Feb 2, 2013

Getting to know Team Australia Part Two

Earlier this week I offered some ramblings about what I thought the pitching options for Team Australia might look like.

There's been a few interesting opinions expressed as a result, including:


Looks like there is a fair bit of love out there for Oxspring and Saupold, some mixed feelings around Thomas, and a bit of support for Searle and Rowland-Smith. I still reckon Oxspring is most likely to be the number one starter, and tend to agree with the above sentiments that  after Oxspring,  it could go a number of ways. Time will tell!

So today I thought I might take a stab at a line-up card for the first game. Here's what I came up with:



Here's why I went with it.
  • Beresford is locked in as the starting shortstop, and he's a lead off guy - has done it for the Aces, did it for Team Australia at the World Cup. Obvious choice to lead off. (Although, another option would be to put Kandilas in at lead off and push the rest of the order down a spot)
  • Once Beresford is in at short, the rest of the infield needs to fall into place. The next most obvious selection is to put Harman in at second - I see him definitely in the starting lineup and I don't see him playing any other position (since shortstop is occupied by Beresford)
  • With Harman at second, Luke Hughes would be pushed to either firstbase, third base, or DH. I am tipping DH, because...
  • I reckon we will give this young Walker bloke a real shot. The guy hit 24 doubles, 1 triple and 12 homeruns at A+ last year, and these are very similar numbers to the guy who I think will be on the opposite corner of the diamond, Stefan Welch (although Welch split his year between A+ and AA). Compare the numbers of either of these guys to Justin Huber, the main other competitor for a 1B or DH spot and the decision is pretty clear (Huber has just three doubles and two homers in more than 120 ABs for the Aces this year, in a big decline on his 2010 and 2011 numbers)
  • In terms of the outfield - I fully acknowledge I have a bit of Blue Sox bias, but...- I think Dening, Snelling and Kandilas will form the starting three. I expect Adamson will do an amazing job coming off the bench for pinch run situations and/or to give improved defense late in games - and he may well get a start later in the series - depending on how things go. I'd say he will play a similar role to the role played by Kandilas at the World Cup in 2011). Josh Roberts could be a bit of a bolter - he could take Snelling's spot - but also could feature as a pinch hitter in late innings. In this lineup I'd put Snelling in at five to capitalise on his OBP prowess and set the table for Dening and Walker, if not also clean up the guys above him. Kandilas would slot in at number nine - a spot he has worked wonders in for the Blue Sox in recent seasons
  • At catcher it's pretty much splitting hairs. Kennelly and de San Miguel both saw time behind the dish at the 2011 World Cup, both played AA in 2012, and even though de San has had the better of it in the 2012 ABL, I think de San Miguel should get the edge - but it is a very close run race. Although actually, now that I am really looking at the numbers, I think I could make a good argument for Kennelly as well.... you check it out and see what you think:
Click to zoom in


  • To cut a long story short, de San showed a bit more pop, but struck out more than Kennelly. In the field it was very close behind the dish, de San shows a better caught stealing average, but had 5 passed balls to Kennelly's zero. Tough decision this one!
  • The above lineup would leave Kennelly, Josh Davies, Corey Adamson, Justin Huber and Josh Roberts on the bench. This would give a good mix of abilities to use depending on the situation, and looks to be quite balanced.


Let me know what you think the lineup would/should be - send me a tweet to @ozmlbplayers, or leave a comment!

I am starting to get really excited about the whole thing! Australia should be able to put up a reasonably competitive team, and if they can get a bit of patriotic competitiveness going, I think they could well end up in the second round.

If you haven't already, it would be great if you could check out my application for the World Baseball Classic Fan Cave! Winners are announced after 11 February!

9 comments:

Klattsy said...

If you wanted to delve deeper, you could look at lefty/right splits and see if that would effect lineup construction, especially on some of the tough calls. Might not make much of a difference on low number of AB's unless someone has something obvious.

Marcus Duquesne said...

