Besides looking back at 2008 in the Italian Baseball League, we’re also reviewing the year in the Dutch Hoofdklasse. A few weeks ago, we already did the same with the French Elite League and the German Baseball-Bundesliga.
DOOR Neptunus
After winning championships after championships, a three-season span without a title in the Dutch Hoofdklasse is probably disappointing. However DOOR NEPTUNUS reached the semi-finals in each year since their last triumph in 2005. So the success is still there, it is just the luck, which is missing.
In 2008 the Rotterdam-based club managed a 31-11 record during the regular season, good for second place in the standings, and just one game behind leader CORENDON KINHEIM. In the semi-finals they built up a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series against L&D AMSTERDAM. But the PIRATES came back and later went on to win the championship in the Netherlands.
In the European Cup in Regensburg, Germany, NEPTUNUS lost just one game, although the semi-finals against DANESI NETTUNO. The third-place finish solidified their position as one of the top teams in European Baseball. They were also ranked eighth in Mister Baseball’s European Top 50.
What the stats say
Thanks to the best pitching staff in the league (ERA 2.26) and an above average offense (BA .293, 3rd in league), NEPTUNUS had the best run differential in the Hoofdklasse. They scored 275 runs (2nd) and allowed just 103 (31 fewer runs than KINHEIM). The defense committed 42 errors for 14 unearned runs.
The starting rotation was led by one of the best 1-2 punch in Europe. Leon Boyd led the team with a 10-2 record and an ERA of 1.64 in 14 starts. He allowed just 70 hits and struck out 86 (23 walks) in 93 1/3 innings. Diegomar Markwell was not far behind with a 9-5 record and a 2.37 ERA in 15 starts. He had 51 strikeouts and 32 base on balls in 91 innings. Kevin Heijstek (7-1, ERA 1.48) and Jurjen van Zijl (4-1, ERA 4.10) split the remaining 13 starts. Dushan Ruzic dominated the backend of the bullpen with an ERA of 0.84 and 31 strikeouts in 32.1 innings pitched (18 hits, 7 walks).
The workload on the offense was shouldered by several batters. The former Major Leaguer Eugene Kingsale batted .326 (SLG .522) with a team-leading five homeruns, 36 runs scored and 23 RBIs, playing center field. Martijn Meeuwis led DOOR with a .354 batting average (SLG .504) with 25 runs scored and 25 RBIs. Lennart Koster (.241/.312) was the team leader with 33 RBI. The Belgian National Team member Benjamin Dille (.317/.379) was tied with Kingsale for second in the league with 36 runs. The two minor league prospects Dwayne Kemp (BA .467 in 17 PA) and Rien Vernooij (.400 in 22 PA) impressed in limited time.
NEPTUNUS had to revamp the coaching staff during the offseason, as head coach Eric de Bruin resigned due to work-related reasons. He will be replaced by the Belgian Steve Janssen. They were also able to bring in two talented young players with pitcher Jorian van Acker and center fielder Shaldimar Daantji. Johnny Balentina, Derrick Francisca and left-handed reliever Gregory Gustina are three of the five players, who have already left the club.
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