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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 19, 2013 11:44:59 GMT 10
It will be most interesting to see who the Aces draft. It would have been a great talking point for league followers to have had a draft list to be made public as there are many out there who would have enjoyed delving into names involved. Personally, I think the league missed a positive topic my keeping this draft under wraps until just as it happened.
Also, interesting to note that a dozen MLB teams will send affiliated players to Australia, but only four players, from two teams, have been announced. Again, well done to the Aces for leading the way this year in this.
Is Mike Walker in this draft? If so, be interesting to see where this goes.
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Post by frita on Sept 19, 2013 17:15:59 GMT 10
I thought Walker was linked to Canberra straight after the World Classic ?
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 19, 2013 20:37:39 GMT 10
It’s unclear at present, Frita, as to where Walker will play, if he does at all. In reality, for all we know at present he may well have taken his Australian uniform and the WBC experience and decided not to play in the ABL.
Also, Zach Arneson was assigned to Canberra originally last year but ended up with the Aces in a late switch, so even if Walker was designated for Canberra, there’s a precedent that suggests that may change. We’ll know perhaps once the ABL release the results of the draft, which the league described as a ‘landmark’ but kept such an exciting occurrence as secret as possible.
Canberra has released several names to the media in regards their playing roster for the coming season, but haven’t said anything on their own website.
Of the locals, Steve Kent (1-1 2.45era 1.25whip 29k in 18.1ip), Robbie Perkins (two games), Aaron Sloan (.200-2-8-0), Ben Warner (.256-0-3-0) and Michael Wells (.256-2-17-0) have been announced as returning, while five of Canberra’s independent leaguers from last season have also signed for 13/14.
Brian Grening (4-2 2.87era 1.15whip 64k in 75.1ip with Canberra in 12/13) is back after his time in the Atlantic League with the Camden Riversharks (6-7 3.74era 1.31whip 79k in 113ip).
Antonio Callaway (.307-3-16-3 with Canberra) returns, probably still boasting he has Major League speed…though Carlo Testa and Josh Davies may have something to say about that.
Jeremy Barnes (.343-7-32-1 with Canberra) had an excellent season with New Jersey in the Can-Am League, racking up numbers of .319-16-57-2 for a team that led the league in hits, runs and homers.
Sean Toler (2-0 11sv 2.84 1.42 32k in 25.1 with Canberra) was the teams closer last season, however after a season of 2-4 5.27era 1.53whip 23k in 41 ip with the Kansas City T-Bones in the American Association, he may lose the closers role to Eric Massingham (3-2 3.60era 1.32whip 23k in 25ip for Canberra), who set a new record for saves in the Frontier League with the Evansville Otters and compiled a season with numbers of 3-1 19sv 1.25era 1.22whip 37k in 36ip).
The Cavalry are also still trying to get Kody Hightower back, however he underwent shoulder surgery over a month ago after injuring himself playing for Kansas City in the American Association and they club is also reportedly after Sam Thornton, a local lad who finished college at Fort Hays State where he hit .309-2-38-14 in a team that averaged .341 and made a team high 22 errors.
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Post by moose on Sept 20, 2013 7:16:06 GMT 10
Thanks stu and KC for the heads up. I find it sad that the ABL has to be surrounded constantly by a veil of secrecy that implies what? Your guess is as good as mine on that one. The ABL need to attract supporters to the game to build it and grow the sport. We need constant news that outs the sport more into the main stream consciousness. That gets supporters talking which might help others gain an interest in the sport. It is unbelievable the number of people that I talk to that have a interest in Baseball in the USA that just doesn't translate to the ABL. Paddock, little league, bush league are just some of the comments used by them to justify their overlooking of the local scene. So its surprising that when a event comes along that could get people talking and rising the profile of the sport it gets sneaked in and gets very little if any public comment or promotion. I compare the AFL draft and all the hoopla that surrounds that event. True we are not in that league, but surely your followers and supporters deserved better than what was served up so far. It may strike the ABL that we (Fans) are interested in what happens and not just as a foot note after the event. Neil W
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 20, 2013 13:49:44 GMT 10
From what could be gathered on ABC's StrikeZone, where Chris Coleman interviewed Ben Foster, of the players who made approaches to the league in regards playing, the names went into a pool and clubs could negotiate and sign those players if they desired.
