Jet Couriers Aces 2013

[Goblin]

Time to start talking about the new upcoming season

[bobby]

what changes to the roster are required to make them challenge for the championship next year, that includes both players and staff?

[The Puma]

Has the naming rights sponsor signed up again?

[stuartcapel]

Mar 26, 2013 12:18:49 GMT 10 bobby said:

what changes to the roster are required to make them challenge for the championship next year, that includes both players and staff?

Perhaps a more accurate question is what are the goals for next season? Are we looking to continue to play young player after young player, or will the club be looking to peak at or above .500 for the first time and challenge for the Championship?

Even to get to .500, plenty needs to change.

[bobby]

Good point Stu, it will be very interesting to see what the Aces plan to do next season.

However I dont think going out and getting a few Indy ball or released players is the answer, if you look at the Aussie team in the WBC it really showed that we lack quality pitching in the league, some of our hitter looked rather silly when it came to AAA-MLB level pitching.

[stuartcapel]

I don’t think there’s any doubt whatsoever bobby that pitching is a main issue around the league, but especially for the Aces. Our ERA of 5.16 was even higher than that of last season at the Showgrounds, and while we did play in a bandbox, we (the Aces) have not yet had a season with a team ERA of under 5.00.

So there’s no doubt we do need to get in some pitching help – just how much depends on what structure the league takes for next season, and it’s tough for a coaching staff to really plan without knowing what lies ahead. The teams goals and objectives will also come into play. Of course they can get the basic planning done now, which shouldn’t be too hard.

Going after MLB affiliated pitchers is somewhat risky given they can be recalled at any time. You just have to look back a couple of seasons to Adelaide, who were playing well, lost closer Ryan Beckman and subsequently fell apart. Getting a reliever like Herr or Arneson is OK but they impact two, maybe three innings a series and in reality, you need more out of an import unless he is a closer.

Perth, for mine, has the best model, predominantly drafting in affiliated hitters and going after independent pitchers, and good ones too. Kevin Reese has battled hard for the Aces over two seasons, and largely pitched without luck this season, but he’s never been signed to a MLB team and he’s going up against guys like Vasquez (majors) or Lofgren (AAA) and he had to be near perfect as we could never score many runs. Kevin’s probably a decent second, good third starter, but he effectively became out staff ace and ended up with a 2-6 record.

To help remedy this, the coaching staff needs to be combing the independent leagues and the low minors to see who gets released at the end of a season. Yes, Pat Kelly can distribute imports, but if we desperately target a guy, we should be able to go get him.

Right now, with the Indy league still yet even to get into camp, for mine, there’s two players our coaching staff should have circled in red and be following their progress closely.

Matt Way was a fifth round pick by the Phillies on 2009 however a back injury derailed him for a year or so, and he found himself released not long after. In 2012, he played with the expansion Laredo Lemurs in the American Association, and was 10-9 3.99era, really coming on in the second half, and ending up with the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League, winning both starts, striking out 19 in 13.1ip and giving up just eight baserunners and not giving up a run. Over the year he threw seven complete games. In comparison, the Aces have four complete games in three seasons – ALL of them being seven innings games.

He signed with Arizona at the end of the season and was recently released after spring training, and has just signed with the Ducks for 2013.

The other has thrown 488 innings in the Minor Leagues, has struck out 557 along the way and recorded a MiLB career record of 41-23 46sv 2.65era and 1.179whip. Fair to say those numbers aren’t too shabby.

The numbers belong to 6’4” Josh Schmidt, who has signed with the Somerset Patriots, a former home for both Justin Huber and Kevin Reese. Schmidt was released from the New York Yankees, and there are some reports that his being a sidearmer did count against him.

Predominantly a reliever, he has started before, with a 3.06era in the Venezuelan Winter League to go with good strike out numbers. If we’re not scouting him, we honestly need a d**n good reason.

For mine, we need at least two starters, real quality starters, and a lock down closer. Depending on the make-up of the season, the fourth import’s role can be determined once the lie of the land is known.

