Wednesday 29 February:

15.00-17.00  Youth Clinic (age 9-12) for players and coaches
17.30-17.45  Opening Ceremony
17.45-18.30  Long Term Athlete Development in Dutch Baseball by Brian Farley
18.30-19.30  Hitting Mechanics by Robert Eenhoorn
19.30-20.00  Break
20.00-20.45  Perception & Eye Tracking by Michelle Kinburn
20.45-21.45  The Athletic Pitcher by Steve Janssen

Thursday 1 March:

15.00-17.00  Youth Clinic (age 15-18) for players and coaches
18.00-18.45  How to Build a Successful Team by Brian Farley
18.45-19.30  From Long Toss to Bullpen by Steve Janssen
19.30-20.00  Break
20.00-20.45  Communicating Effectively to Today's Players by Robert Coffie
20.45-21.30  An Infielders's Toolbox by Robert Eenhoorn
21.30-22.00  Break
22.00-22.30  Panel Discussion with all Speakers

On Monday evening Rotterdam Topsport hosted its 25th yearly awards gala for best sports man, sport woman, sport team and sport talent of 2011. Nominated and eventually winner for sport man of the year was pitcher Diegomar Markwell, born in Willemstad 8/8/80. He debuted in Hoofdklasse on 29 May 2004 for Sparta/Feyenoord in Rotterdam and has played all other national seasons for his present club DOOR Neptunus, also in Rotterdam. Markwell played a remarkable 2011 season with Neptunus and with the Netherlands national team. He belonged to the national team roster which won IBAF Baseball World Cup in October 2011.

Neptunus finished first in the regular season of the Hoofdklasse and third in semi finales of national playoffs. Left-hander Markwell reached his best pitcher’s statistics with his own club both in regular season and in post season. He finished as third best pitcher of Hoofdklasse regular season with an ERA of 1.71 in 13 starts and 79 innings. Second best was his Australian teammate Craig Anderson with 1.09 in 5 starts and 58 innings and first was L&D Amsterdam pitcher Rob Cordemans: 0.31 in 13 starts and 88 innings. Markwell struck out 50, walked 26 and conceded 56 hits and 15 runs in his 79 innings.

When his club Neptunus went to the European Cup in Parma, Markwell started his international season with a stunning 7-3 win over T&A San Marino, but a few months later this opponent won the Final Four Champions Cup in Brno. Back in the Netherlands Markwell opened the Dutch playoffs with another strong performance during 7 innings versus Vaessen Pioniers: 8-1. Later he shut out Amsterdam with a 7-0 complete game victory, but the Pioniers finished first in the round robin semifinals and Amsterdam won the 2011 Holland Series.

With the Netherlands national team Markwell participated in the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam. Based on ERA stats, Markwell finished as ninth pitcher in his team ranking. He was involved first with a 4-8 defeat versus Taiwan and later with a 6-inning start for a 4-2 win over same Taiwan, which in the tournament’s finale beat Cuba for the overall victory. Markwell was also picked as lefty by national team manager Brian Farley for the trip to the IBAF Baseball World Cup in Panama. He appeared in 3 games: as middle-reliever in the 5-2 win over Japan, as winning pitcher with a 6 plus innings start versus USA (7-5) and again as middle-reliever in the 2-1 win over Australia. Markwell collected the highest ERA of his own team ranking, but the Netherlands beat Cuba in the tournament’s finale for the world championship.

Markwell and his national teammates and coaches back home became Dutch super stars who were crowned as best sports team of the year and best coach in Europe or best sports man of their city or region. Readers of main newspaper De Telegraaf voted for their national baseball team, when they had to elect the best sport momentum of the year. Majority considered the twenty-seventh out in the hot corner in the Baseball World Cup finale versus Cuba as their ‘moment supreme’ of the year. On Monday also Rotterdam has chosen for baseball and the best pitcher of this city of sports.

SPRING BASEBALL TRAINING SCHEDULE FEATURES MLB TEAMS VS. NETHERLANDS, CANADA AND USA

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (December 2, 2011) –The 2012 schedule has been announced for the second annual International Spring Baseball Training series at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg. The ten game series, which runs from March 6 to March 18, features the 2011 World Cup Championship team from the Netherlands, Team Canada and St. Petersburg College playing MLB squads from the Tampa Bay Rays, the Detroit Tigers, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Atlanta Braves.

Reservations for season box tickets will be taken beginning December 9. Season tickets will be offered for a limited time for only $80 — a 36 percent discount off the single game price of $12.50 per game. For group discounts for ten or more tickets, call 727-827-2078.

2012 St. Petersburg International Spring Baseball Series

Tuesday, March 6 7:05 p.m. Canada vs. Netherlands

Wednesday, March 7 7:05 p.m. Netherlands vs. Team USA

Thursday, March 8 1:05 p.m. Netherlands vs. Detroit Tigers

Friday, March 9 7:05 p.m. Canada vs. Team USA

Saturday, March 10 5:05 p.m. Netherlands vs. Canada

Sunday, March 11 1:05 p.m. Canada vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Monday, March 12 1:05 p.m. Netherlands vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Tuesday, March 13 1:05 p.m. Canada vs. Toronto Blue Jays

Friday, March 16 1:05 p.m. Netherlands vs. Atlanta Braves

Sunday, March 18 1:05 p.m. Netherlands vs. Tampa Bay Rays

St. Petersburg International Baseball is an international baseball program created by Mayor Bill Foster to bring spring baseball back to the historic Al Lang Stadium, originally built in 1977 to replace Al Lang Field built in 1947.

by Pim van Nes

They came from the United States West Coast and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Europe in order to pay their respects to their teammate Gregory Halman, outfielder on the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers roster and Major League team Seattle Mariners. Departed from Los Angeles on Saturday morning they arrived on Sunday morning in Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands. Pitcher Dan Cortes (24 years of age), catcher Adam Moore (27), infielder Matt Mangini (25) and first baseman/outfielder Mike Carp (25) joined Seattle’s Club Vice President Bob Engle and Coordinator European Scouting Wayne Norton in Haarlem, the native town of Halman.

According to ceremony master Frits Mulder, close to 2000 people old and young came to present their condolences to Greg’s parents Eddy Halman, Hanny Suidgeest and to his sisters Naomi and Eva Halman during the wake on Sunday. After the ceremony also Minor League roommate Alex Liddi arrived from Pisa, Italy on Amsterdam airport. The first ever Italian player to have made it to Major League Baseball reached the family and his Mariners mates still at Pim Mulier stadium. Together they traveled to Hoofddorp, where Alex (23), third baseman often in Greg’s Minor League teams, saw the Dutch Mariner for the first time since the latter died on early Monday morning, November 21.

On Tuesday November 29, even more people (estimate 3000) attended the final farewell ceremony in Driehuis, a village just north of Haarlem. Several hundreds of them had to stay outside the aula, where the crowd listened to speeches by all kind of family and friends. Surrounded by Mariners players Liddi, Mangini, Moore and Cortes the microphone went to Mike Carp reviewing the years with Greg Halman in Minors and Majors. Dutch federation president Bob Bergkamp referred to Halman as a Netherlands club and national team player and mother Hanny Suidgeest unveiled what happened with her son Jason since he participated in MLB camp 2006. Greg’s best baseball friend in Rotterdam Jeffrey Arends (first base with Neptunus) inspired everybody to help Jason, alike Greg used to ask him every year. Greg’s brother Jason is still in custody in Rotterdam as suspect liable for the death of the Seattle Mariners outfielder.

