.
“There’s no doubt that our job is to get these players ready for the next level,” Johnson said. “But winning is fun and these guys are really excited about that.”
So are the coaches.
“Right now, I’m still known as being part of that one championship team,” Ojeda said. “That’s the way it is when you’ve only won two Series, not like that other team in the city. I’d love to be a part of another one.”