Come a certain point, there was a cut-off in signing and then those players still wishing to be be a part of the league went into a draft.
From yesterday, only the Sydney Blue Sox and Melbourne Aces participated in the draft, combining to choose a dozen players, though there was no breakdown of the numbers chosen by the two clubs, nor were any names provided.
Further, the Aces website, nor the ABL website has provided a list of the names of those who were drafted, though I did receive communication from the league yesterday stating that the results would be posted "in the upcoming days".
Aces communication has been much improved in recent times. We will see whether this continues in announcing their draft picks.
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Post by Journeyman on Sept 20, 2013 14:39:14 GMT 10
It's all smoke and mirrors Stu, smoke and mirrors!
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Post by oldracer on Sept 20, 2013 19:30:09 GMT 10
What a crock of sh!t, either do it right or give it up, why not release the names of those drafted immediately to some sort of fanfare!!!!! Am I surprised........nup!!
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 20, 2013 21:19:27 GMT 10
In response to a member who asked the Aces “who did the Aces pick in the ABL draft?”, the club tweeted in response, “Hopefully some news over the coming days…”.
Hopefully... that doesn't sound like a 'Yes', to me. A definite maybe...perhaps...
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Post by moose on Sept 21, 2013 7:20:15 GMT 10
Must be an ex- KGB agent running the ABL publicity machine.
I can understand commercial priorities but gee whiz Baseball aint rocket science. Or is it? If true how can this be a national draft if just Sydney and Melbourne are the only ones taking part. Perhaps the other clubs got the same information that the fans did regarding it taking place?
Neil W
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 23, 2013 10:19:39 GMT 10
Interesting to see that Perth has three pre-season fixtures scheduled for mid-October against the USA All-Stars, while the Sydney Blue Sox have four fixtures against Team Australia coming up for their pre-season.
So far, nothing for the Melbourne Aces.
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 24, 2013 14:51:57 GMT 10
Still no news in regards the players selected by the Aces and the Sydney Blue Sox last Thursday.
I emailed the club just after midday, yesterday and asked when the club would be releasing the names of those selected.
I have yet to receive a response.
A follow-up email from just after midday today has also gone unanswered at the present time.
Surely members and supporters have a right to know who the club selected in the draft, or does the front office honestly believe we are like wind-up dolls and can simply have our interest turned on and off in a manner that they feel necessary?
Journeyman, I think dem smoke and mirrors are returning...
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Post by Journeyman on Sept 24, 2013 15:18:47 GMT 10
You have to wonder, don't you? Imagine the AFL draft being so secretive and that only 2 clubs were taking part.
It wasn't a draft, it was a farce!!
No wonder they don't want any publicity about it.
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Post by moose on Sept 25, 2013 15:44:44 GMT 10
Read in the Herald-Sun online that Melbourne will host this years ABL All Star game on December 18. Odd there's been no other announcement That I've seen. Neil W
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Post by Journeyman on Sept 25, 2013 15:50:29 GMT 10
Moose, you're not looking in the right places, it's all over the ABL website and the ABF one too. As well as being on the ABL facebook page too.
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 25, 2013 22:32:26 GMT 10
In fairness Neil, the ABL website, Aces website, facebook and twitter all made mention of the announcement and the club even sent out a newsletter at midday today.
The announcement is somewhat of a coup, and the Aces front office does deserve credit for returning the All-Star Game to the Victorian Baseball public, even if the Herald-Sun article regarding it does greatly embellish the crowd figure from last season.
BUT…
The coming regular season is forty-six games in length. Aces fans have put up with sub-.500 teams for three years now and the attendances show that the fans are not going to continue to put up with sub-.500 season after sub-.500 season.
