by Riccardo Schiroli
Apparently my pick won’t be the good one. Cariparma is very unlikely going to be in the playoffs after losing the home series against Danesi Nettuno. Last week end began at a great pace for the parmesans, with a thrilling comeback win sealed by a season high (and possibly career high) six RBI night by catcher Pascual Matos. After that, Nettuno out powered Parma with an unbelievable 14 extra base hits, with 2007 season MVP Peppe Mazzanti starring. The former Seattle Mariner, a home town boy who grew up n Nettuno, is becoming the real icon of this club.
Going back to Cariparma, their season is at a turning point. Parma will face T&A San Marino, hosting the series opener on Thursday night (live on Rai Sport Più via satellite in all of Europe starting 9.30 pm CET) and playing the other two games in San Marino. Parma is trailing by three games the third place teams Grosseto and San Marino and will face Grosseto in the last series of the regular season. To make the play offs, Parma needs 8 wins in the last 9 games (they play Godo before travelling to Grosseto) and a little help from Fortitudo Bologna, that is playing Montepaschi this week end and may not be at their best since they are positive they will appear in the post season.
Grosseto on the other hand hopes that De Angelis Godo can beat at least once Telemarket Rimini, exactly like they did with Grosseto last week. If Rimini sweeps Godo, they may be a bigger problem for Grosseto next week. Rimini is trying to avoid not making the post season for the second season in a row; it has never happened since post season play was introduced in Italy in 1986. Team President Rino Zangheri has released left hander Matt Beech and decided to create an unorthodox three man managing position with Chris Catanoso (pitching coach) and Pedro Jova (hitting coach) sharing managing duties with long time skipper Mike Romano.
“The team” said the owner of the Rimini Pirates “Reacted well to these changes”.
Rimini has a five game gap to fill and with only nine games to play it looks a real huge one.
{mrb-schedule:2008-07-10|2008-07-12|IT}
{mrb-standing:italy-2008}