Hi All, latest The Pitch for you baseball fans. Sorry about the formatting. I don't have time to remove all the carriage returns 
Mark.
THE PITCH
Thursday 17 May 2007
RYAN ROWLAND-SMITH CALLED UP BY SEATTLE, OPTIONED BACK TO TRIPLE-A WITHOUT PLAYING
SHOW TIME FOR RYAN
Alex Brown, The Sydney Morning Herald – 14 May
THE invasion continues. Australia's representation in the major leagues has increased further, with Newcastle pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith called up by the Seattle Mariners - taking to three the number of Australians plying their trade in "the show".
Rowland-Smith, who has spent time in the Mariners' and Minnesota Twins' minor league system, was promoted to Seattle's major league roster on Friday just prior to their 3-0 victory over the New York Yankees.
Though he has yet to be deployed from the Mariners' bullpen, the left-arm hurler described his promotion to the Mariners' pitching rotation as a dream come true. Rowland-Smith is the 24th Australian to play in the majors.
"My manager called me in his office and said, 'You ready to pitch tomorrow?'," Rowland-Smith said in Seattle, explaining how his minor league manager in Tacoma broke the news of his promotion. "Then he said, 'You won't be doing it here; you'll be doing it in Seattle'.
"Baseball in Australia is not a huge deal, but for every kid who plays baseball in Australia, it's a big deal for them. Only a few guys get the opportunity to come up and play."
Rowland-Smith's call-up was part of a busy weekend for Australians in the majors. Peter Moylan, a right-arm pitcher from Western Australia, helped the Atlanta Braves to a crushing 9-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Moylan pitched the final 1.2 perfect innings for the National League East-leading Braves, lowering his earned run average to 2.25 from nine outings for the season.
Ed note: Rowland-Smith was optioned back to Triple-A on 15 May.
SNELLING ON THE DISABLED LIST
Janie McCauley, AP – 16 May
The Oakland Athletics' injury-depleted outfield lost another player Wednesday when the club placed Chris Snelling on the 15-day disabled list with a deep bone bruise in his left knee.
The move is retroactive to May 11, and the A's called up outfielder Hiram Bocachica from Triple-A Sacramento to fill Snelling's roster spot and put him in the starting lineup in center field against the Kansas City Royals. Oakland transferred outfielder Bobby Kielty to the 60-day disabled list to clear room on the 40-man roster.
Oakland traded for Snelling on May 2 in a swap with the Washington Nationals. He batted .350 in six games for the A's before the latest of his bad luck with injuries. This is his eighth career stint on the DL and he had two stints in each of the previous two seasons.
"That's been the story of my career," said Snelling, whose DL stint is the 10th needed by the defending AL West champions already in 2007.
DURRINGTON EARNS THE WIN IN HISTORIC GAME
Bisons score 9 runs in the 9th in 15-14 victory
Mike Harrington, The Buffalo News – 7 May
In baseball, you’re supposed to forget about yesterday. That wasn’t the case Sunday in Dunn Tire Park and you couldn’t blame the Buffalo Bisons one bit.
The Herd spent much of the day reliving Saturday’s incredible, 15-14 victory over the Pawtucket Red Sox — a game that drew headlines on the Internet and even earned mentions on ESPN’s SportsCenter. Then Buffalo parlayed its momentum with a 5-3 win Sunday, erasing a 3-0 deficit at the seventh-inning stretch.
The Bisons pulled out Saturday’s game by scoring nine runs in the bottom of the ninth to crawl out of a 14-6 hole — after infielder Trent Durrington had to get the final out of Pawtucket’s five-run ninth.
“I don’t know how many times in professional baseball history you’ve seen a team score nine runs in the bottom of the ninth inning,†said Durrington, the first Buffalo positional player to earn a win as a pitcher since Chris Coste did it in 2002. “I can’t really imagine. You can probably count it on one hand.â€
There’s no record kept by the International League for the best comeback. And the Sporting News shows the only nine-run comeback in the ninth in the major leagues that wiped out an eightrun deficit came when Cleveland beat Washington, 14-13, in 1901.
