Author: Vinny Messana

Regardless of how promising things get for the New York Mets, it always seems the dark cloud hangs over the collective heads of the franchise. After two straight dominating starts, their No. 1 prospect and No. 54 in MLB according to MLB.com, Steven Matz has been shut down due to a slightly torn lat muscle on his left side. It is unclear whether it was injured during his last start in Los Angeles, ...

It’s the seventh inning of a crucial conference game between Hofstra and James Madison University. The Pride’s starting pitcher began the game strong but has began to nibble around the corners too much and walked the lead off hitter to put the tying run at the plate. He has fallen behind the batter 2-0 and the lead is very much in danger. The pitching coach walks over to the bullpen ph...

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OClc6YJhYCU] Offense was hard to come by in today’s Hamptons League matinee match up between the Montauk Mustangs and Riverhead Tomcats. The game was scoreless into the top of the eighth when Rob Vani of Adelphi blooped a single to right field off Ben Wright of Briarcliffe. Bryce Packard followed with a hard-hit single past the sliding Tyler Osik into ...

When we last checked in with 2014 All-American pitcher Tyler Badamo, he was preparing to make his season debut with the Brooklyn Cyclones against the Staten Island Yankees. He threw 6 innings and allowed only two ER in front of a bevy of his friends and family. Since then, he has improved on every start. In his four starts this season, he has thrown 6, 6.2, 7 and 7 innings. He has allowed only fou...

Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell, USA Today Steve Matz proved that last week was no fluke–he actually improved upon his Major League debut that put him on the national spotlight. He shut out the potent Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for 6 innings, allowing only two hits, two walks while striking out eight batters to lower his ERA to 1.32. His 14 strikeouts through two appearances are second in franc...

The Hofstra baseball team  has received a tremendous boost by signing former Major Leaguer John Habyan as the new pitching coach. The Long Island native was a third round pick in 1982 and pitched 11 seasons in the MLB with the Yankees, Orioles, Cardinals, Royals, Rockies and Angels. He compiled a 3.85 ERA over 532.1 innings. Most recently he was the Head Coach for St. John the Baptist where he has...

Travis Jankowski, the only first-round pick in Stony Brook history, had himself a terrific game at the Double-A All Star Game last night. The Lancaster, PA native led off the game with a solo home run to right field. In his second at bat, he tripled to right center field. It was a rare show of power from the 24-year-old, who has only one home run all season for the San Antonio Missions. He is forc...

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Thank you Family, friends, and mets fans for an awesome MLB debut. Glad we got two wins today! — Steven Matz (@Smatz88) June 29, 2015 In case you were living under a rock yesterday, you missed Stony Brook native Steven Matz have one of the best MLB debuts in history. He recorded the victory with 7.2 innings, striking out 6 and allowing 2 ER (on solo home runs by Brandon Phillips and Todd Frazier)....

Sandy Alderson should probably collaborate with Lil Wayne and make “Sorry 4 The Wait Volume 2” for all the time he made the New York fans wait to see the hometown stud LHP Steven Matz. It was worth the wait, as Matz shook off a leadoff home run to Brandon Phillips and led the Mets to a series sweep over the Cincinnati Reds. Overall, Matz’ line was 7.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 BBs and 6 K...

When I was 12 years old I played on a travel team called the Long Island Baymen. Our second baseman used to have his whole family come to every game and cheer for him every at bat. It was not out-of-the-ordinary behavior by any means.What really stood out was that his brother, three years younger, brought his glove to every game and would have a catch with his dad. You could tell that this 9-year-...

Photo Credit: Anthony J. Causi The New York Mets have finally decided to promote top pitching prospect Steven Matz from Triple-A Las Vegas. He will start on Sunday at Citi Field in place of struggling veteran Jon Niese. Matz, a 24-year-old native of Setauket, was drafted by the Mets in the second round (72nd overall pick) of the 2009 draft out of Ward Melville High School. He dominated Suffolk Cou...