UNDERBELLY: The inside information on Australian Rules Baseball for January/February 2009
IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE:
- Single table rankings / Business / Top players
- Cooper's Brewery© Australian Trophy Winners: Adelaide 2008/2009 Season Review
- Suncorp© Outback Classic Preview: Adelaide vs. New Zealand Outsiders
- The month that was
SINGLE TABLE RANKINGS THROUGH FEBRUARY 2009 / BUSINESS / TOP PLAERS
1. Adelaide: 62-48
Fan Interest: 81
Total Attendance: 428,663
Avg. Attendance: 7,975 (8,000)
Ticket Price: $13 AUD
Top Players (so far this season)
AVG: Millard “The Dragon” Wagers (LF), .356
HR:
“Amazing” Gilbert Sternberg (3B), 26
RBI:
“Amazing” Gilbert Sternberg (3B), 87
SB: Vincent Hsu (2B/3B/SS), 25
OPS: Millard “The Dragon” Wagers (LF), 1.088
ERA: RHP Bernard Sequeira (SP), 3.98
W: RHP Karl Keesee (SP), 10
SV: RHP Avelino Lugo (CL), 29
SO: RHP James Smith (SP), 137
2. New Zealand Outsiders: 59-51
Fan Interest: 78
Total Attendance: 312,115
Avg. Attendance: 5,675 (5,700)
Ticket Price: $13 AUD
Top Players (so far this season)
AVG: Ronald Schulz (RF), .313
HR: Ronald Schulz (RF), 31
RBI: Ronald Schulz (RF), 91
SB: Fred Robin (LF/RF), 29
OPS: Ronald Schulz (RF), .993
ERA:
RHP Richard Gholston (SP), 3.32
W:
RHP Richard Gholston (SP), 13
SV: RHP Kareem Ritch (CL), 30
SO: RHP Richard Gholston (SP), 129
3. Brisbane: 55-55
Fan Interest: 70
Total Attendance: 619,996
Avg. Attendance: 11,273 (11,300)
Ticket Price: $13 AUD
Top Players (so far this season)
AVG: Leon Linehan (LF/RF), .367
HR: Michael Smith (1B/DH), 44
RBI: Michael Smith (1B/DH), 99
SB: Curtis Thomas (2B/3B/SS), 21
OPS: Leon Linehan (LF/RF), 1.175
ERA: LHP Robert Harrison (SP), 4.30
W: LHP Robert Harrison (SP), 11
SV: RHP John Finch (CL), 28
SO: LHP Robert Harrison (SP), 129
4. Sydney Premiers: 53-57
Fan Interest: 79
Total Attendance: 779,534
Avg. Attendance: 14,173 (14,200)
Ticket Price: $13 AUD
Top Players (so far this season)
AVG: Mark Mote (RF), .336
HR: Gregg Martin(3B) AND Tyree Loughran (LF/DH), 27
RBI: Robert Meyer (2B/3B), 81
SB: Millard Bennett (CF, LF), 14
OPS: Mark Mote (RF), .984
ERA: LHP Amadis Cataldo (SP), 4.09
W: LHP Edgar Villanueva (SP), 12
SV: RHP Luis Lanza (CL), 16
SO: LHP Edgar Villanueva (SP), 117
5. Melbourne: 51-59
Fan Interest: 61
Total Attendance: 878,656
Avg. Attendance: 15,976 (16,000)
Ticket Price: $13 AUD
Top Players (so far this season)
AVG: John Cargile (3B/2B), .323
HR: Alfonso Mijangos (1B/DH), 25
RBI: John Cargile (3B/2B), 100
SB: Mark Lococo (RF/LF), 35
OPS: John Cargile (3B/2B), 1.012
ERA:
LHP Wayne Moser (SP), 3.52
W: RHP Edward “Scimitar” Hayes (SP) AND LHP Jose Acha (SP), 11
SV: RHP Chigemi Atsushi (CL), 12
SO: LHP Wayne Moser (SP), 193
6. Perth Bellsman: 50-60
Fan Interest: 51
Total Attendance: 372,694
Avg. Attendance: 6,776 (6,800)
Ticket Price: $13
Top Players (so far this season)
AVG: Oscar Fabiano (DH/CF), .291
HR: Hugh “Bones” Mollett (2B/SS), 27
RBI: Hugh “Bones” Mollett (2B/SS), 96
SB: Hugh “Bones” Mollett, 16
OPS: Hugh “Bones” Mollett, .971
ERA: RHP Abraham Diez (SP), 4.09
W:
LHP Oscar Duty (SP), 8
SV: RHP Franky Torres (CL), 24
SO: LHP Oscar Duty (SP), 116
Cooper's Brewery© Australian Trophy Winners: Adelaide 2008/2009 Season Review
They say that home is where the heart is. In the case of the Adelaide baseball club, that theory may be put under test. With a home record of 27-28, if you were to just look at the statistic you wouldn't think that they would go on to be Australian Trophy holders.
