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Post by Goblin on May 28, 2012 18:38:41 GMT 10
Hey Goblin, I must be on the same list as Moose, I got an email on the 25/05 "A Word from Windsor" with the 12/13 schedule on it. Thanks for the copy. Disappointing that they are unable to get their membership database in order. Even someone with little to no skill with excel could put together a rudimentary spreadsheet to automate members contact details.
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Post by 6for8 on May 28, 2012 19:18:41 GMT 10
For those with the capability, I suggest catching the Dodgers radio broadcast tomorrow morning (10.10am, I think), might hear a familiar voice coming out of the speakers for a dig or two...
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Post by swearne on May 28, 2012 21:07:08 GMT 10
correct you are 6for8 the aces very own just doing some work on his game calling getting ready for next season
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Post by perfeckt on May 29, 2012 11:37:37 GMT 10
Travis Blackley pitched a great 5 innings as a starter for the A's giving up 1 run (homer) to the Twins and being relieved in the 6th. Congrat's Trav!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 10:12:55 GMT 10
Nice big picture and accompanying article of Travis in today's Herald Sun
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Post by Goblin on May 30, 2012 11:35:07 GMT 10
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bb26
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Post by bb26 on May 31, 2012 9:30:18 GMT 10
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Post by stuartcapel on May 31, 2012 9:35:29 GMT 10
Just had a quick run through and very interesting to note that no venue for the All-Star game was nominated and that the playoffs format seems to have changed. Are we moving to 1v4 2v3 or are we having just three teams in the playoffs this season?
Not sure how Sydney gets BOTH Canberra and Brisbane in a 'balanced' draw.
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bb26
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Post by bb26 on May 31, 2012 10:28:59 GMT 10
Stay with me for two seconds.....if you ignore the first three rounds (where teams have a bye and they are just three game series): Rounds 4 to 13 are even (play every team 4 home, 4 away = 40 games) - that's fine. But when you look at the first three rounds (six games in total) - this is where it looks like "divisional" play to me - and why teams have bye mixed in: Aces, Bite and Heat "south" play 3 home, 3 away against each other; and the other teams (Bris, Syd, Canb) "north" teams play each other. Flip a coin how who became home/away games for these games. I don’t thinks it’s based on where teams finished on the ladder as Syd were above Adelaide on the ladder? I’m not saying I agree with the draw, just trying to find some logic in what they’ve done........
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Post by stuartcapel on May 31, 2012 11:19:39 GMT 10
If geography is the determining factor in a draw then it is not 'balanced'. The draw includes one team, travelling to Perth for the fifth time in two seasons and another team getting the two bottom clubs from the past two seasons.
An extra six games versus the bottom two clubs from the past two seasons or an extra six games versus the two-time defending champions and a two-time finalist (including a Grand Final in 10-11). No way that is balanced.
It is my understanding that we have a further three years of the original five to go. Surely the extra games, at worst, should be split around. Sure, Sydney may have Canberra and Brisbane this season, but next year, it is Melbourne and Perth, then in year five, Adelaide and a random club. If it is indeed going to be something like that, communicate it, much like the North/South concept should have been communicated this morning...if it indeed is true. Looks a chance, but we are speculating because once again, the communication just isn't there.
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Post by Journeyman on May 31, 2012 11:19:52 GMT 10
Are we moving to 1v4 2v3 or are we having just three teams in the playoffs this season? If the playoffs have been shortened to winners advance then to me it is more like the US system, winners advance losers are out, I can't see anything wrong with that. Although that is a personal opinion and I can see it won't suit everyone.
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bb26
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Post by bb26 on May 31, 2012 11:51:06 GMT 10
I don't like the new draw (as Stu said it's not balanced) - I'd rather see a 50 game season - play everyone equally (5 game series, 5 home, 5 away). to me it would be cheaper too, as (from a 4 game series) you're only paying an extra nights accommodation for the extra game. It has to be cheaper than flying teams around the country for those 'other' six games in the current draw. It would shorten the season by two/three weeks also.
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Post by stuartcapel on May 31, 2012 12:22:24 GMT 10
Journeyman I can see the merit in the winners advance system for the plyoffs, I don't mind it. I think it's just the Australian way that we're used to a team or two getting the 'double' chance.
