It's a knockout - Aussie Style!

In case you haven’t noticed, the Defensive Specialist has been grounded – unable to attend any Claxton Shield games last weekend. Do you want the bad news? As a result of some diabolical scheduling and the Defensive Specialist’s commitment to various charities, there will be no previews, reviews or key learning’s this week either. The Defensive Specialist is keenly aware that the loyal readers aren’t going to keep venturing Deep in the Hole simply for the Defensive Specialist’s good looks and athletic ability so in lieu of any Claxton Shield coverage, the Defensive Specialist thought that it might make for an interesting read and subsequent debate if he tackled a little project.

What’s the project you ask?

Well how about the Defensive Specialist breaks down every Aussie to appear in the big leagues in order to try to determine the best player to come out of Australia? Now a few caveats:

1. Apologies to all friends, fans and family of the mighty Joe Quinn – Australia’s first big leaguer. The Defensive Specialist’s complex evaluation metrics don’t work so well with a guy who hasn’t taken a legitimate swing in anger since 1901.
2. For all of the people out there having a conniption because their favourite local area shortstop or pitcher was the greatest player to ever strap it on down under, The Defensive Specialist is afraid that you’re just going to have to suck it up and either write your own post or start up an email campaign not only justifying your guy’s inclusion but also providing 5000 signatures to support the case.
3. A number of players are currently in the big leagues so the Defensive Specialist will evaluate to present day.
4. The Defensive Specialist plans to run through all 23 (Joe Quinn is the 24^th) Australians to play in the big leagues, take a look at their careers, ruminate on their careers and then determine the best Aussie big leaguer. Before the Defensive Specialist makes his call, a poll will be run so that the readers can chime in with their choice. The Defensive Specialist will break the players into 4 pools and as the players in each pool are detailed, readers will have chance to cast a vote. The 4 leaders from each pool will then be put into a final poll for a reader’s choice award.
5. Pools A, B, C will contain 6 players, Pool D will contain 5.
6. Hopefully the readers realize that this is going to run over a few weeks.

Ok, with all that out of the way, let The Defensive Specialist make a dent in the list by getting the breakdowns underway. Please note, players are represented in no particular order:

Pool A

Glenn Williams

Williams’ career batting average at the big league level is an impressive .425. If that figure had been carried over a 1 or 2 year career, well it wouldn’t have been a 1 or 2 year career – he’d be getting paid a lazy 30 million a year and kicking it with Derek Jeter in the offseason instead of coaching the NSW Patriots. Williams got a cup of coffee in the big leagues with the Minnesota Twins in 2005, went on a ridiculous tear over 13 games before snapping his shoulder off and not stepping foot on a big league diamond again. Williams hit successfully in all 13 games that he appeared in making major league baseball look easy.

Being somewhat of a minor league journeyman by 2005 at the age of 27, Williams didn’t profile as your prototypical third baseman – a position that generally requires a power bat. Without the ability to consistently pop the ball out of the yard (Williams career high in homeruns in the minor leagues was 23 in 2004 at the AAA level), the Twins were using Williams as a stopgap only. Sure, if he kept swinging it at a .420 clip, Minnesota would have found a way to keep him in the lineup, but long term, he probably wasn’t going to be an option as an every day player and Williams was not able to get a shot in the big leagues again.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/willigl01.shtml?redir

Michael Nakamura

Nakamura did not enjoy much success in the Major Leagues but if the Defensive Specialist was writing a blog about Australia’s best Japanese Major Leaguer, Michael would be our guy. Nakamura made his big league debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2003 giving up 11 earned runs in 12 innings of work. Nakamura was traded to the Toronto Bluejays the following year where he appeared in 19 games, giving up 21 runs in 25 innings. Nakamura did not appear in the big leagues again and finished with a career ERA of 7+ in 31 innings.

Nakamura’s career took a different turn when he was drafted in 2004 by the Nippon Ham Fighters. In his second season in Japan, Nakamura set a Pacific League single-season record by recording 39 saves in a championship year for the Fighters. Nakamura now plays for the Yomiuri Giants.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nakammi01.shtml

Cameron Cairncross 

Debuting as a 28 year old in 2000, lefty Cairncross appeared in 15 games for the Cleveland Indians working 9 innings of relief.  The Queenslander had his lone major league win against the Baltimore Orioles when Kenny Lofton hit a walk off homerun in the 13^th inning for a 12—11 W. Cairncross finished the season with a respectable ERA of 3.86.

