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Post by pirates on Aug 20, 2013 20:02:53 GMT 10
Thanks for that goblin, I guess I did a Caroline Wilson and went off half thingyed before having all the facts!!!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2013 21:06:14 GMT 10
"Half-thingyed", pirates? Don't you mean "half-crocked"?
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Post by melbourneacesofficial on Aug 21, 2013 20:58:58 GMT 10
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Post by perfeckt on Aug 23, 2013 12:39:26 GMT 10
Checking my e-mail box after a couple of days and open one from the Aces. Usual promotion and ticketing sales for the upcoming season but also an initiative by the Melbourne Aces (sponsored by 'Jet Couriers'). The initiative is the offer to you, me and company's to "Adopt a Seat" for the aces home games (not finals) this season. $350 will go toward providing a seat to be used by a group of charitable organizations that the Aces will be supporting. The Jet Courier Aces will match the adopted seat with a second seat that will be both fixed for the season and side by side. Personally speaking...this is hands down the best initiative to come from the club since it's inception. It will provide some momentary relief for people, kids and carer, folks struggling on welfare, recovering addicts, whatever, a day out at a ball game. I applaud the Jet Courier Aces for this great community project.
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emdeem
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Post by emdeem on Aug 25, 2013 11:53:10 GMT 10
Checking my e-mail box after a couple of days and open one from the Aces. Usual promotion and ticketing sales for the upcoming season but also an initiative by the Melbourne Aces (sponsored by 'Jet Couriers'). The initiative is the offer to you, me and company's to "Adopt a Seat" for the aces home games (not finals) this season. $350 will go toward providing a seat to be used by a group of charitable organizations that the Aces will be supporting. The Jet Courier Aces will match the adopted seat with a second seat that will be both fixed for the season and side by side. Personally speaking...this is hands down the best initiative to come from the club since it's inception. It will provide some momentary relief for people, kids and carer, folks struggling on welfare, recovering addicts, whatever, a day out at a ball game. I applaud the Jet Courier Aces for this great community project. When I saw the promotion I thought wow, this is great. Congrats to the Aces on the initiative and just wish I had enough $$ to 'sponsor' my own seat. Hopefully those who get to use these seats fall in love with our game.
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Post by melbourneacesofficial on Aug 26, 2013 11:27:57 GMT 10
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Post by stuartcapel on Aug 27, 2013 15:08:32 GMT 10
I've just viewed the third Aces youtube video, this one featuring Brad Harman blindfolded and facing a couple of field hockey players taking shots for goal. Like the Justin Huber and Scott Wearne clips, it is an excellent piece, and a great promotion for the Aces. All concerned in the project deserve high praise as its a tremendous initiative. The website is starting to take on a little more content as well. While there's next to no feature work on people associated with the club, little things like the 'Who is Maverick?' page are nice additions, and should prove to be a winner.
The adopt-a-seat program worked well in Perth last year from what I have read, and is for a most worthy cause. I will certainly be asking those around me to chip in to see if we can purchase a seat, and I do hope we're not the only ones helping for those less fortunate than ourselves to experience our team, our stadium, and our great sport.
The Tony Harris announcement last week, was another positive. People with his baseball knowledge and experience simply don't grow on trees and he should prove an important addition to the club, both with his knowledge and his contacts in the USA. May we see some Minor Leaguers from the Pittsburgh Pirates this coming season?
That the club couldn't be bothered however to send out a member email touting the appointment is inexplicable. It was only around two months ago that the club had seemingly learned from its mistakes in regards its traditional reliance on smoke and mirrors when it came to communication and was becoming open, vibrant and in some ways, honest with the paying public. Sadly, it would appear the club has relapsed into its old ways. How is it that our front office is yet to learn that smoke and mirrors do not put bums on seats? With 65 days to go until the Cavalry series, we as members and supporters deserve more.
In the article that did appear on the Aces website, it was heartening to note both Coach Dale and Coach Harris don't talk so much about Championships, but about winning. After three seasons of sub .500 baseball, zero road series wins and what is a young roster that unlike the rest of the league is not backed by a full compliment of imports, what are seemingly a set of small goals towards a bigger objective is somewhat of a change from last year and can only be a positive one. GM Knox does talk about winning the Championship, which isn't a bad thing, and in his role he probably has to, but right now with the amount of young players that we will send into what is regarded as a AA standard league by many who experience it at a closer level than I do, after last season, .500 is a far more realistic objective.
