The Pitch is a weekly news review of Australian’s in the Majors, Minors, College and other Professional Leagues compiled by Major League Baseball International (Australia).If you would like to subscribe directly to receive the pitch email majorleaguebaseball@bigpond.com
Current statistics of all active Australian and New Zealander players are attached.
AUSTRALIANS IN THE MAJORS
Week in Review
Here is the latest on the Australians participating in Major League Baseball. Note: hyperlinks in this section lead to MLB.com pages wrapping up these particular games, in-text hyperlinks are to video clips of those plays.
Grant Balfour (Glenwood NSW) is 1-4 with a 5.01 ERA in 48 appearances, 46.2 innings, for the Tampa Bay Rays this season. He has recorded 11 saves from 14 opportunities while allowing 26 runs, all earned, on 38 hits, two homeruns, and 35 walks while striking out 43.
The Rays are 60 - 61 (.496) in 4th place in the American League East, ten games behind the Baltimore Orioles.
Watch here as Grant accepts the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
·10 Aug – Grant pitched 2/3 of an inning allowing one run on two hits in the Rays 3-2 12-innint loss at the Chicago Cubs. It was his 3rd blown save of the season. He came on in the 7th with the score 2-1 Rays and faced four batters before being relieved: Welington Castillo popped out to short; Chris Valaika grounded out; Ryan Sweeney doubled and Chris Coghlan tripled to right scoring Sweeney.
·11 Aug – Grant pitched one inning, walking two, and striking out one in the Rays 7-0 win at Texas. He came on for the 9thwith the final score in place and faced five batters: Adrian Beltre popped out to first; Mike Carp walked; Leonys Martin walked; Robinson Chirinos struck out swinging; and Rougned Odor lined out to right to end the game.
·12 Aug – Grant pitched two innings allowing one hit and striking out one in the Rays 3-2 14-inning loss at Texas. He came on in the 12th with the score tied at 2-all and faced three batters: Rougned Odor was called out on strikes; Logan Forsythe was called out on strikes; and Curt Casali flied out to left. In the 13th he faced four: Adam Rosales lined out to third; Adrian Beltre flied out to centre; Daniel Robertson tripled to left and Alex Rios flied out to centre to end the inning.
AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE IMPORTS IN THE MAJORS
Brandon Barnes (Sydney Blue Sox) is batting .253 for the Colorado Rockies with 19 RBI, 13 doubles, three triples and five homeruns in 225 at bats over 104 games while playing right field. Over his last ten games, dating to 3 August, he’s batting .304 with seven hits and three RBI in 23 at-bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Rockies are 47 - 74 (.388), in fifth place in the National League West and 22 games behind the Dodgers.
Didi Gregorious (Canberra Cavalry) is batting .230 for the Arizona Diamondbacks with 15 RBI, three doubles, four triples and four homeruns in 152 at bats over 46 games while playing short stop. Over his last ten games, dating to 2 August, he’s batting .129 with one run on four hits with two RBI, in 31 at-bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Diamondbacks are 52 - 69 (.430) in fourth place in the NL West 17 games behind Los Angeles.
James Jones (Adelaide Bite) is batting .257 for the Seattle Mariners with nine RBI, eight doubles and four triples in 292 at bats over 81 games while playing centre field. Over his last ten games, dating to 23 July, he’s batting .037 with one run on one hits with one RBI, in 27 at-bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Mariners are 65 - 55 (.542) in fourth place in the NL West 7.5 games behind Oakland.
Kevin Kiermaier (Canberra Cavalry) is batting .270 for the Tampa Bay Rays with 29 RBI, 10 doubles, six triples and nine home runs in 226 at bats over 72 games playing right field for the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s scored 29 runs on 61 hits and has stolen five bases. Over his last ten games, dating to 4 Aug, he’s batting .125 with five runs on four hits with four RBI over 32 at bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Rays are 60 - 61 (.496) in 4th place in the American League East, ten games behind the Baltimore Orioles.
AUSTRALIAN ESPN BROADCAST SCHEDULE (All times AEST)
MLB OWNERS UNANIMOUSLY ELECT ROBERT D. MANFRED, JR. AS THE GAME’S 10TH COMMISSIONER
MLB’s Chief Operating Officer Will Succeed Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig
RAYS TRYING TO FIND RIGHT SPOTS TO USE GRANT BALFOUR
TampaBay.com – 12 August
SINGLE-A LEAGUES:
COLOUR ME, AND JOE MAUER, IMPRESSED
Thorpe Pitches Well with All-Star Rehabing
Steve Lein, TwinsDaily.com – 11 August
NEW SIGNINGS:
LACHLAN WELLS SIGNS WITH MINNESOTA TWINS
Sam Rigney, The Herald – 11 August
THE AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE:
CAVS, BITE MAKE PICKS IN AUSSIE DRAFT
Canberra makes pitcher Crawford first homegrown selection
Tyler Maun, TheABL.com – 14 August
JUNIOR BASEBALL:
PETER MOYLAN DISCUSSES COACHING AND HIS FUTURE PLANS
Kerryn Costello, Baseball Australia- 13 August
AT A GLANCE
• Corey Adamson has retired from the San Diego Padres to take up an opportunity to revive his dormant AFL career with the West Coast Eagles. MLB Australia wishes him well in his new endeavours.
• Listen to a radio interview with Lismore’s Kodey Wilford on his return from the U15 World Cup with Team Australia.
• In case you missed it … this great story about the reception Kansas City rolled out for their most devoted Korean fan when he finally made it Kaufman Stadium.