Dutchies in the US, part 5

The regular MLB season is over. Most players are done, but a few are privileged that they can play in the playoffs.

Xander Bogaerts
Xander sat out the final game of the seaon in the dugout. This was a huge disappointment for him because he wanted to play in Derek Jeter’s last game (at Fenway Park). Jeter used to be his childhood idol. At the start of the season he was the starting shortstop for the Red Sox, but when they reacquired Stehen Drew, his BA dropped. After Drew was traded to the Yankees, it took Xander a while to get back on track.  Eventually he ended the season with a .240 batting average. Since he hovered around .200 for a long time, .240 is quite an improvement.

Roger Bernadina
Roger also had a though season. At the start he impressed the Cincinnati Reds with a very good Spring Training performance. But during the season he couldn’t live up to the expectations. Eventually the Reds released him but in no time he found a new club in the Los Angeles Dodgers, who send him to AAA Albuquerque. Shortly before the start of the European Cup, where he would join team Netherlands, he got a callup by the Dodgers. They wanted him to use him as a pinch runner. The few times that he came at bat, he didn’t get a hit. But in his last game of the season, he showed some of his old self by going 2 for 2 with a three run homerun. Eventually he finished the season with a .167 BA. In the meantime the Dodgers have let him known that he won’t be a part of their playoff roster.

photo: World Baseball Classic Inc.

Didi Gregorius
Didi didn’t have an easy season as well. He joined the Diamondbacks at their trip to Australia, but after they returned, the Diamondbacks send him down to AAA Reno. It took the D-Backs a while to call him up. But as the season continued he started to get more playing time and slowly he became the Diamondbacks’ starting shortstop again. His BA didn’t come close to that of last year (.252 vs .226 this season), but eventually he fought his way back thanks to his great defense.

Kenley Jansen
If there is one guy who will be in the playoffs, it is Kenley. What a season he had. 44 saves out of 49 opportunities and an ERA of 2.76. He kept his opponents limited to a batting average of .224. It is hard to believe that he was a catcher a few years ago.

Jurrickson Profar
Jurrickson didn’t play in 2014 due to several nagging injuries. It was rumored that the Rangers wanted him to playin the Arizona Fall League, but another shoulder injury made this impossible.

Jonathan Schoop
It is not clear yet if Jonathan is on the Orioles’ playoff roster. If so, he will be one of the few players from the Netherlands Antilles who can play in October.  Jonathan had a helluva year defensive wise. He mainly played at second base and he sported a fielding percentage of .987 at that position. At bat he had some trouble at times. Despite a .209 batting average, he still managed to hit 16 homeruns.

photo: Karl Merton Ferron, The Baltimore Sun 

Andrelton Simmons
After the Braves battled for a playoff spot for the biggest part of the season, they fell back in the final two  months and were eliminated from a playoff spot early. Andrelton had a setback at the end of the season as well. His batting average was a bit lower than last year (.248 in 2013 compared to .244 this year). On the defensive side he remained stellar, though his fielding percentage was also a bit lower than last year (.978 in 2014 and .981 in 2013).