[stuartcapel]

Credit the ABL with being proactive in getting the draw out for 2013-14 very early, however perhaps it would have been best if they'd actually proof-read it first.

web.theabl.com.au/documents/2013/03/28/43424638/1/2013-14_Schedule_Final.pdf

A few highlights for Melbourne:

*Opening on the road (third year of four - Perth opens at home for the third straight year)
*For the second year in a row take on the defending champions in their home opening series
*Close the season on the road
*Two visits to Perth...again, making it seven visits to Perth in three seasons. In reply, the Heat has visited Melbourne just three times.
*Are the last team to play a series in front of their home fans

The games to unbalance the schedule (three v Perth and three v Adelaide) are at the same venues as last year, ensuring four visits to Perth for the Aces and four visits to Melbourne for the Bite. The other three teams (Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane) have had theirs swapped around so they have visited each other three times in two seasons.

In some professional sports, the draw is given to the clubs before it is released so that if any abnormalities exist they can be identified and resolved. The AFL have done that ever since 1994 after an issue with that years draw was identified.

Either that hasn't happened in this case, and everyone found out at the same time, or no one at the Aces front office read it. I'd be most disappointed if our GM wasn't telling the front office in no uncertain terms that the current fixture is pathetic and the Aces are not going to put up with being considered a second class citizen in this competition.

[Journeyman]

That link doesn't appear to go anywhere Stu.

[Goblin]

Mar 28, 2013 15:53:19 GMT 10 Journeyman said:

That link doesn't appear to go anywhere Stu.

Now fixed

[Journeyman]

Thanks Goblin, love your work!

[Chilli Wil]

Facebook told me I can purchase my season pass already. Followed the link from FB but had to click on promotions to find it. It's a good thing they have them available now but not so great I can't access the option from where it was reported. Dedicated people will go looking for it, will people new to the sport also bother? All the need to do is add a link to the article.

[moose]

For what it is worth here is my 2 cents worth. www.essendonbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/mad_smiley.gif{/img}

I think that beyond a doubt the Cavalry showed to all who would like to take notice that the ABL experienced a quantum shift with the Cavalry not only winning the Championship but doing so on the trot, so to speak, in the manner they disposed of the back to back Champions.

It did so with a team overloaded with imported players sanctioned by the ABL. They played Perth at their own game and beat them easily.

IMHO the days of winning, nay being competitive, no longer lies with using local talent alone or by using inexperienced boys, hoping that in the fullness of time they will adapt and thrive.

To survive and prosper we not only have to be competitive, unlike the majority of last season, but as an organization RUTHLESS as nothing less should be acceptable.

Its time that the traditionalists understand that this is not the "Old" claxton shield and that we must adapt or Die.

Another season like last season and the last one out can turn off the lights.

Neil W

[stuartcapel]

Strangely enough, an email to the ABL head office asking how they came up with the draw for 2013-14 has so far gone unanswered (yet their Facebook page can be updated in the meantime).

It's really disheartening that a 'professional' league is totally non-transparent. An email last year to them asking for clarification on the rules regarding games stopped by rain and the import restrictions was answered along the lines of 'you're not entitled to know because you're only a club member'.

It's now getting to the point where you can be forgiven for wondering if the league is just making policy on the run and hoping that no one notices.

In the meantime, I note with interest Mike Recchia, who spent Spring Training with Baltimore has rejoined his local Frontier League team, the Windy City Thunderbolts.

Recchia spent two years with the New York Yankees, pitching very well, but was released at the beginning of 2012, not surprising in a way given he openly HATES the Yankees.

His 2012 numbers were outstanding -

11-3 2.51era 1.08whip oavg .200 177k in 150.1ip, including five complete game shutouts. Not just five complete games, five nine innings shut-outs, including recording back-to-back complete shut-outs on two occasions, in one, fanning 16 in giving up three hits and then punching out 10 in giving up two hits. In July last year he recorded 60 strike-outs. The Aces single-SEASON franchise leader is 55 (Kevin Reese).

