by Pim van Nes
Whilst infielder Alex Liddi’s second Single A home game with his TIMBLER RATTLERS was postponed due snow in Wisconsin yesterday, European pitchers have been struggling during the first ten days of American professional baseball season 2008. Best results so far were delivered by Major League starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens for the Atlanta Braves and reliever Loek van Mil for the BELOIT SNAPPERS in the same Single A Division as Liddi’s RATTLERS. Van Mil, Netherlands star reliever in Barcelona and Taiwan, defended the BELOIT mound during two innings only, but he did so in a perfect manner: two strikeouts, no walks, no hits, no runs.
The other Netherlands pitcher performing satisfactorily was Jair Jurrjens. Late last season he debuted on Major League level with DETROIT TIGERS winning three and losing one out of seven games started. After the season he was traded to ATLANTA BRAVES. Home at Turner’s Field Jurrjens debuted a week ago with a win over the PITTSBURGH PIRATES. After lost games started by reputed pitchers like Hudson and Smoltz, it was Jurrjens game that brought the season’s first victory to ATLANTA: 10-2. The pitcher’s win was for the Dutchman who kept the PIRATES scoreless during his first five innings. Last night he did another good job in his first Braves road game. He kept his team in the race versus the COLORADO ROCKIES during seven innings of work, but the famed Braves batters could not bridge the narrow gap: 4-3. Jurrjens conceded nine hits including four doubles, but at the same time he eliminated three ROCKIES with a strikeout, ten with a groundout, seven with a flyout and one when stealing. Jurrjens’ ERA now is at 4.38.
The other Netherlands pitcher having started the Major League season 2008 is Rick van den Hurk. Last year, coming from Single A, he had to substitute the disabled Ricky Nolasco. This American pitcher came back this season as a reliever with two games for 5.2 innings keeping his era at 0.00. Dutch starter Van den Hurk combined two games for 5.1 innings and saw his ERA increase to 11.81, with young talents from the Minors knocking at the Miami door. Therefore Van den Hurk returned to CAROLINE MUDCATS at the Double AA level. Last year he was called back from this level to the Majors and the same may happen again this year. If not, Van den Hurk will be very happy to join his national team, if he is invited by manager Robert Eenhoorn for the Olympic Games. In Beijing the Netherlands will represent Europe as continental champion 2007.
WBC first complete game shutout pitcher Shairon Martis of the Netherlands made his Double A debut with the HARRISBURG SENATORS, an affiliate of the WASHINGTON NATIONALS. That game was a European phenomenon as three players of the Netherlands played together in one Double A team: pitcher Martis, infielder Yurendell de Caster and outfielder Roger Bernadina. All three became known as participants in the European and World Cup tournaments last fall in Barcelona and Taiwan. WASGINGTON management promoted Martis from Single A last year to Double A 2008. He started this season’s second game with a no-decision, as the SENATORS won after recovering from two consecutive homers conceded by Martis in the third of his four innings.
In Class A Advanced Europe has two pitchers in action: The Italian Alessandro Maestri for the DAYTONA CUBS and Dutch Alexander Smit for the SARASOTA. Maestri, born in Cesena June 1 in 1985, debuted as a starter after several outings as a reliever last year. One out before getting the Cubs’ win, he was relieved at a 7-3 lead over VERO BEACH. In 4.2 innings Maestri collected five strikeouts, two walks and eight singles, conceding only two earned runs. His last inning started at 7-1, but a leadoff walk and three hits produced two runs for unbeaten VERO BEACH. The CUBS conserved Maestri’s lead to the final 9-4, but he did not get the pitcher’s win. Neither did so Alexander Smit as starter for the SARASOTA REDS, but their game was lost after Smit’s three innings, during which he conceded five runs included four earned. According to the SARASOTA rotation, Smit is scheduled to start tonight for his second game of the season.
A new prospect for Eenhoorn’s scouts is 31 years old pitcher Sidney Ponson. Last year, after 259 Major League games, including 245 started and 28 completed with a career era of 4.94, the MINNESOTA TWINS released him after seven games with a season ERA of 6.93. This year he convinced TEXAS RANGERS during spring games and got a new contract. His first official game this year was on Triple A level with OKLAHOMA RED HAWKS. Ponson worked during five innings striking out three but also conceding two homeruns for an ERA of 7.20. As he was used to be committed in 1566 Major League innings, Ponson was never available for Netherlands national team, but as a Minor League player he may consider his Olympic options, if invited by Eenhoorn.
Pim van Nes
Baseball writer for
www.honkbalsite.com
www.sporttribune.nl
www.baseball.it
1 thought on “European pitchers struggling in USA pro baseball”
Comments are closed.