Cover: Mets Staying on Top by Going down Under.

[Rob Karter]

Matt Himelfarb writes how the Mets are looking towards the Australian market for 'spects.

Read his entire article here

By the same token, it’s a wonder why MLB goes through a strenuous process to sign the Alay Soler’s of the world and spend exorbitant sums of money to claim ‘jewels’ from their next door neighbor. What they fail to notice is that a few blocks up, there is an open garage sale.

[*62]

re: Hodge ........ is "finishing school" another term for "University", or junior college? And .......... Do they play college baseball in Aussieland?

i only ask so as to get a grip on how long this kid sees himself a student


And thanks, Matt, good job.

[Matt Himelfarb]

"school" as in high school. He's off from skool in april for what I'm guessing is easter vacation, so he will be available for extended spring training.

[Mike McGann]

Matt...a really solid job on topic few people have written about.

Nice way to debut.

[MrDeMayo]

I'm still waiting for Shaun Tabrett.

[davec]

Thanks for the great article on Australian kids in the Mets system. It is always good to see Australian players getting publicity in the US.

Other than those mentioned keep an eye out for Jason Smit (Cleveland), a 17 yo infielder from Western Australia. This guy signed late in 06 for a pile of cash and huge wraps; he was hot at the Australian U18 and senior championships from all reports.

Keeping watching the Australian kids, I don't know who will be the next to make a major impression in the majors - possibly Phil Stockman LH RP (Atlanta), Trent Oeltjen OF (Twins) or Paul Mildren LHP (Marlins); these guys are not the very young Australian players but those that have been around for a while.

Cheers

Dave
Sydney, Australia

[*62]

Cheers, Mate!

Welcome aboard at F.U. and thanks for the heads up on the players.

Aussies should take naturally to baseball, since trying to hit a ball with a criquet bat is about next to impossible. Hitting a baseball should be easy by comparison.

And even with Trachsel pitching, a baseball game should be a much shorter affair.

Hope to see you around.

*62

[Mike McGann]

Hi, Dave. Welcome and thanks for letting us know more about baseball in Australia.

I guess going back to players like Craig Shipley, we've been hearing about the growth of Aussie baseball, which is good for the game in the long term.

Aside from following your local teams, how much exposure do you get to either Major League ball or Japanese baseball? And are there teams that are particularly popular in your neck of the woods?

[davec]

Hi Mike

There is little mainstream coverage here of baseball in any form. The Major League coverage is all on pay tv and not a lot of people have pay tv here (reports say 20 % nationwide but I think that is an exaggeration). To get many of the games other than big market games, I would need the top package nearly $100 AUD per month.

The national senior championships, the Claxton Shield, is lucky to get any newspaper coverage.

There is talk of a new national semi-pro league to be held here starting next year, the old Australian Baseball League folded a few years ago after poor management, poor crowds and losing its mainstream media deal; that was before we had pay TV in Aus.

This would be run in association with MLB, in fact mainly funded by them and be another winter ball comp. Both local minor league players and some US players would play here for a 2 - 3 month season. We will have to wait and see if this eventuates, details for the public are very sketchy.

Not having a professional comp. here is one of the reasons teenage kids are so readily signed in the US.

The best thing to happen in Australian ellite baseball in ages, is the Major League Academy on the Gold Coast in Queensland. This is a training camp for the top young players from Australia and the Asia Pacific region, these guys are coached by Australian coaches - Jon Deeble (Red Sox), Phil Dale (Reds), Tony Harris (Mets), ex players Graeme Lloyd, Luke Prokopec, Greg Jelks and current players like Brett Roneberg. There are both signed and unsigned players there and the academy gets high praise in baseball media each year. The new European academy has been based on the Australian academy.

For more on Australian baseball see the offical Aus sitehttp://www.baseball.com.au/ and http://www.users.bigpond.com/goreds/ - very good in season Aus MLB coverage.

Dave

[*62]

outstanding!

Australia would make an outstanding minor league "winter ball" (our winter) venue.