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Pass the Kraut

RealityChuck Apr 21 2008 08:05 AM

]The Mets have signed 21–year-old German C Kai Gronauer to a two-year minor league contract. He tore up the German leagues and had a ridiculously good record of throwing out runners. Whether he can perform at a major league level in the US is unknown, but it seems a good gamble.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 21 2008 08:06 AM

Mach schnell!

soupcan Apr 21 2008 08:12 AM Re: Pass the Kraut

="RealityChuck"]He tore up the German leagues That cracks me up. The German Leagues!

Valadius Apr 21 2008 08:16 AM

They have baseball?

Frayed Knot Apr 21 2008 08:20 AM

Isn't Kai (with that same spelling) the name of Keith Hernandez's wife? That could make for some good jokes in a few years.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 21 2008 08:29 AM

Any word on where Gronauer will play? Brooklyn? Kingsport? Gulf Coast?

AG/DC Apr 21 2008 08:46 AM

I always associate Germanic names with quarterbacks and pitchers (Assenmacher, Hershiser), as if there's something in their makeup that tends to makes them throw well. Mr. Baseball New York Mets sign Catcher Kai Gronauer Europeans in the USA The NEW YORK METS have signed catcher Kai Gronauer (Picture: Right) of the SOLINGEN ALLIGATORS. He agreed on a two-year-contract and will join the Major League organization in two weeks. He is going into the extended spring training program in Port St. Lucie, Florida and after this preparation period they will determine, for which team and on which level he will play. Due to the lack of depth on his position, Gronauer has the opportunity to move through the system quickly. It is also expected that he will start at least in Single A. The 21-year-old is without a question the best German player at the moment. He impressed scouts over the past ten months at the European Championships in Barcelona and the two IBAF events in Taiwan in November 2007 and March 2008. Gronauer spent his whole career with the ALLIGATORS. The MINNESOTA TWINS and the PITSBURGH PIRATES showed interest in him during the winter. He also considered to play at the college this spring, but decided to stay in SOLINGEN for 2008. But the plans changed quickly and the METS made a strong push towards him. Gronauer is currently batting .455 (OBP .600/SLG .545) in three games this season. At the Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament he hit .250 with four doubles in seven games. He also threw out five of eleven base stealers at the event. His national team head coach Greg Frady said one time that he is one of the best five players on his position in International Baseball. The move to the Minor Leagues is the only logical step in his development, as he can’t improve anymore in the German Bundesliga. Obviously the ALLIGATORS will miss their starting catcher and it is nearly impossible to replace him. Nevertheless they are very happy for him and wish him the best. He also could help them during the playoffs after the end of the minor league season. They will honor him before their next home game on Sunday against the NEUNKIRCHEN NIGHTMARES and will say him goodbye.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 21 2008 08:53 AM

I think, if I lived in Germany, I'd be inclined to root for the NEUNKIRCHEN NIGHTMARES.

Carnac the Metnificent Apr 21 2008 09:02 AM

Pass the Kraut What does the pit crew for a Formula One team say to their driver when he's about to lap Michael Schumacher?

metirish Apr 21 2008 09:02 AM

] The 21-year-old is without a question the best German player at the moment WOW , That's high praise.

soupcan Apr 21 2008 09:09 AM

Having a German baseball team named the ALLIGATORS is almost as ridiculous as having a German baseball team.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 21 2008 09:10 AM

There are probably as many alligators in Germany as there are tigers in Detroit.

metirish Apr 21 2008 09:13 AM

Posting this because it's also German and ridiculous..

AG/DC Apr 21 2008 09:13 AM

There are currently three more or less active players born in West Germany. Interesting is that, since Mickey Scott last played in 1977, there have been no players born in a unified Germany, a pattern that should hold until around the middle of the next decade. Players born in Germany. Players born in West Germany. No players have come from East Germany, so see if you can find out his birthplace. He has some small chance of being the first, last, and only.

AG/DC Apr 21 2008 09:36 AM

="Benjamin Grimm"]I think, if I lived in Germany, I'd be inclined to root for the NEUNKIRCHEN NIGHTMARES. That's because you're not existential enough to hitch your wagon to the WANDERERS. Standings North Team W L R+ R- .pct GB Solingen Alligators 5 0 47 4 1.000 0 Paderborn Untouchables 4 0 29 6 1.000 0.5 Cologne Cardinals 3 0 34 25 1.000 1 Bonn Capitals 2 3 42 47 .400 3 Hannover Regents 2 3 26 33 .400 3 Dortmund Wanderers 1 3 14 23 .250 3.5 HSV Stealers 1 3 17 30 .250 3.5 Neunkirchen Nightmares 0 6 14 55 .000 5.5 Standings South Team W L R+ R- .pct GB Buchbinder Legionäre 4 0 26 4 1.000 0 Saarlouis Hornets 3 1 33 14 .750 1 Heidenheim Heideköpfe 3 1 29 23 .750 1 Mannheim Tornados 3 3 21 23 .500 2 Gauting Indians 2 2 19 20 .500 2 Mainz Athletics 2 4 43 36 .333 3 Haar Diciples 2 4 24 34 .333 3 Neuenburg Atomics 1 5 17 58 .166 4

soupcan Apr 21 2008 09:39 AM

]Heidenheim Heideköpfe Now that's a name for a German baseball team.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 21 2008 09:42 AM

Yikes! My favorite German team is 0 and 6! Time to jump off the bandwagon!

