Happy Valley Hardball with a sabermetrics twist

Nittany Lions secure a talented and versatile group that will join the program next fall

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State head baseball coach Robbie Wine announced on Monday the signing of seven top recruits to National Letters of Intent. Among the class are five of the top prospects from Pennsylvania and two from Massachusetts. The group, that will join the program in the fall of 2010, consists of two pitchers, three position players and two others who can both pitch and play in the field.

“I am extremely excited about this incoming class, both on and off the field,” said Wine. “Its an important class, which should help fill our immediate needs. Its a talented group that should jump in and make an instant impact.”

Among the incoming freshmen are five from the Keystone State: right-handed pitcher Scott Dixon Blairsville, outfielder Zach Ell Plains, third baseman Kyle Redinger Lebanon, pitcher/infielder Austin Urban Windber and left-handed pitcher Greg Welsh Holland. They are set to join 15 Nittany Lion underclassmen from Pennsylvania who are scheduled to return in the fall of 2010.

via Baseball Signs Seven Top Recruits to National Letters of Intent – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE .

By Andrew Drennen, ESPNRISE.com Baseball

A member of the New York Yankees Area Code Team, Alex Farkes from Buckingham Brown & Nichols (Cambridge, Ma.), decided on Penn State, to further his education and to play baseball.

“I chose Penn State because of the potential of the program, along with its academic prestige, and because of their coaching staff,” the infielder/catcher said of his choice to be a Nittany Lion.  Last year, Penn State finished 25-26 (8-16 in Big Ten play).

via ESPN – Farkes to Penn State – High School Baseball.

Nittany Lions continue their preseason work in preperation for the 2010 season.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Following Sunday’s first Fall game, the Penn State baseball team is back in action this weekend with two more intrasquad contests, Friday (Sept. 18) at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday (Sept. 20) at 1 p.m.

Last Friday’s Fall opener was canceled due to heavy rain in the area. The Nittany Lions did play their first game on Sunday.

via Baseball Set for Pair of Intrasquad Games This Weekend – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE .

Nittany Lions to Face Cincinnati, Seton Hall & Notre Dame in Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball ChallengePenn State went 2-1 in the inaugural season last year.DeliciousDiggFacebookGoogleMySpaceTwitterYahoo Senior infielder Louie Picconi Sept. 16, 2009Baseball Set for Pair of Intrasquad Games This WeekendST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Penn State baseball team learned on Wednesday that it will face Cincinnati, Seton Hall and Notre Dame at the 2010 Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission. The event runs for three days, from Feb. 26-28, 2010 in the St. Petersburg and Clearwater area.

via Nittany Lions to Face Cincinnati, Seton Hall & Notre Dame in Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE .

By Jason Cole

LoneStarDugout.com

Clayton Hamilton recently finished off his second year with the Texas Rangers’ system, but it was a long and winding road that brought him there. Lone Star Dugout sat down with the 27-year-old right-hander for a Q&A session.

The Texas Rangers acquired right-hander Clayton Hamilton via the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft prior to the 2008 campaign. Hamilton had been pitching in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization for two previous seasons.

via Scout.com: Long road brings Hamilton to Rangers.

By Chris Schmidbauer

Scout.com Toledo Correspondent

Life is full of second chances, even when you least expect one to come along. After two shoulder surgeries that had sidelined his major league career, Nate Bump felt that his time in baseball was done for good.

“I was retired as far as I was concerned. I was done with baseball,” Nate Bump said. “But I met a guy who basically told me I was not done and I could still do this.”

via Scout.com: Bump’s Comeback Not Done Yet.

Robbie Wine begins his sixth season as Penn State head coach.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State baseball team opens its fall schedule this weekend with a pair of intrasquad games, Friday (Sept. 11) at 5 p.m. and Sunday (Sept. 13) at 12:30 p.m. Both games will be played at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park and are open to the public.

via Baseball to Open Fall Slate at Home This Weekend – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE .

