Amsterdam Pirates
Last season, Amsterdam Pirates ended in a tie for sixth place with Hypotheekzeker.nl-Tornado's (now ADO), but because of the results between the two teams, Pirates finished seventh.
As it did the last few seasons, the Amsterdam-squad again will have a mix of young and talented players combined with experience. The last time, Pirates dominated the league was in 1990 when the team won its second Dutch title. This season Pirates probably will field its youngest team in years, but also has some veteran players on its roster, who can make the difference.
In July last year, the club officially opened its concrete stands of its stadium on Sportpatk Ookmer and its museum. With that, Pirates became the only club which has its own Hall of Fame and Museum.

...Tjerk Smeets... (Photo: Guido Dercksen)

After last season, Pirates had to say goodbye to most of its regular players.
RHP Jeroen Deken (4.47, 3-8, 0 SV) went back to The Herons. RHP Alexander Plakke (11.03, 0-3, 0 SV) and OF/RHP Mark-Jan Moorman (.273, 17 RBI, / 5.40, 0-0) returned to Konica Minolta Pioniers, where the first will play in their second team.
C Tjerk Smeets (.326, 14 RBI, 3 HR) left after seven seasons and will catch this year for Corendon Kinheim.
C/OF Jason Halman (.279, 18 RBI, 1 HR), IF Sidney Ensermo (.257, 3 RBI, 0 HR) (who last year both made their big league-debuts) and OF Shaldimar Daantji (.252, 11 RBI, 0 HR) all opted to go to Instant Holland Almere '90.
IF Sjoerd Hermans (.202, 11 RBI, 0 HR), his brother OF Jeroen Hermans (.238, 4 RBI, 0 HR) and OF Jeroen Stentler (.191, 11 RBI, 1 HR) all decided to return to the Rotterdam-area. The two Hermans-brother will play for Sparta/Feyenoord this season, Stentler joined Euro Stars.
IF Bas Kuijer (.257, 19 RBI, 1 HR) and OF/RHP Rikkert Faneyte (.203, 9 RBI, 1 HR / 0.96, 2-1, 0 SV) both retired, but both remain eligible to play. Active professional IF Vince Rooi, who was on the Pirates-roster, is now on the roster for Kinheim, but will play in the States again this year.

...2004 and 2005 Coaches... ...Ronald Stoovelaar, Mike Crouwel... ...and Paul Nanne... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

Twelve new players joined the Amsterdam-club, including four with big league-experience, four with international experience as player for the Dutch National Junior Team and two veteran players with a long career.
Utility Roderick Simon (.255, 13 RBI, 0 HR) came over from Kinheim and IF/OF Boudewijn van Elswijk (.196, 10 RBI, 1 HR) last season played for Tornado's.
Seven players were added from First Divisionist: IF/OF Derrick Francisca and OF Remco Draijer (both RCH-Pinguïns, RHP Robbert van der Pol, who played for Sparks Haarlem, C Max Picauly from Kinheim-2 and added from Pirates' own First Division-team were RHP Jan-Willem Geerts, C Bas Nooij and IF Kevin Gerard. The last four players are played for the Dutch Juniors.
Added from Pirates' third team were 1B/OF Mark Kan (who played for the big league-team before) and Cuban-born DH/1B Fausto Alvarez. Joining after a nine year-retirement is OF and former Dutch National Team-player Edsel Martis, who also played for Pirates in its championship season 1987 and also played in the big league for Almere Giants '24, Haarlem Nicols, HCAW/Tijgers and Hoofddorp Pioniers.

Completely new is the coachingstaff. The All-Olympian Coaching Staff of the last two seasons went separate ways.
Head Coach Paul Nanne (Atlanta 1996) returns as Head Coach for Omron Pioniers in the First Division, 3B Coach Mike Crouwel (Sydney 2000) takes the same position with ADO and Pitching Coach Eelco Jansen (Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004), who joined the staff last year, now handles the pitching with Corendon Kinheim. Louis Hofer, who took over as Head Coach with Kinheim halfway last season, returns to Pirates after seven seasons to become the Head Coach again. He will be assisted by former players Randell Hannah and Anthony St. Aubyn, while Rikkert Faneyte will be the Pitching Coach. Ronald Stoovelaar (Seoul 1988), the 1B Coach on Nanne's staff, remains with the club. He assists during the weekly practices and will be available as a coach for weekday home games.