Sixty-Five days to go. Lets hope there's more positives to talk about when the clock ticks down to sixty.
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Post by braves6 on Aug 27, 2013 15:38:13 GMT 10
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Post by bobby on Aug 27, 2013 16:21:50 GMT 10
Stu,
Can someone please explain the relevance of the videos? Sure they have Aces player but not once are the Aces mentioned? Could the money/time spent making these videos go into marketing the team or communicating to the member better?
Not sure the standard is up to AA level just yet, the team that won it last year won it with a group of indy ball players.
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Post by melbourneacesofficial on Aug 27, 2013 20:28:57 GMT 10
Stu, Can someone please explain the relevance of the videos? Sure they have Aces player but not once are the Aces mentioned? Could the money/time spent making these videos go into marketing the team or communicating to the member better? Not sure the standard is up to AA level just yet, the team that won it last year won it with a group of indy ball players. Bobby The videos cost barely anything, the players are known as well as wearing Aces merchandise and is getting decent exposure through social media and other formats. We appreciate that they may not be appealing to everyone but we have had some great positive feedback on these videos. We are working hard to stay active amongst our members and the general public in relation to communications and that we hope will continue to improve as the season approaches. We look forward to seeing everyone out at the ballpark this year..
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Post by bobby on Aug 27, 2013 20:37:44 GMT 10
I beg to differ, the players are not known outside the baseball community, yes they are in aces hoodies but that's about it, even when the videos make mainstream media shows them they make no mention in the Aces or the ABL?
Sure the may cost barely nothing but couldn't that money be used in other areas?
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Post by stuartcapel on Aug 27, 2013 21:04:36 GMT 10
Bobby, I know one person in particular at the Aces has a real dislike for me because they perceive what I say on this forum as being entirely negative (though I will praise where it’s warranted and criticise where it’s warranted), but I have to back them and the club on this.
The Scott Wearne 7-10 split clip has over 350,000 combined hits on YouTube and the clip that has over 340,000 of those clearly notes the Melbourne Aces. Further, the clip was further shown on ESPN’s Sports Centre’s Top Ten plays as the #1 play and the compare clearly notes the name ‘Melbourne Aces’.
I have yet to see the clips on television, though I do understand they are on ONE HD and a couple of pay television channels, so we may see that the clips, when used on TV, or even closer to the season, do contain more references to the Melbourne Aces.
Only the club would be able to advise as to what the venture cost, and it’s fair to say they won’t do so (and nor should they), but given what has previously been spent on things such fireworks that were let off during daylight hours, the money spent on these clips does look as if it is a case of money well spent.
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Post by bobby on Aug 27, 2013 21:19:35 GMT 10
Thanks Stu, getting the same vibe now also.
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Post by melbourneacesofficial on Aug 27, 2013 22:02:13 GMT 10
As Stu said (and beat me to the punch) the Wearne clip has over on 360k views on YouTube and that is the one labelled Melbourne Aces, was seen on Sports Centre and MLB Fan Cave, is being shown on certain channels at a range of times and I would expect the Harman video to be quite similar in regards to views...
We expect to see it floating around a few times during the season as well. So as I said we are working hard at getting better in other areas but we a very happy with our feedback from these latest videos.
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Post by stuartcapel on Aug 28, 2013 10:44:40 GMT 10
If we can ask some questions at this point, there is rumour that there will be some tryouts for imports in the next month or so.
Is this true? If so, where and when and will they be open to the general public to view?
What is the progression of audio and streaming of the clubs home games for the coming season?
When can we expect the remainder of the coaching staff to be appointed and when will we start learning about player signings?
Will a pre-season schedule be released as it was last year for intra-squad games?
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 4, 2013 10:57:04 GMT 10
A week on and no response, so perhaps some or all of these questions are too hard to answer?