Penn State alumni are continuing to impress in the professional ranks.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Three former Penn State Nittany Lions will play postseason baseball as their respective squads have advanced to baseball’s second season. Leading the way is Craig Clark and his league-leading San Jose Giants while Scott Kelley and Drew O’Neil have advanced as well.

via Three Former Lions Set to Play in Minor League Baseball Playoffs – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE .


NOTE:  This story from PSU’s SID fails to note that Craig Clark was promoted to the Giants AA squad in CT and thus will not be with San Jose for the playoff but rather will take the field for the Connecticut Defenders.

Craig Clark was named California League Pitcher of the Year

via San Jose Giants at Inland Empire 66ers, September 1-3 – OurSports Central – Independent and Minor League Sports News.

Meet the Dragons: Scott Gaffney

By Marc Katz, Staff Writer

Fast facts: RHP, 23 years old, from Westbury, N.Y.

Claim to fame: Played third base and shortstop while pitching just a little at Penn State.

Quote: “Being from a cold climate, I hadn’t played much baseball in high school. I was a basketball player a 6-foot-3 point guard. A scout told me I ought to be a pitcher, but I went to Penn State and after four games, won the starting job at third. I pitched a little on Sundays. My sophomore year, my coach thought I’d get a better chance at being drafted if I played shortstop.

via Meet the Dragons: Scott Gaffney.

The PSU SID released this report recapping the seasons of these former PSU players:

Craig Clark has won ten games in a row for the Stockton Ports.

Scott Kelly has a 1.06 ERA for the Burlington Royals.

David Aardsma has been one of the surprises of the first half of the major league season taking over the ace reliever role for the Seattle Mariners.

Nate Bump continues his march to get back to the major leagues as he’s been nothing but stellar in his three outings for the AAA Toledo Mudhens.

Joining Bump in AAA ball are Clayton Hamilton (Oklahoma City RedHawks) and Sean Stidfole (Las Vegas 51s).

Scott Gaffney (Dayton Dragons) and Drew O’Neil (Kannapolis Intimidators) are both in single-A.

Gary Amato signed a late contract with the Washington National’s NYPL entry the Vermont Lake Monsters after being released by the Pirate organization.

Cory Wine is with the Gulf Coast Phillies.

Matt Cavagnaro (Long Island Ducks), Mike Lorentson (New Jersey Jackals), and T.J. Macy (Grand Prairie Airhogs are also playing with independent league ball.

San Jose Giants Rip Visalia Rawhide 7-1

SAN JOSE – Craig Clark won his 10th consecutive decision to tie a San Jose Giants record in a 7-1 victory over the Visalia Rawhide on Wednesday evening at Recreation Park. The San Jose starter worked seven innings with just one run allowed becoming the fourth pitcher in Giants history to win 10 straight games. The victory, San Jose’s sixth in a row overall, improved the Giants’ second half record to 22-5.

via San Jose Giants Rip Visalia Rawhide 7-1 – Cal League – Minor League Baseball News – MLN – The Raw Feed – Baseball, hockey, basketball, football, lacrosse, auto racing, and soccer news from more than 800 teams..

By Joel Serman

SI.com

David Aardsma has already moved ahead of Hank Aaron, which until this season was going to probably be his biggest claim to fame as a major leaguer.

The righty was listed first in the Baseball Encyclopedia, which is nice alphabetically, but statistically he was third worst in the majors during the 2007-08 seasons with a 5.89 ERA minimum 70 appearances. He was perilously nearing the prototype of the hard-throwing reliever who was going to be given a lot of chances because of the speed of his fastball and blow them all relatively quickly because of an inability to harness that heat — a disease known as either Eric Plunk-itis or Acute Farnsworth.

via David Aardsma, Marco Scutaro, Raul Ibanez top All-Unexpected Team – Joel Sherman – SI.com.