Q&A With Manager Tommy Weber of the Staten Island Tide in New York

Staten Island has a history of organized baseball that dates back to the 1880′s. These days, the Staten Island Tide are holding down that historical baseball lineage as a member of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. In the Winter the East Coast may be a frozen mess, but come summer, baseball is in full flight. This season, the Tide are leading the Kaiser Division by 2 and a half games with a record of 14-11. I recently had the chance to talk to their Head Coach Tommy Weber about the difficulties of the clubs birth into the league in 2010, his current squads performance, his mentor Frank Del George, as well his taste for Jazz music. This is how it went down:

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES) The Tide was in their first season last year with you at  their helm You guys finished with a 2nd place finish in the Kaiser Division  and a record of 21-18. Tell how exciting that season was and what stands  out the most from that season.

A. (COACH WEBER) Our inaugural season was both hectic and gratifying. Putting the franchise together was time consuming from incorporating, becoming a 501 C 3 charitable org, naming the team, getting field dates, designing the logo, and uniforms. When the season started, it was a relief to just finally get on the field. Most gratifying was how, as a team we shared a common goal and the collective fight and professional manner in which our players comported themselves.

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES) Tell us about the Metro Cadets and  how the Kaiser Division was introduced to the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball  League.

A. (COACH WEBER) The Metro Cadets were actually Frank Del George’s old Brooklyn Clipper team. when the rule was passed that you could not coach your own players, Frank  transferred ownership to the Cadets. The Kaiser division is named after Jack Kaiser, founder of the ACBL and Director of Athletics Emeritus at St John’s.

A. (COACH WEBER) I have had the good fortune to coach with and have players who made the sacrifices worth it. I have had a front row seat for the evolution of the game with players and coaches. Some good, some bad, but I come away with the
understanding that change is constant and to be successful you must accept it and change  accordingly.

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES) You have over 20 years of coaching experience at the college  level. 15 of those years were spent at Wagner College. You must have seen a  lot of interesting things and  people during that time. What has been  the most memorable?

A. (COACH WEBER) When I got to St Francis, I thought I knew everything. After about an hour w Frank Del George, I realized I was going to learn a lot. He was very generous with  me. He gave me lots of latitude and solicited my input on every aspect of the  program. That kind of respect from someone w Frank’s pedigree was very validating. I felt like I had earned my stripes. Frank is quite simply the best in the business. In a game replete w posers, who, if they log a half hour of  organized baseball, rent a garage, throw down some field turf and open an “academy”, Del George is the genuine article. He is current, has paid his dues  and is always willing to improve, learn and most importantly, listen. Its what makes him such a good instructor. His busy spring schedule and Italy commitment  has limited his time with us this year and I miss him. Jerry Sidman, associate  head coach St Joe’s Brooklyn has filled in for Frank and done a terrific job. He should be a head coach someplace right now.

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES) Recruiting is a huge  deal. Who is in charge of that with the Tide? Tell us about that east coast  New York talent coming out of High School these days.

A. (COACH WEBER) We have been fortunate in getting players. The thing we are very  proud of is than Seton Hall (2011 Big East Champs), Adelphi( one game away from  D2 World Series) and Kean (2011 D3 World Series) all doubled the number of players they sent us in 2011. We must be doing something right. we are in in  contact w scouts and coaches from the area and get no shortage of email requests to consider players.

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES) We all see  broadcast analyst on television and wonder if we can do it. You actually  had the opportunity to do that the University of St. John. Tell us what was  the most difficult thing about that job, and what you felt was the most  gratifying.

A. (COACH WEBER) The St John’s gig has been a blast. We were w the Cadets and playing home games at St John’s. They asked me and I said I had no experience. To which they  replied, “you have forty years of experience. My broadcast partner Ralph Bednarcyzk is a real pro who encouraged me from the start to give my perspective on the game and that’s what I do. At first I  thought my baseball skills would atrophy, but just the opposite happened. When you are conveying the game to an audience, you have to watch, examine and give analysis of both teams play and not take an out off.

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES) You were a shortstop at Wagner College and even spent a  spring training with the Boston Red Sox in 1983. What did you learn from  that experience in a big league camp that has helped you become a better  coach today?

A. (COACH WEBER) Professional baseball gives you perspective as to your own ability and skill level. All the players are the best at their school, tow, league,region and some, the country. You find out quickly that you can only be the best “you” can be. Trying to play bigger or faster will hasten your exit. My father  played and growing up I was surrounded by professional players. The word amateur was used as an insult, so we tried to act professionally from the time we were kids.

