Meet the Marikina Shoemakers

The second season of Baseball Philippines (behind our friends Leslie Suntay and Chito Loyzaga) is on this Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

There are six teams: Makati Mariners, Manila Sharks, Marikina Shoemakers, Cebu Dolphins, Dumaguete Uni-bikers, and Forward Taguig. Most of the teams feature line-ups from the UAAP schools beefed up by national players and the southern schools.

The Marikina team is a hybrid Ateneo-UP team that will be coached by the Maroons' Emer Barandoc and managed by Ateneo coach Randy Dizer.

That team is going to be fun to watch. The Eguia brothers from UP are plenty good and they'll be a more than capable replacement for Justin Zialcita who is in the US right now. Last I heard he -- I think -- might have an outside chance at some school or MLB team. Good luck, Justin! Thanks for the year in blue.

Now it isn't sure but Blue Eagle rookie Kirk Long is hoping that he'll be given clearance to play for the Ateneo baseball team. But don't hold your breath, folks.

Here is the team preview from baseballphilippines.com:

TEAM PREVIEW
Marikina has traditionally been a baseball hotbed and this team reflects that culture. It has depth in pitching and a slew of young players, but its primary problem might be a clash of egos and experiences. If skipper Randy Dizer can work on this team’s chemistry, then the Shoemakers could possibly be this season’s sleeper.

On the hill, Marikina can throw out a different arm every few innings and that could certainly break the opposition’s rhythm. Between right-handers Roy Baclay (1-1, 3.72 ERA, 19.1 IP for Laguna Tigers in Series 1), Roel Batuto (1-0, 4.91 ERA, 11 IP for Makati Mariners in Series 1), Ramil Placides (3-1, 3.86 ERA, 16.1 IP in TLB.06 and Series 1 combined) and University of the Philippines ace left-hander Vladimir Eguia, and a group of short relievers, the Shoemakers’ rotation could be the league’s envy.

Batuto -- the staff's hardest thrower -- however needs to overcome his wildness (2.10 WHIP, 11 walks, 2 hit batters, 4 wild pitches) if he is to become a true ace. On the other hand, when one pitcher is not on his game, another arm can always come in and that spurs healthy competition as far as this pitching staff is concerned.

The offense will be anchored by Batuto, Placides, and whoever is not pitching. They can certainly lend experience while beefing up a batting order that includes Junifer Pinero (.320 BA / 26 PA for Negros Roosters in Series 1) and a troupe of former youth standouts in Stefano Baltao (.538 BA, .556 OBP, 1.077 SLG / 27 PA in TLB.06), Nikko Dizer (.556 BA / 12 PA in TLB.06), Alex Tolome, Ericson Eguia, Carlo Banzon (.524 BA / 21 PA in TLB.04) and phenom Matt Laurel (.444 BA, .571 OBP, .630 SLG / 35 PA in TLB.06). These kids may be able to hold their own, but whether they can still be schooled for this level of competition is a different matter.