Mister Baseball

by John Baum

Rain and snow here in Switzerland has been a dominant theme for the start of the 2008 baseball season. Quite a change from the summer we had last year lasting all of three weeks in April!! I’m pretty sure nobody, due to weather, got anymore than 4-5 outdoor workouts before their first scheduled game. In our case here in Bern, a grand opening weekend never before seen in Switzerland was planned. All the champions, and vice-champions gathered for what was to be a glorious baseball/softball spectacle, complete with full television coverage on Sunday for the NLA, (highest level in Switzerland), baseball game! Three TV cameras at a Swiss baseball game, get outta’ here!! Which, true to form, was snowed out!!

My name is John Baum, my team is the BERN CARDINALS. We are the three-time defending Swiss NLA baseball champions. I am beginning my fourth season in Switzerland. Along with being a player/coach for the CARDINALS, I am an assistant coach for the senior national team. Before my time here I spent a couple summers in Dornbirn, Austria, coaching the INDIANS to an ABL championship in 2003. I originally came over to experience Europe, be able to strap my cleats back on one more time, and get my toes wet in coaching. I’d have a fun summer,(one summer), in Austria, and go back to what was waiting for me. Needless to say my plans have changed, this is in total my sixth summer in Europe.

It took some time to make the adjustment to European baseball, and it’s players. I was from the old school, head down, spikes up, do whatever it takes mentality! I guess, part of me expected the same out of my players here, which, even for a lot of players in America isn’t possible. I had my ups and downs trying to motivate, discipline, or even punish players. I lost a talented kid in Austria bringing the US style of coaching with me. But along the way found out a lot about myself as a coach, and how much these guys actually offer in terms of dedication!!! I found out that just maybe, they love the game as much, if not more than me…I never had to pay to play,(unless you count tuition!), I don’t have kids, all I’ve ever had to do is suit up and play or coach. I have found a new respect to which ends these guys go to fund, maintain and play for the love of the game!!

That love of the game, for us here in Bern, has led to much success! After this previous weekend, including last year playoffs, we are now 26-1 in the last 27 games we have played in the Swiss league! This may look a bit lopsided to some, but the league actually is very balanced at the top…somehow we have just found a way to win. It looks to be at this point a three-team race, with one dark horse trying to achieve the championship.

My predictions for the 2008 season follow…

1ST PLACE: BERN CARDINALS 17-3
I may be a bit bias, but I have to give us the nod as favorites…the past three years speaks for itself. We didn’t make any big additions, but Johnny Perigos, our slugging first baseman from Cuba, .531 AVG, 42 RBI, 9 HR, is now officially baseball Swiss,(doesn’t count as a foreigner). That opens up a spot for myself, and Samuel Paulino to be on the field with Perigos. Along with that news, we still have what has to be considered the best pitching staff…national teamers Chris Beyeler,( 8-0… 2.21 ERA), and Severin Fries, (8-0… 1.72 ERA), and foreigner John Baum, (5-1… .48 ERA). Along with the pitching, 2.36ERA, the Cards also led the league in hitting, .329 AVG, and fielding %, .931%.

2ND PLACE: THERWIL FLYERS 15-5
The FLYERS, having missed the playoffs the last 3 years, look destined to break the streak. They return after a years absence national team players Daniel Eichenberger and Reto Siegel. Along with national team pitcher Stefan Koller, and foreigner Chris Blackbee on the mound, the FLYERS look greatly improved on paper! Although questions were raised as they were shutout against the newly merged, and promoted WIL DEVILS. I guess time will tell if that loss was only a fluke!!

3RD PLACE: ZURICH BARRACUDAS 14-6
The BARRACUDAS, semi-finalists from last year, and finalists from ‘06, look to continue their success. They have added two foreign players, shortstop Charles Brown, a smooth fielder, but yet to do much with the bat; and JT Schroeder, a pitcher/utility player with a little pop, and the ability to use all fields. These two players are good additions to an already stacked offensive lineup. The team returns Ueli Von Burg from elbow surgery, Farid Bekkali, .381, 27 RBI, 6 HR, the teams leading hitter last year, and several other .300 plus hitters make them a team to look out for. The BARRACUDAS also have a nice pitching staff mixed with young and veteran talent. Jeff Mottl, and Frank Berchtod are key to the teams success…when they are on their game, the ‘Cudas will be tough to beat!!

