Flintoff & Dunn's
LATEST NEWS ARCHIVE

  

It is intended that this page will maintain a historical record of previous news published on this site. From time to time we will archive old or outdated news on our "WHAT'S NEW" & "AUSSIES IN THE US LEAGUES" pages. It may interest some people to read the developments in chronological order right here.

** BOOKMARK this page NOW (and REFRESH) as it will be changed periodically.

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To make things easier for our loyal suscribers we will adopt a new format of
providing news involving AUSTRALIAN Players in yellow text, while 
news about former AMLB IMPORT Players will be in white text.

LATEST ARCHIVED NEWS BEGINS BELOW:

  19 AUG 2010 - THOMAS BATTLES WITH YANKEES!
Here is an update of what some Aussies and former AMLB imports have been doing in the US major leagues:

Brad Thomas

 

 Australian BRAD THOMAS contributed a couple of somewhat eventful outs for the Detroit Tigers toward the end of their 2-6 defeat by the New York Yankees with 0.2ip 0h 0er 1bb 0k (4.35ERA). Taking the hill with two runners on and one out, Thomas made life more difficult for himself immediately when, after throwing two quick strikes to Curtis Granderson, his following four balls loaded the bases. This enabled Ramiro Pena to deliver a sacrifice fly to right field. He then concluded his day by getting Brett Gardner to fly out to left field. In the context it wasn't a bad job, but walks certainly do hurt in baseball!

Despite his best starting performance of the season yesterday, the 2010 nightmare continued for veteran right-hander KEVIN MILLWOOD (Melbourne Monarchs 1997) who was unfortunate to take his 13th loss of the campaign when his Baltimore Orioles were shut out 0-4 by the Seattle Mariners. 'Big Kev' pitched a sterling 8.0ip 6h 1er 3bb 4k but he still saw his record tumble further to 2-13, 5.49ERA.

GEOFF BLUM (Hunter Eagles 1995) batted 1-3 (.266) as the starting second baseman for the Houston Astros in their narrow 4-3 victory over the New York Mets.

Journeyman lefty RON MAHAY (Gold Coast Cougars 1996) only needed to get the last out for the Minnesota Twins who scored two runs in the bottom of the tenth inning to defeat the Chicago White Sox 7-6. Mahay pitched 0.1ip 0h 0er 0bb 0k to take his season record to 1-1, 3.44ERA.
  18 AUG 2010 - MOYLAN WINS HIS 4th OVER DODGERS!
Here is an update of what some Aussies and former AMLB imports have been doing in the US major leagues:

Peter Moylan		 Much like his Australian compatriot, Brad Thomas, the previous day PETER MOYLAN found himself pitching at just the right time to collect his fourth win of the season when his Atlanta Braves struck late for a dramatic 4-3 comeback win over the Los Angeles Dodgers via three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. With his team trailing 1-3, 'Big Pete' took over to throw a most positive top of the ninth with 1.0ip 0h 0er 0bb 0k. In fact Moylan required just eight pitches to induce three ground ball outs with Casey Blake grounding to the short stop, Matt Kemp to the second baseman and Jamey Carroll also to the second baseman. I won't quite venture that his effort inspired the team to the comeback win, but this type of inning does often provide some impetus. He improved his record to 4-2, 3.00ERA. Team mate DAVID ROSS (MLB All-Stars 2001) batted 0-0 (.295) as a pinch hitter for the Braves but he did walk in the bottom of the ninth to push across one of those vital three runs.

VERNON WELLS (Sydney Storm 1999) batted 1-4 (.270) to help the Toronto Blue Jays to overcome the Oakland Athletics 3-1 yesterday.
  17 AUG 2010 - THOMAS WINS No.5 V CHISOX!
Here is an update of what some Aussies and former AMLB imports have been doing in the US major leagues:

Brad Thomas


David Ross

 You don't always get a lot of luck as a relief pitcher in baseball, but Australia's BRAD THOMAS made some of his own yesterday when he was pitching at just the right time to snare his fifth win of the season when his Detroit Tigers rallied late to overrun the Chicago White Sox 13-8. Brad pitched a somewhat rare scoreless frame for the Tigers with 1.0ip 0h 0er 0bb 0k after his team had already allowed seven runs in a wild slugfest. His team still trailed 6-7 in the game when Thomas was asked to take the ball for the bottom of the seventh inning but he proceeded to do his job by getting Mark Teahen to ground out to the second baseman, Ramon Castro to ground out to the catcher and Mark Kotsay to ground out to the short stop. His record improved to an impressive looking 5-1, 4.41ERA.