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES) One of the best pitchers in the Atlantic Collegiate  Baseball League is one of your guys. Felix Lopez spend this past spring at  Monroe College in the Bronx where as a sophomore he tossed 41.1 innings and  posted a 2.61 ERA. With the Tide this summer, he’s posted a 1.64 ERA after  22 innings. Tell us what his strengths are and if you see him more as a  starter or in the bullpen.

A. (COACH WEBER) Felix was a skinny kid in 2010 who has grown physically and picked up a foot on his fastball. He has a great approach…fastballs down in the strike zone, gets ahead and does not give guys a chance at his breaking stuff if they don’t catch up to his fastball. He has a big upside, he is young and will continue to improve.

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES) Your also featuring a sophomore who  pitched his heart out at Kean University this past spring. After 87.1  innings, Kevin Herget posted a 2.68 ERA and a 7-1 record. He’s one of your  mainstay starters that  has yet to come out in relief. Is that by  design and if so why?

A. (COACH WEBER) Kevin is with us for a second year. we try to use pitchers as they were used in college unless they express a desire to work differently. He is a very  bright, serious pitcher and this year we have worked on a couple of subtle  mechanical issues, we believe will sharpen his command.

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES) I love it when I see freshman doing well in  the summer. Matt Abramowitz was a freshman this past spring at Adelphi  University and only got to see .1 innings. With you, he seems to be  thriving after 12.1 innings and a 2.19 ERA. What is he working on to become  a legitimate college pitcher?

A(COACH WEBER) Matt needs to log some innings, build his stamina and he will be fine. He is a little impatient, having pitched so little in the spring, but we cant just throw a bunch of innings at him. He has very good command of the bottom of the strike zone and can throw consecutive strikes with the ability to finesse his way out of trouble.

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES) On the offensive side, Cliff  Brantly is a sophomore out your former Wagner College. He only saw 33 at  bats there and managed 9 hits. Right now he’s leading your team with a .289  batting average. What aspect of his game most impresses you, and what is he  working to improve on?

A. (COACH WEBER) Cliff has impressed us with his aggressiveness at the plate. He can run and is working on playing the OF for the first time. A hard worker, he arrives early and takes extra work daily.

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES)  The biggest run producer on your team  is a Jason Kanzler who spent the spring as a sophomore at the University of Buffalo. His at bats were limited there (125). He hit .272 and only had 1 HR. With the Tide he already hit 3 HR,  has 11 RBI, and leads the team  with 17 hits and 7 stolen bases.  Do you feel that his team leading 16  strikeouts are a problem? How do you correct something like that?

A. (COACH WEBER) Jason Kanzler is a special player. He profiles very favorably and should be playing professionally right now. He has outstanding speed, is an excellent defensive OF with a plus arm and power. He is the best player in the league and the strikeouts are something we have discussed. He is working on managing the count and working his way into more favorable counts, staying off the bad breaking balls early in the count. He is a fun and exciting player to watch.

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES) Let’s talk about sophomore Chris Selden a sophomore out of  Seton Hall University.  He was only allowed to the plate 6 times. WIth  you so far this summer, Selden has stepped up 55 times and has 15 hits and  9 runs scored. What’s he learning this summer about his own abilities and potential? What are you noticing about him?

A. (COACH WEBER) Chris is a very bright player, with good speed and life in his bat. We  have worked on his defense, trying to get him to be quicker in getting rid of the ball, but I think he can mature into a fine player if he continues to get lots of reps.

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES) With 16 games  left on the schedule and some tough match ups ahead, what small or big  details are you focusing on? This is a tough league for sure, tell us what  is the biggest strength of the league as a whole.

A. (COACH WEBER) The teams are evenly matched in the ACBL and pitching is the strength of the league. As with any team, we must limit the extra outs we give our opponents. If we do that and play alert, efficient games, we will win a lot of our remaining games.

Q. (BASEBALL TRENCHES) I read that you  are a jazz pianist. Tell us who is your favorite jazz musician of all  time.

A. (COACH WEBER) I love the music thing. Its really been a blessing to study something so infinite and fulfilling. There are so many guys I love, but probably two would be my favorites. Since I am a piano player, Bill Evans, one of the great Jazz  piano geniuses ever and Miles Davis for his contribution to the music on so many levels. True master!