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Bloggin' With The Bears: Kendal Volz And The USA Baseball National Team Archived Blog Entries From Volz & Team USA Baseball: June 5-9, 2008
July 5, 2008 by Larry Little
Greetings from Pim Mullier Baseball Stadium in Haarlem, The Netherlands. This is Larry Little, associate director of athletic media relations at Baylor and press officer for the 2008 USA Baseball National Team. Over the next few weeks, Baylor pitcher and Team USA member Kendal Volz and I will share with you our experiences while traveling through Europe with the National Team.
We arrived in The Netherlands two days ago. We left Durham, N.C., at 9 a.m. Wednesday, traveled by bus to Washington, D.C., and flew from Dulles International to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, with a brief stop in Frankfurt, Germany. When we arrived in Haarlem, which is about 15 miles west of Amsterdam, it was noon Thursday and just past midnight Wednesday night (Thursday morning) on the U.S. East Coast (The Netherlands is six hours ahead of Eastern Time).
We will be here in The Netherlands for a little more than a week still. We then travel to Regensburg, Germany, for one game, and then it's onto The Czech Republic for the 2008 FISU World Championships, an event of which Team USA is the two-time defending champion. Results and recaps for each game can be found at www.USABaseball.com.
Presently, the USA Baseball National Team is taking batting practice, and we are about an hour shy of Team USA's first game of the 2008 Haarlem Baseball Week Tournament. The U.S. squad faces the Japanese National Team today; Japan defeated Chinese-Taipei 5-4 last night (Friday). Team USA is quite familiar with the Chinese-Taipei National Team; the U.S. squad swept a six-game series against Taipei in the States last week.
Volz has pitched in three of the U.S. team's seven games (Team USA also defeated the Martinsville Mustangs of the Coastal Plain League the night before leaving for Europe), including two games in the Taipei series. A product of Smithson Valley [Texas] High School, Volz is 0-0 with one save and a 0.00 ERA in his three appearances. He has allowed three hits and no walks with eight strikeouts over 4.0 innings.
Needless to say, Volz is throwing very well, and he has caught the eye of National Team head coach Rob Walton (head coach at Oral Roberts) and National Team pitching coach Jerry Meyers (head coach at Old Dominion). Volz has been used exclusively out of the bullpen, both during the two-week trials period in June and since the National Team roster was finalized 10 days ago. The coaches like his versatility and have used him both as a closer and as a setup man. However, do not rule out the possibility of Volz gaining a spot start before the team's tour is complete.
Including the U.S., Taipei and Japan, six countries are represented in the 2008 Haarlem Baseball Week; the other participants are The Netherlands, The Netherlands Antilles and world power Cuba, which has brought its Olympic Team to the event.
Pim Mullier Stadium seats about 5,000 fans, and it should be a well over capacity crowd for all games this week. It is a grandstand setup with "general admission" seating down the right- and left-field lines. The park is reminiscent of most American Class A minor league parks. The stadium's namesake, Pim Mullier, is considered the father of sport in The Netherlands; he was instrumental in starting soccer, competitive ice skating and baseball in The Netherlands during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Dutch is the official language in The Netherlands; however, we have yet to encounter anyone here who does not speak at least some English (in fact, most Netherlanders are quite fluent in English and many others are fluent in French, as well). The Dutch word for "baseball" is "honkball." It is a literal translation as "honk" means "base" in Dutch. So, if you hear (read) me or Kendal or someone else mention Haarlem Honkball Week, you can know we mean the baseball tournament.
There is a definite buzz in the stands for today's game with about 3,000 fans already on hand an hour before first pitch, many of whom were here as much as two-and-one-half hours prior to the game's 2 p.m. (14.00 hr in Dutch) start time. Team USA received a rousing ovation from the fans upon arrival to the stadium, as did the Japanese team upon its arrival a few minutes ago.
Time now to do some house-cleaning in preparation for today's game. Look for more soon, including tales from our travels and encounters with what has proven to this point to be a very warm and friendly Netherlands culture. July 5, 2008 by Larry Little
Team USA has a 5-2 lead with one out and a runner at first in the top of the ninth. Tyler Lyons started the ninth inning on the mound for the U.S. squad. He got a quick out and then hit a batter. Baylor's Kendal Volz has entered the game from the bullpen and looks to close it out for Team USA.
First pitch: slider for a called strike on the outside corner.
Second pitch: slider, swing and miss.
Third pitch: changeup, outside corner; called strike three.
