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 1-6 with a 5.33 ERA in 51 appearances, 52.1 innings, for the Tampa Bay Rays this season. He has recorded 11 saves from 14 opportunities while allowing 31 runs, all earned, on 45 hits, two homeruns, and 40 walks while striking out 47.
The Rays are 65 - 75 (.481) in 4th place in the American League East, nine games behind the Baltimore Orioles.
·26 August – Grant copped the loss pitching one inning in the Rays 4-2 defeat at Baltimore. He allowed two earned runs on four hits and a walk. He came on in the bottom of the 6th with the score tied at 2-all and faced six batters: Delmon Young flied out to centre; J. Hardy singled to centre; Chris Davis grounded into a force-out at 2nd; Caleb Joseph singled to left; Jonathan Schoop singled to left to score Davis; and Nick Markakis flied out to right to end the inning.
·29 August – Grant pitched two innings in the Rays 8-4 loss to the visiting Red Sox. He allowed one walk and struck out three. He came on in the top of the 8th with the score 8-3 Boston and faced three batters: David Ortiz struck out swinging; Yoenis Cespedes grounded out to second; and Mike Napoli struck out swinging. In the 9the he faced four batters: Daniel Neva was called out on strikes; Mookie Betts flied out to centre; Carlos Rivero walked; and Christian Vazquez grounded out to third to end the inning.
Liam Hendriks (Carine WA; Perth Heat) is 1-0 with a 4.43 ERA in four Major League appearances this season, three with Toronto and one with Kansas City. He’s pitched 20.1 innings allowing 10 runs, all earned, on 16 hits, three homeruns, and four walks while striking out 13. He was subsequently reassigned to the minors for lack of a roster spot to keep him with the Major League club, look for his return next week when rosters expand.
The Royals are 74 - 60 (.552) in 1st place in the American League Central half a game ahead of Detroit.
·27 August – Liam was impressive in his debut for the Royals, making a spot start for the 1st place club as they hosted Liam’s original club, the Minnesota Twins. While he got no decision the Royals won 6-1. Liam was perfect through four inning before allowing a hit to Trevor Plouffe in the 5th; he allowed another hit in the 6th and they were able to plate a run against him in the 7th. He was replaced in the 8th with the score still 1-0 Minnesota but the Royals had a massive 8th to secure the win.
AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE IMPORTS IN THE MAJORS
Brandon Barnes (Sydney Blue Sox) is batting .248 for the Colorado Rockies with 22 RBI, 13 doubles, four triples and seven homeruns in 250 at bats over 115 games while playing right field. Over his last ten games, dating to 17 August, he’s batting .208 with five hits and three RBI, with two home runs, in 24 at-bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Rockies are 53-81 (.396), in fifth place in the National League West and 22.5 games behind the Dodgers.
Didi Gregorious (Canberra Cavalry) is batting .212 for the Arizona Diamondbacks with 20 RBI, four doubles, four triples and six homeruns in 193 at bats over 57 games while playing short stop. Over his last ten games, dating to 17 August, he’s batting .162 with two runs on six hits, two of them homeruns, with five RBI, in 37 at-bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Diamondbacks are 56-78 (.418) in fourth place in the NL West 19.5 games behind Los Angeles.
Kevin Kiermaier (Canberra Cavalry) is batting .271 for the Tampa Bay Rays with 31 RBI, 14 doubles, six triples and nine home runs in 262 at bats over 84 games playing right field for the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s scored 31 runs on 71 hits and has stolen five bases. Over his last ten games, dating to 17 Aug, he’s batting .267 with two runs on eight hits with two RBI over 30 at bats. He’s made several video highlights which can be viewed here. The Rays are 65 - 75 (.481) in 4th place in the American League East, nine games behind the Baltimore Orioles.
AUSTRALIAN ESPN BROADCAST SCHEDULE (All times AEST)
AUSTRALIAN PITCHER LIAM HENDRIKS IS AN UNLIKELY HERO IN ROYALS’ VICTORY
Vahe Gregorian, The Kansas City Star – 28 August
NOTE: Watch an interview with Liam here.
LIAM HENDRIKS: WHAT DO THE ROYALS DO WITH THIS GUY?
Kevin Ruprecht, ChatSports.com – 28 August
DOUBLE-A LEAGUES:
WARWICK SAUPOLD, RHP, ERIE
Dan Weigel, SB Nation: Minor League Ball – 24 August
JUNIOR BASEBALL:
“JUST MASSIVE” NGĀTIWAI TEEN SAYS OF BASEBALL WORLD CUP
Ngatiwai Trust Board, 25 August
AT A GLANCE
•Watch a story about the New Zealand Cal Ripken Team and the special baseball Haka they now perform.
•Western Australian umpire Jon Byrne, who earlier this season made him MLB debut, has been selected to umpire both the International League Championship Series (beginning 3 September) and the AAA Championship Game (16 September).
•Trent Oeltjen (Sydney Blue Sox) and his Bologna team have won the Italian Championship having comeback in the series against Rimini. It seems Trent was crucial on the base-paths and outfield in the final victory.