European Cup
The final four
As expected, the four best teams advanced to the semifinals of the Confederation Cup without much trouble. Today’s schedule features Tenerife vs. Hoboken at 1:30 PM, followed by Rouen vs. Montpellier at 5:00 PM. There will be a French representative in tomorrow’s final, but we’ve seen so many matches between the Huskies and Barracudas that we regret they have to face each other again. The beauty of the European Cup is playing against unfamiliar teams and lineups, breaking away from the routine of the regular season. But that’s the way it is, and both matchups promise great action, suspense, and likely home runs, as the ball has been traveling far since the start of the competition. The dry weather expected in Rouen will only contribute to more long hits.
Let’s take a closer look at these two matchups, which will be preceded by a consolation match between Therwil and Vienna.
Marlins vs. Pioneers
The pitchers
Tenerife will hand the ball to Yeudi Garcia. The Dominican Republic pitcher was in advanced talks with the Huskies this winter, but a visa issue scuttled his move. A former Pirate organization player, he spent six seasons in the minor leagues, still playing at the AA level in 2019. He then played in independent leagues and in Mexico. In the Spanish league, he has a 3-0 record, 2 saves, a 0.74 ERA in 24.1 innings, 6 BB, and 26 K. Impressive, right? There’s an even more impressive stat: batters are hitting .091 (7 hits in 77 at-bats) against him.
There’s no certainty on the Belgian side, although it’s likely that Kenny Van Den Branden will take the mound after pitching 2 relief innings in the first round. He has a solid resume in the strong Dutch league, where he was named best pitcher in 2016. But he’s on the decline, as evidenced by his last European championship, where he gave up 7 runs in 6.2 innings over two outings against Austria and Greece.
They can make the difference
He looks like an MVP. Yancarlo Franco leads the competition with a .667 average, 2 HR, and 8 RBI, not to mention an extremely solid shortstop game. He’s the heart of the Marlins’ powerful offensive lineup and a threat every time he steps up to the plate. For the Belgians, it will be crucial to face him with the bases empty to minimize his impact.
On the Belgian side, we’ll be keeping an eye on Lino Ballardini, one of the team’s best hitters, who was rested against the Huskies. He showed a powerful and effective swing against Vienna and seems capable of giving the Spanish pitchers trouble. He could also be used as a pitcher.
Keep an eye on
If Franco isn’t in top form, third baseman Galvan (.583) or first baseman Montiel (.631) can also make a difference. It won’t be easy to escape unscathed from this triple threat.
We’ll expect more from Dennis de Quint at the cleanup spot; the former Dutch league player hasn’t shown much so far. The bottom of the lineup is one of the Belgians’ strengths, and if Janssens, Mertens, and Verspreets can produce like they do in the league, Hoboken will have a chance.
The duel
The two catchers will likely play a crucial role. Ian Peres is only 1 for 11. Yet, he is one of the Marlins’ most powerful hitters in the Liga with 2 doubles, 1 triple, and 4 home runs. If he finds his stroke, it will become very difficult for the Belgians.
His counterpart behind the plate, Benjamin Goffaux, is arguably Belgium’s best player at the moment. He has only one hit in eight at-bats so far. His role as the No. 2 hitter makes him the spark plug of the Pioneers. He must reach base to ignite the Belgian offense.
The X-factor
Tenerife impressed against Montpellier and dominated without blinking against Karlovac. But we still have a mixed feeling about that completely botched match against Therwil. Without the 9th-inning comeback, the face of the competition would have been changed. It’s likely that the Spaniards took that match a bit lightly, that their concentration wasn’t at its best. Could this sense of superiority return against the Belgians?
Hoboken is still an unknown quantity. The Belgians did their job against Vienna and didn’t push too hard against Rouen after the Huskies built a big lead. It’s hard to really gauge the Pioneers’ level. Are they already at their best, or have they saved their strength for the final phase?
So, who will win?
The Marlins are very, very strong. They could easily compete in Group A and hold their own against the Germans and Czechs, even challenge the Italians and Dutch. It’s a very experienced team with the best pitching in the competition, the best heart of the lineup, and a defense that makes the plays. We don’t see them being surprised by the Belgians today.
