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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2014 21:50:53 GMT 10
What appears quite clear is that the baseball public doesn’t have a clue about much of what is happening at the Melbourne Aces – certainly in regard to club management and player lists.
That can be both good and bad. Confidentiality, behind the scenes politics, player negotiations and funding sensitivities should all rightly be taken into account. That is a good thing.
On the other hand, there is no excuse for the shabby and insulting treatment handed out to aueagle30 and at least one other Victorian applicant. There is no excuse for taking anything – or anyone – at all for granted when baseball is competing desperately for a sporting foothold in this country.
For this league to have any chance of success, we all need to be supporting the cause and working collaboratively within our various means – including as supporters - towards some common goals. However, the trust factor that is essential to sustain baseball community support has been eroded in so many ways over the past few years that persons can well be excused for being cynical and critical.
While this Forum – by its nature of expressing unsanitised views - cops the rap for some of the cynicism, the problem is far broader than that. The Aces malaise is reflected in the modest attendances at games, in the difficulty of attracting mainstream media coverage, in a general incapacity to create excitement in the community and a failure to directly engage the Victorian club baseball demographic.
For example, while the exercise might each year present a terrific opportunity for some young Americans to have a summer holiday while padding out their CV as interns, I have serious concerns about the strategy – which to me is so dismissive of capable young (and even not so young) local people who already have a commitment to Australian baseball and who may offer the potential for longer-term involvement. That is in no way intended as a slight on our visitors, many of whom may have been solid contributors for the short time that they are usually here.
No doubt they have done their best, in the same way that the players have tried their hardest and the coaches have done their best with the resources available.
I guess that it is largely about money, though it seems to me that chopping and changing part-time and volunteer staff from season to season is working against the sort of stability and reasonable certainty that a sporting league requires – especially in its fledgling years. And if money is such an imperative, surely the Aces can spend their share more wisely than on some of the inane jaw-dropping projects of recent years – such as cheer squads and daylight pyrotechnics!
Many members of this Forum have been enthusiastic supporters of a resurrected Australian Baseball League right from the start – in fact, from well before it started.
The league is into its fifth season and it is pretty clearly at a developmental stage somewhat less than what both MLB and the ABL would have hoped or expected.
The 2014/15 season will be pivotal. Notwithstanding the turmoil created by wholesale changes to coaching personnel and the apparent departure of the General Manager, some promising signs have come out of the Melbourne Aces camp – including positive media material in recent times, an ostensibly closer engagement with Baseball Victoria, the appointment of a hands-on baseball operations manager and what appears now to be a fair dinkum search for a quality off-field leader capable (we hope) of engaging the baseball public and shareholders more honestly and effectively.
Rebuilding of trust and confidence within the baseball community should be a primary focus. The Aces organisation simply has to get more things right, far more often than it has.
Starting now.
And who knows, some onfield success just might follow.
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Post by wearnie52 on Sept 18, 2014 23:10:42 GMT 10
Wow Stu! What happened to you while I was gone?!
It's a sad day when we are being upbeat about mediocrity just because it's better than it has been in the past. Still doesn't mean it's being done right.
I am a supporter of baseball on all levels, but there's only so much people can take. Who gets rid of the GM at this stage of the year, with applications only open for a week, but then no-one in the role a month later? And with the season so close? It doesn't make sense.
Not acknowledging applications for the role at all? It's just not good enough. But sadly, it's not at all surprising.
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Post by bobby on Sept 19, 2014 1:03:04 GMT 10
If you are waiting over a month without an interview I would think its a no. There was a recruiter going around contacting people regarding the role, even though the role is a GM role it is paying the wage of someone with 3-4 years experience max.
Good luck to the person that gets the role, there is much work to be done with head office pulling the majority of the strings.
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Post by aueagle30 on Sept 19, 2014 5:53:21 GMT 10
Thanks for the heads up Bobby... But you did say you only "think its a no."
