Although not a single Belgian-born Kangaroo player is north of Mendoza, at 6-12, the Kangaroos are still hanging on by the slightest sliver to their playoff hopes. This is because they've already played 4x games against the league's best two teams, and won't face them again.
Normally, on such underpowered teams, small ball would be the logical course, but unlike Flemish teams, the French Kangaroos have never really learned to effectively run the bases, bunt or slide in ways that challenge the opposition's skills. (You do see plenty of small ball by better teams over here-btw)
The original impressions about overall league talent remain as in the first week. Very few fundamental errors at the top of the league, and we haven't seen 90+, but of course why would you?
Both the top teams here could win a majority of the D3 conferences, and this league's all-star team could challenge many DI squads, especially from the #2 starter down.
Speaking of all-stars, the Kangaroo's two Americans and one Aussie were chosen to play on a Belgian all-star team early next month. We can only assume this means the Belgian premier league's all-star team, rather than the Belgian-born all-stars. The tournament poster (seen here) is kinda cool.
Off the diamond, HaverSon and Joe (Vladek) either play or coach six days (most weeks). Kangaroos' local youth camps start next week. Also next week they begin to "skills" coach/train the 14 & under national team for European competition... although they can't travel to the international tournaments due to their Kangaroos' games.
Culturally, in their few spare moments, HaverSon went to Florence for a few days last week, and Joe is off to Bilbao (Spain) this week.
In the "Baseball is strange in Belgium" (BISIB) department, it was laughingly observed, during the first Namur Angels/Kangaroos game at far less than palacial Kangaroos Field that the last time Joe and and Angels pitcher Tim Dunphy played on the same field together was at Fenway, during a collegiate all-star game in the spring of 2006.
Stranger yet, 6'4+ 240lb HaverSon has assumed the Kangaroo's shortstop position, based on soft hands and hyper + infield arm, but clearly not his 60yd. time.
Finally, FYI: We've been watching the NCAA's on SlingBox. Its a little fuzzy, but at my age most things look fuzzy.
stay tuned.....
HaverDad/Brussels