The white coffin holding Greg Halman went on the strong shoulders of baseball players Carp and Cortes, Moore and Mangini, Liddi and Arends for his last walk. Up and down the dunes between Westerveld aula and his definite resting place. Mister-Baseball.com noticed among the thousands starting pitcher Rob Cordemans and catcher Sidney de Jong of Netherlands national team that clinched recently the Baseball World Championship, Washington Nationals outfielder Roger Bernadina who had accompanied Greg in the second European Big League Tour, Mariners scout in the Netherlands Peter van Daalen and former KNBSB president Theo Reitsma, accompanied by his former colleagues with national TV and radio system NOS, Mart Smeets and Andy Houtkamp. Despite of their age and/or prestige in the country, they waited outside more than two hours on a late November day till the coffin left the aula.

The first to appear with a reaction on internet was MLB.com writer Greg Johns, who quoted Mrs. Louise Molendijk telling about Greg Halman as an instructor for her son during recent European Big League Tour, attended by her son in Utrecht on November 12. The article is illustrated with a photo showing Mariner Halman fine-tuning the skills of his succeeding generation.

Gregory Halman was born on August 26, 1987 in Haarlem, Netherlands. After making his debut in the Dutch Hoofdklasse at the age of 16 he was signed as a non-drafted amateur free agent in 2004 by the Seattle Mariners. He quickly moved up through the Mariners farm system and reached the big leagues in 2010. He appeared in 44 MLB games for Seattle since then. He also was part of the European Big League Tour of Rick van den Hurk together with Prince Fielder and other Major Leaguers, which toured through Amsterdam, Utrecht, Prague and Parma ten days ago, bringing MLB baseball to the kids.

Baseball worldwide mourns the death of Gregory Halman. Rest in Peace.

Riccardo Fraccari, president IBAF and FIBS: “This is terrible news for the whole baseball community. It’s really sad and it’s really terrible the way it happened. We mourn for him and respect his family’s sorrow”

Massimo Fochi, Vice President Italian Baseball and Softball Federation (FIBS): “I cannot believe it. I met personally Greg on Saturday November 12th in Parma, where he was with the European Big League Tour. He was a great guy and the most appreciated by the kids. His passing away is really painful”.

Robert Eenhoorn, Technical Director Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB): “It’s a tremendous tragedy for everybody, but our thoughts go especially to his family and the way they need to cope with this”.

“The loss of a talented 24-year-old young man like Greg, amid such tragic circumstances, is painful for all of us throughout the game,” said MLB Commissioner Bud Selig in a statement. “On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my deepest condolences to the entire Mariners organization and to all those whose lives were touched by Greg.”

Michael Weiner , Executive Director Major League Baseball Players Association in a report by MLB.com: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Greg Halman. Greg was passionate about the game of baseball and generously gave of himself to share his passion with others in an attempt to help grow the sport’s popularity across Europe. He will be sorely missed. … Our thoughts and prayers go out to Greg’s family, his teammates, the Mariners organization and his many friends and fans throughout Europe and America.”

“The Mariners family is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Greg Halman,” said Mariners chairman Howard Lincoln, President Chuck Armstrong and General Manager Jack Zduriencik in a statement issued by the club. “Greg was a part of our organization since he was 16, and we saw him grow into a passionate young man and talented baseball player. He had an infectious smile that would greet you in the clubhouse, and he was a tremendous teammate. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Greg’s family.”

The KNBSB has published a condolance register at http://www.condoleanceregister.nl/Condoleance-Gregory-Anthony-Halman.html

The Dutch National Team will return to St. Petersburg, Florida in February and March 2012 to hold Spring Training. They will again take part in the St. Petersburg International at Al Lang Stadium. The team of manager Brian Farley will meet the Canadian Junior National Team three times (March 5, 6, 10) and will face a couple of MLB teams as well, including probably the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies.

It was November 11, two months exactly after the decisive play-off game in Hoofdklasse, but Haarlem became the Dutch city of baseball again. Because one month ago Honkbal became Baseball World Champion and put the baseball world upside down. “Revolution” according to Stefano Arcobelli, since decades baseball expert for Italian pink daily Gazzetta dello Sport. Dutch federation KNBSB decided quickly that “Panama” deserved a parade for the surprise champions and picked 11/11/11 in Haarlem for this baseball champion’s parade. Minor League players were flown into Schiphol international airport in order to join their National Team mates from Hoofdklasse.

Yesterday the first twenty-four players were hosted by the city of Haarlem, during the century of KNBSB (founded in 1912) pioneering and progressing in national baseball and reputed in global amateur baseball world for 50 years Honkbal Week tournaments and Pim Mulier stadium. Champions parade day in Haarlem started with a lunch in tournaments hotel Van der Valk and a visit to Pim Mulier stadium, where baseball kids were learning first abilities indoor. Honkbal Week logistics partner Jan de Wit drove the national team in a white touring car to Spaarne riverside, where players and coaches embarked for a voyage on a tourism boat through the crowded city center.

By five o’clock p.m. the champions were received in down town Teyler’s Museum, where national Sports Minister Edith Schippers told that H.M. Queen Beatrix was pleased to have royal decorations presented to team captain Sidney de Jong, team manager Brian Farley and technical director Robert Eenhoorn at this occasion. All other players and coaches will receive their royal decorations in their home towns. Question remaining refers to Belgian pitchers coach Steve Janssen, who lives abroad in Antwerp. He told Mister-Baseball.com, that he was happy that his IBAF Baseball World Cup medal had attracted attention even from Belgian media, usually not too eager for baseball news.

Haarlem Mayor Berndt Schneider hosted a small reception for the Dutch national team in his almost 400 years old town hall at the city’s main square Grote Markt. A small reception because town hall was occupied all day by too many wedding ceremonies for couples in love with this triple eleven date. In front of Haarlem town hall, thousands of baseball fans from city and country were waiting desperately to see their baseball heroes, who appeared at seven o’clock in the beams from a central podium on main square. Announced by Andy Houtkamp (son of softball coach Nol Houtkamp) each player and coach walked over a red carpet to the central champagne shower.

Concert hall Philharmonie was the honoring day final destination for a dinner party, for Hoofdklasse Star Awards Gala and an intimate after party for players, coaches and their invitees. Mister-Baseball.com dined at one table with knighted coach Brian Farley, his wife Gonny Farley from Haarlem and his father Barney Farley from Boston. The 80 years young grand-father had just arrived from USA for a week visit to his son and grandson in the Netherlands and wondered: “How can I explain to my people in the States that my son went to Europe to play baseball and then to coach baseball and then to become world champion in baseball and now to be knighted for baseball?”

The program at a stage will start around 16h00. The Dutch national team will arrive by boat via one of the canals, passing the “Verfroller” at around 15h45 and “Melkbrug” at 16h00. From 17h45 to about 18h30 the team will greet the audience on the stage. Prior to the party on the grand plaza the team will be officially welcomed and honored by politicians.

In the evening starting at 20h00 he KNBSB will hold its annually KNBSB Stars Awards at the Philharmonie in Haarlem, where the players and coaches receive special gifts. The festivities marathon concludes (about 22h00) with a big after show party. The last two events however won’t be open to the general public, so make sure to attend the program in the afternoon.

The greater part of the Dutch national team, new world champions, was cheered in a crowded soccer stadium in Eindhoven, where PSV played European League versus Hapoel Tel Aviv. At half time baseball players and coaches were applauded by 21.000 sport fans in Philips stadium. The local baseball club PSV has produced several good players, who were signed by US professional organizations, such as Rick van den Hurk (Florida Marlins, Baltimore Orioles) and Alexander Smit (Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds).