Atlanta Braves backup catcher DAVID ROSS (MLB All-Stars 2001) batted 1-1 (.295) as a pinch hitter in their 13-1 demolition of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Previously Ross batted a healthy 2-5 (.290) to help his club to crush the Houston Astros 8-2.

VERNON WELLS (Sydney Storm 1999) contributed 1-5 (.270) for the Toronto Blue Jays in their 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels. In another recent game he batted 2-4 (.274) to help Toronto to stay in a position to rally for four runs in the ninth inning and to overrun the Boston Red Sox 6-5.

… and from other MLB games recently:

Veteran starter KEVIN MILLWOOD (Melbourne Monarchs 1997) took his 12th defeat of the season even though he pitched one of his better outings for the Baltimore Orioles with 7.0ip 9h 3er 1bb 1k in their 1-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians. His record fell further to 2-12, 5.74ERA.

RON MAHAY (Gold Coast Cougars 1996) pitched 1.1ip 0h 0er 1bb 0k (3.51ERA) for the Minnesota Twins during their 1-6 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
  12 AUG 2010 - MOYLAN HELPS BRAVES WIN IN HOUSTON!
Here is an update of what some Aussies and former AMLB imports have been doing in the US major leagues:

Peter Moylan		 Australia's PETER MOYLAN needed only nine pitches to get his part of the job done for the Atlanta Braves yesterday when he pitched 0.1ip 1h 0er 0bb 0k (3.06ERA) in their 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros. Pete took over from Atlanta starter Jair Jurrjens with one on and two out after an intentional walk was issued to fill the open first base. He could be excused for feeling some deja vu from the previous game when a spate of fielding gaffes saw the game quickly spin out of control for his team. Moylan induced the dangerous Carlos Lee to ground into a fielder's choice to the short stop but an error on the play also saw a run cross the plate and another runner advance into scoring position at second base. Things turned in his favour when the runner was caught attempting to steal third base and a potential run was removed before Chris Johnson singled into right field. That was to be the end of his day this time.

RYAN LANGERHANS (IBLA Internationals 2001) batted 1-3 (.219) for the Seattle Mariners in their 2-0 win over the Oakland Athletics.
  11 AUG 2010 - THOMAS GOOD; MOYLAN UNLUCKY!
Here is an update of what some Aussies and former AMLB imports have been doing in the US major leagues:

Brad Thomas


Peter Moylan

 Australian setup reliever BRAD THOMAS continues to do a solid job for the Detroit Tigers with his latest effort of 2.0ip 1h 0er 0bb 1k (4.50ERA) helping to keep the Tigers in the game during their 3-6 defeat by the Tampa Bay Rays. Brad took over to begin the top of the sixth and he posted a 1-2-3 inning with Dan Johnson flying out to left field, Matt Joyce doing the same and B.J Upton grounding back to the mound for his own assist. Back for the seventh he allowed a leadoff runner when Jason Bartlett singled to right centre but he then foiled the sacrifice bunt of John Jaso by fielding it himself and erasing the lead runner via a fielder's choice out at second base. He shut down the inning by getting Ben Zobrist to foul out to the catcher then he struck out Carl Crawford swinging.

'Flintoff & Dunn' has never been in the business of making gratuitous excuses for our Aussie players but, on this occasion, I happened to view a replay of the Atlanta Braves 4-10 loss to the Houston Astros yesterday and our PETER MOYLAN was just one of the victims of some really bad luck. Pete pitched in the middle of a horrible six run inning by the Astros that saw the Braves 4-3 lead in the game evaporate in most unfortunate circumstances. Rarely have so many "bloop" hits compounded into fielding errors in such a sequence as they did in this game. Pete was asked to put out a raging inferno after unreliable reliever Kyle Farnsworth had lost the lead in the game and the Braves defence was descending into melt-down. He inherited a bases loaded with one out situation just following an intentional walk. Things didn't improve for him after hard hitting Carlos Lee sliced a shallow outfield hit off the end of his bat that dumped just in front of the right fielder for a RBI. Chris Johnson followed with a slightly more convincing single into left field for two RBIs and the bases were emptied after a throwing error on the play by All-Star catcher Brian McCann. It saw the end of Moylan for the day on a play that sort of summed up the game!