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Post by Journeyman on May 31, 2012 12:58:00 GMT 10
Yes stu, I see what you mean. I'm leaning to bb26's reasoning re the 50 game season too.
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Post by stuartcapel on May 31, 2012 13:30:09 GMT 10
Keep in mind the original scope of the ABL was for a SIXTY game season!!
Five game series, for the fans, were OK, but tedious at the same time as five straight nights at the ballpark from Wednesday on can take it out of you...then throw in the players/officials who must forfeit three days of wages to play Wednesday-Thursday-Friday in another state. Adding extra double headers to make five games in four days just taxes bullpens as well (ahem - rookie roster idea could help here). I'd also suggest there just isn't the depth for five-man rotations at this point in time (or six in the case of the Adelaide-Perth series) last season.
I'm just finding it difficult to comprehend how for the same of ONE extra game, the league has gone out of it's way to provide an unbalanced schedule.
And a Friday double-header? For me, I'll just take the day off, but it's making the players and officials do likewise and overall it appears as if it may be a disadvantage to the regulars who sojourn to Aces games. Adelaide tried a day/night affair on a Friday last season promoting a kids special (from memory) and got 702 to the morning game, and 1104 to the late game. Again, we're speculating on the start times as they haven't been communicated.
Will give them credit for later in the season moving to single game days, so as to make it easier to make up for a rain-out. The rain at the end of the Adelaide game on the Saturday night in Melbourne for example could have proven costly to one or both teams last season had they not been able to get it going the next day.
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Post by Journeyman on May 31, 2012 13:45:50 GMT 10
As usual a good sum up stu.
As it stands now we have a professional league with some pro's and the majority of players and coaches holding down day jobs. It just doesn't work on a professional level, you can't have a pro league without total pro personnel, it just makes it too difficult for everyone. And I include the paying public in that as well, who has the luxury of a job where they can just take time off to go to a day game on a regular basis? I'm pretty sure this isn't the model that was proposed in the beginning.
I think there needs to be some sort of rethink on how it is done.
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Post by stuartcapel on May 31, 2012 14:56:08 GMT 10
Journey, it was amiss of me not to recognise the draw from Adelaide's perspective. Adelaide gets both of last year's Grand Finallists whereas Sydney gets both of the bottom two sides.
Which would you prefer?
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Post by Journeyman on May 31, 2012 15:06:56 GMT 10
Journey, it was amiss of me not to recognise the draw from Adelaide's perspective. Adelaide gets both of last year's Grand Finallists whereas Sydney gets both of the bottom two sides. Which would you prefer? Ha, I guess that is where the inequity of the East, West or North South thing comes in...........either way Adelaide gets Perth. To me with a 6 team league, divisional play is a bit of a joke. If they want parity in the draw then everyone should play each other a similar amount of times, which could be done, 25 home, 25 away for a 50 game season. Or 20 H, 20 A for a 40 game season. It isn't rocket science after all!
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Post by stuartcapel on May 31, 2012 15:25:04 GMT 10
You mean similar to last year?
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Post by Journeyman on May 31, 2012 15:28:35 GMT 10
Look, don't get me wrong, I don't care how many games they play, or indeed how it is set up. I'll still go to as many as I can. But they need to sort out how it's done and venues for the games. Preferably proper fields not converted alternatives.
I think they need to get organised better.
Just my thoughts!
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Post by moose on Jun 1, 2012 8:02:56 GMT 10
To me the thing that urks me no end is the SECRECY that always surrounds anything to do with the ABL and the Aces in particular, especially around pre-season. What is that all about?
Obviously anything that entails corporate advantage must by its nature be kept hush hush but this is baseball not rocket science! Surely something so simple as a draw for a sport or confirmation of where we are playing this year doesn't require such secrecy or lack of communication does it?
Why does it all ways feel like they don't wish to connect with their fan base and feels like we are treated like dolts all the time. Its gone on for three (3) years now. Getting sick of it. Engage your supporters or risk losing them!
Neil W
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Post by moose on Jun 1, 2012 8:10:17 GMT 10
Yes Stu definitely appears to be a Knockout finals series as there is only two weeks of Finals and not three as per last season!
Wonder what the outcry will be if 1st versus 4th and 4th gets up?
So what is the result and value finishing 1st?
Should be a three team finals with the first place team going straight through to the Final (Played at their ground) and 2nd versus third for the other spot.