4th PLACE: ZURICH CHALLENGERS 12-8
For me this ones a toss-up!! Especially after the Indians manhandled CHALLENGER pitching last weekend, scoring 41 times in the doubleheader!! But the finalist from ‘07, the CHALLENGERS, with coach Andy Fleischacker, can’t stay on that form all season, with talented players all over the field, including Thomas Landis, .448 AVG, 29 RBI, 4 HR, and Tobias Siegrist, .405 AVG 40 RBI, 4 HR. With other good bats in the lineup, along with pickups, Jesus Martinez, and Carlos do los Santos, the CHALLENGERS look to once again be a team that can swing it. Their success, as with other teams lies on the pitching staff. If they stay healthy, and the defense doesn’t self-destruct, the CHALLENGERS will be able to get back on the form that propelled them to last years finals.

4TH PLACE: LAUSANNE INDIANS 12-8
The INDIANS have come out of the gate swinging, REALLY! Everyone knew they could hit, but last weekend was crazy!!! They showed everyone what happens when they are on their game, Alexis Ramirez leads the way, .471, 27 RBI, 7 HR, and Jay Casimiro, .427, 23RBI, 3HR; is just one of several complementary hitters to Ramirez in a offensive machine. The one glaring weakness for the INDIANS is Swiss pitching. They have to rely on Nicolas Jaquemet’s off speed approach to get hitters out front. His success will be his team’s success this year, that’s why I have them at 12-8. If they don’t beat themselves, this could be a playoff team this year!!

6TH PLACE: REUSSBUHL EAGLES 9-11
The EAGLES look to possibly miss out on the playoffs for the first time since 2005. They acquired a sweet hitting switch hitter in Ryan Rothford, but have yet to replace their foreign ace, Pete Soskin, 6-3, 1.42 ERA, 130 Ks, 89 innings pitched. They rely heavily on Jerome Mueller, 8-5, 3.89 ERA. Jerome’s soft throwing knuckleball style seems to almost always baffle hitters. The return of Rudi Vargas, .448 AVG, 19 RBI, 2 HR, along with veteran hitter Renee Pluess, .411 AVG, 26 RBI, 5 HR, and Tom Huston, .433 AVG, 28 RBI, 4 HR, will make pitchers work this year to get through the middle of this lineup! If the EAGLES find a pitcher for the second game, this could easily be a playoff team!

7TH PLACE: WIL DEVILS 5-15
The recently merged and promoted DEVILS had the surprise win of the second weekend, defeating a favorite for the playoffs, THERWIL FLYERS, by a score of 6-0 in game two. Veteran Rusty Biedermann going the distance to keep the powerful Flyers off the scoreboard! I’m not sure this will be a trend that will continue…I believe the DEVILS will find wins hard to come by this year, as in a whole, the top teams have improved! But the win showed me one thing, that merging with the RARINBOWS just may save the DEVILS from relegation! They could be a team to win as many as seven games this year, as they play in the weaker of the two divisions.

7PLACE: SISSACH FROGS 5-15
The FROGS welcome back coach Ramon “Teddy” Figueroa to the team. This move makes me believe that they believe maybe this isn’t their year, and they may be concentrating on the future of their club. To not bring in a player coach, or as they have in the past, two players, will hurt a team with few offensive threats, and even less pitching. Expect Danny Traina to bounce back from a so-so year, 1-6, 5.18 ERA. Offensively the FROGS are led by Traina, .362 AVG, 11 RBI, 1HR, Christian Klarer, .329 AVG, 12 RBI, 1 HR, and Stefan Wick, .319 AVG, 17 RBI, 1 HR. Overall the FROGS will end up fighting to stay off the bottom of the table. But the team has plenty of history, (best regular season record 2005), and pride to prove me wrong!

Photo: © Bern Cardinals