That's nine strikeouts in 4.1 innings now for Volz with the National Team. Let's see how he does against the left-handed hitting Takahiro Iwamoto.
First pitch: fastball, fouled back.
Second pitch: fastball, fouled back.
Third pitch: slider misses just low.
Fourth pitch: changeup misses high; runner steals second.
Fifth pitch: fastball misses inside.
Sixth pitch: fastball misses wide.
Well, that brings the potential tying run to the plate. I'll step aside and see if Kendal can close it out. Back with more in a bit... July 5, 2008 by Larry Little
Matt den Dekker ran down a fly ball in the left-center gap for the third out of the inning. That gave Baylor's Kendal Volz the save as the USA Baseball National Team edged the Japanese National Team 5-2 in Team USA's first pool-play game at the 2008 Haarlem Baseball Week tournament.
It is Volz' second save of the 2008 tour in eight games; he is the only U.S. pitcher with more than one save. His stats now for the tour: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 saves, 4.2 IP, three hits allowed, no runs allowed, one walk, nine strikeouts, .176 opponents' batting average. Not too shabby.
The atmosphere at Pim Mullier Stadium was simply electric. The fans here not only love baseball, they understand the game and appreciate good play on both sides. If you're a baseball fan and you like to travel, get to Haarlem for the event in 2010. You will not be disappointed. Word to the wise, though; bring a rain coat. Much of today's game was played through light rain. That, however, did not dampen the atmosphere, nor did it dampen the spirit of the more than 3,500 fans in attendance. July 6, 2008 by Larry Little
Word around Pim Mullier Stadium is that the organizers of Haarlem Baseball Week pray for good weather... and hope for one day of rain.
Team USA and Team Japan saw some rain during their Saturday night game, but the real precipitation was saved for Sunday. The day's first game - Chinese-Taipei vs. The Netherlands - was played without delay. Batting practice prior to Team USA's game against Cuba was delayed about 15 minutes, but the game started on time.
However, just prior to the start of the bottom of the second inning, the clouds began to cry. Weep. Bawl. Sob. Wail. They pitched a down-right temper-tantrum. You might expect this to send the 4,000-plus fans in the over-capacity Pim Mullier Stadium scurrying for cover. On the contrary.
Rain - especially rain delays - at Haarlem Baseball Week is what ushers in the fun at Haarlem Baseball Week. With the stadium's speakers blaring such rain-delay favorites as Prince's "Purple Rain," B.J. Thomas' "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" and Led Zeppelin's "The Rain Song," the umbrellas began spinning, the people dancing and the masses singing.
When Andre Hazes' "Blood, Sweat and Tears" began playing on the speakers, the crowd erupted into a wild frenzy, and every person in the stadium shouted the words: BLOOD! SWEAT! AND TEARS!
More songs followed, and the dancing and singing continued in the stands, in the walkways, on top of the dugouts... everywhere. Soon, a few ladies started a make-shift "dance train" along the grandstand concourse. The stadium erupted once more when about 10 members of the Japan National Team joined the train.
After about 15 or 20 minutes, the rain ceased, the clouds broke and the sun began to shine again. Oddly, the mood in the stadium began to dampen, and everyone returned to their seats.
"Oh, well," one person in the press box said to me, "The fun's over. Time to get back to baseball." July 6, 2008 by Larry Little
Baylor's Kendal Volz is in the game with Team USA holding on to a 1-0 lead in the top of the eighth. The bases are empty with two outs.
Volz walks the first batter he faces on four straight pitches. Not a great start.
Next up is Cuba three-hole batter Yulieski Gourriel. He is 1-for-3 on the day.
First pitch: BIG sweeping slider catches the inside corner. Strike one.
Second pitch: fastball off the plate away.
Third pitch: another BIG sweeping slider catches the outside corner. Strike two.
Fourth pitch: fastball misses just high.
Fifth pitch: Gourriel fouls off a fastball down the third-base line.
Sixth pitch: Gourriel fights off a hard slider, fouled back to the screen.
Seventh pitch: Gourriel puts a charge into an upstairs fastball. ... Lined foul down the right-field line, well out of play.
Eighth pitch: Slider away. Gourriel keeps his hands back and drills it ... right at shortstop Ryan Jackson, who snags it for the third out of the inning.
The bullpen is quiet, so we'll see if Volz comes back out to close the game in the ninth. July 6, 2008 by Larry Little
Volz is back out for the ninth. Team USA still leads 1-0 over Team Cuba. Both teams are the only remaining undefeated teams in the 2008 Haarlem Baseball Week tournament.