The Bisons had never erased a ninth-inning deficit of more than four runs in the ballpark’s 20 seasons. But they pulled off the incredible rally by making only one out while sending 13 men to the plate. The final tally was five hits, three walks, a hit batsmen and three crucial Pawtucket errors. It was just their second inning ever with nine runs downtown; the record of 10 was set against Richmond in 1996.
The winning run scored when catcher Mike Rose walked with the bases loaded. Rose had driven in the inning’s first run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases full.
“It looked pretty grim there obviously,†Rose said. “I mean, we had to bring in a position player to pitch just to finish. And it was a gloomy day from the get-go coming out down, 3-0 (the contest was picked up in the first inning after being suspended because of rain April 23).
“That last inning we locked in on the ball, taking our walks and a couple hits falling in. I’ve never seen anything like that. It was amazing.â€
Manager Torey Lovullo was home for the weekend in suburban Los Angeles for his daughter’s first communion. Saturday night, he was watching her in a Pony League game while getting text messages from Buffalo GM Mike Buczkowski.
He called me at 14-13 and I spent the next few minutes on the phone with him,†Lovullo said upon his return Sunday. “When the game was tied, I knew we had Durrington pitching so I asked who we had up in the bullpen. It was crazy.â€
The Lovullo family has some recent history in this area. His 13-year-old son Nick’s team won a Little League game last week, 17-16, by scoring nine runs in the bottom of the seventh (the final inning).
“To me, it’s almost like fate,†Lovullo said. “It was designed that way, meant to happen.â€
Buffalo hitting coach Dave Myers, serving as interim manager in Lovullo’s absence, said this was a much happier 15-14 game for him. It revived eerie memories of the Cleveland Indians’ 11-inning comeback win over Seattle in 2001 that saw the Mariners blow a 14-2, seventh-inning lead. Myers was a Seattle coach at the time.
“I’ve had to watch that on ESPN Classic about 10 more times since then,†Myers said. “In this one, we had a little bit of help.â€
Durrington, who threw eight straight balls to force in a run before getting Jose Jimenez on a fly ball for the final out, stayed in the clubhouse watching the rally on television.
“When we started getting some hits, getting some runs and there’s some seeing-eyeballs through the infield, you don’t want to leave your seat,†Durrington said. “You don’t want to jinx it. We kept coming and kept coming. It just happened. Amazing.
“He was our ace in the hole,†said a grinning Myers.
Durrington ran up the tunnel when the winning run scored and was mobbed by his teammates — “It was a good steamroll,†the Australian said — in front of the dugout.
“Trent’s a warrior, a great teammate to have,†Rose said. “It’s not his fault we’re in that situation.â€
LATE RALLY SPOILS EXCELLENT START BY MILDREN
Our Sports Central/Isotopes Media Release – 5 May
For the third time in four games, the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA FLA) surrendered a late lead, as the Memphis Redbirds scored once in the seventh and three times in the eighth to win 4-3 Saturday afternoon at AutoZone Park. The late rally by the 'Birds spoiled an excellent start by lefty Paul Mildren (Myrtle Bank SA), who fanned a season-high six in six-plus innings.
With the 'Topes holding a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh, Memphis got on the board when Ryan Ludwick smashed a solo home run off the left field foul pole to cut the Albuquerque lead to 3-1.
In the very next frame, the Redbirds grabbed their first, and only, lead of the game. With runners on first and second and nobody out, John Rodriguez doubled off Isotopes reliever Roy Corcoran, scoring Brendan Ryan to trim the lead to one at 3-2. After Corcoran intentionally walked Ludwick to load the bases, Tagg Bozied made him pay, tying the game with an RBI single to center. Corcoran responded by striking out the next batter Nick Stavinoha, but could not further stanch the Memphis rally as John Nelson skied a sacrifice fly to center that chased home the go-ahead run and gave the 'Birds a 4-3 advantage.
