Mister Baseball

Time	Home	Visitor	Field
Dates and Times are subject to change! In case of doubt check with the responsible national federation!
Thursday, April 09 2009
20:30	Fortitudo Bologna	Cariparma Parma	Stadio comunale...
21:00	Palfinger Reggio Emilia	T&A San Marino	Caselli Giorgio...
Saturday, April 11 2009
16:00	Montepaschi Grosseto	Telemarket Rimini	Stadio Roberto ...
16:00	Danesi Nettuno	De Angelis Rimorchi	Stadio Steno Bo...
16:00	T&A San Marino	Palfinger Reggio Emilia	Stadio del Base...
16:00	Cariparma Parma	Fortitudo Bologna	Europeo "Nino C...
Sunday, April 12 2009
15:00	Montepaschi Grosseto	Telemarket Rimini	Stadio Roberto ...
15:00	Danesi Nettuno	De Angelis Rimorchi	Stadio Steno Bo...

by Riccardo Schiroli

The first week end of the Italian Baseball League is going to be a rather long one. Games on Friday were postponed because the Italian Government proclaimed a day of National Mourning for the casualties of the earthquake that devasted the central part of the Region of Abruzzo. FIBS rescheduled the games on Saturday afternoon and 2 games will be played on Easter Day.

Starting the 2009 season, FIBS reduced the number of VISA for non EU import players from 5 to 4. At the same time, following EU and Olympic Committee directive, EU citizens will have the same right of Italian players. FIBS decided to maintain the regulation on the Italian School of Baseball (an Italian player is of the Italian School of Baseball, or ASI, if he has been developed in Italy or if has played 6 seasons in the Italian Leagues) that imposes 5 ASI players on the field in each game, including the pitcher in game 3 of each series. Actually, EU citizens will have the same right of the players who hold Italian citizenship but were not developed in Italy.

One particular case of the ASI rule would be a foreigner who developed as a baseball player in Italy (started playing as an under-15). This is the case of a foreigner who is also an ASI, but will be able to play only respecting the limitation on import players.

T&A San Marino looks like the team to beat in 2009. The defending champions have depth in their pitching staff, power and solid defense. San Marino added to the staff Venezuelan fireballer Luis Ramirez (a right hander), who will back up Estrada (lefty) in game one, the Antillean with Dutch passport Gregorius, who will back up Da Silva in game 2, and former Italian AAA national team star Mauro Schiavoni (released by the Minnesota Twins), who will back up Tonellato in game 3. Their closer for game 1 and 2 will be Mike Crudale, who played in 2007 for Godo and spent the 2008 season in Taiwan. Netherland Antilles national team star Jansen and Venezuelan Carlos Duran (in Nettuno in 2008) will give more power and speed to the lineup.

Their main competitor should be Danesi Nettuno. Former Team Italy’s skipper Giampiero Faraone took over the managing job and will try to start over from where he left (League Championship in 2001) with a team that has added some MLB experience (shortstop Manny Alexander, in Rimini in 2008, outfielder Abraham Nunez and right handed pitcher Jeff Farnsworth) and a definite European flavor (pitchers Joel Hernandez and Remigio Leal and catcher Navarro have all competed for Spain internationally). Nettuno has also decided to add to the roster a few promising teen agers, like standout infielder Caradonna (born 1992!) and outfielder Catanzani. What makes Nettuno a definite competitor is the possibility of using Giovanni Carrara as a reliever in game 1 and 2 and the talent of Carlo Richetti, the best ASI pitcher in 2008.

Mauro Mazzotti also will try to start over from where he left in Rimini (League Championship in 1999). The big question mark for Mazzotti is the pitching in game 3. Will Sandy Patrone be able to perform at the level he showed in 2007? For the rest, the team is definitely strong, with former Dutch National Team star Ivanon Coffie in the middle of the lineup and some depth in the pitching staff for games 2 and 3 thanks to new import Rafael Garcia and Spanish national team arms Fernando Gutierrez and Jorge Balboa. Phil Lo Cascio (from A2 Paternò) and Lorenzo Avagnina (from Grosseto) will give depth to infield and outfield.

Cariparma has added some power to their lineup with Jhonny Carvajal, Cuban born (but naturalized Italian) Laidel Chapelli, Dutch national team veteran Johnny Balentina and especially thanks to the addition of Team Italy’s captain Davide Dallospedale. Parma has not elected their starting shortstop and game 2 starting pitcher, though. In the middle of the line up manager Gerali could choose Carvajal or prospect Luca Scalera. Italian American rookie Marco Grifantini and would be come back of the year Brian Scarcella should battle for the starter’s job in game 2.

Fortitudo Bologna thought they had a successful Winter Campaign, but all of a sudden Cody Cillo (the best pitcher in the League in 2008) decided he’d rather play in the United States. Venezuelan (but with Portuguese passport) Yulman Ribeiro may be game 2 starter, while Giuseppe Norrito is definitely a strong addition to the staff, considering he qualifies as an ASI pitcher. Fortitudo management has not decided yet if they will bring to the IBL slugger Richard Austin. Without him, the team may be lacking some power in the middle of the lineup.

It is hard to see Montepaschi Grosseto for a spot in the ‘post season’ this year. Team management has decided to cut on salaries and let go Davide Dallospedale, Lorenzo Avagnina and Kelly Ramos. Luca Bischeri will start as catcher and home town boy Ferretti may win the everyday second baseman job. Grosseto could have good pitching if former San Marino ace Figueroa and Junior Oberto stay healthy. Veteran Michael Zambelli will very likely come out of the bull pen to throw strike consistently as he has dome in Serie A2 for Reggio Emilia lately.

De Angelis Godo has had a busy Winter. General Manager Casadio has signed a few players (veteran right-handers Roberto Cabalisti and Victor Arias Patrone; first baseman Lino Connell; middle infielder Mattia Campanini) that other teams had overlooked and given depth to a pitching staff that was really scared to go to the bull pen in the previous years. The staff ace should be Dominican Ulloa, with Italian American rookie Brandon Camardese starting game 2. Godo also added to their roster prospects Ricchio and Forte. They added some speed to their line up too, signing former Yankee shortstop Felix Escalona and Cuban outfielder (with Spanish passport) Pedro Mendez. Godo does not look like the usual underdog.

First year Palfinger Reggio Emilia has put together a more than decent pitching staff, adding to their roster imports like former Red Sox Abe Alvarez, Nicaraguan hurler William Juarez, Aruban prospect (with Dutch passport) Efrem Orman, a left hander with Rookie League experience in the US, and Gregory Palanzo. Claudio Biagini made his way back to the hometown from Parma. There are a couple of question marks for Reggio: has the line up enough power and will Dustin Nielsen (their game 3 starter) be ready for the next level?

Italian Baseball League Media Guide (pdf-file)