The All-Star Game is a one-off event, and having an All-Star game is fantastic, please, no-one get me wrong, but once the day is gone, the dignitaries will disappear and Joe and Josephine Fan will remain. Joe and Josephine Fan want their team, the Melbourne Aces to win baseball games. The club has put together a promotional schedule for every day of the season and the All-Star Game has been announced, but neither promotions nor All-Star games matter for anything as far as lifting the crowd numbers from an average in the 700’s if the team doesn’t win games.
Don’t believe me? The day before the All-Star game, the Aces hosted Canberra in front of 223 fans, the week after, the Aces hosted the Sydney Blue Sox in front of 1262 people…for four games (crowds of 334, 234, 424 and 270).
The trend of crowds rising as the win tally moves in the same direction goes across most sports. In the AFL this season, Port Adelaide rose up the table most unexpectedly, and their home crowds jumped 26% from 19910 to 26915. Richmond made the finals for the first time perhaps since Helen D’Amico graced the MCG, but their crowds jumped 18.8% from 41318 to 50900. Alternatively, St Kilda, runners up to Collingwood after a thrilling drawn Grand Final the first time, drew an average of 38022 to home games in 2010. This year, they drew 28965 per home game, down just short of 24%. From 15 wins and a draw in 2010, they won just five games this year.
The phenomenon even goes as far as the MLB. The Los Angeles Dodgers are up from 36236 to 45972 per game this year, up 21%. They recently clinched their Division. Pittsburgh just clinched a playoff berth for the first time in over two decades on the back of some great baseball this year after a solid season in 2012. They are up 14% on attendance over the two years. Oakland, another team who just clinched their Division were dead last in the Majors regards average attendance in 2011 (18232), but two playoff seasons later and they are up over 18% to 22337 and up from 30th to 23rd in attendance.
The equation for the front office is a simple one. You want attendance to go up? Put the best team you can on the field. Volunteer the names of the players on the 35-man roster to your members and fans instead of steadfastly refusing to let them know who will be representing the club this season. Volunteer the information and tell people about your draft selections. Outwardly show that the on-field results are as important as the bells and whistles off it and you may just find that people may start knocking on the front door of MBP on a more frequent basis.
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Post by moose on Sept 26, 2013 7:14:15 GMT 10
My apologies. I don't access the ABL or the Melb Aces Facebook very much these days.
Neil W
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 26, 2013 13:53:19 GMT 10
It looks as if Josh Spence is headed for the Dominican League, playing with the Gigantes del Cibao if his witter feed is anything to go by.
Ryan Rowland-Smith has tweeted that he is taking a rest over the winter so we may well be still to see him throw in the ABL, sans his All-Star appearance last season.
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Post by bobby on Sept 26, 2013 17:22:16 GMT 10
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 26, 2013 19:33:05 GMT 10
Adelaide tonight on local radio announced that Minor Leaguers from the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros would be a part of the Bite roster for season 2013/14.
Perth has kept their cards close to their chest (though it seems they are far from alone on that front). Sydney is reportedly going to announce a couple of last years imports are returning, while the Bandits are sitting on a couple of names from the Tampa Bay Rays Class-A affiliate, the Bowling Green Hot Rods.
Lets hope we, the baseball public are allowed to know a few names of players soon, especially as we are tonight exactly five weeks from opening day. At this rate it seems men in uniform, complete with a brown paper bag over their heads will be the centrepiece of the ABL this season.
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 27, 2013 13:35:21 GMT 10
Kudos to the Aces for the much overdue releasing of some of the names of players chosen in the ABL Draft over a week ago. While there will not be an explanation to members and fans as to why there was an inexplicable delay, it's at least something to allow people to follow the club by. Alas, in true club fashion, it seems only some of the draftees names were released, not all of them.
The first pick was Joe Burns, a 6'0" left hander still with the Texas organisation, having spent the 2013 season with Class A Hickory. He was 4-5 2sv 4.89era 1.38whip and was actually a bit tougher on right handed hitters (.259) than left-handers (.283), and while he was OK with nobody on (.237), he really struggled when there were men on (.295), and when they were in scoring position, well, hitters just teed-off on him (.379). Dials a fast ball up to 84 with a slider around 76 and change at 74.