Next batter up: five-hole batter Frederich Cepeda. First pitch ball. Second pitch is hit a mile high. Team USA second baseman Christian Colon is camped under the ball. However, the ball pops out of his glove. E4.
Next batter lines an 0-1 fastball into left for a single.
Runners at first and second with one out. Rolando Merino at the plate.
First pitch: slider on the outside corner. Strike one.
Second pitch: fastball on the outside corner. Strike two.
Third pitch: slider... Merino swings over the top for strike three. No chance on that pitch.
Now two outs and runners at first and second. Left-handed pinch-hitter Yoandrys Urgelles at the plate.
First pitch: fastball fouled back.
Second pitch: slider in the dirt and to the back-stop; wild pitch; runners advance one base each; potential tying run now at third; potential go-ahead run now at second. July 7, 2008 by Kendal Volz
Hello, Baylor fans! Today is our day off during the pool-play portion of the Haarlem Baseball Week. We just got back from practice, and I have a few minutes to share with you what this experience has been like.
Playing for Team USA has been such a phenomenal experience. This team consists of an outstanding group of players and coaches - both on and off the field. These are some of the most talent guys I've ever been on the same team with. Everyday, I thank God for an opportunity like this, and even saying thanks does not seem to be enough.
I have been fortunate enough to record saves in each of first two games here at Haarlem. The first was a 5-2 win over Japan, and last night we beat Cuba 1-0. Japan, Cuba and the U.S. are considered the favorites, so starting out 2-0 with wins over Japan and Cuba is definitely getting off on the right foot. I'm blessed to have been a part of that.
The game against Cuba was extremely exciting. The crowd was lively and rowdy, and that made for a great atmosphere. Cuba brought its Olympic Team to Haarlem, so we're playing against the same team that will be in Beijing next month. Many of their players have been with that team for several years. Some players on their team are in their late 30s and still play high quality baseball.
Last night, I came into the game with one out in the top of the eighth. In the ninth, Cuba got two runners on base by way of an error and a base hit. With two outs, they had the tying run at third base; however, I was able to strike out their pinch hitter to end the game. That game ranks with the most exciting outings of my career. I have been blessed to be put in a position to help Team USA win.
We're having a lot of fun on the tour, but it definitely is a tiring and grueling journey. Many of us are getting home sick after being on the road for nearly a month, but the experience of playing for Team USA definitely makes up for that. July 8, 2008 by Larry Little
Credit William Shakespeare for the title of this blog post. It is from Act V, Scene 1 of "Twelfth Night," a comedy that - like many of Shakespeare's comedies - centers on a case of mistaken identity. The play's setting is Illyria, which is on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea (roughly modern-day Yugoslovia).
Perhaps if Shakespeare - were he alive to pen a play today - could write a sequal to "Twelfth Night" and call it "Twelfth Day" and use Haarlem, Netherlands, as the setting. Today is the twelfth consecutive day that at least some rain has fallen in Haarlem; and for the past 36 hours, a lot of rain has fallen.
Yesterday, only one of the two scheduled games was completed: Japan defeated Dutch Caribbean 12-5 in what easily has been the highest-scoring game of the week. Monday's second game - Cuba vs. Chinese-Taipei - was postponed until this morning because of rain. But alas, the rain did not cease until shortly after noon, and that game, therefore, has been indefinitely postponed. It will be played whenever possible later in the week.
Today's games also have been affected. Team USA was scheduled to play Dutch Caribbean at 2 p.m., but the morning rains that forced further postponement of the Cuba vs. Chinese-Taipei game pushed the USA-Dutch Caribbean game back to 2:30 p.m. The grounds crews worked frantically to get the field into playing condition, and by 2:25 - when the starting lineups were announced and the anthems were played - the field was in game-ready shape.
Then, just as the Dutch Caribbean team was set to take the field defensively for the start of the top of the first inning, the drizzling rain that began during the Star-Spangled Banner intensified into a driving rain. The players and coaches scurried off the field, umbrellas popped up in the stands, reporters, quickly covered their laptop computers and songs about rain once again were the featured music on Pim Mullier Stadium's sound system.
A couple of things to explain about rain and baseball here in Haarlem.