Cairncross did not play professional baseball again in the US after the 2000 season.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cairnca01.shtml

Now, if you’ll excuse the Defensive Specialist, he has commitments at the soup kitchen and will bring you the remainder of Pool A later in the week.

Aint nothin' but a G thang baby!

A lot of press and airtime gets given to Australia’s baseballers currently toiling away in the minor leagues and for a lucky few, in the big leagues (a lot less toiling done there however). What doesn’t get much coverage is college baseball. Numerous young Australian ball players are taking another path to reach their dreams of playing in the major leagues. As something different, the Defensive Specialist thought checking in with a few of these college players may shed some insight into the life that they are leading in the US.

The first cab off the rack is Adam Gendall, a relatively unknown out of Western Australia who ‘walked on” (no scholarship) to his junior college team. Obviously with no money at stake, walk-ons have a much harder time sticking in a program and have to work doubly hard to prove their worth. Adam is a lefty stick, who moved from third base to first base in the US. The Defensive Specialist fired him some questions and Adam took the time to break it down.

1)    What school are you attending?

        

Southeastern Community College, West Burlington, Iowa

http://sccblackhawksbaseball.com/10.html

2)    What were you expecting heading over to the US?

Before I left Australia I expected college to be like the movies. The only stuff that has been similar is the parties, women and lots of beer. However my intentions were to keep my head down and make sure I came out with a degree and a heck of a lot better at playing baseball.

3)    Where are you living?

I am living on campus at the community college. The dorm life is not like seen in the movies as the population of school and town is tiny in comparison to huge university campuses. It is beneficial to my goals of studying as the distractions are minimal and the nearest big uni campus (University of Iowa) is an hour’s drive away.  Furthermore the only students that live on campus are student athletes, so my dorm is all baseball players which is great as I am able to grab someone and get some hacks in or play catch.

4)    How does being on an American team compare to being on an Australian team?

The biggest difference is that you’re playing a game that is religion and embedded in the culture. The competitiveness is at a higher level and on day one there are 50 blokes fighting for a starting role so its dog eat dog. No form of team chemistry is established until the team is cut down (approximately 15 guys get cut), and the team edges closer to the end of winter and ultimately spring season.

5)    Are there any other Aussies on your team?

3 this year, myself and one other sophomore (WA), and a freshmen (VIC)

6)    How does it differ to baseball in Australia?

The intensity of games is one that I had never experienced before .

7)    If you could do it again, what would you do differently before heading over?

Become more athletic! It doesn’t take long to realize that no matter what position you play athleticism is crucial. When you get to the states you get stronger and bigger through weight lifting programs, your arm speed improves from throwing more, and your swing comes into its own through repetitions. The amount of running is something that I wasn’t ready for either. In addition to making plays required to be a realistic starter, athleticism is a must.

8)    Describe your team and program?

My program is one that has been improving every year. The head coach has been in the program for 5 years now and has turned a losing program into a program now ready to win the region and reach the World Series. Last year (my freshmen year) the team broke the school record for wins 42-15. A record previously held by a team that won regional’s but got bounced in the World Series.

The schedule is quality - we travel south in the early part of spring to Mississippi, South Carolina, and this year Tennessee. As the weather improves we come back to Iowa to play a highly competitive conference. At our peak last year after a 15 game winning streak we were ranked (National Rank) as high as 7^th.  With the last 3 years being successful the program now has a serious goal of making the World Series.

9)    What’s a day in the life of a junior college baseball player right now?

Right now, it’s coming into winter so focus is on strengthening and developing mental and physical toughness. Days are very long, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays start at 6AM with running in the basketball gymnasium. Sprints are the flavour of the moment and mental toughness gets tested – especially for freshmen in the first week. The morning is never complete without at least 5 slightly larger catchers or pitchers power chucking into the strategically placed bins. Not envious of the campus cleaning staff at all!

