Australia v Venezuela

Two months ago Phil Brassington was concentrating on knocking down houses to prospective home buyers in suburban Canberra
Tonight at Disney’s Wide World Of Sports, venue of the World Baseball Classic 'Pool D', Brassington will be concentrating on knocking down the imposing Venezuela line-up

It caps a remarkable return to the game for real estate agent Brassington who was resigned two years ago that his days of playing baseball were over

Brassington got the call up from Australian manager Jon Deeble, who heard about Brassington’s knuckleball, saw him throw a bullpen and liked what he saw
Now, Brassington is on the verge of throwing his knuckleballs to Bobby Abreu, Miguel Cabrera, Omar Vizquel and Edgar Alfonzo, all bona fide Major League stars

If that is not daunting enough, Brassington takes the mound with the knowledge that Australia must defeat Venezuela if it is to keep alive its hope of advancing to the second round of the World Baseball Classic

Despite such a pressure-packed backdrop, Brassington said he would approach the game no differently from he normally does
Brassington said he and his teammates were looking no further ahead than defeating Venezuela, who last night defeated Italy
“We have to start again” Brassington said
“It was frustrating against Italy because we all know we are a much better team than we showed
Italy’s starting pitcher threw a hell of a game from the beginning
He set the standard”

Brassington said Australia would be looking to get ahead early in the game against Venezuela and stay in front

He said he would not let the occasion sway him from his game plan
“I have a knuckleball and a fast ball
I’m not going to strike guys out
I’ll try to get some movement with the ball and get the hitters to pop up and hit ground balls
I’m not trying to set up guys
I’m trying to put their timing off”

Australian manager Jon Deeble said he would stick with the same hitting line-up although the offense could muster just the solitary hit against Italy in the opening World Baseball Classic game

Deeble described the performance as one of the worst, if not the worst, by an Australian team he had been associated with

He said he had the confidence in his position players that they would respond positively against Venezuela
“They (Italy) were classes better than us the other night, but I know we are much better than that” Deeble said
“The great thing about baseball is that you come out the next day and it can turn right around”