Mister-Baseball: At which point did you think, you could win the Baseball World Cup? Was there a game, a situation, where you said, well, we could go all the way?

Brian Farley: The first thoughts occurred early once I saw how well we played in our four pre tournament games versus Venezuela (2X), Ch. Taipei and Panama. We won all four and did it in different ways.  However, a couple of things were in place that you look for as a coach.  Our defense and pitching were very solid and we were making the most of our opportunities to score. I was also very pleased with our perseverance and refusal to quit, which are crucial in this game.  We twice came back from being behind by 6 runs in our last game versus Venezuela.   There were a number of other moments which added to my and our team’s belief in our ability to go all the way.  The most important being when we beat Australia in a hard fought game which took place over two days.  We resumed the game tied 1 to 1 in the top of the seventh, with runners on 1st and 3rd for the Aussies and two outs and we got out of the jam on one pitch to a very dangerous hitter.  Then proceeded to win the game in the bottom of the seventh and hold on for a 2-1 win.  Three hours later we began a game versus Cuba and went on to win 4-1 in a tremendously well played game.  That’s when I think we all felt that we deserved to win it all!

Mister-Baseball: What were the keys to win the tournament?

Brian Farley: Well as mentioned above the key elements of pitching, defense and timely hitting.  Perhaps more important than this was our ability to stay in the moment throughout the tournament.  Not getting distracted by what just happened or what might happen but just playing and executing to the best of our ability at that moment.  Top sport people refer to this as the flow. It is easier in theory than it is in practice but we made this one of our key initiatives and the guys responded to it tremendously.  Last but not least was our preparation for each game which gave us a tremendous amount of confidence.  This was possible due to some great work from our staff members, in particular Dave Drayer our advance scout and Tjerk Smeets who assembled and organized all the information.  There is a great motto which goes “Fail to prepare then prepare to fail”.

Mister-Baseball: How important is the title for Dutch Baseball and European Baseball in general?

Brian Farley: Hard to say how the future will play out but given the amount of publicity we have received but I am hopeful that it will be extremely important.  I believe that Europe has an opportunity to show that they can no longer be overlooked when it comes to international baseball and I am hopeful that we will be able to capitalize on our recent success in the form of increased participation from young boys in our sport throughout Europe. I would also like to see a positive effect on those IOC members who have voted against baseball in the past.  Europe has enormous potential and hopefully this championship will act as a catalyst for both growth and recognition.

Mister-Baseball: How did you handle the long rain delay in the finals?

Brian Farley: At the beginning of the tournament I spoke to the team and told them that “whatever happens is exactly what we expect”.  We also reinforced the need for us to stay in control of ourselves and not allow things outside of our control to distract us from our mission.  We had an enormous amount of distractions during the tournament that will go unknown for the most part. The guys handled all these distractions in an incredibly professional manner. The rain delay was no different other than the fact that it was magnified due to it being a world championship game.  Each player has their own way of coping with these types of things.  Some are introvert and prefer to play games on their Ipads or phones.  Others release steam by being  with their fellow teammates and telling stories, jokes or playing games.  This is an individual thing and my advice is to allow them that time to do their thing.  We would have been ready whenever they said “Play Ball”.

Mister-Baseball: You won the Baseball World Cup in your first year as head coach. What is next?

Brian Farley: Great question…I’m going to ask that exact question of my players when I meet with them next week.  Keeping the hunger to perform at the top after such an extraordinary success is a big challenge for all of us.  However there are a number of big tournaments on the horizon and this will be where we will turn our attention.  We have the European championships next year here in The Netherlands and we will be very determined to recapture the title we lost to Italy in 2010.  Also the WBC is coming in 2013 and this will of course be a great challenge for us.

PUC. You played for PUC in 1990. How were you recruited and what was it like when you arrived ?

Brian Farley. I played for Puc in a tournament versus Villadecan in Barcelona. The head coach was a Japanese legend named Yoshida. We beat Villedecan in a great game that I pitched and it was a wonderful time of which I still have fond memories. I was recruited by Gene Gremaldi who is a friend of mine to this day.

PUC. Given your vast experience in university baseball, the minor leagues and in the Dutch league, how would you compare all that with baseball in France when you joined PUC ? In other words, the level of play, the quality of coaches and players, and how the sport is organized in France.

BF. French baseball has come a long way since I played in 1990. The coaching and development of players is much higher and they are producing quality athletes who know how to play the game. I have had the pleasure of working with some of these players during our European Showcase tours of the US in 2009 and 2010. France is no longer a team to take lightly at all and we have a great deal of respect for their coaches and players. I am less familiar with the current club environment in France as it has been a long time since I have visited the country for baseball purposes.

PUC. At PUC, you were coached by the great Japanese star, Yoshio Yoshida. What stood out to you about his coaching ? How was his approach to coaching different from that in the U.S., particularly in the minor leagues ?

BF. I wasn’t with Coach Yoshida for very long and the language barrier was a bit difficult. However he was a very impressive man who impressed me by his calmness and discipline. It was clear that we were in the presence of a great baseball player. The Japanese way is different to ours in the level of discipline and the attention to detail that the Japanese enforce. They are very strong at pitching, defense and in situational play. They rarely beat themselves and never quit. All in all their results in the last two World Baseball Classic speak of perhaps the best style of baseball on the planet.

PUC. PUC was the French national champion when you were here. What stands out most in your memory of that time ? The players ? Their team spirit ? How they played ?

BF. PUC was indeed a very good team when I was there. Again, I wasn’t with them for very long but I have fond memories of the time and still run into some of the players I played against who are now coaching from time to time.

PUC. Have you followed the evolution of French baseball since that time? What do you think ? What’s your evaluation of those teams that have taken part in international competitions?

BF. As I mentioned above, I and the Dutch take the French program very seriously. They have done a tremendous job at the academies and we are seeing many more French players who are able to play at the highest international levels.

PUC. Your Dutch team won the World Cup of Baseball, an historic achievement. What was that like ? How did the Dutch react ?

BF. The response to our winning the world title has been overwhelming. It started out slow with very little media interest at the beginning. Once we made the finals and beat Cuba for the first time, the media took a new look and all of a sudden we were everywhere in the Dutch media. Since arriving home to a tremendous reception we have been on many of the nation’s top television and radio shows and have been in all the major papers. It has been just tremendous.

PUC. Ten of your players on your championship team were professionals. How did you deal with the chemistry between those players and those who were amateurs ? Was it difficult ? Were there any problems ?

BF. Our success did not come overnight. We have had this system in place for a number of years so the majority of the players know and genuinely like each other. The atmosphere and chemistry was one of the main reasons for our success.

PUC. What are your plans or goals for Holland’s national team ?

BF. Our result goal will now change towards winning back the European title which we lost to the Italians in 2010. Our process goals will remain the same. Stay in control of those things you have within your control and let the rest go, stay in the moment, develop yourself to the best of your ability and compete, compete, compete !

PUC. And finally, how do you see baseball evolving in Europe ?

BF. Hopefully this will have a very positive impact on both Dutch as well as European baseball. In order for us to grow as a nation we need to grow as a continent. I dream of the day when every kid in Europe signs up to play Little League baseball. I know that this is unlikely to ever happen but we can certainly look to double the number of boys choosing baseball as thier primary sport. In any case I believe that if you stop dreaming you might as well stop living!