Former Minnesota farmhand Corey Kimes, a big 6'4" lefty was chosen by the Aces second up. Despite being 5-0 3.23era between rookie and A ball with the Twins in 2012 he was released by the club, and linked with the Joliet Slammers in the independent Frontier League, where he was a teammate of Brisbane player Justin Erasmus. He was 4-7 5.56era 1.59whip with Joliet, striking out just 57 (with 41 bb's) in 89 innings. Given height and throwing side, he can somewhat be compared to Chuck Lofgren, another big lefty who played in the Frontier League this year and played with Brisbane in the ABL this season, and who happened to be with Joliet in 2013 as well. Lofgren went 7-7 4.27era 1.47whip with the Slammers. In the ABL he was 4-3 3.05era 1.29whip in 62ip for the Bandits.
Pick three went to another left-handed pitcher in Zak Adams, who signed with the Texas Rangers for a $250000.00 bonus after being a 15th Round selection in 2010, however he never made it past rookie ball, going 1-3 10.53era in parts of three seasons. He did have elbow issues towards the end of 2011 so perhaps that was related to his being released, though it seems odd the Rangers would have given up on him so quickly as a prospect after dealing a significant bonus to him.
Dustin Ward went with pick four, a 6'0" and is...another left-handed pitcher! He had a decent year at rookie level with the Baltimore Orioles organisation in 2011, but after three appearances at Class A Aberdeen (12.00era) in 2012 he was released, though it's hard to tell whether that was solely because of performance or whether it was injury related. Stands tall on the mound (much different to Burns who stoops significantly), and has a real over-the-top action and looks as if he throws a change-up for an 'out' pitch. Fast ball doesn't have much movement.
It's hard to tell whether the Aces deliberately chose left-handers or just went with the best pitcher available at the time as the ABL won't release a list of the draft nominees. Regardless, that the four players drafted are LHPs is somewhat of a surprise given RHPs have been the ones enjoying the bulk of the success in the league. Last season, only two of the top twelve pitchers for K's was a LHP (Lofgren and Adelaide import Zak Fuesser), and only three LHP's ( Paul Mildren, Lofgren and Fuesser) have registered fifty of more K's in an ABL season over the past three years.
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 27, 2013 21:08:06 GMT 10
While the Aces released the first four names the club drafted last week, I was alerted to the other four players drafted via another couple of sources this afternoon.
The first four picks (above) were all left hand pitchers, however at pick five, the Aces went for Corey Kimes’ Joliet teammate, Brett Zawacki, a right hander who was a 12th round selection by the Cardinals in 2007 and who also spent time in the Florida/Miami Marlins organisation.
After a season with the Gateway Grizzlies in 2012, Zawacki moved to Joliet in 2013 and put up numbers of 6-7 4.56era 1.46whip 85k in 89ip and the reports are that he is predominantly a sinkerballer. Two ACL tears in 2006 and 2009 do appear to have hampered his progress through the minor leagues.
Pick Six I’ve looked at several times and can’t work out his selection. RHP Paul Geuy (pronounced Guy) was a walk-on at Ohio State in 2011 and in a limited span of 9.1 innings, recorded numbers of 0-0 7.71era 2.03whip 7k/6bb, and followed them with 2012 numbers of 1-1 8.58era 1.97whip 17k/14bb in 28.1ip.
In 2013, Geuy joined the Vallejo Admirals in the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball (you hadn’t heard of the league either?) and was still with the team with numbers of 0-1 2sv 8.79era 1.95whip 13k/11bb in 14.1ip when the team was shut down by the league for a failure to pay players, employees and meet rent among other financial irregularities.
Geuy seems to rely on a fast ball and a decent little curve, but the numbers just don’t seem to add up to something that would equal success in the ABL.
While I think the Aces may have erred with pick six, pick seven, RHP Kevin Fuqua, could prove to be the genuine steal of the draft should he get the opportunity to throw in the league this season.
Undrafted in 2011 out of LaSalle University, he managed to get a role with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the American Association, and performed well in his two years there (3-3 2.69era), however he was traded to the Cam-Am League Rockland Boulders along with Canberra reliever Eric Massingham and another player for Keith Brachold, a former Brockton Rox player, who played with Scott Wearne, Dom Ramos, Hunter Davis and Brad Hertzler.