Outlook 2006

...Raban Schalm... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

Pitching
Head Coach Louis Hofer plans to use righthanded rookie Jan-Willem Geerts, RHP Tom Stuifbergen (3.48, 1-1, 0 SV) and RHP Pim Walsma (5.11, 1-6, 0 SV) as his starters.
The three youngsters are backed up by a bullpen, which has three pitchers with more big league-experience: LHP Robin Franken (3.80, 1-2, 0 SV), RHP Raban Schalm (5.82, 3-4, 0 SV) and RHP Maarten Mulder (3.38, 3-1, 2 SV), who probably will become the closer. Also in the bullpen is newcomer RHP Robbert van der Pol.
,,We have a very young pitching staff'', Hofer agrees. ,,We should have one more additional arm. If needed, I can always use Mark Kan, who also is a pitcher, but an extra arm is always welcome.''

Catching
Bas Nooij, another rookie, will be the prime catcher this season. Unfortunately, he didn't played yet in the exhibition games due to an injury he sustained during winter sports activities.
Newcomer Max Picauly, also a rookie, will be the back-up catcher. Hofer: ,,He still has to learn a lot, but he is a fast learner and can handle the bat''.
Besides these two, veteran Roderick Simon, the utility player of the team, also will be used as a catcher. ,,Roderick brings a lot of routine'', Hofer said.

...Tyson Arishenkoff... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

Infield

Probable Line-Up 2006 Starters-RHP Tom Stuifbergen, RHP Pim Walsma, RHP Jan-Willem Geerts Relievers-LHP Robin Franken, RHP Raban Schalm, RHP Robbert van der Pol Closer-RHP Maarten Mulder C-Bas Nooij / Max Picauly 1B-Ralph Lagas / Mark Kan 2B-Tyson Arishenkoff 3B-Roderick Simon SS-Björn Henrichs Back-up IF-Kevin Gerard OF-Derrick Francisca / Boudewijn van Elswijk / Remco Draijer / Mark Kan DH-Fausto Alvarez / Edsel Martis

The Pirates-infield will be the most experienced part of the team.
Veteran Ralph Lagas (.204, 11 RBI, 0 HR) will share duty at First Base with Mark Kan, who rejoined the team after having played for Pirates-3 last season.
Experienced Canadian middle infielder and lefthanded hitter Tyson Arishenkoff (.352, 19 RBI, 3 HR), who last season was the team's leading hitter, returned and will be the Second Baseman.
Björn Henrichs (.208, 5 RBI, 0 HR) also is coming back into the infield and will be the starting Short Stop.
At Third Base, veteran Roderick Simon will be the starter.
Kevin Gerard, who last season played for Pirates-2 was added to the roster and will be the back-up infielder, but can also play in the outfield.
Hofer: ,,Our infield looks good, our defense will be important''.

Outfield
The outfield will have a new face this season, as it will be occupied completely by newcomers. Boudewijn van Elswijk (ADO), Derrick Francisca and Remco Draijer (both RCH-Pinguïns) probably will be the starters, but Mark Kan also can be used in the outfield.
,,We will try different options during the exhibition games and then we shall see'', Hofer said.

Designated Hitter
Two veterans, both are 40-plus, will probably see action as the Designated Hitter: Fausto Alvarez and Edsel Martis. Alvarez last season already played in Pirates-3, but is added to the main squad for this season, while Martis comes out of a long retirement.
Louis Hofer: ,,Both are lefthanded hitters and powerhitters, especially when the weather gets better. I can also use Edsel in the outfield and Fausto at first base.''