Huskies vs. Barracudas
The pitchers
After some hesitation, coach Marche decided to hand the ball to his Venezuelan Yarferson Lopez. This will be a new semifinal for the young left-hander, who did the job in the Challenge semifinal against Sénart with 9 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 5 BB, and 12 K. He has a very complete repertoire, including a curveball that has given headaches to all his opponents. He can go deep into games, as evidenced by his 150 pitches in the French Challenge. Esteban Prioul will be ready for relief.
It will be Owen Ozanich taking the mound for the Barracudas. An emotional moment for the one who wore the Huskies colors for so long and won so many important games for them. Owen has been a bit less dominant since the start of the season: his 2.42 ERA and .245 BAA are not quite up to his usual standards. He was pulled after 6.1 innings in the Challenge semifinal, which is not what we’re used to seeing from him. But Owen is really capable of doing serious damage to hitters whose characteristics he knows by heart.
They can make the difference
He didn’t play the first two games for professional reasons, but Maxime Lefevre returns to the Rouen lineup, and that changes everything. First, he stabilizes the defense with his range. Then, he strengthens the top of the lineup with his ability to hit to all fields and his speed. Finally, he brings his experience, leadership, and winning attitude. It’s a huge boost for the Huskies.
Ariel Soriano has been relatively quiet since the start of the competition, 3 for 14 with 1 RBI. He also faces former teammates, as he played a season in Rouen. We know the danger that the always-smiling Dominican player’s bat represents. He can change the course of a game on his own. If he finds his effectiveness, Montpellier will be able to make the Huskies doubt.
Keep an eye on
The Huskies’ Killer B’s—Bert (for his ability to destabilize defenses with his speed), Blondel (for his power and run-producing ability), and Brainville (for his consistency)—are important weapons in the Rouen lineup. But it’s Hernandez who will draw the most attention. The Venezuelan is quite discreet, but he’s hitting .375 in the European Cup and .342 in the league and Challenge. He must, however, step up a bit more to make the Huskies’ offense truly formidable.
We’re following with great interest the progress of Maël Zan, who has gained both physically and in his game this year and has delivered since the start of the competition with a .455 average, 1 HR, and 3 RBI. He can count on Paolo Brossier, who always seems to be on base and is a poison for opposing catchers with his speed, to boost his RBI stats.
The duel
One warms up in the visitors’ bullpen, the other on the roof of the batting tunnel building. Right-hander Bastien Dagneau and left-hander Ismaël Pontiac have been making noise since the start of the competition with two home runs each. They’re not just one-hit wonders, as the Montpelliérain is hitting .556 with 4 RBI and the Rouennais .444 with 6 RBI. It’s a pleasure to see two French players show their power. And they hold part of the story of this match in their hands. If one of them gains the upper hand in the home run race, he will put his team on the path to victory.
The X-factor
Huskies coach Boris Marche is a rookie behind the bench. Okay, he’s not a newcomer; he’s one of the best players in French baseball history, but you never know if a great player can become a great coach. That’s what’s happening; Boris manages his team with a lot of knowledge and coolness, as we saw in the Challenge and in the European Cup. He brings calm and serenity to his squad, makes the right decisions at the right time, and will still have a role to play before the game by writing his lineup (who for the DH spot, second base, to strengthen a bottom of the lineup that has often been one of the Huskies’ assets in their greatest victories) and managing his mound (how far to go with Gomez?).
Montpellier’s defense has been the Barracudas’ biggest weakness: 24 errors in the league so far, 10 in the Challenge, 6 in the European Cup. A defense that lacks stability, too, with 3 players who have succeeded each other at shortstop in three games (Soriano, Guiraud, Sugiura). With a reduced roster, coach Mayeur doesn’t have many choices. But if his defense continues to crack at crucial moments, Montpellier could suffer.
So, who will win?
Very difficult prediction. We’ll still put a small bet on the Huskies, who are playing at home, have a history of beating the Barracudas in decisive games over several seasons, and seem a bit more complete offensively. But a big performance from Ozanich can change everything. We’ll say 55-45 for the Huskies.
François Colombier
Photo credits: Glenn Gervot