Mister-Baseball thanks Paris UC for giving us the opportunity to re-publish their interview with Dutch National Team head coach Brian Farley.

KNBSB, the royal federation for Dutch baseball and softball, published late last night that the city of Haarlem is entitled to organize the national parade and celebration of the first ever World Championship, conquered in the 100th year of federal “Honkbal”.

Date was fixed at Friday 11/11/11 and Haarlem had delivered a better bid than the other cities: Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and The Hague. All 24 players with their gold medals will join the festivities, which will take place in Pim Mulier stadium and in the streets and on main square of Haarlem.

Friday Oct 21 the city of Utrecht hosted a gathering on UVV playground honoring the two local players Danny Rombley and Orlando Yntema and on Wednesday Oct 26 Rotterdam presented recognitions to Neptunus players Shaldimar Daantji, Diegomar Markwell, Dwayne Kemp, Arshwin Asjes, Berry van Driel and Kalian Sams. Also coaches Brian Farley, Wim Martinus and Tjerk Smeets were cheered by municipality officials and their guests in Rotterdam town hall.

Brian Farley, Sidney de Jong, Bryan Engelhardt and Vince Rooi also opened the official trading time at the Amsterdam stock exchange at 9am on October 21.

by Pim van Nes

This morning at 08.30 hours Brian Farley, his coaches and players arrived at Schiphol, international airport of Amsterdam. Camera crews from national broadcasting system NOS, commercial stations (RTL, SBS) and regional stations ran into the orange capped team, when customs opened the doors to a mass of fans dressed in the same national color.

Eager journalists put their microphone under Rob Cordemans‘ moustache to get his first reactions, but they had to compete with the player’s fans, his wife and his parents. All the other players were being hugged by love ones and baseball fans till KNBSB office manager Hans Meijer invited Farley and three players to attend the press conference.

In that press conference board secretary general Ruurd Koopmans announced that the mass celebration of the latest World Baseball title will take place when all the 24 players will be able to attend: 11 November. Several Dutch national team players traveled from Panama to Curacao and other had to join their pro organisation in USA for fall season competition.

Koopmans reckons to get all of them around and to extend the usual baseball awards for Hoofdklasse players to a mass celebration for the new world champions. He has a pleasant problem in chosing which city may host the biggest baseball party the country ever had. Municipalities in Haarlem, Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague and Rotterdam, they have offered their best occasions to organize a spectacular event for the national pride of baseball. Refering to Ty Eriksen’s article: yes, the country is ready for such a parade, even from city to city!

In the press conference questions came from all media: websites, newspapers, radio and television stations. Behind the table from left to right Rob Cordemans, David Bergman, Sidney de Jong, Brian Farley and PR manager Tjerk Smeets. The latter had to pick up his hotel telephone in the middle of the Panama night, because the Netherlands prime minister Mark Rutte could not wait till the Panama morning with his congrats call across the Atlantic. Also Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands had sent a wire with words of appreciation for the national baseball team.

She may remember that her three sons and her late husband played baseball in the palace garden some decades ago. The first cabinet minister to react Sunday morning was sports minister Edith Schippers. All general news programs on Dutch television screens that very same Sunday started with the fresh baseball champions and Monday morning newspapers had the national baseball team photo on front page.

After the game we had only an hour or so to party with all the players together, because several players had to catch their flight to Curacao on Sunday morning, Rob Cordemans explained. Still we have not spoiled the occasion, Sidney de Jong added. He had been televised by NOS camera in Panama with a huge cigar between his lips. Yes, a Cuban one, he confirmed. For me the four hours rain delay before our finale game was not too much a problem, being relief pitcher in the national team, David Bergman answered a question.

In Dutch major league, called Hoofdklasse, he is a regular starting pitcher for his club Kinheim in Haarlem. Can you explain what is so nice in baseball, a lady journalist asked. Yes, becoming world champion! exclaimed Cordemans. Brian Farley told his audience that he had been complimented by most of his opponent coaches for his talented team.

Especially in the press conference after the win over home team Panama, also journalists predicted a medal for the Netherlands. He could not answer yet a question how the foreign press had reacted on the first IBAF title for the Netherlands, but someone in the press room refered to Italian Gazzetta dello Sport having stated that the baseball world is experiencing a revolution.

Photo: © Rob Jelsma

How did your Team qualify for the 2011 Baseball World Cup?

Brian Farley: Qualification was achieved during the 2010 European Championships in Germany.

What selection process did you went through to complete the roster for the BWC? Any problems recruiting professional players?

Brian Farley: The selection process is very detailed and requires a number of steps.  All teams must submit a provisional roster to MLB which indicates which players you wish to approach.  MLB then contacts the organizations to get their permission to approach these players.  Once that is in place, we are allowed to contact the players.  No current major league player or any player on the 40 man roster is eligible for the BWC.

What are your expectations for the BWC? Which teams are favored in your group and to win it all?

Brian Farley: My expectations are high as I feel we have a very talented team.  A place in the quarter finals should be the absolute minimum goal.  We have the ability to beat any team that we play however we need to be at our very best to do it.  I think that you have to look again at the US and Cuba as the outright favorites to play in the finals.  The Canadian team roster is also impressive.  A number of teams have yet to submit their rosters so it’s difficult to say how talented they will be.

How important is the BWC in your country?

Brian Farley: Very important in terms of having an international tournament where we can benchmark ourselves against the rest of the world.  Now that the Olympics are, for the near future, no longer on the agenda, the World Cup becomes even more vital for us as one of the few remaining worldwide tournaments.  Of course the World Baseball Classic remains the granddaddy of all baseball tournaments, however  I feel that we need to have a worldwide event at least every two years and the BWC fills that role nicely.

Will you hold a training camp in preparation of the BWC? Will you play exhibition games and if yes, against which teams?

Brian Farley: We currently have three exhibition games scheduled and we are looking at this moment for a fourth.  We will play them in Panama and they will be against Panama, Chinese Taipai and Australia.

Competition in the Netherlands ended several weeks before the Baseball World Cup. Except for the players of L&D Amsterdam, how will you try to make up for the lack of playing time?

Brian Farley: This is a challenge as you can imagine.  We want to keep our hitters and pitchers sharp during this non competitive period.   We do this by running simulated games with our pitchers going live versus our hitters.  It’s not ideal but it’s as close as we can get until we play our exhibitions.

Any players missing due to injury or other obligations?

Brian Farley: We miss a number of players who are either in the Major Leagues or who are on 40 man rosters.  As well as a couple of players with late season injuries.

Can you introduce to us your coaching staff?

Brian Farley: Steve Jansen is our pitching coach, he is very well respected in his area and has done a great deal to invest in his own development.  He was the Head Coach of Neptunus in 2010 and they broke all records in going on to become national champions.
Tjerk Smeets is in his second year as coach. Tjerk is very bright and hard working which is a very desired combination for a head coach.  He has taken over the job of hitting coach and done a great job for us thus far.
Wim Martinus has been with the staff for a number of years and is our trusted 3B coach and throws the best BP on the continent.
Last but by no means least is Ben Thijssen who is based in Curacao and is our main contact on the island.  He has been with the National Team for many years and served extremely well.