With Rockland, Fuqua ended up in the closers role, and was arguably the dominant closer in the league, going 3-2 with 21 saves, 1.71era 1.14whip 36k/17bb in 42ip.
His fastball seems to have some giddy-up and he has a nice out pitch that jams left handers inside and works away from right handed hitters, a pitch which does seem to be a true hitters weakness in the ABL.
With 21 saves in a 100 game season, he almost covers the Aces three year numbers of 23 saves in 131 games. He does seem as if he’d be a solid eighth or ninth innings option in the ABL.
Pick eight went to another undrafted college RHP in Brett Houseal, who was 15-17 4.36era in his four years at Marist College. While he has size on his side, (6’3” 99kgs) is durable (5 complete games) and doesn’t walk too many (59bb in 250 college innings), he doesn’t beat too many bats (49k in 95ip in his final college year) and gave up 296 hits in his 250 college innings.
Fuqua was undrafted as well, however he’s gone out and proved his worth. 1216 players were selected in the 2013 MLB draft without Houseal’s name being called. Do the Aces really need to provide the platform that either proves the scouts right or wrong?
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Post by gj on Sept 28, 2013 19:36:18 GMT 10
Stu, Exactly how many non nationals are we going to have on the roster? How exactly is this developing Australian Baseball by filling up a roster with guys who never made it.
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 29, 2013 20:09:23 GMT 10
Good question GJ, and it is one the rank and file ABL member and supporter deserves to be made aware of. In years one and two, all teams had eight imports, however that changed in year three, when Canberra, who finished just two games out of second place in year two, were given a staggering sixteen imports (17 for mine, given they had John Holdzkom, who somehow qualified as a New Zealander and therefore, a local).
My understanding is that the rules may have changed yet again, and this was backed up yesterday, when on local radio, Adelaide coach Charlie Aliano announced that the Bite would have fourteen imports for the coming season.
So on a roster of twenty-two for a series, the Bite could legitimately have fourteen imports, Stefan Welsh, Richard Olson and Matt Williams, and only need to source five other players.
My understanding is that Brisbane has also been given an increase in their import numbers, while Canberra is certainly fighting any changes to their ratios. Last year they needed one local in the line-up at a minimum, and they are arguing that because many of their locals are pitchers then the line-up, they should not have too much change to its restrictions.
I hear that the Aces and Blue Sox may have their import allowance increased from eight to ten for the coming season, but it cannot be confirmed because neither club nor league will announce it. Perth may be asked to keep at eight imports.
So from year two, when restrictions were 8/22, meaning 48 of 132 (36%), we are now potentially looking at something as high as 72 of 132 (54%).
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 30, 2013 12:34:23 GMT 10
From the world of social media Corey Kimes the Aces second round draft selection, has signed his contract and will play for the Aces in the coming ABL season.
An 18th round selection by the Minnesota Twins in 2011, he played Rookie Ball at Elizabethton that year, along with ABL names such as Rory Rhodes (Brisbane), Sydney trio Tim Atherton, Todd Van Steensel and JD Williams, as well as new Fitzroy import Derek Christensen. In 2012, he started at Elizabethton again, where Aces player Josh Hendriks and Sydney import Tyler Herr also played, before being moved up to Class A Beloit, where he pitched well for a combined 2012 record of 5-0 3.23era 1.33whip, before parting ways with the Twins organisation in December after the club advised him they did not see him advancing to the Twins High A team at Fort Myers.
A native of Illinois, Kimes, who was drafted out of the University of Illinois, linked with Frontier League team, the Joliet Slammers, and struggled somewhat, posting numbers 4-7 1sv 5.56era 1.59whip 57k/41bb in 89.0ip, as the Slammers finished the season 38 and 57, good enough for fifth in the league's West division. Kimes' 5.56era was vastly greater to the rest of his teams, which was 4.20, and of the fifty pitchers eligible for the era title, Kimes finished 47th. He lost six of his last eight decisions before being demoted to the bullpen late in the season for his last five appearances.
