{"id":1394,"date":"2008-12-02T07:00:50","date_gmt":"2008-12-02T07:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/?p=1394"},"modified":"2008-12-02T13:27:07","modified_gmt":"2008-12-02T13:27:07","slug":"european-club-rankings-2008","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/?p=1394","title":{"rendered":"European club rankings 2008"},"content":{"rendered":"

A struggle to obtain public and private funds to support infrastructure and growth permeates the history of baseball in Great Britain, and with the decision in 2005 to remove the sport from the Olympic programme there is no sign of this easing, at least in the short term. For Great Britain and other non-powerhouse European nations attempting to grow the game in this type of environment, it must be helpful (even if it is only marginally so) to frame the continent\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s baseball as the sum of its parts, rather than viewing the member nations\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 contiguous programmes in isolation.<\/span><\/p>\n

One such method to unite European baseball in this way is to compare European clubs across the continent (and by club in this post I mean the top team within each club), rather than ranking clubs only within their separate countries. Last month, two lists of European club rankings for 2008 were published on the Internet, one on www.mister-baseball.com<\/a> and the other on www.baseballdeworld.com<\/a>. The two lists are compared below.
\n\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mister-Baseball Top 50<\/h4>\n

Date of publication:<\/strong> 12 November (click here<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Number of clubs ranked:<\/strong> 52 (there is a 4-way tie for 49th place).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Goal: <\/strong>While this is not explicitly stated on the website, the list is not intended as an ordered list of the 50 best clubs in Europe. If it were, one would look at it and conclude, for instance, that Mr Cocker HCAW and the Richmond Flames, with their equal-29th placings,\u00c2\u00a0were evenly matched teams in 2008.\u00c2\u00a0Having seen both teams play this year, though,\u00c2\u00a0I can confidently say that the Richmond Flames would struggle against the superior Dutch club. Instead, the purpose of the rankings is to offer a snapshot of the year across the continent, providing a sense of which clubs had the best seasons relative to their own league, while still including some lower-performing clubs from the best leagues. If you did not realize this, it would be easy to attack the rankings as poorly calculated, given the inclusion of only a handful of Dutch clubs for example. However, a list designed to order the 50 absolute best clubs would be not only weaker at unifying European baseball, but also less interesting and thus less likely to provoke debate. That is not to say that there is no place at all for an alternative list of the 50 absolute best clubs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Method:<\/strong> Clubs were assigned points in two categories. The first was strength of baseball in the club\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s country, both domestic (through factors such as the country\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s overall performance in CEB club events and the number of baseball participants in the country) and international (based on the recent and historical success of national teams). The second category was the club\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s performance (derived from domestic standings and performances in CEB competitions, including the CEB Final Four).
\n\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

BaseballdeWorld Top 30<\/h4>\n

Date of publication:<\/strong> 27 November (click here<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Number of clubs ranked:<\/strong> 48 (although presented as a Top 30, points are provided for 48 clubs in all).<\/p>\n

Goal:<\/strong> Again, the aim of the rankings is not explicitly stated, but it would be safe to infer a similar goal to that of Mister-Baseball, given the broadly similar standings that the two approaches generated.<\/p>\n

Method: <\/strong>The rankings were determined through voting by the BaseballdeWorld staff. The criteria that were offered to guide voting decisions were the strength of domestic league, win-loss records, and performances at international tournaments. The CEB Final Four tournament results were excluded from consideration, because of the absence of Dutch clubs and because the competing squads were missing several regulars.
\n\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Full results<\/h4>\n

Full results are shown in the table below, with the column headers MB# and BdW# representing Mister-Baseball rankings and BaseballdeWorld rankings, respectively. The London Mets and the Richmond Flames are the only clubs from Great Britain to make the list. The Croydon Pirates and the Manchester Eagles have appeared on earlier-published lists.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
MB#<\/span><\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
\n
BdW#<\/span><\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Club<\/span><\/h6>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Country<\/span><\/h6>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

L&D Amsterdam<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

The Netherlands<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Danesi Caffe’ Nettuno<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Italy<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

2=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

T&A San Marino<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

San Marino<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Corendon Kinheim<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

The Netherlands<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

FC Barcelona<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Spain<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Marlins Puerto Cruz<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Spain<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Montepaschi Grosseto Orioles<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Italy<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

DOOR Neptunus<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

The Netherlands<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Buchbinder Legion\u00c3\u00a4re<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Germany<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

10<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

12=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Rouen Baseball 76<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

France<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

11<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Konica Minolta Pioniers<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

The Netherlands<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

12<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Fortitudo 1953 Bologna<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Italy<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

13<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

AVG Draci Brno<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Czech Republic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

14<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

25<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Les Templiers de Senart<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

France<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

15<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Mannheim Tornados<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Germany<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

16<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

12=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Sparta\/Feyenoord<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

The Netherlands<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

17=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

17<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Heidenheim Heidek\u00c3\u00b6pfe<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Germany<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

17=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Solingen Alligators<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Germany<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

