Arguably OT: Aussie Baseball Finals Go To Decisive Game Three

by timh815 on Feb 11, 2012 9:56 AM CST

Of course any bit involving the concluding game between the Melbourne Aces and the Perth Heat is off topic, right? No Cubs prospects play for either team. None were even in the league this year. What could be further from off topic?

Last night's game (I started watching a stream of last night's game around 4 AM, part-way through) went extras. The home-standing Heat scored two in the fifth, with Melbourne tying the game in the sixth with a two-out single. That was all the scoring until the thirteenth, when Melbourne added a run. Despite getting two of the first three on in the bottom of the frame, Perth failed to score. If you happen to be awake early Sunday morning, it might be worth a follow.

As for the league, it tends to be a bit A level. By A level, do I mean Boise, Peoria, or Daytona? Yes. The ABL is an amalgam of Aussies, prospects, former prospects, and guys who just like baseball. A player like a Brett Jackson wouldn't have any reason to play there, but a Richard Jones (2011 Peoria 1B) or Jeff Antigua (Daytona/Peoria LHSP last year) might fit right in. As compared to any of the Central/South American Leagues, it tends to play a bit slow defensively, but the pitchers last night worked quickly.

As to why I consider it on-topic, I wouldn't be surprised to see some Cubs get in some play there sooner than later. The since released Alex Maestri played there a couple years ago. As Theo Inc is going to be putting pressure on players to get better by infusing more talent, decisions will have to be made. Before deciding who makes the 40 Man and who doesn't, an extra 150 plate appearances or so for some minor leaguers (a year before their 40 Man status kicks in) may help in determining who belongs.

After season 2012 is over, I wouldn't be surprised to see Eliot Soto or Eric Jokisch getting a chance Down Under next year. They are both perfectly usable minor league players that, their final year before 40 Man status kicks in, may need to separate themselves a bit. And it would make the Aussie League more relevant next year.

Poll

I say Australia, you think

Collingwood Magpies

0 votes

Any AFL team but Collingwood

4 votes

Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee)

7 votes

Midnight Oil or INXS

6 votes

Olivia Newton John or Men At Work

6 votes

Other (include below)

4 votes

27 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Melbin.

by Doshi on Feb 11, 2012 11:12 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

Vegemite

by JOVE23 on Feb 11, 2012 4:48 PM CST reply actions

Maestri pitched for my local team

the Brisbane Bandits this season just finishing. He was lights out in a couple of starts, looked really good.

As for the league itself, I wonder whether the MLB will stick with it past this third and final season they have been contracted to run it. The crowd numbers haven’t increased over the last couple of years and I can’t see it being much more than a novelty for most fans.

Would love them to stick with it for my own selfish reasons, but I don’t think they will be making any money from the whole venture, and their losses mightn’t be worth it.

"Keep pushin' til' it's understood. And these badlands start treating us good."

by AussieCub on Feb 12, 2012 1:24 AM CST reply actions

I think they will keep it going.

Even if they are losing a little bit of money, MLB seems bound and determined to grow the game. Even if the people do see it simply as a novelty I think they would like to maintain a presence.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Feb 12, 2012 11:26 AM CST up reply actions

I really hope so

It is a heap of fun. It just gets depressing going to games with less than a thousand people attending, fearing the axe will fall.

"Keep pushin' til' it's understood. And these badlands start treating us good."

by AussieCub on Feb 12, 2012 5:30 PM CST up reply actions

And the only thing mentioned on that list that I can feel any pride in

is Midnight Oil.

"Keep pushin' til' it's understood. And these badlands start treating us good."

by AussieCub on Feb 12, 2012 1:27 AM CST reply actions

I'd rather listen to the crew announcing this series

than Buck and McCarver. Of course, I’d rather have a tooth extracted for recreational purposes, sometimes.

10-25-2011. Theo Epstein joins the Cubs. Now, the fun begins.

by timh815 on Feb 12, 2012 5:43 AM CST reply actions

I caught the last few innings on the replay on MLB on Sunday afternoon

Completely by accident – it was playing in the Buffalo Wild Wings where I was lunching. It seemed like they’d have a lot of fun, but for a developmental league the teams are too far apart geographically. If I had an A-ball prospect who wasn’t from a Latin American country, I would think this league would be a useful and fun place to send him.

It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??

by Invalid User on Feb 15, 2012 10:22 PM CST reply actions

Baseball is starting to get a bit of a toehold in Australia. I have a couple of friends in an internet group who live there and their young boys play baseball and love it.

Nothing happens unless it's first a dream

by puckishcubsfan on Feb 19, 2012 4:35 PM CST reply actions