Following sprints, breakfast and a quick clean up (more so for our chucky individuals), its off to class usually until at least 1pm. Off to the weight room by 2pm – 3.15pm in your lifting groups (depending on class schedule). Position players then go to the indoor hitting facility at 4.30- 5.30. Dinner is at 7pm and then it’s time for study table where homework gets done for an hour and half.  Team defence follows at 9pm in the basketball gymnasium again until coach is happy we have got our work in. We get to sleep in until 8am on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

10)Describe fall ball.

When you arrive it is fall. The weather is nice enough to play for 1-2 months. So you get to practice on the field everyday and a fall schedule is set up. 1-3 games a week is common and practice every day except Sunday.  Initially a lot of testing is done and the coaching staff need to find who can and can’t play, so the line up is all over the place until the end of fall when it is usually starting to become clear.

11)What’s your summer schedule like?

College baseball is over by Mid-late May and a 3 month break is issued until August when it all starts again. However there are thousands of summer leagues in America that your coach typically helps you find as he doesn’t want you heading back home and sitting around for 3 months.  Host families are set up for out of state/country players.

12)How do you find the class work and do you have to score certain grades to play?

Players need a C average to play. Easily attainable provided you simply attend class and do minimal homework. However if you wish to transfer to division one university grades should be more up around A’s and B’s, again attainable with focus and persistence.

13) What’s the competition like for positions on the team and how do you become a starter?

Moving up the depth chart requires hard work and respect. If you can gain the coaches trust in you as a ball player you will move up. Working hard, going to class, and presenting clear improvement will get you in that starting roll. In addition clutch is huge! Players that can come into game get outs, pitch strikes or get that big hit will before long find themselves moving up the totem pole.

14) Can you describe the pitching that you see week in week out?

Pitching standards are high, in that you would be hard pressed to find a college staff without 2-4 starters tickling 90. My program has 2 consistent 90 arms, hand full of upper 80 arms, then a few lower-mid 80 arms (MPH). Generally for a lower-mid 80 arm off speed and filth is essential to survive in the program as relief guys.

15)How many games do you play per week / season?

Regular season runs from early Feb to mid May and post season is until mid June. Last year we played 59 games. In the heart of the season - April we played 34 games, more than a game a day. Games are 7 innings, usually you will play a series of 4 (double dip Saturday and Sunday) against a conference team on weekends and at least one-three mid week.

16) What was your most memorable moment in your freshman season?

I thought that I had a pretty successful freshman year and I have lots of great memories. I had a couple of walk off knocks and our team won a lot of close games against good conference teams – very fiery clashes. But I guess because not a lot of people get to say it, mine would have to be my first ever college at bat. It was my first start, my first chance to prove I could cut it. There was a righty on the mound who had a really good change. I worked a 2-0 count and the pitcher threw a fastball that I managed to turn on and hit over the right centre wall. It sparked a hitting streak, which saw me getting a starting role in the line up.

17) How did your team and you individually go in your first year?

Last year was a successful year for the program overall however we were severely hurt late in the season with 3 sophomores injured during regional’s which had our backs against the wall. We fought hard in regional’s, only to be bounced out in the last qualifying game after a 14 inning victory the night before.

My season started off really well then I guess through immaturity and inexperience I had ups and down. A strong finish saw me end up hitting about .330, 6 doubles, 1 triple (unhooked the trailer early in the season), 4 HR, and 31 RBI’s.

18) Do expectations change as you move into your sophomore season?

Personally I will be taking the same approach into spring; obviously I will likely see more at bats I guess I’ll be trying to keep things more consistent this spring. In addition I’ll be looking to be a leader for the freshmen as I remember how it was last year not knowing what to expect.

19) What are your goals for the season?

Consistency, getting over .350, and a World Series birth!

  

20) What are your plans once you complete junior college?

GETTING OUT OF IOWA! No but seriously, transferring to a division 1 school, in a good conference (south) so I can play the best with the best.

21)How do you go with the ladies?

Any young aussie looking to come over to the states for college can expect ladies in the sack, it’s all about working the lingo, they’re mad keen for it!