In mid-August it was revealed that Sparta/Feyenoord Rotterdam has a new sponsor and is looking to make a push towards the top four teams in the Dutch Hoofdklasse. On Saturday, two days before the deadline for transfers within the Netherlands, the club announced its transfers for the 2011 season according to a report by Marco Stoovelaar.
Twelve players will join and nine will leave the team for the upcoming campaign. Pitchers Bobby Carrington, Marc Hennep, Quincy Lambertina, Ludwin Obispo, DJ Cleofa and Quinten Tramm are supposed to strengthen the pitching staff, while Quintin de Cuba, Jourick Blanco, Emeron Lourens, Anthony Vrolijk, Brian Biezen and Curandy La Cruz will be added for the offensive part of the game.
Pitching wise Carrington and Obispo, who are coming from league rival ADO, are the biggest names. Both played professionally in the US before coming to Europe. Regarding the position players, Quintin de Cuba and Jourick Blanco are probably the most important new pieces for next year’s roster. De Cuba played in the New York Mets organization in the past three seasons. He is a catcher/first baseman. Fellow first baseman Blanco is coming from the Hoofddorp Pioniers.
Not returning are Percy Isenia (L&D Amsterdam), Tim Roodenburg, Sape Wagenaar (both Neptunus), Rutger Veugelers (UVV), Nick Eppinga (retirement), Jose Ventura (Dominican Republic), Ronald de Bont, Berry van Donselaar, Shurendell Borgschot (all three Hawks Dordrecht).
Sparta/Feyenoord, which finished in sixth place in the 2010 season, also already has completed its coaching staff. Head coach Ludy Bernadina and assistant coach Dino Anasagasti again will be at the helm. They are getting help from Leo Voogd as pitching coach, who is new on the staff after coaching ADO in the past two seasons.