So was I right to stop working on my "Welcome to the Ballpark" greeting and hang all my baseball-themed ties back in back of the closet, or are you saying there's still a chance?
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Post by bobby on Sept 19, 2014 6:46:33 GMT 10
Never say never Nate, who knows what the ABL could do, it's not like they do things by the book!
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Post by The Puma on Sept 19, 2014 7:16:53 GMT 10
Imagine if you had been told you had the job and then 6 weeks later you see it advertised. Would you tell them to shove it? Another conspiracy theory? Meh, what would I know.
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Post by russelledwards on Sept 19, 2014 8:50:14 GMT 10
The failure to even confirm the receipt of Applications is deplorable business practice that carries on the proud tradition of Baseball Administrators failing to do their job. Nathan (and all other Applicants) deserve better. It really is common courtesy to acknowledge a person's interest in any position and should be standard procedure. I (along with several others) have expressed disgust with Baseball Victoria over their consistent failure to reply to phone calls, emails and requests for call backs eventually leading to me giving up on the Game. It would seem that other Administering Bodies are afflicted with the same lack of respect. The staff at the Aces, ABL and BV are in effect employed by the fans and the participants and we are entitled to expect better.
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 19, 2014 11:38:05 GMT 10
Nothing has happened while you were away 52 and no, oldracer, I am not on the payroll at the club (would be redirecting it to the blokes who play four games a week for peanuts if I was), but I do try and say something good when something good happens.
If my posts have been largely negative, and not positive, then that should tell you my opinion of how the club has travelled since its debut, and I do believe that I'm in a decent position to comment given I have seen more games than most, and spoken to a wide range of people, both associated with the Aces and from interstate.
Some recent improvements have been made - we know more about our roster than any other club at present . Over the first four seasons, the club steadfastly refused to let members and fans know who they will be watching until the very last minute. Social media has been improved and is active on a daily basis (something that is leading the other five clubs, though the content needs to be more accurate), there has been a members function held already, and I understand the logic of a schools day, though I hold firm in my belief that the club should have announced already a program by which it will compensate members who will not be able to take a random Monday off work as the club somewhat deceived members into believing that a double-header would be scheduled on the Sunday. Certainly that was the case when most have bought their memberships.
Further to memberships, it's a sign that the club has very little transparency. We hear of record numbers of members...but the actual number...no one actually knows. Lets see that effort happen in the AFL. The ABL (not just the Aces) is very secretive when it comes to numbers. In season one, the ABL webpage included a tally of series by series attendances. That lasted a couple of series into season two and the page was withdrawn, and is yet to reappear, while the gameday boxscores used to include attendances, however that all of a sudden stopped towards the end of last season (not a software issue, I assure you). What is it the Aces/ABL are trying to hide? That they are not as successful as they had dreamed? We know that only too well, we have watched stuff-up after stuff-up occur since Greg Wiltshire threw the first pitch at the Showgrounds that nothing really surprises the paying public anymore. Talk to former employees of the club. Their stories of goings on in the office and their treatment are most disheartening.
Whoever the new General Manager is, and let us hope they are appointed sooner rather than later so they can be in a position of influence come the start of the season and not a passenger, they have a very big job ahead of them in order to repair the damage done to the club. Fortunately, I do get the feeling there are enough people out there willing to give their time, support and assistance to the new person. I'm pretty sure I'm correct in saying all they would like in return is to be treated honestly and respectfully, and that their efforts are appreciated, and not something that is used to boost the reputations of others.
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Post by newatit on Sept 23, 2014 18:57:52 GMT 10
Word out of Sydney that the Blue Sox have a training session tonight. They have their imports in place and have just announced signing Kandilas, Van Steensel & Oeltjen. All we have is a manager (apparently), a coaching staff who have been announced but will not be coaching if you ask them, NO GENERAL MANAGER and no players.....but we have seen Goose & Maverick being very active? Please, give me a break.
