By Aaron Hornostaj
The Rouen Huskies have been the dominating force in France baseball for the past 15 years and they are making history as they play in the Finals of the France Elite Baseball League this week versus the Montigny Cougars. Rouen has proven to be the best team in France 13 out of the last 15 years, including 9 straight championship titles from 2005 to 2013.
The reason for Rouen’s success and why they are considered the New York Yankees of baseball in France is because of great players. Year after year, they are victorious. The winning recipe includes a core group of talented veteran and young players from France mixed with international stars from around the world. This season is no different. These individuals know how to compete and winning is a way of life for the Huskies.
Will Rouen win the title in 2018? The answer is simple: winning is destiny.
Who is Aaron Hornostaj?
This post appears to be a public relations effort by the club. Is that the case?
OK, did my research and found out who this guy is who’s claiming to speak authoritatively about French baseball.
Aaron is a prime example of Europe’s back seat status in the world of baseball. He’s a Canadian who played US junior college baseball (at a good program, Connors St. in OK). It was undoubtedly the best baseball education he’s ever had. Then he was a 35-round draft who bounced around the low minors, never succeeded, then went to Europe where he thinks he became an authority. (He played most of his minors experience in A+ or lower. A+ calibre of play is below California junior college ball. These teams have 1-3 very talented kids, but almost no baseball SKILL. The have no approach at the plate, can’t run bases, can’t execute simple cutoff relays from outfielders to infielders.)
The reason Rouen dominates French baseball is the same reason Draci dominates Czech baseball, Rotterdam Neptunis dominates the Dutch, the Squirrels dominate Belgium, Tenifere dominates Spain, London Mets dominate England, etc. Every year, one team dominates each country because that team recruits better foreign players — and NOBODY else in the country GETS ANY BETTER!!! Nobody. Year after year after year. Nobody.
That’s why participation is shrinking. That’s why the game is poorly played. There is no means — let alone incentive — to become more competitive.
So it is not Rouen’s greatness which puts French baseball where it is today. It is that everyone else is so poor — with no prospects of getting better. You could double or triple the number of US baseball mediocrities who go over there. Wouldn’t change a thing.