[moose]

Could it be Stu that the ABL "considers" anyone that criticizes them or objects to their lack of Transparency as being "Dodgy" and to be ignored.

I give an example when I renewed my seat for this coming season, and yes the moneys gone through, they (ABL) informed me that I would have the same seat as last season namely F1.

Only problem was that I had G1!!

Despite a call to correct the mistake I've still to hear back from them and expect a stuff up come 1st home series.

How hard is it to check on seating arrangements from last season in these days of computerization? It was clearly printed on my ticket last season. www.essendonbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/mad_smiley.gif{/img}

Why does the ABL handle ticketing for Melbourne games?

Are we ABL members or Aces members?

Yours in confusion:-

Neil W

[stuartcapel]

Hard to speak for them, Neil, but you'd imagine that as a member, instead of being treated as 'dodgy', they'd do well to put into practice a thought process that we are indeed 'stakeholders'. Without members and spectators who are there rain, hail or shine (and we've proven that time after time), there is no league, so in essence, their jobs are dependent on us continually investing in the league time and time again.

I mentioned in my email to them that when renewing for next season, we completed a section on the form where once entered, it went into a draw or a competition for, from memory, MLB Spring Training.

In actual fact, a review of the Aces newsletter from 16/01/13 shows the following:

"We will begin a massive membership renewal drive tomorrow (Thursday 17 January) that will run through the weekend. Buy or renew your Aces membership before the end of the regular season and you could win a trip for two to MLB Spring Training in Phoenix, Arizona in March."

I've gone through the six club sites and the ABL site and cannot see where this winner was announced. Now I'm not jumping up and down saying that the GLC or I should have won, but there just doesn't seem to have been a winner at all. If I'm in charge, I'm promoting on the ABL site that Joe Average is over in Tempe, Arizona and here's what he's up to, but I can't see anything.

Hopefully I'm just looking in the wrong spot.

[phantom74]

Unfortunately Kable Hogben has been released by th D-backs. Hopefully he can catch on somewhere else

[shoeless]

Stu,

Great scouting via the internet have you seen any video on these guys, would be great to have these guys in the Aces rotation and pen if viable. Also, if the Aces do their due diligence then a reference check with a former manager or pitching coach will give them an idea of the character of the guy and whether that will fit with the team, it's really not that hard anymore.

Maybe there's a job for you at the Aces, Stu.

[stuartcapel]

Shoeless, I intend to follow many an Independent League pitcher this winter to ascertain which would be the best fit. While I’d like one or a couple to perhaps pitch for the Aces, I’ll be bringing up names that I think will be good for any team league wide that would improve the standard of competition, as I enjoy watching the best baseball I can watch. Watching Chris Smith against the Aces in Brisbane was bitter sweet in many respects. I don’t like seeing the Aces dominated in the way they were, but I’ve seen few better pitching performances in person than what I did that evening.

As for Aces gigs, I’d be better off doing the in-game announcing over the PA or hosting the on-line stream, and would be happy doing either, and while people know this, for their own reasons they will not entertain the thought of it, so I’ll happily sit in the crowd, with my wife and friends and watch the game.

As for footage of these guys, there’s not too much recent stuff to be found, however there is a three-plus minute video of Matt Way during his time at Lakewood in the Phillies organisation. During this season (2010), Matt was 7-4 3.65era with Lakewood, who that year finished near 30 games above .500 and featured six current or former ABL players in Jeremy Barnes, Adam Buschini, Mark McGuire and Eric Massingham who played for Canberra, Alan Schoenberger from Brisbane and Gabe Suarez who featured for Adelaide in the most recent ABL season. The video can be found via this link



There’s not much video of Schmidt, just a few short ones of less than fifteen seconds, however an off-speed pitch he threw in one certainly caught my eye. It would fan quite a few guys in the ABL if he were to throw it out here:

[Dan]

Apr 3, 2013 14:34:26 GMT 10 stuartcapel said:

Hard to speak for them, Neil, but you'd imagine that as a member, instead of being treated as 'dodgy', they'd do well to put into practice a thought process that we are indeed 'stakeholders'. Without members and spectators who are there rain, hail or shine (and we've proven that time after time), there is no league, so in essence, their jobs are dependent on us continually investing in the league time and time again.