Netherlands national team manager Brian Farley arrived with his coaches and 26 players in Panama yesterday. Meanwhile he has completed his four days schedule for warming up games in preparation for Baseball World Cup tournament, which will take off on Saturday 1 October. During his last Monday’s press conference in Rotterdam, Farley still mentioned a vacancy in the national team’s pre-tournament schedule (http://www.mister-baseball.com/brian-farley-10-pro-16-amateur-players-world-cup-panama/), but now he has a full program. Following games will be used for Farley’s decision which 24 players appear on his definite Baseball World Cup roster:

Monday 26 September 17.00 h CET versus Venezuela,
Tuesday 27 September 17.00 h CET versus Panama,
Wednesday 28 September 21.00 h CET versus Chinese Taipei,
Thursday 29 September 21.00 h CET versus Venezuela.

Above national teams and those of Cuba and Nicaragua play their next week friendlies in the 2000 seats Justino Salinas Stadium in La Chorrera, 30 km from of Panama City. First official Baseball World Cup game for the Netherlands is versus Chinese Taipei on Sunday 2 October.

Dutch national team manager Brian Farley today in Rotterdam announced the roster of 26 players selected to participate in the Baseball World Cup next month in Panama.

From American Minor Leagues Farley called up 10 professional players. Twin delegations originate from Minnesota Twins: pitcher Tom Stuifbergen and outfielder Kalian Sams and also from Cincinnati Reds pitcher Juan Carlos Sulbaran and infielder Mariekson Gregorius.

Other US pro organizations send one player each: pitcher Shairon Martis from Washington Nationals, catcher Shawn Zarraga from Milwaukee Brewers, infielders Sharlon Schoop from San Francisco Giants and his brother Jonathan Schoop from Baltimore Orioles, infielder Xander Bogaerts from Boston Red Sox. The tenth pro player is infielder Curt Smith from Lincoln Salts Dogs in Independent League.

Triple A player is Stuifbergen, Double A players are Martis, Gregorius and Sharlon Schoop. All other Dutch pro players played for Single A clubs. Other candidates viewed and followed by Farley and his staff are committed by Major League conditions and thus not available for IBAF World Cup games, such as pitchers Rick van den Hurk and Pedro Stroop (Baltimore Orioles), Kenley Jansen (Los Angeles Dodgers), Jair Jurrjens (Atlanta Braves) Loek van Mil (Los Angeles Angels) and outfielders Roger Bernadina (Washington Nationals), Gregory Halman (Seattle Mariners) and Andruw Jones (New York Yankees). Farley in the Rotterdam press conference refered to Australian national team, which lost even 8 potential players being promoted from US Minor Leagues to Major League 40-man rosters in September.

The 16 amateur players from Dutch major league, named Hoofdklasse, played for five different clubs this year: DOOR Neptunus 6 (Boyd, Markwell, Van Driel, Asjes, Daantji, Kemp), L&D Amsterdam Pirates 4 (Cordemans, Sidney de Jong, Nooij, Rooi), Corendon Kinheim 3 (Bergman, Nick Stuifbergen, Engelhardt), UVV Utrecht 2 (Yntema, Rombley) and Vaessen Pioniers 1 (Michael Duursma).

Brian Farley will depart from Schiphol international airport to Panama on Saturday 24 September and has planned 3 warming up games versus hosting Panama and versus Chinese Taipei and Australia. His schedule has still a vacancy for a fourth warming up game, before the official IBAF Baseball World Cup tournament will start on 1 October.

Complete roster of Netherlands national team announced this afternoon 14.00 h:

Just before play-off game 8 of his Hoofdklasse team Vaessen Pioniers on Monday night, acting president Ilja Schinkel of Hoofddorp Pioniers replied positively about realization and schedule of the construction of the new Pioniers stadium and complex south of Hoofddorp.

In March this year the municipality hosted a press conference about the newly to be built stadium and the ambition to open it ceremonially in 2014 with the first official MLB games in Europe. MLB delegate in Europe Clive Russell came from his office in London to the Netherlands, in order to describe the plans in cooperation between Amsterdam and Hoofddorp as “pole position for the Netherlands”.

Yesterday Mr Schinkel announced to Mister Baseball that the Dutch delegation is expected to leave in a week’s time to present the definite bidbook to MLB International. Several experts in American pro ball have helped with suggestions for the composition of the text.

On Tuesday morning Mister Baseball spoke on the phone with Technical Director Robert Eenhoorn of Dutch federation KNBSB. He confirmed that to the purpose of this bidbook presentation, he will fly to New York on Tuesday next week. He will accompany the delegation from the two cities Amsterdam and Hoofddorp, headed by their sports eldermen Eric van der Burg, respectively Michel Bezuijen.

Former Yankees and Mets player Eenhoorn to Mister Baseball: “We expect also the presency of Mr Clive Russell (MLB Director for Europa, Middle East and Africa, pvn) and yes of course we look forward to a positive response from New York. Next year we will celebrate 100 years of federal baseball in the Netherlands. Once again we will organize and host the European Championship tournament for national teams. Dutch baseball has always been a movement in motion, as you know with Haarlem Honkbal Weeks, World Port Tournaments and three IBAF World Cup tournaments (1986, 2005 and 2009, pvn). We are alway looking for new ideas, initiatives and developments. Among them we welcome this future stadium of Pioniers and the option to watch the first official MLB games there.”

by Pim van Nes
Baseball writer for
www.honkbalsite.com
www.sporttribune.nl
www.baseball.it

For complete coverage of the 16U Baseball World Championship go to www.ibaf.org

For complete coverage of the 16U Baseball World Championship go to www.ibaf.org

For complete coverage of the 16U Baseball World Championship go to www.ibaf.org

For complete coverage of 16U Baseball World Championship go to www.ibaf.org

You can follow the tournament via live play by play on www.ibaf.org

The Dutch roster of manager Brian Farley is featuring 24 players, ten from DOOR Neptunus, and seven from L&D Amsterdam. Also on the team is Leon Boyd, who had just returned to Europe for the European Cup a few days ago. Jurrian Koks is the only debutant on the team. It is going to be the main tournament for the Netherlands in preparations for the IBAF Baseball World Cup in Panama in October.

Complete 24-Player Roster:
Pitchers: Arshwin Asjes (DOOR Neptunus), David Bergman (Corendon Kinheim), Leon Boyd (Burnaby Bulldogs, Canada), Rob Cordemans (L & D Amsterdam), Berry van Driel (DOOR Neptunus), Kevin Heijstek (DOOR Neptunus), Jurrian Koks (L & D Amsterdam ) Diegomar Markwell (DOOR Neptunus), Nick Stuifbergen (Corendon Kinheim), Nick Veltkamp (Corendon Kinheim), Orlando Yntema (UVV)

Catchers: Sidney de Jong (L & D Amsterdam), Bas Nooij (L & D Amsterdam)

Infielder: Jeffrey Arends (DOOR Neptunus), Michael Duursma (Vaessen Pioneers), Bryan Engelhardt (Corendon Kinheim), Roeland Henrique (L & D Amsterdam), Raily Legito (DOOR Neptunus), Dwayne Kemp (DOOR Neptunus), Vince Rooi (L & D Amsterdam)

Outfielders: Shaldimar Daantji (DOOR Neptunus), Bas de Jong (L & D Amsterdam), Eugene Kingsale (DOOR Neptunus), Danny Rombley (UVV)

Coaching Staff: Brian Farley (Manager), Steve Janssen (Pitching Coach), Wim Martinus, Tjerk Smeets, Ben Thijssen

Official Website World Port Tournament

Thanks to YouTube User mgmvervaat we get a chance to recall some historic games in the Dutch Hoofdklasse. The seven-plus clip shows highlights from a matchup between Neptunus and the Haarlem Nicols. There is a lot more available in the channel. Check it out.

