Robert Eenhoorn was kind enough to answer a few questions from Mister-Baseball.com. His eight-year stint as the manager of the successful Dutch Baseball National Team ends on December 31st. Rod Delmonico is replacing him at the helm. Eenhoorn becomes technical director of the Royals Netherlands Baseball and Softball Federation.
Q: Do you think Rod Delmonico can continue your work with the Dutch National Team? Are you satisfied with your time as skipper?
A: I believe he will be able to continue to strengthen Dutch Baseball. He has all the qualities needed to manage the Team and is very motivated to succeed. When I look back at my 8 years and see a lot of positive moments. I was lucky to work with a very talented Team and Staff, who all felt we could do things that had never been done before. We will all continue to work hard to keep this up, realizing that other countries are getting stronger in Europe.
Q: How is the recruiting process for the World Baseball Classic going? Any players, who already said that they are not available next March?
A: The process is going well. I tend to not focus on players who are not available, but to focus on the players who will be available. Nobody has officially said no to us yet, not counting some injured players. We are not able yet to mention any names, but will as soon as we can. For sure will the Team be made up of players who will still be able to play for the Netherlands after the Classic.
Q: At the Baseball World Cup next September Netherlands Antilles does also have a team participating. Does this change anything regarding the selection of the Dutch National Team roster? For example, in the case Shairon Martis: He was born in Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles. Will he still be eligible to play for the Netherlands?
A: Players who have played in previous Tournaments will definitely be eligible [editor note: for the Dutch National Team]. The future will tell if our situation will change.
Q: You have played and coached in the United States and in Europe. What would you change in European Baseball to improve the game?
A: European Baseball has improved on the field in the last ten years, but not so much off the field. It is very hard to professionalize a game with people that have always moved around in the amateur part it. Even when, like in some cases, they mean well. It is not a structure, but the quality of people that usually make a difference. My suggestion would be to let some professionals sit together and to come up with a plan to better the Game in Europe.
Q: You are involved in the development of a European Baseball League. What can you tell about the professional league? The CEB is planning a CEB Challenge Cup in July 2009. Are you also involved in these plans?
A: I am not involved in any existing Cups. Having a European Cup for Club Teams in April when some European countries are still shoveling snow of the field looks at least strange. Usually the icing on a cake comes at the end and not at the beginning, but it looks like some people think differently. My plans for Europe would be reversed. You let the different countries play their respective competitions first and you finish with a showcase at the end. You keep players in their own countries as much as you can, so all the countries will be forced to develop talent. Europe needs a wider base and a stronger top. Sounds simple, but I have learned, in European Baseball, that common sense is sometimes not so common.
Mister-Baseball.com thanks Pim van Nes for setting up the Q&A.
Photo: © Ron Wickert, www.eott.nl