AG/DC Apr 21 2008 09:46 AM

="soupcan"] ]Heidenheim Heideköpfe Now that's a name for a German baseball team. Google translates that as "Heideköpfe" as "Heath Heads." I'm trying to imagine a head made of heath as something intimidating. ="Benjamin Grimm"]Yikes! My favorite German team is 0 and 6! Time to jump off the bandwagon! Living up to their name, though, aren't they?

seawolf17 Apr 21 2008 09:49 AM

Hey! The Untouchables have an online fan shop! Apparently, they don't have logo designers in Germany, though.

seawolf17 Apr 21 2008 09:51 AM

The Hanover Regents' logo looks oddly familiar...

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 21 2008 09:52 AM

What in the name of Horst Fascher!?!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 21 2008 09:53 AM

seawolf17 wrote: The Hanover Regents' logo looks oddly familiar... yes.

Triple Dee Apr 21 2008 10:24 AM

Here is Kai Gronauer in the flesh:

soupcan Apr 21 2008 10:31 AM

They just had to give him a black hat.

Willets Point Apr 21 2008 10:32 AM

Bonn Capitals? Bonn hasn't been the capital for more than 15 years!

HahnSolo Apr 21 2008 10:39 AM

I can't root for the Buchbinder Legionare. Sound a little too elitist for my taste.

Willets Point Apr 21 2008 10:42 AM

Manheim's franchise should really be the Steamrollers.

AG/DC Apr 21 2008 10:48 AM

They could play against the Bonn Mots, the Hannover The-Keys, and the Haar De-Haar-Haars.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 21 2008 11:16 AM

Anyway, it will be interesting to see where Kai Gronauer lands. The article quoted above implies that he'll land in Single A, so that would make Brooklyn the most likely destination, I'd think. But if he were to end up in St. Lucie it would indicate that he's on a bit of a fast track. Gulf Coast or Kingsport, not so much.

themetfairy Apr 23 2008 10:08 AM

My son has a friend who is taking 6th grade German. Once we know where Kai lands, the kid wants to write him a welcome note :)

MFS62 Apr 23 2008 10:28 AM

Here's a scouting report from a guy who used to be commissioner of a German Baseball League, who I "know" from another board: ]I´ve watched Gronauer over here in Germany multiple times. He is a good defensive catcher and a legit bat. While the level of the German league is worse than some College Leagues and certainly below Rookie Ball, he was among the league leaders in just about every offensive category and - for example - had a 20-3 BB-K ratio in 105 PA in 2007. I´d compare him to Justin Huber with better defensive skills. That´s pretty much the upside here. Later

seawolf17 Apr 23 2008 10:29 AM

themetfairy wrote: My son has a friend who is taking 6th grade German. Once we know where Kai lands, the kid wants to write him a welcome note :) Dear Mr. Gronauer: Welcome to America! Where is the airport? The lady is ugly. I have three green apples.

Fman99 Apr 23 2008 12:14 PM

="AG/DC"] ="Benjamin Grimm"]I think, if I lived in Germany, I'd be inclined to root for the NEUNKIRCHEN NIGHTMARES. That's because you're not existential enough to hitch your wagon to the WANDERERS. Standings North Team W L R+ R- .pct GB Solingen Alligators 5 0 47 4 1.000 0 Paderborn Untouchables 4 0 29 6 1.000 0.5 Cologne Cardinals 3 0 34 25 1.000 1 Bonn Capitals 2 3 42 47 .400 3 Hannover Regents 2 3 26 33 .400 3 Dortmund Wanderers 1 3 14 23 .250 3.5 HSV Stealers 1 3 17 30 .250 3.5 Neunkirchen Nightmares 0 6 14 55 .000 5.5 Standings South Team W L R+ R- .pct GB Buchbinder Legionäre 4 0 26 4 1.000 0 Saarlouis Hornets 3 1 33 14 .750 1 Heidenheim Heideköpfe 3 1 29 23 .750 1 Mannheim Tornados 3 3 21 23 .500 2 Gauting Indians 2 2 19 20 .500 2 Mainz Athletics 2 4 43 36 .333 3 Haar Diciples 2 4 24 34 .333 3 Neuenburg Atomics 1 5 17 58 .166 4 This is the greatest collection of team names I've seen in some time. I still like the Nippon Ham Fighters best for foreign team names though. Those guys tore Ham a new one.

Triple Dee Apr 23 2008 10:44 PM

Although strictly not connected with this thread, I came across this photo taken from the Greek Baseball League;

Nymr83 Apr 23 2008 11:11 PM

perhaps i should follow a german baseball team, they are likely to send me merchandise unlike the assholes at israel baseball league who took my money last year with no hat ever delivered.