I mentioned in my email to them that when renewing for next season, we completed a section on the form where once entered, it went into a draw or a competition for, from memory, MLB Spring Training.

In actual fact, a review of the Aces newsletter from 16/01/13 shows the following:

"We will begin a massive membership renewal drive tomorrow (Thursday 17 January) that will run through the weekend. Buy or renew your Aces membership before the end of the regular season and you could win a trip for two to MLB Spring Training in Phoenix, Arizona in March."

I've gone through the six club sites and the ABL site and cannot see where this winner was announced. Now I'm not jumping up and down saying that the GLC or I should have won, but there just doesn't seem to have been a winner at all. If I'm in charge, I'm promoting on the ABL site that Joe Average is over in Tempe, Arizona and here's what he's up to, but I can't see anything.

Hopefully I'm just looking in the wrong spot.

I think I saw something about the winner on the aces Facebook page a while back, but it's entirely possible I'm just pulling that out of my hat and may be thinking of something else.

[stuartcapel]

I just had a look through their Facebook dans, and I am still missing it.

[Dan]

Yeh like I said, it was a vague recollection.
I was probably thinking of their top gun 20 promo.

[stuartcapel]

While we can criticise ad nauseum, it is important to recognise and offer kudos to the ABL for doing something well, and that is opening the voting for 2012-2013 awards to the fans. A good move as far as I'm concerned to let the fans play a part.


www.formstack.com/forms/?1439573-LizlosoFkw

I am a touch surprised that James Brooks is listed under the 'Rookie of the Year' candidates. I'd have thought Liam Bedford would have made the list, given he was primarily the Aces number one catcher for the season and did still qualify. Brooks, Zach Shepherd and Adam Jacobs all had about 30ab's each. Fortunately, there is a write-in option, which is another good addition.

Just a couple of window-dressing things though for the ABL. Rhys Niit's surname is spelled incorrectly, and Kody Hightower played for the Cavalry, not the Blue Sox (under Helms award).

[stuartcapel]

Zach Arneson has been assigned to the Yankees Minor League team affiliate in Tampa, which is High-A level.

[stuartcapel]

Has a new Assistant GM joined the Aces as yet?

[oldmanriver]

The new Asst GM has arrived and was at the Rustlers Presentation Night on the 12th. Can't remember his name.

[stuartcapel]

In that case OMR I am surprised the club hasn't announced his arrival. It is an important role and anyone who knew the Aces knew Rosanne and that she did a power of work for the club.

Hopefully it's an oversight that no one has announced on their website who the new Assistant GM is and not just another little secret that's kept to insiders.

[moose]

So what you saying Stu?

Nothing has changed with the Aces organization?

I'm amazed!

Neil W

[oldmanriver]

I think it is a secret, but he is willing to work with BV and the member Clubs. He had only been in the country for a day or two when he attended the Presentation Night and gave a little speech of thank you for the invite and what he hopes to achieve in his time here. Must admit I didn't listen all that intently as I had Al Tanner at my side having a chat.

[stuartcapel]

Nice move by the club to provide the invite to him. Not sure if my club has done similar, but hopefully he would lob given there's a decent number of club members who are also Aces members.

Just had a look at the Aces website - nope, the club is still in cloak and dagger mode.

[emdeem]

Apr 22, 2013 22:17:11 GMT 10 stuartcapel said:

Has a new Assistant GM joined the Aces as yet?

hey Stu

Happened to be in the area so dropped in to Melbourne Ballpark today.
Met the new (month in the job) Asst GM and his name is Jordan Iannuzzi and is from New Jersey. He was happy for a chat. Last year he was the National Sponsorship Executive with the ABL.