Outfielder RYAN LANGERHANS (IBLA Internationals 2001) batted 1-2 (.214) for the Seattle Mariners to help them to a 3-1 win over the visiting Oakland Athletics.
  10 AUG 2010 - MOYLAN HOLDS 18th FOR BRAVES!
Here is an update of what some Aussies and former AMLB imports have been doing in the US major leagues:

Peter Moylan		 Australia's PETER MOYLAN registered his 18th hold of the year yesterday with 1.0ip 1h 1er 0bb 0k (2.70ERA) for the Atlanta Braves who doubled the San Francisco Giants 6-3. Our Pete relieved Braves starter Derek Lowe with one on and one out in the top of the sixth, just after the Giants had scored a run on an error. He needed just three pitches to end the inning when Pat Barrell fouled out to the fisrt baseman and Juan Uribe grounded out to the short stop. Back for the seventh Moylan was greeted by a rare long ball when Travis Ishikawa took him deep over left centre field to lead off the inning. He got Freddie Sanchez to pop out to the short stop but he was lifted after hitting Eli Whiteside with a pitch. Pete's battery mate for the game DAVID ROSS (MLB All-Stars 2001) was very useful with the stick for Atlanta, batting 1-3 (.284) with two RBIs coming via his first home run of the season.

In a game where hits were as scarce as hen's teeth, veteran outfielder VERNON WELLS (Sydney Storm 1999) did his bit for the Toronto Blue Jays by driving in their only run of the game with 1-2 (.274) and the important RBI in their 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Unfortunately Wells' pitching team mate Brandon Morrow fell agonisingly just one batter short of a NO-HITTER!
  8 AUG 2010 - MOYLAN LOSES; THOMAS STRUGGLES TOO!
Here is an update of what some Aussies and former AMLB imports have been doing in the US major leagues:

Peter Moylan


Brad Thomas


Mike Hessman


R. Langerhans

 Aussie favourite PETER MOYLAN has enjoyed a lot more good times than bad since his fairytale rise to the major leagues, but I'll bet that his second loss of the season yesterday would not be one of his fondest memories. Pitching for the Atlanta Braves in their 2-3 extra innings loss to the San Francisco Giants, Pete was uncharacteristically wayward with 1.2ip 1h 1er 4bb 0k to see his record slide to a still very respectable 3-2, 2.56ERA. Taking over in the top of the 10th inning of a 2-2 ballgame, he started by walking Nate Schierholtz who he next had caught stealing before Andres Torres singled into left centre. It all looked to be going to play for Moylan when Freddy Sanchez grounded into an inning ending double play. Back for the eleventh he couldn't please the plate umpire with successive walks to Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey on just ten total pitches. He secured an out when Juan Uribe grounded into a fielder's choice and he was then told to load the bases by intentionally walking 'Kung-Fu Panda' Pablo Sandoval. This tactic didn't prove successful this time when Pat Burrell lifted the go-ahead sacrifice fly RBI to left field. It saw the end of his outing for this day.

Australia's BRAD THOMAS was just one of the Detroit Tigers' pitchers to struggle today as he failed to get an out in their 1-10 hammering at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels. Brad pitched 0.0ip 1h 2er 1bb 0k (4.69ERA) after coming in to relieve starter Jeremy Bonderman with one on and one out in the top of the fifth. He started poorly by issuing a wild pitch before walking veteran Hideki Matsui. He was quickly lifted after Maicer Izturis cashed in with a RBI double to right field.

Former No.1 overall draft selection VERNON WELLS (Sydney Storm 1999) was just one of the Toronto Blue Jays hitters who feasted on the Tampa Bay Rays pitching in a "football score" 17-11 slugfest win. In this context he batted a relatively modest 1-4 (.273) with two walks and a run batted in.

MATT WATSON (IBLA MLB All Stars 2001) batted a handy 1-3 (.200) with a RBI for the Oakland Athletics who beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 today.

Baltimore Orioles evergreen starter KEVIN MILLWOOD (Melbourne Monarchs 1997) enjoyed one of his better game lately with 6.0ip 4h 1er 2bb 2k (5.84ERA) but he didn't figure in the decision which the O's lost 2-4 to the in-form Chicago White Sox.