The Netherlands concluded their participation in the St. Petersburg International Baseball on Sunday afternoon with a 3-8 loss to a team of Philadelphia Phillies minor leaguers. It was their fifth loss in six games in the tournament. However more important than winning was the preparation for the upcoming season during this Spring Training trip.

On Sunday the Phillies didn’t waste any time to decide the outcome, as they scored all eight runs in the first four frames, including five in the fourth alone. The team of manager Brian Farley scored three times. In the opening frame Danny Rombley greeted Dutch reliever Mike Bolsenbroek with a solo homerun. In the eighth they loaded the bases and Jason Halman and Eugene Kingsale came around to cross the plate on hits by Bas Nooij and Roeland Henrique.

A bigger rally was denied by former round-one draft pick Philippe Aumont. The Canadian national teamer closed out the game with five strikeouts in a row. The European Baseball powerhouse had Diegomar Markwell, Leon Boyd, Nick Veltkamp, Nick Stuifbergen, Orlando Yntema and David Bergman on the mound. The team from the Netherlands will return home tonight, arriving at Amsterdam Schiphol in the evening.

In their second to last game in the St. Petersburg International Baseball the Dutch Team lost 2-5 to the St. Petersburg College on Friday evening. The team of manager Brian Farley had former big leaguer Randall Simon in its lineup. He doubled and scored in the opening frame to put the Netherlands up in front.

But the Titans scored in four of the first five innings to take a four-run lead, deciding the outcome early. The Dutch team only was able to score a second run when Michael Duursma crossed the plate on a wild pitch in the eighth. Jurjen van Zijl, Berry van Driel, Kevin Heijstek and Kevin Miner shared the workload as pitchers.

Before and during the game Hall of Famer to be Bert Blyleven was on hand. It was the fourth loss in five games at the St. Petersburg International Baseball for the Netherlands. They only were able to beat the Canadian Junior National Team so far. Additionally they defeated the Eckerd College in a charity game last Monday. They close out their trip to Florida with a matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday afternoon.

The Dutch team of manager Brian Farley is facing St. Petersburg College tonight before closing out its trip with a matchup versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Foster received a few gifts from the Netherlands before throwing out the ceremonial pitch for their matchup against the Rays (3-4 loss). He hopes that Al Lang Field, which isn’t used anymore by a MLB organization, will have the chance to host a few games of the next World Baseball Classic.

Official Website St. Petersburg International Baseball

Box score

Against a team of minor leaguers of the Tampa Bay Rays, including the MLB experienced Justin Ruggiano and Casey Kotchman, Cuban defector Leslie Anderson and 2008 number one draft pick Tim Beckham, the Dutch National Team lost 3-4 at the St. Petersburg Baseball International on Wednesday. The Rays scored all of their four runs in the top of the seventh against Leon Boyd (BS 1, L 0-1) and Berry van Driel. Three of them were unearned after a Raily Legito throwing error.

The Netherlands had taken a 1-0 lead in the second period, which lasted five frames. After Tampa Bay got in front, the European record title holder cut the deficit to a run in the bottom of the eighth. They also had the tying run on base in the ninth, but couldn’t bring him home. Eugene Kingsale, Legito and debutant Michael Pluijmers scored for the team of manager Brian Farley. On the mound Rob Cordemans and David Bergman held the Rays to a combined two hits and a walk in the first five scoreless innings.

Two more games are on the schedule for the Dutch National Team. On Friday they will face the St. Petersburg College. Two days later they are going to close out their Spring Training trip against the Philadelphia Phillies. Both games will be played at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg.

Box score

The Netherlands defeated a team of the Eckerd College on Monday evening by a score of 7-5. A two-run single by Bryan Engelhardt decided the outcome in the top of the eighth. The friendly encounter was a charity game with all the proceeds going to the families of three deceased police officers of the St. Petersburg police, who died during duty in January and February.

The Dutch team had taken a fast 5-0 lead through a big rally in the second, when Bas de Jong, Jason Halman, Michael Pluijmers, Michael Duursma and Shaldimar Daantji took advantage of three errors to cross the plate. But the Tritons came back and tied the contest in the bottom of the seventh, also with the help of two errors. Overall both teams combined to commit ten errors in the game.

Manager Brian Farley chose Kevin Miner, Jurjen van Zijl, Nick Veltkamp, Orlando Yntema, Leon Boyd and Nick Stuifbergen to share the work load on the mound. Yntema picked up the win in relief. Van Zijl, Boyd and Stuifbergen had scoreless outings. The Netherlands will return to the field on Wednesday afternoon, facing the Tampa Bay Rays at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg.

The Netherlands picked up its first win at the St. Petersburg International Baseball on Saturday evening. Kevin Heijstek, David Bergman, Diegomar Markwell, Nick Veltkamp and Orlando Yntema issued just two hits to lead the team of manager Brian Farley to an 8-0 shutout. Danny Rombley went 2-for-3, while Michael Duursma collected two hits.

The Dutch National Team had started the international tournament in Florida with two losses against the Seoul Nexen Heroes. For the Canadian Juniors the game against the European team was their last one, as they will travel home on Sunday. The Netherlands scored another run in an unofficial tenth inning on Saturday to provide some extra playing time in defense for Canada. Rombley and Sidney de Jong had hits to drive in Eugene Kingsale.

For the Netherlands their next game will be on Monday evening against Eckerd College. This match is not part of the St. Petersburg International Baseball. On Wednesday they will face the Tampa Bay Rays.

After losing 1-6 on Tuesday to start into the St. Petersburg International Baseball, the Netherlands once again couldn’t celebrate a win over the Korean Seoul Nexen Heroes on Thursday. The professional team defeated the Dutch squad of manager Brian Farley 2-1 thanks to a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth. Moments earlier the lone European participant in the international tournament had tied the contest through a solo homerun by Raily Legito.

Otherwise the Thursday night affair at Al Lang Field was a pitcher’s duel. Former Major Leaguer Brandon Knight held the Netherlands to one hit in the first three innings, striking out five. Overall they managed just three hits, but also draw seven walks. Danny Rombley had two hits. Rob Cordemans, Kevin Miner, Leon Boyd, Nick Veltkamp, Nick Stuifbergen, Berry van Driel and Jurjen van Zijl took the mound for the Dutch National Team.

On Saturday evening the St. Petersburg International Baseball will continue for the Netherlands, as they will square off with the Canadian Junior National Team. Afterwards dates with the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies, as well as the St. Petersburg College will follow.

The St. Petersburg International Baseball, an international spring training tournament in Florida, began a few days ago. On Tuesday the Dutch National Team entered the competition with a 1-6 loss to the Korean professional team of the Seoul Nexen Heroes. It was already the fifth match for Seoul at the Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg.

New manager Brian Farley sent Diegomar Markwell (2 IP), David Bergman (2 IP), Kevin Heijstek (2 IP), Jurjen van Zijl (1 IP) and Orlando Yntema (2 IP) to the mound in the afternoon affair. On offense Danny Rombley, Bryan Engelhardt, Dirk van’t Klooster, Rien Vernooij and Bas Nooij picked up the hits for the Netherlands. Van’t Klooster drove in Engelhardt for the lone Dutch run in the second.

Both teams will meet again on Thursday evening. Afterwards the Netherlands has dates with the Canadian Junior National Team, the Tampa Bay Rays, St. Petersburg College and the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Dutch National Team is going to play six games in the tournament between March 1 and 13, including matchups against Canada, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies. Check out the Facebook page of the St. Petersburg International Baseball for a live stream and more information.