Here is my 2 bobs worth. First let me say I am looking for a balance between righties and lefties.
1. Beresford SS or 2B
2. Snelling OF
3. Hughes DH or 3B
4. Dening CF
5. Welch 3B or 1b
6. Harman SS or 2B
7. Walker 3B or 1B
8. DeSan or M Kennelly C
9. Kandilas Of

Will say this order could change to get a R/L combo going. Beresford and Snelling for table setters Hughes thru to Walker as the Power part of line up and some speed at 9 before we go back to the top of the list again.
Roberts and Adamson possibly missout because they are left handers and I like the balance of R/L. Just can't see a spot for either Huber or Davies. But my logic is that Walker doesn,t get selected to carry the veterans bags same with Snelling.This selection is based on NOW. This squad will go thru a rigorous campaign to discover the nine for the first game. Lets face it we want guys to get HOT quick and in a timely fashion becoz all these guys have proven at home and abroad they can go hitless for extended periods of time. Even Huber if he has a hot pre tourney patch could find himself in the starting 9 as unlikely as that seems now. Same with Roberts and Adamson. I don't get Tim Kennelly selection at all what is his role? Obviously Matt Kennelly has to do some hard yards in the lead up.Josh Davies will have to get very lucky to make a team on this trip injuries aside.

Nathan Smith said...

Wow, thanks for the comments guys - very thoughtful!

Marcus I think there's a lot of logic in your reasoning, and I like the look of your lineup. Tim Kennelly has apparently been picked as a pitcher, although he has been playing as an outfielder for the Heat. Who knows what will happen

Nicholas R.W. Henning said...

As mentioned about the warm up games leading up to the WBC will be a significant factor.

I see some movement around DH as Huber, Hughes, Walker and Snelling could be in the mix. This is a spot for a good bat but maybe a weaker fielder.

Pitching is hard to know but Oxspring will be a starter that much I'm sure of. I think RRS and Thomas will be used in relief. Clayton Tanner would be the lefty starter for me because he is a prospect in a World Series winning organisation and he's had some time in AAA now.

Given the players available it's probably a better all round Aussie team than 06 or 09. I doubt Moylan will stay on the roster though which will open up a roster position for a pitcher.

Nathan Smith said...

Hi Nicholas, thanks for your comments. I agree with you about the flexibility around the DH position, and I think that's a really good thing for us. I agree that all those names you stated will be in the mix, and - after seeing him crush the ball against the Blue Sox on the weekend - I would not be surprised to see T Kennelly in that spot.

You make a good point about Tanner, and I know you're a fan of his! In looking back at his record again, he does have a lot more experience as a starter than I'd given him credit for. Maybe we will see him take that 2nd or 3rd game.

I wonder about Moylan...presumably he will report to spring training next week, and he could leave to attend the WBC. But it is probably just as likely that he stays stateside. Who would you see taking his spot? Maybe another ABL pitcher? Hussey? Atherton?

Nicholas R.W. Henning said...

I agree Tim Kennelly could be a DH option too.

It would be great to have Moylan but I think he'll stay for all of Spring Training. The big factor for me is he's joining a new club and will probably need more time to get to know the players and coaches, and of course make the right impression.

There are several pitchers worthy of a spot and Atherton has a chance, they might like Shane Lindsay, Craig Anderson is a possibility too. I would pick Lindsay for the simple reason he has gas and especially against our pool teams who don't face as much speed in their respective leagues. If he throws strikes he could be a weapon. I don't remember reading he's signed with anyone for 2013 yet and this could be a chance for him to impress.

Marcus Duquesne said...

Having watched the play off series it is now obvious that Tim Kennelly WILL be in the Australian starting line-up as a hitter.So no confusion there anymore. You only have to listen to John Deeble talk to know which players that he is leaning towards.Now it gets down to those players who get hot at the right time in the lead up games. One change I will make to my nine is that Kandilas comes out and will be a pinch running option on the bench. Injuries to Snelling and M.Kennelly are also unknowns at this stage.Shane Lindsay in for Moylan certainly does not improve our pitching as his inability to throw strikes will always be a concern.

Nicholas R.W. Henning said...

If Shane Lindsay throws strikes he has much to offer but I agree Marcus he does walk too many. His best work is as a relief pitcher and in the ABL he has often been used as a starter. The other choices don't quite have the X-factor Lindsay has if he throws a lot of strikes.

Nicholas R.W. Henning said...

Looks like I was right about Shane Lindsay as he is now on the roster.