Up until that point, however, the momentum seemed to be in Albuquerque's favor from the very first pitch. Lead-off batter Robert Andino took the first offering he saw from Memphis starter Mike Parisi over the left field wall to give the Isotopes an immediate 1-0 lead. The blast was Andino's first of the year, and extended his hitting streak to a team-high nine straight games.
Valentino Pascucci added a monstrous home run of his own in the top of the fourth, his PCL-leading ninth, to extend the 'Topes' lead to 2-0, before driving home Reggie Abercrombie, who led off the sixth with a triple, on a sacrifice fly to increase the advantage to 3-0.
The early lead was secure thanks to a superb start from Mildren, his second in a row, who allowed one run, the Ludwick blast, on six hits in six plus innings while not walking a batter and striking out a season-high six.
DAVID NILSSON TO HEAD THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY PROGRAM
3 May
The Australian Baseball Federation (ABF) and Major League Baseball (MLB) are pleased to announce former Major League All-Star and Queensland native, David Nilsson, has been appointed as the Head Coach for the 2007 Major League Baseball Australian Academy Program (MLBAAP).
Nilsson, 37, who last year served as the program’s Chief Hitting instructor, will replace current Australian Olympic Team manager Jon Deeble (Boston Red Sox) in the Head Coach’s role he has held for the past four years. Deeble, who was key in the scouting of Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka for Boston, will step aside to concentrate on his duties with the Red Sox.
Nilsson said that while he has no plans to make major adjustments to the already successful program, he is looking forward to cutting his teeth in the Head Coach’s role.
“Whenever you get the opportunity to play a role in the development of young players by passing on a little of what you know, it is an extremely rewarding experience,†Nilsson said.
“I think I have a lot that I can bring to the table, and have been looking forward to this for a number of months…so really, I can’t wait for the program to get underway.â€
An 8-year Major League veteran with the Milwaukee Brewers (1992-99), Nilsson was named to the 1999 National League All-Star team in a season where he hit .309 with 21 Home Runs and 62 RBI. He boasts a career.284 batting average and captained the 2004 Australian National team to a Silver Medal in the Athens Olympics - cementing his iconic status amongst the Australian baseball community. His career has served to inspire a new generation of young players from Australia and the Pacific region to believe they too can make a career of professional baseball.
The MLBAAP is an intensive 8-week live in program designed to increase the quality and quantity of professional prospects from Australia and Oceania. Since its inception in 2001, the MLBAAP has catered to nearly 300 athletes, with almost 40% of Academy alumni securing professional contracts with Major League organisations. Entering the 2007 season, 71 Australian professional players – representing more than 75% of all Australian pros – have participated in the Academy program.
Under Nilsson’s expert guidance, the 2007 program will also draw on the expertise of Hall-of-Famer Rod Carew, former big Leaguers Pat Kelly and Luke Prokopec, as well as a host of well credentialed Australian based coaches.
FORMER MACON BRAVE EYES ROAD BACK TO MAJORS
Moss Signs with Independent Macon Music
Sarah Meinecke, The Macon Telegraph - 14 May
Macon Music pitcher Damian Moss (Sadleir NSW) sat in the dugout at Luther Williams Field, staring out into the stands.
It's a familiar, but nostalgic glance around for Moss, who played at the stadium during the 1995 summer season, when the team that occupied Luther Williams was the Macon Braves, an Atlanta Braves affiliate now stationed in Rome.
And according to Moss, the stadium still looks the same as it did then. But while Luther Williams has been unaffected by the past 12 years, Moss can't say the same. It has been a difficult road for Moss in professional baseball as of late.
After making it to the majors in recent years, Moss was faced with a personal setback that nearly ended his career and life. But with a severe illness behind him, Moss is set to prove, through playing with the Music, that pitching professionally is something he still can do.