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 23, 2014 19:34:14 GMT 10
Kandilas and Van Steensel were announced several weeks ago when the Protected Lists were announced along with six other players (Craig Anderson, Josh Dean, Guy Edmonds, Wayne Lundgren, Zach Shepherd and Luke Wilkins). In typical ABL fashion though, the list wasn't championed (a member of the public's constant emailing may have had something to do with it actually being released) and the clubs have been left to announce them in the last week or so as if they had just magically signed.
Adelaide today announced they have signed three players, which we knew about several weeks ago anyway as they were on the Protected List. What odds the other three miraculously sign over the next week or so.
And again, give the Aces credit, they had their eight names out incredibly early, perhaps even before the ABL reluctantly released the lists themselves.
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Post by moose on Sept 24, 2014 8:20:43 GMT 10
Hi guys its the "Negative 1" here back for yet another exciting season of ABL Aces baseball. Hope I've been missed. LOL
Notice that I got my Xmas wishes early with (1) The departure of our late lamented(not) manager Mr Knox (2) Phil Dale being replaced after 4 seasons at the helm.
Whilst I personally won't miss Mr Knox, Phil Dale did as good a job as he was allowed to do. However a change was needed IMHO and time will tell if the move was a good one with the new Manager Mr Thompson.
Some questions if I may. (1) has anyone else noticed the new manager looks very much like Jackie Gleason? (2) Has anyone else received their season tickets yet for the coming season? (3) Is Mr Huber continuing on in a playing capacity, given he has been muted as GM of the club? (4) Anyone noticed that the two mascots have had clothing upgrades this season. Must have worn out or the moths had been busy over the off season. Good to have money to spend.
Neil W
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Post by stuartcapel on Sept 24, 2014 13:40:10 GMT 10
While the Aces social media has improved, sometimes it does appear as if we have hoped for too much.
The Aces most recent tweet, which effectively calls into question the intelligence of members and fans who have not entered a competition is most poor.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2014 14:28:31 GMT 10
Jackie Gleason, Moose? Now you really ARE showing your age. And awayyyy we go......
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emdeem
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Post by emdeem on Sept 24, 2014 15:57:06 GMT 10
While the Aces social media has improved, sometimes it does appear as if we have hoped for too much. The Aces most recent tweet, which effectively calls into question the intelligence of members and fans who have not entered a competition is most poor. Aces tweet this afternoon. Have you still not entered to win mlb World Series tickets via @ableague? Hurry up, knuckleheads!: bit.ly/ablwstx From Urban Dictionary knucklehead From the 1930's (circa). Refers to a person of questionable intelligence. The size of the brain being given relative size of a human knuckle. Hmmmm BTW I've already entered!
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emdeem
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Post by emdeem on Sept 24, 2014 16:03:21 GMT 10
Tweet cleaned up now.
Good work Aces
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Post by aueagle30 on Sept 30, 2014 11:25:41 GMT 10
Following my post last week regarding my application for the GM position at the Aces, I've had a couple of key people involved with the Aces contact me.
I wanted to publicly acknowledge the courtesy shown to me in those conversations and state that I appreciate that these people took time out of their day to reach out to me. It shows that regardless of what faults the Aces my project at times as an organisation, there are good people with strong character involved in the future direction of the Melbourne Aces.
For the record, I was also informed this morning that an email was drafted and sent to me in response to my application. While I've never received that email, or any other written correspondence regarding my application, I trust that what I was told this morning is correct and the failure of this communication to reach me was simply the result of some breakdown in the communication process.
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Post by bobby on Oct 3, 2014 21:34:38 GMT 10
Interesting to see the GM role re advertised on LinkedIn today, you still might be a chance Nate?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 21:41:14 GMT 10
And here: www.seek.com.au/job/27390134So what do we make of this? Obviously none of the persons interviewed 5 weeks ago was suitable. And it appears there was a communications problem with at least one of the original candidates. That person may have taken front running, although the imminent start of the ABL season might be deemed urgent enough to require that Knox stays in the chair. Reports of his figurative demise may - in Mark Twain's words - have been "greatly exaggerated". Strange times indeed for baseball. Do we expect too much from people? Are our standards too high? Do we set our standards too low? Do we have problems with competence and procedural acumen? Are we masochists? Or are we just plain stupid? Maybe it is an amalgam of those...... Whatever the case, let's cut through the nonsense and get on with the job of striving to make this national league a reasonable success. We won't get another chance.
