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?
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.
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0 recs | 9 comments
Melbin.
Doshi - February 11, 2012
Vegemite
JOVE23 - February 11, 2012
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.
AussieCub - February 12, 2012
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.
mjk83 - February 12, 2012
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.
AussieCub - February 12, 2012
And the only thing mentioned on that list that I can feel any pride in
is Midnight Oil.
AussieCub - February 12, 2012
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.
timh815 - February 12, 2012
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.
Invalid User - February 15, 2012
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.
puckishcubsfan - February 19, 2012
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