We've now passed August 31. The coaching staff was supposedly to be announced by July 31. If Phil Allan and Damian Shanahan are to be the other members of the coaching staff, what's the issue in announcing them? If it's a mix of these and other gentlemen, or other gentlemen entirely, why can they not be announced?
Sydney has announced a full coaching roster - why are we still lagging behind the Blue Sox? What harm is there in being a market leader?
Smoke and mirrors...
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 5, 2013 10:45:07 GMT 10
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emdeem
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Post by emdeem on Sept 8, 2013 14:09:49 GMT 10
I'm usually a positive guy but have to side with Stu here. Please spell Brad's name correctly. He is one of our players after all! HARMAN
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 9, 2013 10:37:39 GMT 10
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 12, 2013 13:24:35 GMT 10
The Aces have announced their first players to the roster in the form of two Colorado Rockies High A level players - Tyler Massey and Ryan Casteel. The Aces, in their newsletter linked to this article, not yet available on the website: web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130911&content_id=60220248&vkey=news_t4067&fext=.jsp&sid=t4067&partnerId=ed-7558858-165924654 Massey is a former High School quarterback and possesses a live arm. He was predominantly a center fielder this year, so the question of whether he quarterbacks the outfield or the Aces retain Elliot Biddle in center is one that the coaching staff will have to address. To compare Massey with someone Australian baseball fans are more familiar with, David Kandilas hit .265-4-36-24 this year. Massey was .267-11-53-10. Massey does strike out a bit (450 career strike outs vs 500 career hits) and showed he needs to work on hitting left handed pitching (.196-0-4-1 vs LHP, .283-11-48-8 vs RHP) and was caught stealing (11) more times than he was successful this season (10), but if he didn't have things to work on, the Rockies wouldn't be wanting him in the ABL in seven weeks time. The All-Star game mentioned in the Aces piece was for his time with Asheville in 2012, not with Modesto in 2013. The signing of Casteel is a massive positive as the Aces were caught woefully short in the catching position last year, and his addition is somewhat of an admission by the club that passing on Cody Clark, who went to Brisbane and is now spending time in the Major Leagues with the Houston Astros, in favour of Liam Bedford and Shota Nakata, was a monumental error. Casteel had a break-out season in 2013, hitting 22 home runs and driving in 76 after hitting just 6 home runs and driving in 80 runs in his previous three seasons. He did slow down in the second half of 2013, hitting .296 pre the half way point and .247 after it, despite a relatively even split between duties behind the plate (57 games) and at the DH position (50 games). Strike outs were also an issue, with 118k's in 2013 after 119 over the previous three years, and his steals were down to one solitary successful attempt after being more of a threat on the bases in his previous years, though his secondary numbers suggest he can still move well around the bases. Following the season, the Californian League recognised Casteel as the catcher in the league's All-Star team, and he was second behind Michael Ohlman (former Perth catcher) for Prospect Digest's All Minor League Team of the Year, as he combined with his fellow catchers at Modesto to guide the pitching staff to the second best WHIP and ERA in the California League. One scouting report noted "Ryan has a solid ability to throw out runners and this ability has increased each year.", and was successful on 17 of his 64 attempts to gun down runners for Modesto at a rate of 27%, consistent with his career average. Both players will be welcome additions to the Aces roster for the 2013 season. The article also sneaks a mention that Phil Allen will return to the coaching staff for the 13/14 season, joining Head Coach Phil Dale and former Adelaide Bite skipper Tony Harris.
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Post by moose on Sept 12, 2013 20:21:44 GMT 10
As usual Stu the first with all the stats. Well done and if true then a great asset for our team. Go Aces!