23<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

London Mets<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

United Kingdom<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

20<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

18<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Sant Boi<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Spain<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

21<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

MGPU SYOS Moscow<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Russia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

22=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

14<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Cariparma Parma<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Italy<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

22=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

KNTU-OSVSM Kirovograd<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ukraine<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

24<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

El Llano<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Spain<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

25=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

26<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Port of Antwerp Greys<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Belgium<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

25=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Stockholms BSK<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Sweden<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

27<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

33=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Arrows Ostrava<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Czech Republic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

28<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

41=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Savigny sur Orge Lions<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

France<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

29=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

33=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Karlskoga Bats BBK<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Sweden<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

29=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

46=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Montpellier Universit\u00c3\u00a9 Club<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

France<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

29=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

22<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Mr Cocker HCAW<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

The Netherlands<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

29=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Richmond Flames<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

United Kingdom<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

33<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

35=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

ESHSM Moskvich Moscow<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Russia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

34<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

38=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Zagreb BK<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Croatia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

35<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

21<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Telemarket Rimini<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Italy<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

36<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Bern Cardinals<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Switzerland<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

37<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

38=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Technika Brno<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Czech Republic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

38<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

41=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

MZLU Express Brno<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Czech Republic<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

39<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

35=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Hoboken Pioneers<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Belgium<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

40<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

35=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Mosquito Athletics Attnang-Puchheim<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Austria<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

41<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

41=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

TNU Tigers<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ukraine<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

42<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

46=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Olimpija Karlovac <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Croatia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

43=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Brest Zubrs<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Belarus<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

43=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

MKS AMZ Kutno<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Poland<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

45<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Beograd 96<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Serbia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

46<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Blagoevgrad Buffaloes<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Bulgaria<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

47=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Juodasis Vikingas Vilnius<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Lithuania<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

47=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Zaj\u00c4\u008dki Rabbits<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Slovenia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

49=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Dublin Spartans<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Ireland<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

49=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Expoos<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Finland<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

49=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00c3\u201cbuda Brick Factory <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Hungary<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

49=<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

TJ STU Angels Trnava<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Slovakia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/h6>\n

\u00c2\u00a0
\nMain differences in results<\/h4>\n

Overall, the results are strikingly similar, which is surprising given that one set was derived purely from a predefined scoring system while the other was generated by a vote. Perhaps the BaseballdeWorld voters referred to the Mister-Baseball rankings in making their decisions. Regardless of whether they did or not, though, the BaseballdeWorld rankings can be seen as validating those of Mister-Baseball, which appeared first. Still, there are some differences that are worth considering.<\/span><\/p>\n

Firstly, there are a number of countries included in the Mister-Baseball rankings that are not featured in those of BaseballdeWorld, namely Belarus, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. (The coverage of the Mister-Baseball rankings is extended to Latvia, Norway, Portugal, and Romania through \u00e2\u20ac\u0153honourable mentions\u00e2\u20ac\u009d). By not including clubs from these countries, the BaseballdeWorld voters found space on their 48-club list for\u00c2\u00a0outfits from Austria (Union Kufstein Vikings), Germany (Mainz Athletics and Paderborn Untouchables), Spain (Beisbol Navarra), and Sweden (Rattvik Butchers and Sundbyberg Heat) that were not included in the Mister-Baseball rankings.<\/p>\n

Secondly, looking at the clubs within each country, there are some differences in order. Isolating the Dutch clubs from each list reveals that they are placed in the same order on the two lists, and the same can be said for France and the UK. In Italy (including San Marino), though, Mister-Baseball ranked T&A San Marino and Danesi Caffe’ Nettuno equal while BaseballdeWorld placed T&A San Marino ahead. An explanation for this is that T&A San Marino, who won Italy\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s national title, lost to Nettuno in the CEB Final Four competition, which was factored into Mister-Baseball\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s rankings only, as explained above. Another difference among Italian teams was that Mister-Baseball had Montepaschi Grosseto Orioles ahead of Fortitudo 1953 Bologna while BaseballdeWorld had them the other way round. In Spain, Mister-Baseball put FC Barcelona ahead of Marlins Puerto Cruz, but BaseballdeWorld ranked them the other way round. FC Barcelona finished second to Marlins Puerto Cruz in Spain\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s\u00c2\u00a0domestic championship\u00c2\u00a0but won one of CEB\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s European Cup trophies, so the variation between the rankings presumably relates to a difference in the importance placed on the competitions. Finally, in Germany, BaseballdeWorld placed Heidenheim Heidek\u00c3\u00b6pfe ahead of Solingen Alligators while Mister-Baseball ranked the two clubs\u00c2\u00a0equally.<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A struggle to obtain public and private funds to support infrastructure and growth permeates the history of baseball in Great Britain, and with the decision in 2005 to remove the sport from the Olympic programme there is no sign of this easing, at least in the short term. For Great Britain and other non-powerhouse European […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mlb-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1394"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1394\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1471,"href":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1394\/revisions\/1471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baseballgb.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}