"(After being diagnosed with a blood clot) in July 2006, I didn't pitch the rest of the year," said Moss, the Australia-native who resides in Dublin. "I was happy to be back on the field (this past winter). Sometimes you take the game for granted, but when something happens to you, you realize how much you enjoy playing.
"When you think your career is over, but you get another chance, I was excited."
The 6-foot, 187-pound left-handed pitcher never could have predicted how sharply his path would turn when he was in spring training with the Braves in 2006. Looking forward to being back with the team that signed him when he was just a 16-year-old, a ground ball to the back of his leg changed all of that.
"I was released (from the team)," Moss said. "I didn't have a clue what was going on. I was sitting there wondering what was going on, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise."
Moss returned home to Dublin for a family member's birthday, and on the same trip, he visited the Medical Center, where it was discovered that he had a blood clot running from the back of his knee all the way up to his pelvic bone.
The discovery landed Moss in the hospital for a week, with the knowledge from the doctors that he probably shouldn't have still been alive when the blood clot was discovered.
"When I found out I had the clots and that my career might be over, I didn't care," said Moss, who was part of the Braves' minor league system from 1993 until 2002. "I wanted to be around to watch my kids grow up."
But as he eventually began to heal, the itch to return to the baseball field took over. Although Moss had not been on the field since the diagnosis in the summer of 2006, he traveled to Puerto Rico this past winter to spend four months playing. His performance caught the eye of the San Francisco Giants, who invited him to spring training.
But just days into his return, the Giants' team doctor didn't clear Moss to play, and on Feb. 18, Moss left spring training. Although the Giants are going to revisit the issue at the end of June, Moss still wanted to play. And after looking at the possibilities, Moss picked the Macon Music as the best option.
"Picking up a guy like Damian is big for our club," Music manager Phil Plantier said the day Moss, who was 22-19 record with a 4.50 ERA and 204 strikeouts in the majors, signed with the team. "He has shown he can be competitive at the highest level in baseball."
A television interview with Moss can be viewed here: http://www.13wmaz.com/video/player_news.aspx?aid=36644&storyid=38900
WILTSHIRE NAMED AMERICAN ASSOCIATION PITCHER OF THE WEEK
American Association media release - 15 May
Wiltshire, 27, pitched a sensational game in the 6-2 win over the Coastal Bend Aviators this past Thursday. The righthander pitched eight scoreless innings allowing only four hits with no walks and four strikeouts. The Australian resident pitched from 2002-2004 with the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League. In 2002, Wiltshire had an ERA of 1.82 with 14 saves and opponents batting average of only .196.
AT A GLANCE
· 12 Australians are on independent league rosters as seasons get underway: position players Tim Auty (Evansville, Frontier League), Brad Dutton (Rockford, Frontier League), Mitch Evans (Calgary, Northern League), Matt Kent (El Paso, American Association), Paul Rutgers (Chillicothe, Frontier League), and Andrew Utting (Aiken, South Coast League); pitchers James Albury (Shreveport, American Association), PJ Bevis (Worcester, Can-Am League), Donavon Hendricks (Brockton, Can-Am League), Mark Kelly (Kalamazoo, Frontier League), Damian Moss (Macon, South Coast League) and Greg Wiltshire (El Paso, American Association).
· On 12 May Travis Blackley (3-1) won his 3rd consecutive start for the Fresno Grizzlies (AAA-SF), giving up 3 runs on 9 hits over 7.0 innings, and stopped the Grizzlies’ 4-game losing skid.
· Justin Huber was placed on the disabled list on the 12th, retroactive to 9 May, with a tight hamstring.
· As reported by the Can-Am League’s transaction report Wayne Lundgren signed with Japanese club Akabeko on 27 April.
·RHP John Stephens has reportedly retired from baseball.
·Baseball America reports that Brad Thomas has been released by Seattle. In 12 appearances for AAA-Tacoma he went 1-2 with a 6.30 ERA over 20.0 innings.
