Here we go! The big event of the season, the European Baseball Championship, kicks off tomorrow.
First, a word about the format, which is a bit convoluted. France is in Group B (playing in Rotterdam), alongside the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Israel. If the French finish in the top two, they’ll be qualified for the quarterfinals. If not, all won’t be lost. They’ll get a chance to play a sort of playoff round against the 1st (if they finish 4th) or 2nd (if they finish 3rd) from Group C, which includes Italy, Switzerland, Greece, and Lithuania. Needless to say, avoiding 4th place is crucial, as even if Italian baseball isn’t what it used to be, facing them is never a walk in the park. It’ll be time to crunch the numbers and probabilities in a few days.
For now, it’s tomorrow against Israel that France begins its competition. We can obviously question the possible demonstrations and disruptions that the presence of Israeli athletes now implies. Will the match go smoothly? We’ll see.
The lineup has just been revealed, with two major absences: Mathias Lacombe and Mathis Meurant. The latter poses a serious problem for the national team, which is showing up without a true shortstop. Will the task be entrusted to Félix Brown, who no longer has the mobility of his best years, or to Miguel Lopez (as some sources have indicated), who played catcher all season? Either way, it’s a clear weakness for France. The presence of Ernesto Martinez Jr. will bring power to the batting lineup, while Monks and Bouniol could round out the infield. Meanwhile, the versatility of a player like Daniel Patrice is always useful in these competitions. The outfield also looks very solid, with a likely trio of Jiminian, Brossier, and Paula, who offer strong defensive and offensive guarantees. More surprising is the presence of Frédéric Hanvi; his experience will undoubtedly be useful, but wasn’t there a spot for a young player who could have learned? No surprises behind the plate with the duo of Kovacs and Soliveres; we couldn’t really see anyone else who could have claimed a selection at that position.
As for the pitching, there aren’t any huge surprises, but a few questions remain. We can assume that the two « Germans, » Nicolas Antoine (3-0, 1.91 ERA this season, 1-1, 4.74 in the playoffs) and Quentin Moulin (4-2, 3.61 ERA this season, 1-1, 0.75 in the playoffs), will lead the rotation, where Rouennais Thibault Mercadier, fresh off an excellent playoff run, should also find his place. De La Rosa could round out the rotation, unless another lefty, Coste or Prioul, earns a spot. In the late innings, the French are well-stocked with a Robin Clara who impressed with Kinheim (2.90 ERA, 4 saves) and an Ozanich who performed consistently all season. Esposito, who hasn’t played much, and Laot, who struggled this season, seem a bit out of the picture.
In summary, a fairly solid offense, a few doubts on defense, and a pitching staff that can hold its own. France has the means to put on a good show. It won’t be easy against the Netherlands, a strong team, and the British (should we say Anglo-Americans?), who are on the rise. A spot in the quarterfinals is within reach; going further, against the Germans, Czechs, or Spaniards, would be a true feat. French international baseball remains stuck in 5th or 6th place across all categories, as was the case in the three European Championships played this year. France last won a medal in 1999. Keino Perez is one of those who can give the team the means to believe.
1993: 4th; 1995: 5th; 1997: 5th; 1999: 3rd; 2001: 4th; 2003: 7th; 2005: 6th; 2007: 5th; 2010: 6th; 2012: 8th; 2014: 6th; 2016: 7th; 2019: 7th; 2021: 15th; 2023: 7th.
François Colombier
Photo credit: FFBS, Glenn Gervot, WBSC Europe