Four players are new on the roster. Pitcher Kevin Miner (Mr. Cocker HCAW) and infielders Roeland Henrique Jr. (L&D Amsterdam), Michael Pluijmers (Mr. Cocker HCAW) and Rien Vernooij (Neptunus) are expected to make their national team debut during the trip. Additionally Nick Veltkamp, Jurjen van Zijl, Bas Nooij, Jeffrey Arends, Michael Duursma, Vince Rooi and Dirk van’t Klooster will return after missing the Intercontinental Cup last October.

Dutch Roster in Florida:
Pitchers: David Bergman (Corendon Kinheim), Leon Boyd (no 2011 team yet), Rob Cordemans (L&D Amsterdam), Berry van Driel (Neptunus), Kevin Heijstek (Neptunus), Diegomar Markwell (Neptunus), Kevin Miner (Mr. Cocker HCAW), Nick Stuifbergen (Corendon Kinheim), Nick Veltkamp (Corendon Kinheim), Orlando Yntema (UVV), Jurjen van Zijl (UVV)

Catchers: Jason Halman (Corendon Kinheim), Sidney de Jong (L&D Amsterdam) Bas Nooij (L&D Amsterdam)

Infielders: Jeffrey Arends (Neptunus), Michael Duursma (Pioniers), Bryan Engelhardt (Corendon Kinheim), Roeland Henrique Jr. (L&D Amsterdam), Dwayne Kemp (Neptunus), Raily Legito (Neptunus), Michael Pluijmers (Mr. Cocker HCAW), Vince Rooi (L&D Amsterdam) en Rien Vernooij (Neptunus)

Outfielders: Shaldimar Daantji (Neptunus), Bas de Jong (L&D Amsterdam), Eugene Kingsale (Neptunus), Dirk van ‘t Klooster (Corendon Kinheim), Danny Rombley (UVV)

Coaching Staff: Manager Brian Farley, Pitching Coach Steve Janssen, Assistant Coaches, Wim Martinus, Tjerk Smeets, Ben Thijssen

Mister-Baseball: How did you become the head coach of the Dutch national team? Did you have to do an interview with the KNBSB or did they already know you good enough since you’re working with the Federation since years?

Brian Farley: Technical Director Robert Eenhoorn hired me without an interview. As you know, Robert and I had worked together on the Dutch National Team for many years so that we knew each other extremely well.

MRBB: You have worked with the Dutch national team before. What are the difference between being a manager, a bench coach and a pitching coach? What do you think will be the differences in coaching the Junior National Team and the Senior National Team?

BF: Bench coach and pitching coach are responsible for different specialist tasks during practice and games whereas the head coach is responsible for all that takes place. Assistant coaches are specialists similar to a Marketing Director or Financial Director in a business. The Head Coach is the General Manager. He needs to delegate to his specialists while making sure that the goals which are set are being met. His relationship with players is not as close as it would be if he were a Pitching or Hitting coach as he is required to make the decisions on who is on the roster and who is in the lineup. The differences between coaching the Junior or Seniors are mostly to do with the communication. At Juniors you are more involved with Instruction and Convincing players of the way to play. At Seniors there is more Discussing and Delegating involved in the communication. You should, in my opinion, create a culture where players and coaches at senior level feel comfortable sharing their knowledge with other to both coaches and other players. In the end, the Head Coach has to make the decisions but he should do so with as much information at his disposal as possible.

MRBB: One of the reasons because Jim Stoeckel is not coming back in 2011 was the fact that he wouldn’t have been available on a full-time basis. You are now a full-time national team coach. What does this mean exactly? What are you doing during the time when the players are with their club teams?

BF: It means that you have more time to get deeper into initiatives designed to help us to develop and improve our players throughout our system. Each player in our system has a personal development plan (PDP). Each is entered into our Talent Follow System and each is videotaped and analyzed on a frequent basis. We are also working with new ways to train using the latest evidence from the world of motor learning and skill acquisition. These initiatives are very time consuming as they involve research and trial and error to discover the best training methods and development plans. These things are only possible if you have people in full time positions.

MRBB: What can you tell us about your coaching staff and who is going to take over the juniors?

BF: Steve Jansen is our pitching coach, he is very well respected in his area and has done a great deal to invest in his own development. He was the Head Coach of Neptunus in 2010 and they broke all records in going on to become national champions. Tjerk Smeets is in his second year as coach. Tjerk is very bright and hard working which is a very desired combination for a head coach. He has taken over the job of hitting coach and done a great job for us thus far. Wim Martinus has been with the staff for a number of years and is our trusted 3B coach and throws the best BP on the continent. Last but by no means least is Ben Thijssen who is based in Curacao and is our main contact on the island. He has been with the National Team for many years and served extremely well.

The Junior National Team returns both Tom Geestman as pitching coach and Peter van Dalen as Hitting coach. Both performed extremely well during our two years together so I am certain the new head coach is pleased to have them back. The new head coach is Eric de Bruin, he was the former Jong Orange coach as well as successful Head Class Coach and highly capped international first baseman for many years. The Jong Oranje is in very good hands.

MRBB: In difference to many other national teams in International Baseball you have the opportunity to work with your players on a regular basis during the week all year long. What is on your agenda during the weekly practices?

BF: We cover many different things. Each practice will have different components based on the size of the group and the positions they play. We have both team workouts and specific group workouts. The team workouts will cover things like Situational Defense and Team hitting drills whereas the specific group will be focusing on areas of individual development shared within the smaller group.

MRBB: A few national team players like Orlando Yntema last year are not playing in the Netherlands. Since they obviously cannot attend the weekly practice sessions, do they have a disadvantage or are they receiving personal plans also to work on their own? How do you keep track of the large pool of players, which are in the minors or playing in different leagues around the globe?

BF: We remain in constant contact with the entire group under consideration for our team. This is done primarily through emails and occasionally telephone calls. All information they need to know is communicated properly including our expectations for their winter workouts. We also have Ben in Curacao to oversee our operations there. We track the performance of players through contacts within the specific organizations as well as sites where statistics and up to date info about the player is available. The internet is a great tool in managing the demands of having players overseas.

MRBB: In comparison to other European countries, the Netherlands have a relatively large pool of Minor League players. However they are usually not available for the national team during the summer tournaments. How do you keep track of their performances? Is it difficult to keep a balance between the Minor Leaguers and the Hoofdklasse players, as the pro might take a spot in the national team lineup, which is held by a Hoofdklasse player during most parts of the season?

BF: As mentioned above, we keep track of players through contacts and internet sites as well as direct email contact with the player himself. As for choosing players, there are many variables which go into choosing a roster for a tournament. Availability of professionals is an issue we have to deal with but their availability does not automatically mean that they are better than a player in the Netherlands. Many of our players here have professional experience as well but they also have the advantage of experience playing in tournament baseball which is much different than pro baseball. That experience should not be underrated. Other important variables include depth at a certain position as well as how familiar a player is with our system and culture. The bottom line is and will remain, does this player give us the best opportunity to win and if the answer is yes then we take him regardless of where he plays.

MRBB: You’re involved in Dutch and European Baseball as a player, a coach and a scout since 1988. Has the sport changed and what are the major differences since then?