Neil W
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 13, 2013 12:26:56 GMT 10
The Aces this morning announced a further two imports for the 2013-14 roster, in the form of Kansas City Royals affiliated players Justin Trapp and Jared Schlehuber. Both played at Advanced A Wilmington in 2013. web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130913&content_id=60368054&vkey=news_t4067&fext=.jsp&sid=t4067Like Tyler Massey yesterday, Trapp is a former High School quarterback and reportedly signed with Coastal Carolina University to play football, but linked with the Royals after they drafted him in 2009. Drafted out of High School, he is still just twenty-two years of age. In his five Minor League seasons, Trapp has hit between .259 and .272 for a .264 average, with his OBP a further eighty points higher. He does have some power (10 HRs in 2013), and batted third on occasions for Wilmington this season, but he was primarily a lead-off hitter, and tallied 25 steals for the year, and has 113 career steals at a 76% success rate. Last season, Sydney brought in guys like Zachary Penprase to spark the running game and with only Matt Lawman having stolen over five bases in a season for the Aces as a local, Trapp's running game will likely well utilised by coach Dale and his staff this season. He did have his struggles against left handed pitching this year (.185 v LHP and .273 v RHP) and slowed after the break (.283 before and .227 after), but looks as if he will be the first batter into the box at Narrabundah Ballpark when the Aces visit Canberra on October 31 to open the season. Trapp is primarily a second baseman, which, should Brad Haman again patrol the short stop position, open a question as to where young players such as Aaron Sayers, Ryan Dale will fit in to the team this season. Jared (not Jarrad as the Aces tweet suggested) Schlehuber was signed as an undrafted free agent, and after his rookie season at Idaho Falls last year, the Royals somewhat threw him in the deep-end this year by putting him up a couple of levels, perhaps given he is 24, and he responded well, hitting .299-8-59-1 A first baseman at rookie level, Schlehuber had a cup of coffee in the Wilmington outfield and spent some time at the hot corner as well, so we could see somewhat of a platoon with players such as Darryl George at the corners over the course of the year, though the Aces may well settle on the big guy as their primary first baseman. Scouts rate his plate patience and like his contact and power, but his speed is an issue, successfully stealing just one base in three tries and grounding into fifteen double plays, but it does appear that the Aces are taking him on board to utilise his power, not his speed. Of other former/current ABL players in the Carolina this year, Michael Ohlman hit .313-13-53-5 after hitting .317-6-27-5 for Perth, Allan de San Miguel was .221-5-17-2 in 2013 after .260-2-17-3 in 2012 while .294-5-30-5 for Perth, Brenden Webb .201-8-31-7 after .190-5-10-1 for Perth and Ryan Battaglia .226-0-8-0 after being .238-4-10-0 for the Brisbane Bandits last season. The Aces front office does deserve recognition for getting these names out early to their members and supporters. It is nice to follow a market leader as far as something for the current season goes.
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Post by parentofone on Sept 14, 2013 6:33:45 GMT 10
Great reports on the American players from stuartcapel..... why don't you speak to the Aces about writing some articles for their website. They often ask for volunteers. I think you would be great. Just a thought.
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Post by moose on Sept 14, 2013 8:45:59 GMT 10
I don't speak for Stu of course, but I am aware that he has offered help in the past.
I suggest you PM him parentofone.
Neil W
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 17, 2013 11:09:01 GMT 10
Thank you for the kind words Parent of One. Indeed there have been previous discussions between myself, BV and the Aces, and without going into too much detail, my understanding is there was some communication from a staff member of the Aces last year (not the GM, I believe) to BV that I was not required and that articles would be taken care of 'in-house'. There was some dialogue between the GM and myself, however I am sure Windsor would have seen them as private discussions, so they'll remain between the two of us.
There is certainly interest in writing material for the Aces, but having been given a 'thanks but no thanks' previously, you'll appreciate my being slightly gun-shy.
Indeed there are some areas in which I'd be more than happy to volunteer my services to the club, and dedicate a significant part of my time away from my full time employment towards such projects, but so far those avenues have not come up. A pity, because I think such avenues could really boost the club and make it a dominant presence within the ABL, but you will appreciate such a decision is far from my control.
As it stands, I will be in the grandstand with my wife, and with a great group of friends, cheering on the club this season. Not the worst 'Option B' someone can have. The last week has certainly given plenty of hope that it will be a better year for the club.
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 17, 2013 12:13:44 GMT 10
Good to see common sense prevail and the game, bizarrely set for a Thursday afternoon at 1.05pm on January 2nd has been changed to a 6.05pm start.
I trust those who already have arranged to have the day off so they could watch the game can now instead get to further sleep-off the New Year's hangover. ;-)
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 17, 2013 14:48:04 GMT 10
Good to see the Aces have Darryl George back on board for the 2013-14 season.