Kimes joins John Hussey as the only two pitchers known to be contracted for the Aces this season.
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 30, 2013 22:27:18 GMT 10
With a month to go before the ABL season begins, clubs are largely still unwilling to release names to their members and fans, but a few names have appeared over the past few days through various channels.
While not announced officially, word out of Perth is that they have re-signed Anthony Claggett (4-5 3.31era 1.20whip 77k/12bb in 73.1ip last season), and while Virgil Vasquez will not return and Warwick Saupold will only be available for half a season, the Heat have signed a pitcher with Major League experience for the first half of the season.
That pitcher is Mike Ekstrom, who has spent time in the majors with the Padres, Rays and Rockies organisations, where he was 0-3 5.61era 1.55whip 45k/26bb in 61ip and 51 appearances.
With a two-seam fastball/slider combo with the occasional change and even more occasional curve, Ekstrom will be a tough proposition for ABL hitters, especially with Australian catcher Allan De San Miguel, behind the plate, calling the shots.
When working well, the slider breaks late and given a majority of ABL hitters really struggle with the slider, especially the younger hitters, Ekstrom could prove to be a dominant force while he is with the Heat.
Having been released in August by the Angels, where he spent much of 2013 at AAA, Ekstrom has no pitch counts to work to, though at this stage it appears he will not celebrate the New Year as an ABL player.
Over the border, Adelaide has at least three Seattle Mariners affiliated players coming out to play with the Bite.
Blake Holovach was a 27th round draft selection in 2012 and is a 6’5” left hand pitcher who likes to throw his off-speed pitches a great deal, but often has trouble locating them, a problem he has also had at time with his fastball during his time in the Mariners organisation.
His 1-5 record at rookie level in 2012 is a bit misleading as it went with a 3.91era and a 1.46whip, though the 22 walks (with 30 strike outs) in 48.1 innings wouldn’t have helped his cause.
In 2013, he spent his season with Clinton in the Midwest League, and went 1-2 5.02era 1.67whip 51k/28bb in 57.1ip. The walk every other innings again came back to hurt his numbers, as did the .302 batting average against him.
He drops his body down significantly when he throws, and the arm comes from between a half and three-quarter position, and does look as if he gives right handers a good sight of the ball out of the hand.
The surname Holman would resinate among hardcore Seattle fans, and David Holman, the 6’6” righty who will play for the Bite is indeed a second generation Mariners player. David’s father Brian is famed in Mariners folklore, coming within one out of a perfect game against Oakland in 1990 before giving up a home run, the only baserunner he would allow for the game.
The David Holman story is a good human interest one, as he has come through a serious medical setback after a tumour, fortunately benign, was discovered in his brain, which took three years to grow before being able to be operated on. Coming out of the operation, he was partially paralysed.
During his rehab from the operation, his sister was battling leukaemia (and eventually passed away from the disease), so its fair to say he has overcome enough adversity for many a baseballer, or anyone for that matter.
If his background isn’t rare enough, Holman is a baseball rarity in that he has been drafted three times. The Braves drafted him first in 2008 in the 48th round before the Mariners drafted him the following year in the 47th round. After being spurned once, the Mariners tried again in the 50th round in 2010 and this time Holman signed, and performed well at rookie level in 2012, with a 3-3 8sv 3.27era 1.27whip 33k/6bb effort in 33 innings.
In 2013, he split time between the starting rotation and the bullpen, putting up overall numbers of 4-8 3sv 3.25era 1.12whip 53k/20bb in 110.2innings however it was in the rotation he performed better, as his 3-2 2.68era numbers would suggest. Holman averaged over sin innings a start and also hurled one complete game.
It would appear that the Mariners want to continue to extend him further in games (his six starts at the end of the season, in order, went 5, 6, 7.2, 7, 8 and 8 innings) and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was the type of player that would be recalled by his parent club at some stage during the season.
He is very upright on the mound, has a solid fastball and gets plenty of swings and misses with his curve, which he uses as his main ‘out’ pitch.