... and from other MLB games yesterday:

MIKE HESSMAN (Melbourne Monarchs 1999) landed his first major league "big fly" for the season yesterday when he batted 1-1 (.231) with three RBIs as a successful pinch hitter for the New York Mets in their 5-7 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Making a rare start at short stop for the Houston Astros was GEOFF BLUM (Hunter Eagles 1995) who responded with a mighty 3-5 (.269) in their narrow 5-6 defeat by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Another MLB stalwart, RYAN LANGERHANS (IBLA Internationals 2001), batted a similarly superb 3-4 (.226) with a RBI for the Seattle Mariners to help them to overrun the Kansas City Royals 7-1.
  6 AUG 2010 - MOYLAN HOLDS; THOMPSON OK!
Here is an update of what some Aussies and former AMLB imports have been doing in the US major leagues:

Rich Thompson


Peter Moylan

 Australia's persistent and consistent relief pitcher RICH THOMPSON did his job for the Los Angeles Angels yesterday, yet his solid effort with the ball was not enough to save his team from a 7-9 loss to the resurgent Baltimore Orioles. Richard pitched 2.1ip 1h 0er 0bb 0k (1.86ERA) in relief of Angels' starter Ervin Santana who was hammered from the mound after allowing 12 hits from his three and two-thirds innings of work. Thompson took over with one on and two out in the fourth just after the 'Orange Birds' had posted their ninth run and he ended a painful inning when Matt Weiters grounded out to the first baseman. In the fifth he did very well to handle a lead off error that allowed Josh Bell to reach first by using a total of nine pitches to get Cesar Iszturis to pop out to the short stop, Brian Roberts to ground out to first and Nick Markakis to ground out back to himself on the mound. Thompson also worked around a lead off single by Ty Wiggington in the bottom of the sixth by getting Luke Scott to fly out to centre field, Adam Jones to line out to the second baseman and Felix Pie to pop out to the short stop. The game might have been decided in the negative for the Angels, but our Richard Thompson was very good and he would have been a hero if the Angels' late rally had not fallen two runs short!

Aussie ace PETER MOYLAN earned his 17th hold of the season yesterday with 1.1ip 0h 1r 0er 2bb 0k (2.45ERA) to help his Atlanta Braves to an important 8-3 victory over their division rival New York Mets. Pete joined the action with two on and two out in the sixth after back-to-back walks had moved a runner into scoring position. It took him just one pitch to get former team mate Jeff Francouer to fly out to the right fielder to end the inning. Pete didn't have it all his own way in the top of the seventh when he issued a five pitch lead off walk to Luis Castillo, but he next cut down the lead runner when pinch hitter Chris Carter grounded back to the mound for his own assist. Jose Reyes followed with a fielder's choice ground out to the first baseman, however, a throwing error on the play saw both runners safe on the corners. It was to cost the Braves an unearned run when Angel Pagan lifted a sacrifice fly to centre field. Further trouble loomed when a stolen base and a walk to Carlos Beltran but Moylan snuffed out the threat by getting hot-hitting David Wright to ground into a fielder's choice to the short stop.

GEOFF BLUM (Hunter Eagles 1995) once again did his job as a pinch hitter with 1-1 (.257) plus a RBI for the Houston Astros during their 4-8 defeat by the St.Louis Cardinals.
  5 AUG 2010 - THOMAS CLOSES IN BLOWOUT LOSS!
Here is an update of what some Aussies and former AMLB imports have been doing in the US major leagues:

Brad Thomas


Geoff Blum


Vernon Wells

 Australia's BRAD THOMAS was the last pitcher standing for the Detroit Tigers in the early game of the double-header yesterday in what was a horrible 2-12 shellacking at the hands of the Chicago White Sox. Brad took over to pitch the eighth inning with his team already trailing 1-11 and two pitches later it was 1-12 when Dayan Viciedo cranked a home run over left centre. Another runner was quickly aboard when Brent Lillibridge singled up the middle but a fielder's choice ground out by Paul Konerko secured the first out of the inning. He battled the dangerous Carlos Quentin before striking him out, then he got Ramon Castro to ground into a fielder's choice to the short stop. Thomas had an easier time pitching the ninth even after Alexei Ramirez led off with an infield single to the short stop. A.J Pierzynski grounded into a fielders' choice to the second baseman and Gordon Beckham followed by grounding into an inning ending double play. His line for the day finished at 2.0ip 3h 1er 0bb 1k (4.31ERA).

Former ABL import GEOFF BLUM (Hunter Eagles 1995) was back in demand as a pinch hitter and he clearly enjoyed the chance to hit in a lop sided 18-4 win by his Houston Astros over the St.Louis Cardinals. Blum batted 2-2 (.252) with a RBI and a run scored.

Continuing to run hot with the stick is VERNON WELLS (Sydney Storm 1999) who slammed his 22nd long ball of the season yesterday as part of his 2-5 (.278) with the two RBIs that padded his Toronto Blue Jays big 8-2 win over the New York Yankees. The previous day he launched his 21st home run of the season while batting an identical 2-5 plus two RBIs to help Toronto to outscore the Yankees 8-6.

