M's drafted an Australian kid a few years ago named Chris Snelling. Hard-nosed, balls-out player who had a great batting eye. They traded him this last off-season (to the Philadelphia Phillies, I think - likely wrong) because of his susceptibility to injuries - mostly borne from his freewheeling abandoned approach to the game, which, of course, is what fans want to see.
Where Bowlers would really benefit baseball is in their control: in cricket they get a running start, while in baseball, the hitter has a strike count. Stick a strong, tall athlete a foot above his target at 60.5 feet away and let him do what he wants. The Kiwis are picking up their national squad, but only about a dozen Australians have made the majors. More to come, certainly.
> The Kiwis are picking up their national squad, but only about a dozen Australians have made the majors. More to come, certainly.
I think you are spot-on, with your observations on South Pacific ballgame potential. For example:
The New Zealand Black Sox are currently, have been for quite a while, and will be for the foreseeable future, the World Series Champions of Softball.
Nobody comes close. For the reasons you give: cricket skills and good baseball fundamental savvy.
For that reason we get really p*ssed off at Chicago White Sox fans calling their thoroughly disgraced 1919 World Series cheats of so long ago "Black Sox".
(Hey, Shoeless Joe was one of *that* ill-fated team, and he played the game of his life! Gimme a break! Anyrate, even *he* would never make the cut for the Real Black Sox...! The New Zealand Black Sox World Champion Softball Team -- Aw, c'mon mate gimme a break!)
I hope Seattle scores a few good cricket players from OZ and NZ: no franchise deserves a good run more than does Seattle. I think it would be a good, innovative trick that would probably work!
Cheers from DownUnder, mate
DieHard