Neil W
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2012 9:36:45 GMT 10
Im hearing the frustration there Moose.
Id have thought that with only 6 teams that you'd have the top side go straight thru and #2 plays #3 for the the other Finals spot in a best of 5 perhaps ?
Fair to say that with teams losing good player mid season the top side could end up being very beatable against and underperforming 4th placed team come finals time, which makes winning often during the season to get a top 2 spot not quite as important as it was last year potentially.
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Post by stuartcapel on Jun 1, 2012 10:39:49 GMT 10
Very interesting to note the following paragraph from the ABL's press release...dated April 1st notably. I imagine they actually mean June 1st.
Teams will play a minimum of eight games against each opponent, but will also feature three additional games against their two closest geographical neighbours; building upon both traditional and newly established rivalries.
Not sure about the ABL's ability to comprehend geography, however I don't understand how Perth is somehow closer to Melbourne than Canberra is closer to Melbourne. Surely this needs to be justified a bit better, but maybe it is April 1st after all and I just didn't notice.
The ABL has thrown away a perfect new tradition in doing away with the Aces @ Sydney for the first series of the season (much like Carlton v Richmond in the AFL) and has deliberately unbalanced their schedule. How this comes under 'best schedule ever' does escape me.
And if the playoff structure has changed, the ABL did fail to announce it in their release.
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Post by Journeyman on Jun 1, 2012 11:28:38 GMT 10
I read the article with interest, stu, the bit that caught my attention was
"The first pitch on 1 November, 2012 will mark the official start of the ABL’s third season and is expected to cement Australia’s place as the premier professional baseball league in the southern hemisphere."
Correct me if I'm wrong but the ABL could only be considered a semi pro league at best, and what other southern hemisphere country has a pro baseball league??
The whole article is nothing more than spin, if Ben Foster really said that then he should apply for a position as a media director for a political party, shades of "Yes Minister" or "Hollow Men"
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Post by stuartcapel on Jun 1, 2012 11:56:18 GMT 10
Also interesting journey is that while the Melbourne Aces GM has described the fixture as being "...a very balanced schedule...", Ben Foster admitted on Strike Zone that it is "...slightly unbalanced...". When those involved can't even agree, how do they expect Joe Public to react?
Further from the ABC's program, the schedule was chosen logically and then geographically (different to the ABL article as I read it), confirmation that the playoffs have been condensed, though they have yet to work out what format they will choose and that there is bidding going on for the All-Star game. As a Melbourne fan, I trust the Aces are right in the mix for this game. It would be disappointing if marquee team from the Sporting Capital of Australia are not involved at this point.
Also, Sydney and Brisbane have pre-season games set-up against California Lutheran University and that there are overseas teams and perhaps national teams in the mix for ABL teams to play pre-season games against, while there is scope for ABL teams to play each other in the pre-season.
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Post by moose on Jun 1, 2012 18:37:21 GMT 10
If you are organizing the draw from a Sydney perspective into two sections, then it definitely is Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra in one and Perth & Adelaide in the other and toss in Melbourne into that region, they gotta go somewhere!
Why not create a Derby series which would be Perth - Adelaide, Melbourne - Canberra and Sydney - Brisbane. These would all be the geographical closest sides to each other! Perhaps create a tradition?
Neil W
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tcs
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Post by tcs on Jun 2, 2012 7:41:21 GMT 10
An update on Jeff Jamnik currently with the Fort Worth Cats He is the closer for the Fort Worth Cats & is 4 for 4 in save opportunities. ERA is 0.00 no walks 4 hits & 1 strike out. here's the link to the website if you wish to follow him. www.fwcats.com/
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player
Junior Member
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Post by player on Jun 4, 2012 20:20:24 GMT 10
Cruising past Altona on my way to Geelong this morning......
It was drizzling rain and no-one appeared to be working much outside, but I swear I copped a whiff of that fresh paint smell wafting from the region of the despised baseball stadium.
It prompts me to ask (surely someone knows)......
Where will the Aces be playing their home games this summer?
Apparently not at the Showgrounds. Altona? Interstate? Regional road trips?
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Post by stuartcapel on Jun 4, 2012 20:30:33 GMT 10
At this point, I'd be suggesting that in the pre-season there will be a regional game or two, and that Altona will be the primary venue for the Melbourne Aces this coming season.
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