First, rain in The Netherlands comes in one of two forms: a long, slow, steady drizzle much like that common in America's Pacific Northwest; or quick, torrential downpour much like that common in America's Great Plains but only shorter in length of life (if you will). We've seen both in our time here, but this one was of the latter variety. It lasted only about five or six minutes, but it dropped a pond's worth of rain on the field.
Second, the tarp at Pim Mullier Stadium is not like those with which we in the States are familiar; rather than one large tarp covering the entire infield, there are several small tarps. And when I say several, I mean several. One large tarp covers home plate, and another large one covers the pitcher's mound. Then the fun begins. About 10 small tarps are used to cover each of the base lines. And about 20 individual tarps are used to cover the dirt portion of the infield. The infield grass is not covered.
When a quick downpour comes, there is not enough time to get it covered; and - in this case - the rain subsided more quickly than the tarp "crew" even could be assembled. So, the already soaked infield got another dose of water, and all the work the grounds crew put in during the early afternoon hours to get the field ready for a 2:30 p.m. start went by the wayside.
While the rain only lasted about five or six minutes, it took about 40 minutes to again get the field ready for play. Finally, first pitch was thrown at 3:18 p.m.
The buzz in the press box is that another rain shower is expected around 4 p.m. ... For the rain it raineth every hour... July 8, 2008 by Larry Little
It's raining again. Tarps quickly are being placed on the mound and the home plate area.
Team USA has a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. A sacrifice fly and a three-run double in the top of the second game Team USA the lead. Andrew Oliver from Oklahoma State is on the mound for the U.S. team.
Oh, wait. The rain has stopped. Tarps are coming off. Time to play again... for now. July 8, 2008 by Larry Little Noted Cuban baseball historian Peter C. Bjarkman is in attendance at the Haarlem Baseball Week and has given me more information about Team USA's 1-0 victory over Cuba a couple days ago.
That was the first time a collegiate U.S. team has defeated the Cuba Olympic Team since 1996. Also, the pitcher who was saddled with the loss for Cuba - Yuliesky Gonzlaez - was 17-0 in the Cuban League this year. In fact, it was his first loss in nearly two calendar years.
A native of Hartford, Conn., Bjarkman currently lives in West Lafayette, Ind., where his wife is a linguistics professor at Purdue University. Bjarkman, himself, holds a Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Florida. He has authored numerous books on various historical topics, but Cuban baseball history is his passion. Many of his books can be found in the local Barnes & Noble, including "A History of Cuban Baseball, 1864-2006"; it widely is considered to be the "encyclopedia" of Cuban baseball.
Bjarkman informed me that the Cubans adopted the Japanese training philosophy a little over a year ago. It is a regiment that focuses on repetition and consistency in the belief that such translates to performance on the field. Therefore, the Cubans have three-hour workouts every morning - even on game days. The workouts include weight-lifting, running, fielding practice, base-running drills and batting practice. In addition, each player is required to take a minimum of 250 dry cuts every day.
All the recent rain has put quite a damper on the Cubans' workout schedule. Bjarkman said there is such an emphasis placed on the workout sessions that the Cuban coaches and administrators are more upset about workouts being cancelled than games being rained out. Clearly, the Cubans' focus is on Beijing. July 8, 2008 by Larry Little Team USA used a four-run second inning and a seven-run third inning to cruise past the Dutch Caribbean National Team Tuesday. The game was called after seven innings due to the 10-run rule. No need for Baylor's Kendal Volz today. In fact, starter Andrew Oliver was pulled after only three innings of work. Their arms will be more valuable later in the week.
The National Team is now 10-0 on this summer's tour. Next up: host The Netherlands at 7 p.m. local time Wednesday. Should be a good one. See you then. July 9, 2008 by Larry Little
We're minutes away from first pitch in tonight's game between Team USA and the home-standing Netherlands National Team. Seating capacity at Pim Mullier Stadium is roughly 5,000; however, with standing-room-only tickets, additional "tent" suites and packed bleachers, the crowd is expected to top 6,000 for tonight's game. The atmosphere is tremendous, and the energy in the stands is at a fever pitch.
For now, the rain is cooperating. It is very overcast, but all we've seen today has been the Pacific Northwest-like steady mist. Ponchos are the norm for the fans, and the temperature is around 55 degrees.
This is an important game for both teams. Here are the standings through today's first two games (Monday's rainout was played this morning).
TEAM W L T PTS R RA United States 3 0 0 6 17 2 Cuba 3 1 0 6 10 5 Japan 3 2 0 6 25 21 Chinese-Taipei 1 2 0 2 10 12 Netherlands 1 2 0 2 11 10 Dutch Caribbean 0 4 0 0 7 30
Points are awarded: two for a win, one for a tie and none for a loss. The first tie-breaker is head-to-head. The second tie-breaker is run differential.
