Author: Vinny Messana

Having worked with Baseball Info Solutions, I have become very familiar with the new-age statistics that  front offices in Major League Baseball are relying upon. I will say–for the most part–it has really helped teams grasp the significance that each player has more effectively. Every player that is on a roster was signed for a reason. It’s the job of the organization and, ultim...

“It’s a little worse than we anticipated,” he said. “We’re going to shut you down for a while.” That’s when you go from optimistic to something similar to getting punched in the gut. From experience, that’s when you throw away all the preconceived timetables you originally had when you could get back on the mound or in the batter’s box.  Now it...

Adelphi graduate Dillon McNamara had been playing in the New York Penn League with the Staten Island Yankees for the past year. Yesterday he found himself on the mound in Reading, PA as the starting pitcher for the Double-A Trenton Thunder. The jump is fairly significant having skipped over two levels of the minor leagues. Injuries had created a void in the Trenton rotation and caused a need for a...

Photo Credit: Gene J. Puskar When Marcus Stroman was originally given the opportunity to be a starter it was going to be a trial by fire. It is fair to say he has taken the opportunity and ran with it. After his most recent start; a strong 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with six strikeouts against Cy Young contender Chris Sale, he is no longer considered a flash in the pan. The 5’...

Photo Credit: George A. Faella If perception is reality, Bayport-Bluepoint is a small high school that can’t compete with the best programs. Their star pitcher, Jack Piekos, has been working to destroy that perception. Two years and two New York State Class A titles later, he has succeeded. “We kind of wanted people to notice us one way or another,” said the Maryland-bound left-h...

It was a tremendous season for West Islip, who beat Massapequa to claim their first Class AA Long Island Championship in 56 years. Their season was cut short in the NYS semifinals to Victor, by the score of 1-0. Nick Arnold suffered the loss, although he struck out eight against only three hits in six strong innings. The lone run was unearned, and it came in on an RBI single to right field in the ...

The baseball community lost one of its most beloved members, San Diego Padre Hall of Fame outfielder Tony Gwynn. He was 54-years-old and had been suffering from the effects of salivary gland cancer. Gwynn was the rare superstar in the post-free agency period who a) played his entire career with one franchise, b) was beloved by the fans and the media yet c) did not rely on power to achieve success....

One of the first things I remember is having a catch with my dad in the front of the house when I was about six years old. I recall that once I started getting better and was able to throw the ball further I would take a few steps back. “Don’t move too far back I can’t reach,” my dad said. It didn’t make sense to me. He was in better physical shape than most men in th...

Photo Credit: MLB.com Baseball players love routine–it’s human nature. Once the routine is set, you can get comfortable in your surroundings, no matter where you might be playing your games. That get thrown into disarray when you are forced to relocate more than once. For someone like Joe Daru, outfielder for NYIT,  change is something you are forced to embrace. “I was born in Ba...

Photo Credit: Stonehill Athletics Yesterday set the wheels in motion, but day 3 featured numerous Long Islanders selected in the MLB Draft. In addition to the traditional stats, I’ll try and provide some insight on the players that I have played with or against. It got started in the 17th round when Tampa Bay selected Cutchogue native Steve Ascher (SUNY Oneonta). They had also selected Chris...

Although there was no Long Islanders selected on the first night of the draft, the wheels began to go in motion yesterday. Three players with Long Island connections had their names announced–all in the ninth round–Brian Hunter, Chris Pike and Kevin Krause. We’ll start with Krause, because he is the only one that plays college on the island. Krause, a junior at Stony Brook, was s...

We are coming off another wildly entertaining season in Long Island baseball. Here are my picks for the best player at each position. MVP: Kevin Krause, Stony BrookCy Young: Tyler Badamo, DowlingRookie of the Year: Ron Bauer, Molloy C: Robbie Cafiero, Hofstra .331 AVG, 23 R, 47 H, 15 2B, 21 RBI, .900 OPS 1b: JC Brandmaier, Dowling .323 AVG, 30 R, 63 H, 23 XBH, 44 RBI, .925 OPS, 17-27 SB, .993 Fld%...