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Post by russelledwards on Oct 3, 2014 22:10:43 GMT 10
Seems the Required Qualifications have changed KC. Might apply for it myself - do Baseball Victoria have a say in the appointment?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 22:13:28 GMT 10
Bloss, I reckon that BV would give either of us a glowing reference!
They love us.
Don't they?
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Post by russelledwards on Oct 3, 2014 23:03:13 GMT 10
How could they not love us? We always return phone calls and emails, we always speak honestly and we have always freely volunteered our time and money to help the Game we both love. What's not to love??
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Post by pirates on Oct 3, 2014 23:04:53 GMT 10
Yes rumours seem to be coming true, one BV employee told thanks but no thanks? for the Aces position. Seems incumbent is being asked to stay on. The job is not that difficult, not an easy role, but it requires a commitment to hard work and some business acumen, really it's just a bigger version of our suburban clubs. No need to over think this role, a good board or committee and coaching panel and off you go, right or am I way off. I recon we could put together a short list of names within our ranks that could do this role. Here's a few, Phil Dale would be a walk up start. Clearly has all the baseball smarts and national and international connections to recruit on field and off field personal. High end negotiator. Pete Dihm, business background, good baseball administrator, love or hate him he has run the league at a high level dealing with all the personalities at all levels. Justin Hubber. May not have had extensive business exposure but well respected nationally and internationally and from his track record at BV is a great communicator with lots of energy and enthusiasm to recruit good people. Would be a quick on the job learner, would attract lots of support. Maybe it's more than likely a combination of a number of skill sets, and right there may be the answer. it's probably a role for whole Board like a a good club its run by a good committee with wide ranging skill sets which is hands on.
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Post by mc15 on Oct 5, 2014 18:37:44 GMT 10
Yes rumours seem to be coming true, one BV employee told thanks but no thanks? for the Aces position. Seems incumbent is being asked to stay on. The job is not that difficult, not an easy role, but it requires a commitment to hard work and some business acumen, really it's just a bigger version of our suburban clubs. No need to over think this role, a good board or committee and coaching panel and off you go, right or am I way off. I recon we could put together a short list of names within our ranks that could do this role. Sorry pirates. Way off on this one in my view. Very complex combination of higher degree and lower degree stakeholders both operationally and strategically. Apart from playing the game of baseball, there is no similarity of the ABL to suburban clubs
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Post by regg44 on Oct 5, 2014 19:02:47 GMT 10
Have heard on the grapevine Justin Huber told services not required this season. Genuinely hope this is not the case.
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Post by tigertails99 on Oct 5, 2014 19:13:14 GMT 10
Maybe he will be the next GM and this is why he is not playing for the Aces
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Post by swearne on Oct 5, 2014 21:24:34 GMT 10
Regg44, I'd stop listening to that grapevine
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Post by regg44 on Oct 7, 2014 5:18:16 GMT 10
My mail came via someone very highly regarded in Australian baseball. But like I said, very glad to hear it is off the money
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Post by bobby on Oct 20, 2014 9:55:21 GMT 10
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Post by oldracer on Oct 20, 2014 19:24:09 GMT 10
the really interesting part of the article is the contact info at the end......Windsor Knox? ? wtf is up with this position
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Post by moose on Oct 21, 2014 6:33:07 GMT 10
Can anyone shed some light on the whisper that the ACES have taken control of the 'Hangar' cheer squad?
As there has been no consultation with the 'original members' to the best of my knowledge, it seems pretty high handed and sure to yet alienate more people to their style of management.
Neil W
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