While Team USA clinched a spot in the semifinal round with yesterday's 11-0 victory over the Dutch Caribbean, a victory in this game would clinch the No. 1 seed in the semifinals. It also basically would assure the U.S. squad of not facing Cuba again until the championship round, should both teams make it that far.
Meanwhile, the Dutch squad basically is playing for its life. A loss in this game would all but eliminate the Netherlands from the semifinals. The Dutch team already has lost to Chinese-Taipei, and they play Cuba tomorrow. Also, the U.S. defeated the Netherlands last year in the third-place game at a tournament in Rotterdam. So, needless to say, the Dutch team is ready for today's game.
Team USA has been adopted as "fan favorite" at this year's Haarlem Baseball Week for several reasons. One reason was the U.S. players' classiness following yesterday's rain-soaked game against the Dutch Caribbean. As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, the tarping of the infield is a bit more troublesome here than at most American parks. And, to put it bluntly, the grounds crews are not as well equipped as those at this level in the States.
However, the 10-to-12-man grounds crew here at Pim Mullier Stadium did an outstanding job of getting the field into playing shape for yesterday's game. The U.S. players, appreciative of the crew's efforts, ran back onto the field after the game and individually shook hands with each member of the crew, thanking them for their work. The fans at Pim Mullier Stadium gave a standing ovation for the move.
But make no mistake about it. This is a partisan crowd. The Dutch fans want to see their team win this game. July 9, 2008 by Larry Little
About 30 minutes prior to the start of tonight's game, I was walking through the crowd outside the grandstand while making my way from the dugout back to the press box. Along the way, I passed a group of five ladies and one man standing beneath an umbrella talking and laughing. Immediately, I noticed they were speaking English with obviously American accents.
That being a welcomed sound to the ears, I asked the girl wearing a USC Trojans sweatshirt if she was from California. She and the others immediately smiled, equally happy to hear an American voice, I suppose. As it turned out the six people were from various parts of the United States. The five girls all played college softball in the United States; they now live in The Netherlands and play professionally.
One of the ladies mentioned that she was from Houston; when I mentioned that I work at Baylor, we immediately began making connections. As it turns out, she graduated from Baytown Lee High School in 2000 and knows former Baylor baseball catcher Josh Ford, who was a 2001 Baytown Lee graduate. Furthermore, she is related to Martha Moore, an administrative assistant in the Baylor athletic department. July 9, 2008 by Larry Little
Team USA held a 1-0 lead going to the bottom of the seventh inning on the strength of Derek Dietrich's fifth-inning solo home run. However, the Netherlands tied the game thanks to an error in the seventh. We now are in the top of the 10th inning, still tied at 1-1. Team USA, the visitor in tonight's game, has runners at first and second with one out after a leadoff single, a sacrifice bunt and a walk. Baylor's Kendal Volz is loosening in the bullpen and would be ready should the U.S. team take the lead.
And that steady mist that I mentioned earlier? Well, it has intensified to a steady drizzle over the last few innings. The stands are still packed and the crowd is very lively in what has been a very close game with spectacular defensive plays on both sides. July 9, 2008 by Larry Little
Team USA took a 2-1 lead on Josh Fellhauer's RBI fielder's choice in the top of the 10th. Baylor's Kendal Volz is in from the bullpen as we start the bottom of the 10th. The second pitch is lined back up the middle for a base hit. Now to the top of the order. I'll be back with you to see how Volz and Team USA fare. July 9, 2008 by Larry Little
After a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second, Volz issued a walk to put runners at first and second with one out. Three-hole hitter Sidney de Jong is now at the plate.
First pitch: slider, called strike.
Second pitch: fastball, fouled at the plate.
Third pitch: slider, chopped back to the mound...
Volz starts a picture-perfect 1-6-3 double play. Ball game! Team USA wins 2-1 and improves to 11-0 on the summer tour and 4-0 here at Haarlem Baseball Week. The U.S. squad has clinched the top seed in the tournament portion of the event. Volz picked up his fourth save of the tour and his third of the Haarlem Baseball Week.
Team USA faces Chinese-Taipei at 2 p.m. local time tomorrow. The U.S. squad swept a Taipei in a six-game series in the United States prior to departing for Europe. We'll see you then. |
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