Their 35-20 record on the road garnered them a bit of a “road warriors” moniker considering they had much better success on the road than at home. Nobody in the Adelaide clubhouse lets these stats get in their head, because every game is the same to them.
“You can win any game and you could lose any game,” said the intriguing character known as Millard “The Dragon” Wagers, Adelaide's man in right field. “We don't let our record at home and on the road effect our mentality. It's simple. We want to win as much games as possible, just like everyone else. Nothing new in sports.”
Wagers was joined by “Amazing” Gilbert Sternberg in Adelaide's offensive assault. Wagers, batting third in the order, has often been described as having the most lethal weapon in Australia regarding his left-handed swing. Inside and at his head, down by his knees, away from him, he manages to turn his body in a split second and slam the ball.
“It's unreal,” said hitting coach Steven Dodge. “I think he hits bad pitches better than Vlad Guerrero. I remember earlier in the year where a pitch, think it was a fastball, slipped away from the target inside and went for his head. Dragon turned on it and sent it deep to right. It's such a fluent motion, and he does it so quickly.”
Amazing Gil, the switch hitting third baseman, has followed up Wagers all year. The tandem has been billed as the best back-to-back in ARB.
With a team batting average of .282 and scoring more runs than anyone in Australia, the team has a 4.90 ERA, third best in Australia. Pitching had always been shaky, but it hasn't bothered Adelaide too much.
“The team with the best overall ERA is Melbourne with 4.60,” said pitching coach Bill McKinney. “I think we're good compared to the rest of the league in pitching. We won the Australian Trophy after all, and I think the pitching can hold up in a playoff.”
Adelaide aims for The Double, capping off the first season of Australian Rules Baseball under their dominance. But if they wish to win The Double, they need to get through New Zealand first...
Suncorp© Outback Classic Preview: Adelaide vs. New Zealand Outsiders
When Australian Rules Baseball was announced in the summer of 2007, it was assumed that six baseball teams would be set up in Australia. It turned out to be only five, but there were still six teams. That odd ball team was New Zealand, an entire country being represented against five Australian cities.
Like the elephant in the room, their fans were quick to announce themselves as “The Outsiders.” They proudly claim themselves as Outsiders, like a badge of honor. Their odd looking stadium, a field surrounded by a giant wall, makes their stadium one of the most unique in the world.
Them and Adelaide traded the number one spot, only for Adelaide to pull ahead and claim the Australian Trophy. But there still is a chance to salvage the season and come out with a championship. Jere comes the Outback Classic.
The best-of-seven series complements the Australian Trophy, appealing to fans who love playoffs as well as those who enjoy single table rankings.
Each and every minute of the action will be covered by the Seven Network, one of the best in sports presentation in Australia. Rick Danielson and Chip McCoy will call the action. Here is the schedule for the Suncorp© Outback Classic.
GAME ONE (Sun., Feb. 7th): New Zealand @ Adelaide
GAME TWO (Mon., Feb. 8th): New Zealand @ Adelaide
GAME THREE (Wed., Feb. 10th): Adelaide @ New Zealand
GAME FOUR (Thurs., Feb. 11th): Adelaide @ New Zealand
*GAME FIVE (Fri.., Feb. 12th): Adelaide @ New Zealand
*GAME SIX (Sun., Feb. 14th): New Zealand @ Adelaide
*GAME SEVEN (Mon., Feb. 15th): New Zealand @ Adelaide
The two teams have faced each other twenty-two times this past season, and both of them have split the season with each other at eleven wins a piece.
The months that were
January 3rd – RF Tyler Burnam (Brisbane) won Player of the Week. He hit .474 in 19 AB, 2 HR and 11 RBI.
January 8th – Right-handed start Claude Stehle of Brisbane pitched a three-hit shutout at home vs. Perth in a 7-0 victory.
January 10th – The Player of the Week was C Pedro Jimenez (Sydney Premiers). He hit .429 in 21 AB, 4 HR and 9 RBI.
January 17th – The Player of the Week went to LF Leon Linehan (Brisbane). He hit .455 in 25 AB, 3 HR and 5 RBI.
On the same day, Perth shortstop Hugh “Bones” Mollett hit a 483 foot HR at home in a 14-12 loss to New Zealand.
January 24th – SS Hugh “Bones” Mollett (Perth Bellsman) won Player of the Week. He hit .565 in 23 AB, 5 HR and 15 RBI.
January 28th – Adelaide 2B/DH Vincent Hsu hit three home runs in a single game in an 11 inning road victory against Perth, 9-8.
On the same day, 2B Robert Meyer hit six times as his Sydney Premiers would win a 13 inning road match against Melbourne, 4-3.
February 1st – 2B/DH Vincent Hsu won Player of the Week. He hit .407 in 27 AB, 4 HR and 9 RBI.