by Pim van Nes, www.honkbalsite.com
FIBS president Riccardo FRACCARI, who surprised last weekend with the reassignment of Italy into the European A-category, doesn’t want to give further comments to the topic. The Italian baseball club Lazio Roma wanted an explanation via email regarding the sensational statement of FRACCARI before the FIBS parliament. He responded with a blunt refusal that he does not have to answer these questions to anyone because of his position as vice-president of the CEB and member of the executive board of the IBAF.
In the same e-mail message from FRACCARI to Lazio Roma he claims that he has held already preliminary discussions with the Baseball Federations in Europe, about a potential co-operation in the organization of the World Cup in 2009. If the IBAF awards Italy with the organization, FRACCARI wants twenty participating countries to play in four groups of five teams. These tournaments should be held in England, Germany, the Czech Republic and Spain. After that, two groups of eight teams in the traditional round-robin format would take place in Italy and the Netherlands. As the host, Italy would host all games of the final round. In order to acquire the next World Cup, Italy has talked about cooperation with the abovementioned five countries. However three of those appear to have been unaware of any attempt by FRACCARI for consultations in this regard. The Federations in the Netherlands, England and Germany see the FRACCARI plans still in the stage of wishful thinking.
Besides the requirement to get all five partner-countries on the same path, the short period of time for the preparations of the international tournament next year could merge into an issue. It is important to bring baseball into a good light to make an impact to the mainly in Europe residing members of the IOC, in order to get a positive vote for the return of the sport into the Olympic family as per the Games of 2016.
While Italy and all other baseball countries would benefit from a perfect organized World Cup 2009, the messages of FRACCARI are counterproductive. It was not the right way to call out the results he achieved in backroom consultations with the IBAF concerning appeals from the last European Championship (EC). His pronouncements on this topic one week prior the IBAF meeting on February 4th is damaging the IBAF, the CEB and the first ranked six countries at the EC. It predicts little well for the much-needed cooperation in Europe in the preparation, housing and organization of the World Cup, because it is so crucial provided under the critical eyes of IOC ladies and gentlemen.
FRACCARI also caused eyebrows raising about several figures illustrating development in Italian Baseball. Major League Baseball requires the games in the Italian Serie A1 be visited by an average of 800 spectators to get financial support from MLB. Not one club came close to fulfil these criteria. Even the playoff-teams were more than forty percent behind the goals: winner Grosseto (469 attendance per game) led the pack in front of losing finalist Nettuno (431), semi-finalists Parma (348) and Bologna (335) and further Rimini (216), Godo (183), Avigliana (154) and San Marino (142). This is an average of 284 spectators per game in the Italian Baseball League (IBL). Although these numbers are a lift in comparison to previous years, it puts FRACCARI 65 percent behind the requirements made by the MLB. However, their support would be important to establish a true pro-league in Italy.
Nevertheless FRACCARI also presented some good news in front of the FIBS parliament, especially considering the circumstances of the ten year drought at European championships, mostly in the early stages of the competition. After losses in previous years, the FIBS experienced a boost in memberships in 2007. The number of baseball players in Italy decreased from 13.882 in 2005 to 11.157 in 2006, but recovered in preliminary calculation to 13.343 last year. The number of senior players went from 6.896 (2005) to 5.706 (2006) to 6.039 (2007). The changes in the junior sector were much more impressive. It was down to 5.451 in 2006 after 6.986 in 2005 but rose to 7.304 in 2007. That is a growth of 34 percent. FRACCARI also stunned friend and enemy with a remarkable number of total membership, which rose to 26.117 in 2007 after 18.611 in 2006. In percentage terms, this is an increase of 40,3 percent. A figure that is normally only found in the early years of a sports federation. He was repeatedly asked for an explanation for these figures but refused to answer.
by Pim van Nes
Baseball writer for
www.honkbalsite.com
www.sporttribune.nl
www.baseball.it
WC games in England??? Has Freccari ever been to this country? There are hardly any proper baseball diamonds in England and the ones there are unfortunately do not come close to internationally required standards. England, Spain, Germany and Czech Republic – sounds like he is just trying to get some popular votes for his Italian plans from those countries that played well at the last Euros?!
Would the 20 teams in the first round of the World Cup be teams trying to qualify, or would all teams have to participate? And wouldn’t it make more sense to not play games in England? Any other countries with good enough facilities?