Baseball NLA Season Pre-view
Zurich Barracudas
Last year’s runner-up, in a tight 5 game battle has stacked its roster despite losing quite a few player. Bringing in a second import in the form of Alex Rubanowitz, a lefty swinging utility player, who can pitch, and has a Swedish Passport, was a great find. Arguably, the best import pitcher from last year returns as well, as Evan Brisentine is back for his second season. Along with Fritz Bär, a German 2nd division player who can catch and pitch, they won’t feel the loss of five veteran players so badly. But what could define theirs, and the leagues outcome, is Josh Crouse, and his soon to be new Swiss passport.
Additions: Fritz Bär and Alex Rubanowitz
Losses: Bert Marsnik, Roger Savoldelli, Hasson Rogers, Simon Steffen, and Strahil Georgiev
Season prediction:24-4
Therwil Flyers
Nothing much changes for the reigning Swiss Champion. They lose, Emanuel Raouzeos, who had already taken a major step back last year. Sebastian Zwyer plans to do the same this year, but has already seen the field in two of the first four games. Which leads us to the only chink in the Champs armor…depth. Especially until reinforcements come in the way of two imports. They have to hope until then that Hide Oshima’s shoulder heals quickly, because lack of pitching depth is a major problem at the moment.
Additions: 2 imports (at some point)
Losses: Emanuel Raouzeos, Seppi Zwyer (part time player)
Prediction: 23-5
Luzerne Eagles
The Eagles look to find their way back into the final four after a successful 2017 season under head player/coach Adam Greenberg. They’ll have to do it without the services of their number one Swiss pitcher, as Stefan Haltmeier has left the club, more on that later. Tom Enz has decided to take the season of as well, taking his sweet left handed swing with him. Can Yanik and Yannick, Probst and Brot, take over successfully? If yes, it could be a very big season in Luzerne.
Key additions: Raciel Rodriguez, Miguel Valentino, Michael Gonzales, and Graham Fischer
Key Losses: Haltmeier and Enz
Prediction:19-9
Zurich Challengers
Last season semi-finalist will look to take the next step and knock off the Flyers or Barracudas, who have met in the last several finals series. The C’a have added much needed pitching depth, to a team that normally has no problem putting runners across the plate. Simon Steffen and Stefan Haltmeier, join Andrea Girasole and Tobias Siegrist as game 1 options. James Sanders, who recently received his Swiss passport, could also throw in either game. The added pitching depth could push the Challengers back in title contention, if coach Rob Sedin can find the right formula.
Additions: Simon Steffen, Stefan Haltmeier, Bryan Shemley
Prediction: 19-9
Bern Cardinals
The Cardinals youth movement continues as Ernesto Pereira and Ryan Donnely don’t return for the 2018 season. The Cards, until now have no plans to replace the two departed game two pitchers. Arnaud Droxler, and his injured non-throwing shoulder will be a determining factor if the Cardinals fill the game two vacancy with an import arm. Until then the burden falls heavily on Jonah Schaller and Thierry Burkhardt to get deep into games, and as Schaller has a pitch count, efficiency is also a key.
Key additions: None
Key losses: Pereira and Donnely
Prediction: 14-14
Sissach Frogs
Last year’s slugging MVP, Taylor Eichhorst returns for his 4th season as player/coach. He had the luxury of a second import for half of the season, Clint Perez, to provide another bat and game two pitcher. Clint won’t return and the team won’t replace him. This leaves the Frogs staring once again at the bottom 3rd of the table. Eichhorst and Carlos Brito will provide solid game 2 pitching, while Daniel Traina and a host of others will take care of game 1. Unfortunately, scoring runs will be an issue all season against the better teams.
Additions: Jaime Bastian
Prediction: 7-21
Wil Devils
Last season’s last place team will have an opportunity to be better this season with the help of an import pitcher who will come in and reinforce the game 2 pitching situation. After a one-win season a year ago, the Devils should better that total this year. Gian and Diego Gladig will be happy to get Claudio Studerus back from injury, as he is one of their best players.
Additions: Foreign import, Claudio Studerus
Losses: Gian Gardoni, Andreas Ruthishuser
Prediction: 4-24
Lausanne Indians:
Prediction: 3-25
Text and Predictions by: John Baum, currently Swiss Baseball Umpire, got nominated a couple years ago as Bern Cardinals Playing-Coach for Coach of the Year by the European Baseball Coaches Association (EBCA). He came up short, as World Baseball Classic Qualifier winner Mauro Mazzotti took home the trophy.
SBSF: Thank you John
