Thursday, November 21, 2013

Baseball in Australia - Video of Some Baseball Feats from Down Under


As you surely know, AJ Ellis is on a grand Australian tour to promote the upcoming Opening Series games in March.  Yesterday, I posted up some pics of the promotional event.  Go here to check that out.  You can also watch a video of AJ hanging out with Australian cricket legend Allan Border at Sydney's Manly Beach.  Go here to view that.

As Border mentions in the video, he's been a fan of the American game for a long time.  He even says that he played it as a youth - before he started playing cricket, so the sports has a long history on the continent. 

Considering that, it shouldn't be surprising that their players have gained a fair amount of skill.  Maybe even an expertise that has eluded ballplayers in the states.

To see what I mean, check out a couple of videos put together by some ballplayers who play for the Melbourne Aces, below. 

Now, I'm not going to say that these are 100% real (without some computer hijinks thrown in), but I do want to believe this is possible.  And, why not? 

If other sports can have their trick shots, why not Baseball?

Here, blindfolded Melbourne Aces catcher Brad Harman takes on 2 hockey players.

Video Link:

Melbourne Aces player Scott Wearne gets a 7-10 split with baseballs at AMF Watergardens.

Video Link:

Pic at the very top via @Dodgers on twitter.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *
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Blog Kiosk: 11/21/2013 - Dodgers Links - Kemp Wants to Stay, Dodgers Lose Tolleson and Hershiser


AJ Ellis is making friends in Australia.  Pic via @Dodgers on twitter.
"It's just an honor to be chosen to represent the Dodgers and talk about the upcoming games and be a small part of this once-in-a-lifetime event," said Ellis. "I was fortunate enough to travel with the club to Beijing in 2008, but these games actually count. Sitting next to Patrick (Corbin) and talking about meaningful games with our divisional rival is really getting the competitive juices going."
“Nobody wants to have their name thrown around with all the different teams,” (Dave) Stewart (Kemp's agent) said. “In our conversations, what we’ve come to is that if it does happen, the only thing we can hope for is that he goes to a team with an opportunity to win. That’s first and foremost, if it does happen.
  • The Dodgers lose reliever Shawn Tolleson to the Rangers on a waiver claim, via @MLBRosterMoves on twitter.  He was injured for most of 2013.  Still, the fact that he was left unprotected is a huge surprise.  I had thought he would be an effective arm out of the pen, someday.  The Dodgers must not feel good about how he is healing.
  • Emma at Dodger Blue World notes that former Brooklyn Dodgers Rod Miller passed away earlier this month.  Here is an obituary.  RIP, Rod Miller.
  • Via Steven Choi at Arirang News, "Ryu Hyun-jin Baseball Field to be erected in Incheon".
  • In preparation for the Rule 5 Draft, the Dodgers added 3 players to their 40-man roster, via a tweet from the Dodgers.  This is a major stepping stone for these young players.  It often means that they are likely to be called up to LA at some point soon.



  • For those interested, the Professional Baseball Scout Foundation dinner will be in Los Angeles in January.  Go here for details.
  • Via John Thorn at Our Game, "Some Baseball Tricks: The Unfair Means by Which Some Games Were Won in the 1860s".


* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *
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