Mark.
THE PITCH
Thursday 17 May 2007
RYAN ROWLAND-SMITH CALLED UP BY SEATTLE, OPTIONED BACK TO TRIPLE-A WITHOUT PLAYING
SHOW TIME FOR RYAN
Alex Brown, The Sydney Morning Herald – 14 May
THE invasion continues. Australia's representation in the major leagues has increased further, with Newcastle pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith called up by the Seattle Mariners - taking to three the number of Australians plying their trade in "the show".
Rowland-Smith, who has spent time in the Mariners' and Minnesota Twins' minor league system, was promoted to Seattle's major league roster on Friday just prior to their 3-0 victory over the New York Yankees.
Though he has yet to be deployed from the Mariners' bullpen, the left-arm hurler described his promotion to the Mariners' pitching rotation as a dream come true. Rowland-Smith is the 24th Australian to play in the majors.
"My manager called me in his office and said, 'You ready to pitch tomorrow?'," Rowland-Smith said in Seattle, explaining how his minor league manager in Tacoma broke the news of his promotion. "Then he said, 'You won't be doing it here; you'll be doing it in Seattle'.
"Baseball in Australia is not a huge deal, but for every kid who plays baseball in Australia, it's a big deal for them. Only a few guys get the opportunity to come up and play."
Rowland-Smith's call-up was part of a busy weekend for Australians in the majors. Peter Moylan, a right-arm pitcher from Western Australia, helped the Atlanta Braves to a crushing 9-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Moylan pitched the final 1.2 perfect innings for the National League East-leading Braves, lowering his earned run average to 2.25 from nine outings for the season.
Ed note: Rowland-Smith was optioned back to Triple-A on 15 May.
SNELLING ON THE DISABLED LIST
Janie McCauley, AP – 16 May
The Oakland Athletics' injury-depleted outfield lost another player Wednesday when the club placed Chris Snelling on the 15-day disabled list with a deep bone bruise in his left knee.
The move is retroactive to May 11, and the A's called up outfielder Hiram Bocachica from Triple-A Sacramento to fill Snelling's roster spot and put him in the starting lineup in center field against the Kansas City Royals. Oakland transferred outfielder Bobby Kielty to the 60-day disabled list to clear room on the 40-man roster.
Oakland traded for Snelling on May 2 in a swap with the Washington Nationals. He batted .350 in six games for the A's before the latest of his bad luck with injuries. This is his eighth career stint on the DL and he had two stints in each of the previous two seasons.
"That's been the story of my career," said Snelling, whose DL stint is the 10th needed by the defending AL West champions already in 2007.
DURRINGTON EARNS THE WIN IN HISTORIC GAME
Bisons score 9 runs in the 9th in 15-14 victory
Mike Harrington, The Buffalo News – 7 May
In baseball, you’re supposed to forget about yesterday. That wasn’t the case Sunday in Dunn Tire Park and you couldn’t blame the Buffalo Bisons one bit.
The Herd spent much of the day reliving Saturday’s incredible, 15-14 victory over the Pawtucket Red Sox — a game that drew headlines on the Internet and even earned mentions on ESPN’s SportsCenter. Then Buffalo parlayed its momentum with a 5-3 win Sunday, erasing a 3-0 deficit at the seventh-inning stretch.
The Bisons pulled out Saturday’s game by scoring nine runs in the bottom of the ninth to crawl out of a 14-6 hole — after infielder Trent Durrington had to get the final out of Pawtucket’s five-run ninth.
“I don’t know how many times in professional baseball history you’ve seen a team score nine runs in the bottom of the ninth inning,†said Durrington, the first Buffalo positional player to earn a win as a pitcher since Chris Coste did it in 2002. “I can’t really imagine. You can probably count it on one hand.â€
There’s no record kept by the International League for the best comeback. And the Sporting News shows the only nine-run comeback in the ninth in the major leagues that wiped out an eightrun deficit came when Cleveland beat Washington, 14-13, in 1901.