The Bite has organised a position player from the Mariners, with Brock Hebert, a middle infielder, drafted in the 14th round in 2012, joining his Lumberkings teammates Holovach and Holman in the City of Churches.
Only 5’10, Hebert has excellent range in the infield and is adept at both short and second. He was .266-1-23-19 in 2012 between rookie and Short-Season A ball, and spent time at three levels this year, spending the bulk of his time at Clinton, where he was .277-1-16-15 in 59 games.
The Mariners will be hoping to get some endurance into Hebert’s legs, after his average dropped from a first half .306 to .229 in the second half as his OBP fell 90 points. The key to pitching to him is keeping the ball low, as he struggles to get under the ball and low pitchers tend to be hit along the ground in the infield.
They join Matt Williams, who has taken up a role with Baseball SA in recent months, and is somewhat of a marquee pick-up for the Adelaide franchise for the coming year.
On the back of a 2012-13 season where he compiled numbers of 1-0 15sv 2.14era 0.95whip, Williams three-year ABL numbers of 2-2 16sv 1.77era and 1.15whip demonstrate his standing as one of the competitions elite relief pitchers.
The Bite fell apart in 11-12 once import closer Ryan Beckman was recalled and Richard Olson and Andrew Kettridge could never lock-down the role last season, however with Olson throwing the eighth this season and Williams looking after the ninth, the Bite will be more confident of holding late innings leads in 2013-14.
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Post by stuartcapel on Oct 1, 2013 15:52:22 GMT 10
The Sydney Blue Sox have announced their first two import pick-ups for the coming season, both players coming from the Chicago White Sox organisation.
Middle infielder Joey DeMichele was selected in the third round of the 2012 amateur draft after putting up excellent numbers with Arizona State Sun Devils (Josh Spence's alma mater), and after the best part of two seasons he remains a hit first/field second type of prospect.
After time at Rookie and Class A ball last season, the White Sox jumped DeMichele and fellow White Sox top-three draft selections from the 2012 draft, Courtney Hawkins and Chris Beck straight to Advanced A level for 2013. Beck, looks the best of the three, after compiling a 13-10 3.07era record, while Hawkins, still only a teenager, hit for power (19) but hit just .178, so he could be the second coming of Adam Dunn, though there is plenty of time for him to develop.
DeMichele is a 5'11" left handed hitter, who was adequate at Winston Salem in 2013, hitting .246-8-54-19, striking out 126 times and being caught stealing on seven occasions. Strangely, he hit better against LHP's (.301-3-14-2) than he did against RHP's (.228-5-40-17), while his home now appears to be second base after he was tried for a time at short, but after 47 games in which he made 16 errors, he was left at second.
His arm is his main weakness in the field, while his speed is seen as an asset, but as with JaDamion Williams, a Sydney import last season (who is rumoured to be potentially returning to the Blue Sox), DeMichele is still learning how to use the speed and has real trouble getting his timing against left handed pitchers when on the bases.
The White Sox are not only sending their 3rd Round selection from 2012, in outfielder Jacob May, they are also sending their 2013 3rd Round selection, who starred for Coastal Carolina University (where Aces import Justin Trapp turned down a college football scholarship), breezed through a dozen rookie level games this season before being promoted to Class A Kannapolis.
May's grandfather, Lee May, hit 354 home runs in his MLB career, however Jacob, a switch-hitter, is more a speed merchant, though he does seem to have a little power, with his A ball numbers being .286-8-28-19, with his main power coming from the left side, as he hit .311-6-19-14 against RHP's and just .224-2-9-5 against lefties.
Already tabbed as the teams everyday fielder by the Blue Sox, May does have his deficiencies in the outfield, as his arm is only average and he gets a poor read on most balls, however with his ++ rated speed, he has the ability to outrun most of his mistakes. He will however be a tough out to record on the basepaths for ABL catchers and he should also provide some good gap power.
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Post by moose on Oct 1, 2013 19:09:38 GMT 10
Thank GOD for you Stu and your posts otherwise we'd all be in the dark about the forthcoming season and players. I still think your input should be used for the ABL in some capacity. I understand the situation but still think its a big loss to our fledgling league. Neil W
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Post by stuartcapel on Oct 1, 2013 19:25:14 GMT 10
Much appreciated Moose.
