Name: Michael Burdett Age: 35 Years Playing baseball in the UK: 13 ('91-'03) First year with the Mavericks: 1992 Favourite Position: CF What's your shirt number, and why: 34 - my age....well it was! Career highlight: Game winning home run in play-off against Oxford in 1999 Best Maverick you've played with: Overall, Darren Rich is the best we've seen at this level. He was a great and consistent pitcher and very good batter. However, for overall contribution to the club it has to be Nick Henderson - best batter we've ever had. If you had to choose a new uniform, what colour would it be: (cap/shirt/pants) Chance would be a fine thing!! Probably some power colours such as purple and lime green! Or maybe something similar to the Astros Rainbow uniforms of the 1908's. Should the Mavericks General Manager have a say in team colours: Of course. In fact he should have the only say! Bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, 2 out, score tied; who would you want at the plate? Any good contact hitter. Not someone who would swing for the fences. Which baseball team to you support - and why: New York Yankees (AL) - lived there / Houston Astros (NL) - worked there (and those 1980's rainbow uniforms certainly helped!) What other professional sports teams: Southampton & Bournemouth (football); Hampshire (cricket) Most memorable sporting moment: Matt Le Tissier's last minute winner against Arsenal in the last ever game at the Dell. Worst moment in sport: Saints losing the 1984 FA Cup semi-final against Everton, when we were the best team left in the competition, and in with a chance of the double. Who are going to win the six divisions in the Major Leagues this year (2003): Yankees, White Sox, A's, Phillies, Cardinals, Giants ...and the World Series (2003): San Francisco Giants If you were commissioner of baseball, what one change would you make: Remove DH rule, and play more afternoon games, including a couple in the World Series, and introduce a Salary Cap on clubs. Best thing about baseball in Britain: A chance to play the game we all love Worst thing about baseball in Britain: Facilities, Doubleheaders, Weather, Pitching, Some UK suppliers - stand up TriplePlay UK Strikeout King or Home Run hero - which would you prefer to be: Strikeout King - not enough good pitching over here. Will you get more hits than strikeouts this season? When I don't, I'm retiring! Favourite away ground played on: Brighton. Which Maverick is most likely to get lost after getting to first base: Brian Kendal Should the Designated Hitter rule be used in the Major Leagues: No No No!. Which is better - American or National League: National Artificial turf or Real Grass: Real Grass. Wooden or Aluminium bats: Wooden (although aluminium where it saves money) Which Maverick has a car least likely to survive the trip to an away game: At the moment, Paul Dommet would rate highly, but I would also have to include any car in which Brian Kendal was navigating!! Best arm you've seen on the Mavericks: Steve Porter, Mike Finn, Dominc Munden (in order of arm strength, if not necessarily accuracy!) Who SHOULDN'T umpire a home game: Any pitcher! Biggest W****r in sport: Glenn Hoddle Which Major Leaguer would bring the most to the Mavericks - and why: Derek Jeter or Nomar Garciaparra wouldn't hurt us - not bad at shortstop, and useful with the bat! Who would you trade him for?: I would be happy to move to the Yankees or Red Sox in part exchange! Best Mavs infielder: Would have to be a tie between Pete Hammer and Steve Birchall. Both are great with the glove, and hit, and are not exactly slow on the base paths Best Mavs outfielder: Obviously modesty prevents me from nominating myself , so I would have to say Steve Sawyer, for his all around ability Best Mavs Pitching Rotation: For a 5 man rotation, it would be 1. Darren Rich, 2. Dave Wallace, 3. Keith Bulbeck, 4. Pete Hammer, 5. Paul McGuinness |