The Bisons had never erased a ninth-inning deficit of more than four runs in the ballpark’s 20 seasons. But they pulled off the incredible rally by making only one out while sending 13 men to the plate. The final tally was five hits, three walks, a hit batsmen and three crucial Pawtucket errors. It was just their second inning ever with nine runs downtown; the record of 10 was set against Richmond in 1996.
The winning run scored when catcher Mike Rose walked with the bases loaded. Rose had driven in the inning’s first run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases full.
“It looked pretty grim there obviously,†Rose said. “I mean, we had to bring in a position player to pitch just to finish. And it was a gloomy day from the get-go coming out down, 3-0 (the contest was picked up in the first inning after being suspended because of rain April 23).
“That last inning we locked in on the ball, taking our walks and a couple hits falling in. I’ve never seen anything like that. It was amazing.â€
Manager Torey Lovullo was home for the weekend in suburban Los Angeles for his daughter’s first communion. Saturday night, he was watching her in a Pony League game while getting text messages from Buffalo GM Mike Buczkowski.
He called me at 14-13 and I spent the next few minutes on the phone with him,†Lovullo said upon his return Sunday. “When the game was tied, I knew we had Durrington pitching so I asked who we had up in the bullpen. It was crazy.â€
The Lovullo family has some recent history in this area. His 13-year-old son Nick’s team won a Little League game last week, 17-16, by scoring nine runs in the bottom of the seventh (the final inning).
“To me, it’s almost like fate,†Lovullo said. “It was designed that way, meant to happen.â€
Buffalo hitting coach Dave Myers, serving as interim manager in Lovullo’s absence, said this was a much happier 15-14 game for him. It revived eerie memories of the Cleveland Indians’ 11-inning comeback win over Seattle in 2001 that saw the Mariners blow a 14-2, seventh-inning lead. Myers was a Seattle coach at the time.
“I’ve had to watch that on ESPN Classic about 10 more times since then,†Myers said. “In this one, we had a little bit of help.â€
Durrington, who threw eight straight balls to force in a run before getting Jose Jimenez on a fly ball for the final out, stayed in the clubhouse watching the rally on television.
“When we started getting some hits, getting some runs and there’s some seeing-eyeballs through the infield, you don’t want to leave your seat,†Durrington said. “You don’t want to jinx it. We kept coming and kept coming. It just happened. Amazing.
“He was our ace in the hole,†said a grinning Myers.
Durrington ran up the tunnel when the winning run scored and was mobbed by his teammates — “It was a good steamroll,†the Australian said — in front of the dugout.
“Trent’s a warrior, a great teammate to have,†Rose said. “It’s not his fault we’re in that situation.â€
LATE RALLY SPOILS EXCELLENT START BY MILDREN
Our Sports Central/Isotopes Media Release – 5 May
For the third time in four games, the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA FLA) surrendered a late lead, as the Memphis Redbirds scored once in the seventh and three times in the eighth to win 4-3 Saturday afternoon at AutoZone Park. The late rally by the 'Birds spoiled an excellent start by lefty Paul Mildren (Myrtle Bank SA), who fanned a season-high six in six-plus innings.
With the 'Topes holding a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh, Memphis got on the board when Ryan Ludwick smashed a solo home run off the left field foul pole to cut the Albuquerque lead to 3-1.
In the very next frame, the Redbirds grabbed their first, and only, lead of the game. With runners on first and second and nobody out, John Rodriguez doubled off Isotopes reliever Roy Corcoran, scoring Brendan Ryan to trim the lead to one at 3-2. After Corcoran intentionally walked Ludwick to load the bases, Tagg Bozied made him pay, tying the game with an RBI single to center. Corcoran responded by striking out the next batter Nick Stavinoha, but could not further stanch the Memphis rally as John Nelson skied a sacrifice fly to center that chased home the go-ahead run and gave the 'Birds a 4-3 advantage.
