EUROPE – The reigning Italian Baseball League champion UGF Fortitudo Bologna sits atop the BaseballdeWorld 2010 Preseason European Power Rankings. Weekly power rankings for European and Asian leagues will be published every Wednesday throughout the season.
1. UGF Fortitudo Bologna, Italy (0-0) – The Richard Austin era might be over but the Bologna freight train that rolled past T&A San Marino in last year’s Italian Series is still smokin’.
2. DOOR Neptunus, Netherlands (0-0) – The rich get richer with the addition of free agent outfielders Eldrion Regina and Danny Rombley.
3. Telemarket Rimini, Italy (0-0) – Replacing Garcia and Martinez won’t be easy but signing Alex Serrano and Harold Eckert is a good start.
4. T&A San Marino, Italy (0-0) – Opening the season without staff ace Horacio Estrada was definitely bad news. Recruiting electric arms Henry Bonilla and Jose Escalona is certainly good news.
5. L&D Amsterdam, Netherlands (0-0) – The Pirates lost a wealth of offense during the winter but has stockpiled a talented group of youngsters and signed All-Star pitcher Rob Cordemans.
6. Konica Minolta Pioniers, Netherlands (0-0) – Busy offseason netted a trio of quality pitchers (Aucoin, Santander and Draijer) and capable hitters (Tremus, Koster and Malik).
7. Cariparma Parma, Italy (0-0) – The additions of Pedro Orta and Gustavo Martinez instantly upgrades the relief corps while Juan Camilo’s big bat could be the missing piece to an IBL crown.
8. Sant Boi, Spain (8-0) – The offense has yet to take off but Guanchez, Martinez and Guerra have pitched the Spanish front-runner into the elite division of European teams.
9. Danesi Nettuo, Italy (0-0) – Mix some veteran star power (Lamacchia, Wilson, Connell and Parisi) with some future All-Stars (Sanna and Sparanga) and Nettuno remains a title contender.
10. Corendon Kinheim, Netherlands (0-0) – Saying good-bye to Rombley was not easy. But Stuifbergen and Henrichs are two valuable pieces that were sorely needed.
11. Heidenheim Heidekopfe, Germany (0-0) – The powerful Heidenheim offense continues with sluggers Beck and Taylor joining the cast. Adding ace pitcher Dewald was brilliant.
12. FC Barcelona, Spain (6-0) – Friedman has been almost unhittable in three starts and the offense has the potential to be just as formidable.
13. Montepaschi Grosseto, Italy (0-0) – An elderly lady crashes with the moped carrying staff ace Junior Oberto who is lost for the season. What’s next ?
14. Rouen Huskies, France (0-0) – Dubaut and Scalabrini are gone, and Hagiwara is on the injured list. Can the Big Dawg in France continue its winning ways ? Probably.
15. Sparta/Feyenoord, Netherlands (0-0) – Ouch ! Losing Eldrion Regina hurt but not having right-hander Rob Cordemans anymore is downright depressing.
16. Buchbinder Legionaere, Germany (0-0) – No club in Germany churns out Bundesliga prospects like the Legionaere. Can Helmig work his magic, again, in 2010 ?
17. AVG Draci Brno, Czech Republic (0-0) – Europe’s longest baseball dynasty was finally challenged last year. Was it only an abberation ?
18. Mannheim Tornados, Germany (0-0) – Coach Georg Bull lost his staff ace (Aucoin) a year ago and still went to the title series. Will history repeat itself in 2010 ?
19. Mr. Cocker HCAW, Netherlands (0-0) – British dual threat Aeden MqQueary-Ennis is a gem and Robin van Eis has a promising arm.
20. Solingen Alligators, Germany (0-0) – The return of lefty Andre Hughes will help ease the loss of Enorbel Marquez Ramirez. But Solingen must overcome the loss of some big bats this season.
(Marvin Moore is a former European coach and the Managing Editor at BaseballdeWorld)
[ source : Baseballdeworld.com ]
[24/03/2010]
