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.
Media Monks RCH
After losing 1-15 and 1-17 against DOOR NEPTUNUS and the KONICA MINOLTA PIONIERS on two of the first three game days of the season, the MEDIA MONKS recovered and settled in a bit, although they weren’t able to win a match against the top four teams in the Dutch Hoofdklasse all season long. They were able to win the season series against ADO and finished in seventh place in the end with an 8-34 record.
What the stats say
Their offense batted a sixth-best .233 (OBP .307/SLG .302), scoring 155 runs. They had a patient approach at the plate, leading to a third-best base on balls total of 172. They also were able to steal a second-best 45 bases during the year. However their pitching wasn’t able to go the same pace with a league-worst 5.61 ERA, allowing 279 runs (213 ER).
The Romanian pitcher Mihai Burlea, who came to RCH after finishing the college season in the United States, led the staff with a 4-5 record and an ERA of 2.23 in ten games (nine starts). He struck out 68 (40 walks) in 64 2/3 innings. His control problems denied even better results, as he gave up just 46 hits. Marek Deska (ERA 4.85, 2-8, 52 IP, 45 SO, 23 BB) and Jimmy Van Veldt (ERA 4.89, 0-4, 35 IP, 18 SO, 19 BB) also stayed below an ERA of 5.00.
Outfielders Tomas Casa (BA .311) and Jakub Malik (BA .318) were the only batters on the team to finish with a batting average above .300. Shortstop Petr Baroch (BA .265) led the team with 15 stolen bases, 25 runs scored and 23 RBI. He also hit three of the ten homeruns of the MEDIA MONKS.
RCH had quite a nice start into the offseason, acquiring outfielder Derick Francisca (DOOR NEPTUNUS) and reliever Dave Draijer (KONICA MINOLTA PIONIERS) among eight new players. They also brought in a new head coach with Bernie Beckman and should already have improved the depth of the roster. It is going to be interesting, if the new guys on the club will be able to lift them towards the playoff spots in the standings.
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