BF: Both have improved a great deal from when I first arrived. Dutch baseball has benefited from the return of many very good baseball players including three major leaguers in Milliard, Faynete and Eenhoorn. These players have brought a knowledge of the game back which was missing. Eenhoorn has had the biggest impact with his professionalizing of the National team. There are also a lot of other people who have invested their time and money to further their development in the game and that is paying dividends as we speak. We have also seen the emergence of other European countries in that past years. Italy remains very competitive with us and the gap between us remains very tight. Germany has likely shown the greatest improvement and has emerged as a team to respect. They have shown they have the potential to beat anyone in Europe. As for the biggest differences, I would say that the development of the baseball academies in The Netherlands and other European countries is likely the biggest difference maker. We are finally able to offer our best talent a chance to train at better facilities, more often and with the best coaching available. This is, in my opinion, the best formula for success.

MRBB: If you had the opportunity to change anything in European Baseball, what would it be?

BF: I would get more funding from government to put money into the development of fundamental skills such as throwing and catching at younger ages. I am amazed how few children in Europe possess this fundamental skill. If these skills are not developed early in a child’s life, then the potential for the child to develop later is seriously and permanently retarded. It should be mandatory for all children to learn how to throw and catch from the ages of 5 to 9. This would increase our talent pool dramatically and result in the likely increase in the number of children who play both baseball and softball. This larger base would then allow for us to have a greater selection of ballplayers climbing the pyramid to top baseball, making European baseball a continent which could compete with any other. As the great Martin Luther King once said “I have a dream”.

MRBB: What tournaments are on the calendar for the national team next year?

BF: World Port Tournament in late June and the recently announced World Championships in September.

MRBB: What does the Netherlands need to do to make the next step and win a Baseball World Cup or the World Baseball Classic?

BF: I don’t know if a World Baseball Classic is possible at this stage given the level of competition we face but we will certainly play each game with the mindset that we are going to win it. The World Championship is something that we have been close to doing but have come up short in the semi finals. We will need to work on what I call the three A’s. Attitude, Adversity and Adjustment. Attitude is the belief in yourself and your teammates that you belong here and deserve to win. Dealing with Adversity is the ability to stay in the moment and respond in a positive way when things go wrong and believe me things will go wrong. Adjustment is the ability to handle everything the opponent throws at you, baseball is a game of adjustments as the game and tournament progresses. If we can manage to do these three things effectively then we stand a chance in any game regardless of the opponent.

The Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB) has launched a newly designed website. Check it out at www.knbsb.nl.

“Of course you always want to play a World Championship, but you also want a reasonable time to know where you stand. The messages were always that there would be no World Cup this year. And then you get six months in advance to hear that suddenly you have to go to Panama.”

Eenhoorn further cites schedule problems for the Dutch National Team, as the Holland Series would end just a week before the start of the tournament. Additionally the European Champions Cup Final Four is set for September 24 and 25. And obviously teams from the Netherlands are always favored to reach the European Cup Finals.

With that in mind Eenhoorn wants to use the upcoming Congress of the Confederation of European Baseball (CEB) in early March in Brussels to discuss the participation at the Baseball World Cup with other European countries. Greece, Italy and Germany are also qualified for the tourney. “No, the last word is definitely not yet said.”

Press Release KNBSB (PDF-File)

Despite short term notice about World Cup organization in September 2011, Netherlands federation KNBSB has decided to delegate a strong selection of players and coaches to Panama, host of the IBAF tournament.

Already on Monday, first working day after IBAF congress in Havana, the Dutch federation released a message on the official website concerning World Cup 2011. The same message has appeared on the renewed KNBSB website since Tuesday and on Wednesday national team press officer Loet van Schellebeek confirmed in a telephone conversation with Mister Baseball: “Undoubtedly Netherlands will always participate in a World Cup tournament, including this year’s edition!”

Since early January the selection of the Netherlands national team has practiced twice a week in Rotterdam and Haarlem in indoor sessions organized by new manager Brian Farley. The regular players from Dutch national major league “Hoofdklasse” welcomed several USA Minor League players spending winter leave in the Netherlands and even Washington National Roger Bernadina, record holder from Hoofdklasse in USA Major League, joined the national team preparing for the international season. In June Farley will head his team to Rotterdam in order to participate in World Port Tournament and in September to World Cup in Panama, but first of all for the St Petersburg International Baseball Tournament at the end of this month and the beginning of March in Florida (USA).

Another Major League player from the Netherlands, pitcher Rick van den Hurk, left his country already on January 6. He traveled to Florida to join his teammates of Baltimore Orioles for spring training and in between to colder Baltimore for attending a fans fest. Many colleagues and friends have complimented Van den Hurk with his successful Big Leaguers Tour through Europe together with several pro players from MLB top level. Many press releases about the European clinic had drawn the attention of other players, who now offer their ready help for a possible second Big Leaguers Tour in Europe after coming season 2011.

by Pim van Nes
Baseball writer for
www.honkbalsite.com
www.sporttribune.nl
www.baseball.it

All Award Winners:

• Most Valuable Player: Bryan Engelhardt (Corendon Kinheim)
• Best Pitcher: Leon Boyd (Neptunus)
• Most Homeruns: Bryan Engelhardt (Corendon Kinheim)
• Best Batter: Dirk van ‘t Klooster (Corendon Kinheim)
• Most Stolen Bases: Bryan Engelhardt (Corendon Kinheim)
• Guus van der Heijden Memorial Trophy: Mariekson Gregorius
• Roel de Mon Award: Niels Harteved (Neptunus)
• Ron Fraser Award: Nick Urbanus (L&D Amsterdam)
• Coach of the Year: Brian Farley (Jong Oranje)
• Leen Volkerijk Award: Gé van Berkel
• MVP Holland Series: Dushan Ruzic (DOOR Neptunus)
• Rob Cordemans Award: Daley Paalvast (Scimitars)
• Dirk van ‘t Klooster Award: Bram Grooten (Bixie Baseball)
• Rick van den Hurk Award: Evan Simons (Unicorns)
• Rogearvin Bernadina Award: Steven Wharwood (Unicorns)

All games will be played at the Al Lang Field (or now called Progress Energy Park) in St. Petersburg. It is the former spring training and minor league home of several Major League organizations, including the New York Yankees, New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets among others. However since the Tampa Bay Devil Rays left after the 2008 spring training the site was vacant. Now it is going to be used to host a series of International Baseball Games, not only in Spring Training, but also in the summer.

Tickets and more information on the official website of the St. Petersburg International Baseball

Schedule:
Games to be played at Al Lang Field:
Monday, Feb. 21 – noon: Penn State vs. Nexen Heroes
Thursday, Feb. 24 – 7 p.m.: Seoul Nexen Heroes vs. St. Petersburg College
Saturday, Feb. 26 – 2 p.m.: Canada vs. Seoul Nexen Heroes
Sunday, Feb. 27 – 1 p.m.: Beach State vs. Canada
Monday, Feb. 28 – 1 p.m.: Seoul Nexen Heroes vs. Canada
Tuesday, March 1 – 1 p.m.: Seoul Nexen Heroes vs. Netherlands
Tuesday, March 1 – 7 p.m.: Canada vs. St. Petersburg College
Thursday, March 3 – 7 p.m.: Netherlands vs. Seoul Nexen Heroes
Friday, March 4 – 1 p.m.: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Canada
Saturday, March 5 – 7 p.m.: Netherlands vs. Canada
Wednesday, March 9 – 1 p.m.: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Netherlands
Friday, March 11 – 7 p.m.: Netherlands vs. St. Petersburg College
Sunday, March 13 – 1 p.m.: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Netherlands