Up until that point, however, the momentum seemed to be in Albuquerque's favor from the very first pitch. Lead-off batter Robert Andino took the first offering he saw from Memphis starter Mike Parisi over the left field wall to give the Isotopes an immediate 1-0 lead. The blast was Andino's first of the year, and extended his hitting streak to a team-high nine straight games.
Valentino Pascucci added a monstrous home run of his own in the top of the fourth, his PCL-leading ninth, to extend the 'Topes' lead to 2-0, before driving home Reggie Abercrombie, who led off the sixth with a triple, on a sacrifice fly to increase the advantage to 3-0.
The early lead was secure thanks to a superb start from Mildren, his second in a row, who allowed one run, the Ludwick blast, on six hits in six plus innings while not walking a batter and striking out a season-high six.
DAVID NILSSON TO HEAD THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY PROGRAM
3 May
The Australian Baseball Federation (ABF) and Major League Baseball (MLB) are pleased to announce former Major League All-Star and Queensland native, David Nilsson, has been appointed as the Head Coach for the 2007 Major League Baseball Australian Academy Program (MLBAAP).
Nilsson, 37, who last year served as the program’s Chief Hitting instructor, will replace current Australian Olympic Team manager Jon Deeble (Boston Red Sox) in the Head Coach’s role he has held for the past four years. Deeble, who was key in the scouting of Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka for Boston, will step aside to concentrate on his duties with the Red Sox.
Nilsson said that while he has no plans to make major adjustments to the already successful program, he is looking forward to cutting his teeth in the Head Coach’s role.
“Whenever you get the opportunity to play a role in the development of young players by passing on a little of what you know, it is an extremely rewarding experience,†Nilsson said.
“I think I have a lot that I can bring to the table, and have been looking forward to this for a number of months…so really, I can’t wait for the program to get underway.â€
An 8-year Major League veteran with the Milwaukee Brewers (1992-99), Nilsson was named to the 1999 National League All-Star team in a season where he hit .309 with 21 Home Runs and 62 RBI. He boasts a career.284 batting average and captained the 2004 Australian National team to a Silver Medal in the Athens Olympics - cementing his iconic status amongst the Australian baseball community. His career has served to inspire a new generation of young players from Australia and the Pacific region to believe they too can make a career of professional baseball.
The MLBAAP is an intensive 8-week live in program designed to increase the quality and quantity of professional prospects from Australia and Oceania. Since its inception in 2001, the MLBAAP has catered to nearly 300 athletes, with almost 40% of Academy alumni securing professional contracts with Major League organisations. Entering the 2007 season, 71 Australian professional players – representing more than 75% of all Australian pros – have participated in the Academy program.
Under Nilsson’s expert guidance, the 2007 program will also draw on the expertise of Hall-of-Famer Rod Carew, former big Leaguers Pat Kelly and Luke Prokopec, as well as a host of well credentialed Australian based coaches.
FORMER MACON BRAVE EYES ROAD BACK TO MAJORS
Moss Signs with Independent Macon Music
Sarah Meinecke, The Macon Telegraph - 14 May
Macon Music pitcher Damian Moss (Sadleir NSW) sat in the dugout at Luther Williams Field, staring out into the stands.
It's a familiar, but nostalgic glance around for Moss, who played at the stadium during the 1995 summer season, when the team that occupied Luther Williams was the Macon Braves, an Atlanta Braves affiliate now stationed in Rome.
And according to Moss, the stadium still looks the same as it did then. But while Luther Williams has been unaffected by the past 12 years, Moss can't say the same. It has been a difficult road for Moss in professional baseball as of late.
After making it to the majors in recent years, Moss was faced with a personal setback that nearly ended his career and life. But with a severe illness behind him, Moss is set to prove, through playing with the Music, that pitching professionally is something he still can do.