The Aces article notes his All-Star appearance and Hudson Valley Renegades MVP efforts, both which are excellent achievements on the back of his .286-0-18-9 season. His .286 average was well above the team average of .248, strangely the third best team average across the league, and while he did steal nine bases, the Renegades were indeed a running team, racking up 121 steals across the entire season, leading the league. The only team to have more steals than 121 in a season since 2002 was the Renegades 134 in 2009.
In comparison to George's numbers, have a look at some of his teammates. All those listed played more than 40 games for the Renegades this season.
John Alexander (8th Round 2011) .215-1-29-3 Johnny Field (5th Round 2013) .252-2-24-14 Grandin Goetzman (2nd Round 2011) .220-2-22-19 James Harris (1st Round 2011) .258-1-21-16 Oscar Hernandez (20yo Free Agent 2010) .228-6-33-9 Julian Ridings (18th Round 2013) .255-0-13-10 Ariel Soriano (22yo Free Agent 2009) .267-6-31-18 Ty Young (7th Round 2013) .217-2-22-8
Fair to say Darryl is tracking relatively well compared to some high draft selections from the past handful of years.
Darryl also played much of the season at ShortStop (34 games) and even played in the outfield 7 times, so it will be interesting to see if the Aces stick with him at a corner (8 games at 3rd, 7 at 1st) or move him around at times.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2013 20:16:29 GMT 10
Darryl had a breakout season, and it is terrific to see him afforded the appropriate recognition.
He is one of the thus far less heralded young players doing exceptionally well in professional baseball, along with his good mate Sam Gibbons, who comes off a stellar season with the Twins but is likely to be shut down at least until the New Year.
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 18, 2013 11:12:36 GMT 10
Most interesting to see that there will be an ABL Draft before the coming season.
From the ABL website:
How do I play for the ABL?
Thank you for your interest in playing for the Australian Baseball League. For the 2013/14 season, the ABL will be conducting a draft as a part of our player recruitment process. The ABL Draft application for the 2013/14 season is now closed. Please check back next offseason for information concerning our 2014/15 campaign.
The ABL Draft has been designed to give each ABL team a fair and equal chance at acquiring players they are interested in. Please understand that in entering the ABL Draft, there will be a $10 non-refundable administrative fee. Your entry in the ABL Draft does NOT guarantee that you, nor any player, will be drafted by any specific ABL team. Additionally, it does not guarantee that any player will be drafted by any team at all.
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 19, 2013 11:42:03 GMT 10
As noted here yesterday: web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130919&content_id=61008082&vkey=news_t4067&fext=.jsp&sid=t4067DNEY, 18 September - The first Australian Baseball League Supplementary Player Draft will be held today, 18 September, one of the final pieces in the puzzle of assembling rosters for the fourth season of ABL action. Players from across the globe will be hoping their names are called as the ABL’s six clubs put the finishing touches on their rosters, looking to stock up on additional talent ahead of the 2013/14 campaign. An international pool of dozens of players has been assembled from Australia, the United States, and beyond, with hopeful and eager baseballers expressing their interest in playing Down Under for the upcoming season. Players who submitted their information to the ABL sent videos and documentation of their skills and prior baseball experience, from local Aussie club players to former minor leaguers signed to play MLB-affiliated ball in the United States. This year’s pool of players will face stiff competition. For the 2013/14 season, 12 Major League Baseball clubs have committed to sending prospects to play in the ABL, the most of any season so far in league history. That leaves only a precious few slots on ABL team rosters for the upcoming season, and teams are not required to draft any players if their 2013/14 roster needs have already been satisfied. Today’s draft will be conducted in reverse order of the league’s 2012/13 finish. The first pick of this year’s selections will go to the Melbourne Aces, followed by the Adelaide Bite, Brisbane Bandits, Perth Heat, Sydney Blue Sox, and last season’s Claxton Shield-champion Canberra Cavalry in that order. Players who have entered the 2013 ABL Supplementary Player Draft will hope to follow the pathway blazed by many ABL players before them, from major leaguers like Travis Blackley and Brandon Barnes to 2013 Helms Award winner Adam Buschini who turned a dominant ABL season into a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres.
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