On Monday Michal Hanus talked with the head coach of the Czech Baseball World Cup team, Arnost Nesnal, to continue our series of Q&As on the European participants in the tournament.
Mister-Baseball: What do you expect from your team during the Baseball World Cup?
Arnost Nesnal: We would like play baseball at expected level, with main goal to be satisfied with quality of game, if it will be sufficient for promotion to next level, it will be an advantage.
MRBB: Is Baseball getting more attention in the media and in the public due to the World Cup?
AN: Indeed, the Czech Baseball Association started the biggest advertising campaign in Czech baseball history. All games will be broadcasted in CT 4 Sport channel and a promotion clip is already running there.
MRBB: Which team is the favorite in your pool?
AN: That’s very hard to decide who will be the main favorite of group A, all teams will have pro players in their rosters, but for our team the best challenge will be to play against Australia which is playing very good baseball without any weakness.
MRBB: What do you think are the keys to success during the tournament?
AN: The main key of our success will be to present all baseball knowledge which our players have. If all knowledge and skills will be presented during a game, we can think about success.
MRBB: Any injury concerns with the current team? Everybody healthy?
AN: Pavel Budsky had hand injury, but he is already back with the team, so we do not expect any injury concerns in team.
MRBB: Is the regular starting lineup already set or will you go with the hot hand?
AN: Yes, the starting lineup is more or less given, and will be similar with the starting lineup from the last test games against Mexico in Ostrava. Some changes can be expected at the DH position. There you can expect some changes of game by game. Another open question is how good prepared the arriving players from the USA and the Netherlands are.
MRBB: Which pitchers are going to start in the three games during the first round?
AN: In the first game against Australia we will start Jakub Toufar or Leos Kubat. You can expect Martin Schneider as starting pitcher in the game with Mexico and the last game will be opened by Petr Minarik.
Mister-Baseball would like to thank Arnost Nesnal for answering the questions and wishes good luck in the BWC.
Previous Interviews:
Spain
Croatia
Netherlands
Italy