"(After being diagnosed with a blood clot) in July 2006, I didn't pitch the rest of the year," said Moss, the Australia-native who resides in Dublin. "I was happy to be back on the field (this past winter). Sometimes you take the game for granted, but when something happens to you, you realize how much you enjoy playing.
"When you think your career is over, but you get another chance, I was excited."
The 6-foot, 187-pound left-handed pitcher never could have predicted how sharply his path would turn when he was in spring training with the Braves in 2006. Looking forward to being back with the team that signed him when he was just a 16-year-old, a ground ball to the back of his leg changed all of that.
"I was released (from the team)," Moss said. "I didn't have a clue what was going on. I was sitting there wondering what was going on, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise."
Moss returned home to Dublin for a family member's birthday, and on the same trip, he visited the Medical Center, where it was discovered that he had a blood clot running from the back of his knee all the way up to his pelvic bone.
The discovery landed Moss in the hospital for a week, with the knowledge from the doctors that he probably shouldn't have still been alive when the blood clot was discovered.
"When I found out I had the clots and that my career might be over, I didn't care," said Moss, who was part of the Braves' minor league system from 1993 until 2002. "I wanted to be around to watch my kids grow up."
But as he eventually began to heal, the itch to return to the baseball field took over. Although Moss had not been on the field since the diagnosis in the summer of 2006, he traveled to Puerto Rico this past winter to spend four months playing. His performance caught the eye of the San Francisco Giants, who invited him to spring training.
But just days into his return, the Giants' team doctor didn't clear Moss to play, and on Feb. 18, Moss left spring training. Although the Giants are going to revisit the issue at the end of June, Moss still wanted to play. And after looking at the possibilities, Moss picked the Macon Music as the best option.
"Picking up a guy like Damian is big for our club," Music manager Phil Plantier said the day Moss, who was 22-19 record with a 4.50 ERA and 204 strikeouts in the majors, signed with the team. "He has shown he can be competitive at the highest level in baseball."
A television interview with Moss can be viewed here: http://www.13wmaz.com/video/player_news.aspx?aid=36644&storyid=38900
WILTSHIRE NAMED AMERICAN ASSOCIATION PITCHER OF THE WEEK
American Association media release - 15 May
Wiltshire, 27, pitched a sensational game in the 6-2 win over the Coastal Bend Aviators this past Thursday. The righthander pitched eight scoreless innings allowing only four hits with no walks and four strikeouts. The Australian resident pitched from 2002-2004 with the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League. In 2002, Wiltshire had an ERA of 1.82 with 14 saves and opponents batting average of only .196.
AT A GLANCE
· 12 Australians are on independent league rosters as seasons get underway: position players Tim Auty (Evansville, Frontier League), Brad Dutton (Rockford, Frontier League), Mitch Evans (Calgary, Northern League), Matt Kent (El Paso, American Association), Paul Rutgers (Chillicothe, Frontier League), and Andrew Utting (Aiken, South Coast League); pitchers James Albury (Shreveport, American Association), PJ Bevis (Worcester, Can-Am League), Donavon Hendricks (Brockton, Can-Am League), Mark Kelly (Kalamazoo, Frontier League), Damian Moss (Macon, South Coast League) and Greg Wiltshire (El Paso, American Association).
· On 12 May Travis Blackley (3-1) won his 3rd consecutive start for the Fresno Grizzlies (AAA-SF), giving up 3 runs on 9 hits over 7.0 innings, and stopped the Grizzlies’ 4-game losing skid.
· Justin Huber was placed on the disabled list on the 12th, retroactive to 9 May, with a tight hamstring.
· As reported by the Can-Am League’s transaction report Wayne Lundgren signed with Japanese club Akabeko on 27 April.
·RHP John Stephens has reportedly retired from baseball.
·Baseball America reports that Brad Thomas has been released by Seattle. In 12 appearances for AAA-Tacoma he went 1-2 with a 6.30 ERA over 20.0 innings.
