by Riccardo Schiroli
The bomb exploded in the afternoon: Montepaschi Grosseto fired manager Mauro Mazzotti. An unexpected decision (Grosseto’s management had shown the intention to propose another three-year contract to Mazzotti) that leaves Grosseto without a skipper just hours before game four of the semi final round robin of the Italian Baseball League.
Montepaschi came out of the first three games of the round robin with two losses and, above all, with only two runs scored after 27 innings of play. Considering the trouble Montepaschi is facing in the games reserved to the pitchers of the ‘Italian school of baseball’ (ASI) and so many problems in scoring runs, it’s right now hard to see Grosseto in the Italian Baseball Series.
T&A San Marino was a surprise. After confirming they cannot compete in the ASI pitcher game at home, San Marino went on to win two in Bologna and in the first they outhit Jesus Matos (12 hits in 6.1 innings). If their offense can put this numbers on the field in all of the round robin, they may be a surprise.
Fortitudo Bologna has been the best team the whole season, despite the management struggles to find a main sponsor. Now that they signed a contract with Unipol Banca as their main sponsor, they started struggling on the field. Baseball is a strange beast, sometimes. If the game pitched by Matos can be considered an accident (at least, until another one happens), what should we think of the two defensive errors that cost the win on Saturday night. Is it going to happen again? A key for the next three games will also be slugger Austin’s condition. The center fielder left Saturday’s game with a problem in his collar bone. He should be able to play, but Bologna needs him perfectly fit.
Danesi Nettuno looks definitely the best team of this semi final round robin, except for some struggles amongst relievers. Saturday night Carrara left giving up only two hits in six innings and after a mere 56 pitches. Had the former Big Leaguer given to his team one more inning, possibly we would have Nettuno unbeaten and Grosseto out. We’ll never know, but one thing we can guess: Nettuno needs more of Carrara to win.
Wednesday August 13th at 9 pm CET FIBS will broadcast on their web site the game between T&A San Marino and Danesi Nettuno. Direct Link to Live Stream.
Schedule:
Wednesday, August 13:
21:00 Montepaschi Grosseto – Fortitudo Bologna
21:00 T&A San Marino – Danesi Nettuno Live Stream at FIBS.it
Friday, August 15:
21:00 Fortitudo Bologna – Montepaschi Grosseto
21:00 Danesi Nettuno – T&A San Marino
Saturday, August 16:
21:00 Fortitudo Bologna – Montepaschi Grosseto
21:00 Danesi Nettuno – T&A San Marino