After the French Elite League and German Baseball-Bundesliga we’ll now continue with our ‘2008 in Review’ series with the Italian Baseball League and the Dutch Hoofdklasse.
De Angelis Godo
Besides a few surprise wins against the top teams in the Italian Baseball League, GODO had a non-spectacular year. They never got into trouble to drop into eighth place and face relegation, but also didn’t have a chance to fight for the playoffs. In the end DE ANGELIS had to settle for seventh with a 9-33 record.
What the stats say
The offense of GODO managed a seventh-best .223 batting average (OBP .318/SLG .323) with 161 runs scored, but were tied for second in the league with 25 homeruns. Their pitchers combined for an ERA of 5.52 with 260 strikeouts and 207 walks in 371.2 innings pitched. 63 errors from the defense led to 33 of the total 261 runs being unearned.
Mike Lockwood was the team MVP, batting .315 (.449/.537) with seven homeruns, 26 runs scored and 26 RBIs. Danilo Sanchez (.260/.374/.488) also had 17 extra base hits and led the team with 29 RBIs. Robert De Francheschi (.241/.326/.352) and David Skrehot (.235/.311/.318) followed with RBI totals of 27 and 22.
Reliever Kyle Collina was the star of the pitching staff with an ERA of 1.74, a 2-2 record and three saves in twelve games (one start). He struck out 65 in 46 2/3 innings, walking 13. His finest hour came on the last weekend of the season, when he struck out 14 in a no-hit complete game shutout against REDIPUGLIA. It was his only start of the year. Ryan Baerlocher was GODO’s number one starter with a 3-6 record and an ERA of 3.30 in 13 games. He had 50 strikeouts (25 walks) in 73 2/3 innings. From the other seven pitchers on the team, only Michael Nisco (1-5, ERA 4.71, 49.2 IP, 42 SO, 38 BB) managed an ERA below the 6.00 mark.
To improve their position in the standings and to have an opportunity to fight for the playoffs, GODO needs to add more depth to the roster. Only two or three good batters and just two solid pitchers might help to avoid relegation in the Italian Baseball League, but is not enough to pursuit higher goals. They have changed a few things in the front office during the off season, bringing in a new manager with Vincenzo Mignola and introducing a new club president with Lino Ceccarini. Shortstop David Skrehot will not return.
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