...Louis Hofer... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

General
Louis Hofer: ,,As of now, things are going reasonably well. Yes, it is going into the right direction. But everything might look good indoors, it will be a different story outdoors. There things has to be done. We will have to work hard this season. But we must have patience and do it ourself.
Pirates has a mix of young and experienced players, but the youngsters dominate the team. I think we have the youngest team in the league. On the other hand, we have two older players in Fausto Alvarez and Edsel Martis. Besides that, Roderick Simon and Boudewijn van Elswijk bring experience in the team.
I have a great confidence in this team. On paper, you might say we will have to play for seventh place. But we want to play good baseball and see how far we can come. Don't fool around. Yes, I think we can surprise and have some great games. Look at last year what happened to Sparta/Feyenoord, no one expected them to reach the Play-Offs, but see what happened. We have no sponsor, so we cannot offer anything, but we hope that these players will stay with the club the coming four, five years, so we can build a contender again.
Our mentality has to become our strenghth. We have to show what we can do and do it all together. Then, I really believe with can surprise.
Again, our weakness is having no sponsor, we cannot offer anything. We don't have players that play for the money.''

...Pirates Hall of Fame & Museum... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

Since 1999, Louis Hofer coached with Kinheim, but now he returns to Pirates after seven years for his third stint with the club. He first coached in Amsterdam from 1983-1985. In 1984 and 1985, he was the Head Coach and guided the team to fourth and third place respectively. Louis returned in 1990 for five more seasons with the team. First as an Assistant Coach (1990-1992), then again as the Head Coach (1993-1994). In 1990, Pirates won the Dutch title.
Hofer: ,,Of course, you can't compare the two clubs. It's a different mentality. Now with Pirates, we have to do a lot of things ourselves, also because we have no sponsor. But when we do all things together, there will be no problems. Work together, clean everything up, we have a wonderful accomodation. Work hard, that's what I will tell the players. Besides that, we having a 5-man coaching staff, which club has that?''

Hofer will be assisted by Randell Hannah, Anthony St. Aubyn, Rikkert Faneyte and Ronald Stoovelaar. All former players of Pirates. The coaching combination might vary on every game day. Hannah and St. Aubyn will join Hofer for all games, but Faneyte might only be available for home games, while Stoovelaar will assist with practices and probably joins the staff during week games and some occassional weekend games.
Hofer: ,,Every coach has its own responsibilities. We talk a lot with each other. We will play game by game. If I have to use all my pitchers in a game we can win, I will do that. We will again the next day. Of course, we discuss that kinds of things with Rikkert or Ronald, who have big league-experience. I might coach myself on third base, but maybe Randall or Anthony go there. We haven't decided yet. The coaching staff has a lot of confidence in these players and in our team. We will enter the season very optimistic.''

Who will reach the Play-Offs?
Hofer: ,,Kinheim has a strong team. But ADO also is strong. For the rest, I don't know, Pioniers lost David Bergman, so that might hurt, but they will be a candidate. So will Neptunus and HCAW. I don't know, we shall see.''

Amsterdam Pirates opens the season at home vs. DOOR Neptunus on Saturday, April 15.
On Sunday, April 16, Pirates travels to Rotterdam for the road game against Neptunus.

Pirates-related transfer stories
Arishenkoff returns to Pirates in 2006. (October 22)
Pirates acquires Francisca. (October 23)
Four national team-players join Kinheim. (October 24)
Neptunus, Kinheim add active pros. (October 31)
Almere adds 10 new players. (October 31)
Pirates is mixing talent with experience. (October 31)

COMING UP IN PART EIGHT: INSTANT HOLLAND ALMERE '90

other episodes:
Part One: DOOR Neptunus (January 16)
Part Two: Mr. Cocker HCAW (January 21)
Part Three: Konica Minolta Pioniers (February 5)
Part Four: Sparta/Feyenoord (March 2)
Part Five: ADO (March 11)
Part Six: Corendon Kinheim (March 19)
Part Eight: Instant Holland Almere '90 (April 11)

Mail your suggestions and questions to stoov@wxs.nl