BRUSSELS EAGLES
GM: Bart Kerremans
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2002:
Record 56-106, .346 - 4th, East, 48 GB Belfast
Runs Scored 807 (7th) - Runs Allowed 1039 (8th)
Attendance: 1,031,824 (8th out of 8)
SUMMARY:
If it's Tuesday it must be Belgium, if it's Brussels, it must be Brad Sharples. The left fielder led
the EBA in home runs (50) and was second in RBIs (150). Sharples returns, along with a handful
of free agents, including last season's highest paid EBA player (SP Bob Stenis) and RP Jack
O'Neill, who signed the most lucrative contract in EBA history--$5.3 million, which is 33% of
Brussels' player payroll. Brussels is still rebuilding, both short and long term.
EBA's Number 1 Pick:
* CF Ulisse Grancagnola
KEY returning PLAYERS:
* LF Brad Sharples (.316-50-150)
* 2B Jean-Marc Fraysse (.293-18-69) - missed a month because of injury
* RF Eisse Pijlswaard (.251-27-79)
* CL Valentino Ciolino (4-6-22 saves, 2.58)
KEY ADDITIONS:
hitters
* C Hashuro 'Ball o' Fat' Dakiki - free agent from Omaha
* SS Carl Abrahamson - sat out 2002 (.278-29-280 in five full MBBA seasons)
* RF Randall Prout
pitchers:
* SP Bob Stenis (12-17 3.71) - free agent from Amsterdam; last year's highest-paid EBA player
* RP Jonathan 'Jack' O'Neill - free agent from Calgary; $5.3 mil salary is $2 mil more than 2nd-highest EBA salary
KEY SUBTRACTIONS:
* 3B Mike Quarterman (.245-15-56) - full time third baseman in 2002
* RP Jean Maurel (4.57 in 77 relief appearances)
CONTROVERSY
* Will Jack O'Neill earn his pay?
* Will newcomers fill the void left by two departing starters?
* Will the team be able to re-sign CL Valentino Ciolino after this season?
2003
Brussels is still rebuilding, both short and long term. Don't be surprised to see new additions to
the club before the regular season. But its long term success depends on a coherent long-term
rebuilding strategy. Sharples took a slight hit on power, and he won't be around forever. CF
Ulisse Grancagnola was the cream of the EBA draft, but will take two or three years to develop.
The Eagles' free-agent signees will go a long way to bolstering the team who was second to
last in runs scored in 2002.