RON MAHAY (Gold Coast Cougars 1996) got the final out for the Minnesota Twins with 0.1ip 0h 0er 0bb 0k (3.38ERA) in their 4-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. The day before he pitched 0.2ip 0h 0er 0bb 1k in relief for the Twins who were doubled 2-4 by the in-form Tampa Bay.

Enjoying a rare start at left field yesterday was Oakland Athletics stalwart MATT WATSON (IBLA MLB All Stars 2001) who batted 1-2 (.208) with a RBI and two walks as he could hardly be blamed for their 2-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals. The day before he batted 1-3 with a RBI in their 6-0 shutout win over the Royals.

... and from other MLB games on Tuesday:

Helping his Atlanta Braves to get the better of the New York Mets in a 4-1 game was backup catcher DAVID ROSS (MLB All-Stars 2001) who batted 1-4 (.282) while minding the plate.
  3 AUG 2010 - THOMAS TAKES LOSS v BOSOX!
Here is an update of what some Aussies and former AMLB imports have been doing in the US major leagues:

Brad Thomas

Kevin Millwood		 Australian BRAD THOMAS was handed his first loss of the season yesterday after pitching 1.0ip 2h 1r 0er 1bb 1k for the Detroit Tigers who were nosed out by another late rally from the Boston Red Sox 3-4. Brad took over to start the bottom of the eighth with his team trailing 0-3 and he was greeted by a leadoff single from David Ortiz. There was no advance when he got Victor Martinez to pop out to the second baseman, he struck out Adrian Beltre and he got Ryan Kalish to ground out to the first baseman. Thomas returned in a tied 3-3 ballgame to start the bottom of the ninth and the pressure was applied when Jed Lowrie beat out an infield single to lead off the inning. Pinch runner Darnell McDonald then stole second base, prompting the Tigers to intentionally walk Eric Patterson before our man was lifted. The tactic unravelled when Marco Scutaro next reached on a bunt single when Thomas' replacement threw wildly to allow the winning run to score, unearned, while also saddling him with the loss. His season record dipped to 4-1, 4.30ERA.

After a relatively quiet patch of offensive output, Toronto Blue Jays slugger VERNON WELLS (Sydney Storm 1999) has found his swing again lately and he contributed another 2-4 (.275) in their most recent 4-5 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

A season of torment continued for veteran starting pitcher KEVIN MILLWOOD (Melbourne Monarchs 1997)  who was hit hard again with 5.2ip 11h 5er 0bb 3k as the losing pitcher for the scuffling Baltimore Orioles who were edged 4-5 by the Kansas City Royals. His record slid to 2-11, 6.05ERA.
  1 AUG 2010 - MOYLAN HOLDS & THOMAS DOESN'T!
Here is an update of what some Aussies and former AMLB imports have been doing in the US major leagues:

Brad Thomas
Peter Moylan		 Australia's BRAD THOMAS didn't manage to register an out today while allowing one of the runs scored by the Boston Red Sox who rallied late to snatch a walkoff 5-4 victory over his Detroit Tigers. Thomas pitched 0.0ip 1h 1er 0bb 0k (4.40ERA) after relieving Tigers' starter Matt Scherzer with one out and a runner perched on third base. Unfortunately for him, his fifth pitch saw Bosox debutant Ryan Kalish poke a RBI single into right field. It was to be the only batter he faced on this day.

Aussie compatriot PETER MOYLAN faced just two batters for his 0.1ip 0h 0er 0bb 0k (2.53ERA) during his Atlanta Braves 2-5 defeat by the Cincinnati Reds. Pete relieved starter Jair Jurrjens with one on and one out immediately after the Reds had taken a 5-2 lead in the ballgame. He started by getting Brandon Phillips to ground into a fielder's choice to the short stop, then he ended the frame by getting journeyman Orlando Cabrera to ground out back to himself on the mound for the assist.

Yesterday Moylan pitched a very handy 1.0ip 0h 0er 0bb 0k to earn his 16th hold of the year in Atlanta's 6-4 win over 'Cincy'. In that game Pete pitched a tidy bottom of the sixth with Jonny Gomes grounding out back to the mound, Jay Bruce flying out to centre field and Drew Stubbs grounding out to the short stop.

Evergreen outfielder VERNON WELLS (Sydney Storm 1999) batted 2-4 (.273) for the Toronto Blue Jays in their narrow 1-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians. Yesterday Wells batted 1-4 in Toronto's 8-1 win over the 'Tribe'.

 


If anyone takes the trouble to contact us with any reasonably substantiated news of interest to AMLB supporters, we will publish this news on this site! Click these to contact Adrian Dunn or Peter Flintoff.