by Andy Fleischacker, head coach of the Swiss National Team
Zurich Barracudas
After missing the playoffs in 2010, player/coach Manu Hirtz has the Cudas primed to make a run at a playoff spot. The Cudas will have to do it without 2 key young pitchers as Andi Ruesch is playing in Holland while he is attending university and Beni Montag has decided to retire. These 2 players will hurt both on the offense and on the defense. Pitching wise the Cudas welcome back national team vet Frank Berchtold as well as another vet in Nderim Coma, if these 2 can continue their past performance game 1 is well in hands. Game 2 will see foreign import pitcher Kody Hightower take the mound. Hightower who in 2009 played for Hamburg in the German Bundesliga will bring a veteran presence that is capable of shutting down other teams. On offense Hightower will once again lead the way along with coma and returning second baseman Marc Schnider along with balanced cast of Swiss complimentary players the Cudas lineup will not have much power but will be solid. The Cudas making the playoffs will come down to the dedication of its players if they show up and don’t miss large portions of the season the Cudas will be a playoff team in 2011.
Sissach Frogs
The frogs look to build on the improvement they made in 2010. The Frogs 2010 record of 9-15 will be tough to improve on but it will be possible with a little luck. The Frogs will be led by veteran player/coach Christian Klarer backing him up as the game pitcher will be Brito. In game 2 we will see American import player Gary Kahn. Kahn comes over from the Czech league and will be counting on heavily to go the distance every game 2, and also play a solid first base in game 1. On offense the Frogs are once again led by Klarer and Kahn, but also have Swiss veteran Stephen Wick and Latino players Nelson Vilomar, Mario Cuevas and Brito. The Frogs have to stay healthy and get some luck to contend for a playoff spot but mark my words they will pull an upset of 2 this year.
Zurich Lions
The Lions are the newly promoted team in the NLA for 2011. But they are no stranger to the league as they have been up and down from the NLB for many years. 2011 will be a struggle for the Lions as they have no foreign imports and no impact Swiss hitters. Andre Austere leads the pitching staff but after him there are no major arms. This team will really struggle to score runs on the offensive side of the ball as there are no impact bats in the lineup. The Lions will more than likely be battling the eagles to stay in the NLA but remaining in the league does not seem likely.
Luzern Eagles
The final team in the NLA is the Luzern Eagles. the eagles are coming off a terrible 2010 and the chances of bouncing back in 2011 are very slim. The eagles are led on offense by young catcher Marco Limmacher and player/coaches Juan Rosario and Rudi Vargas. The eagles have no pitching depth what so ever but do have 1 bright spot in young pitcher Ronel Veras. Veras had a few strong performances in 2010 and for the eagles to stay in the NLA he needs to come up big. On the field the Eagles are making huge strides in woman’s softball but baseball seems to be taking a back seat as the team has regressed from a playoff team to a team barely staying in the NLA. 2011 will be a long and tough year for the eagles.
BOLD PREDICTIONS
Standings
1) Therwil Flyers- 26-2
2) Bern Cardinals- 24-4
3) Embrach Mustangs- 18-10
4) Zurich Barracudas- 16-12
5) Zurich Challengers- 14-14
6) Sissach Frogs- 10-18
7) Luzern Eagles- 5-23
8 ) Zurich Lions- 1-27
Playoffs
Semi-finals
Bern over Mustangs- 3-1
Flyers over Barricudas-3-0
Finals
In another 5 game finals series that will see great back and forth baseball, the flyers will take the championship back home to Therwil.