I'm sure the Aces have my contact details...
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Post by klattsy on Oct 2, 2013 13:17:53 GMT 10
I think Twitter conversations have given away some of the Bandits imports. Patrick Leonard (CI/DH w/Rays) says he and Tyler Goeddel (CI) and "#jo" (possibly Joey Rickard OF) are coming to Brisbane for Winter Ball. Of course it could be for a GBL club, but the Bandits also mysteriously tweeted "Who's a Rays fan?" a while back. And of course they didn't expand because that's how it works I guess.
My brief assessment that will pale in comparison to Stu's...
Patrick Leonard 1B. 6'4" 225 @ 20yrs old. After Goofy's horrible season with the bat, some 1B help would be good. Part of the Will Myers/James Shield trade. Strongly rated in Rookie ball, Leonard spent season at Class A and only hit .225 extra but 80 points in OBP. 9 HR was down from 14 at Rk level. Couple of swipes. Highly rated power tool.
Tyler Goeddel 3B. 6'4 180 @ 20 yrs old. I still like Rory there. Speed speed speed. Stole 60 bases in 2012 + 2013, only caught 10 times. Thank god we don't have Beatty on the paths anymore (0/4). Hit .249 w/7 HR this year at Bowling Green. Not the best with the leather, 35 errors this season. Rated highly but under delivered.
No comment on Rickard until some solid info comes in. But he's an OF and we are fine out there imho. Rhodes, Roberts, Campbell, Wade, I want to see all 4 get good game time this year.
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Post by stuartcapel on Oct 2, 2013 13:57:39 GMT 10
Look at Klattsy go... ;-) Indeed the news about Leonard has been out for a time in regards Leonard coming to the Bandits. We think Joey Rickard is coming as well. Jury out on whether Goedell will join Leonard or not - time will tell.
A fifth round prospect, Leonard did sign for a bonus north of $500000, so to give up him, along with Wil Meyers, who is now in the playoffs with Tampa Bay, and others for James Shields and Wade Davis does show how both the Rays and Royals felt about him. Ironically, this trade is being seen in current terms as a win-win for both clubs, though the risk is still high for the Royals should Shields move at the end of 2014.
Leonard is only 20 at present, though will turn 21 before the opening of the ABL season (which starts in 29 days time), so he can be forgiven somewhat for having slightly lower numbers in 2013 as he moved up a Class in a totally new environment. After performing well in the Appalachian League at Rookie level, his numbers of .225-9-57-4 would have been less than what the Tampa minor league overseers would have been hoping for, but the Rays, given their relatively small payroll seem to know how to nurture within, so they wouldn't be sending him here if they didn't think highly of him. Only a solid June, in which he hit .273 saved his numbers from disaster at Bowling Green, and he needs to improve against LHP's, after a season where he hit .198 in 96ab's against lefty's.
He is a big lad at 6'4" and is at this stage still learning the tools of the trade in the minors. Make a mistake and he'll hurt you, but he struggles with the ball up in/just out of the zone and a couple of reports I have read suggest he struggles against the off-speed stuff as well. In the field, he struggled at third (.871 fielding percentage) and is more at home at first, though the Bandits do have an excellent fielding option in David Sutherland at first, though both his BA and OBP fell just over fifty points last season, and his power was also down, hitting just one ball out of the park (without looking it up Klattsy, who was Sutherland's home run off?).
Another player heading out is LHP Jacob Raffaele, who played with the London Majors in the Canadian-based Intercounty Baseball League.
I will now give you sometime to recall if you've heard of the league...
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That's OK, I hadn't heard of it either!
A teammate of Bandits pitcher Andrew Marck witht he Majors, Raffaele posted numbers of 3-2 2sv 4.45era 1.28whip in 30.1ip. At this stage I'd lean towards suggesting he's going to be pitching in the Brisbane competition, and then perhaps get a call for the Bandits if he is doing well. At best, he is cover for a Bandits bullpen that was the busiest of the league last season, and will not have the luxury of working with Cody Clark this season.
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