Peter Moylan and former LA Dodgers teammate catcher AJ Ellis at the Sydney Opera House promoting the opening round of the Major League Baseball that will be played at the SCG in March. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: Philip Hillyard / News Corp Australia
FORMER LA Dodgers and Atlanta Braves pitcher Peter Moylan believes the season opening of Major League Baseball at the SCG could be a tipping point for the popularity of the sport here.
The key is how much better the live experience is compared to watching games on TV.
"It's a whole different ball game," Moylan told The Daily Telegraph.
"When you go there you see how hard people throw, you see how good people's hands are in the infield and you see how fast guys run.
"Plus there is the excitement you get with different music, the announcers and the on-field promotions that they do.
"It will turn a lot of people to become fans of baseball."
The Perth-born Moylan is keen to play for Australia in the recently announced lead-up games against the LA Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks but could be back in the US if things go to plan and he finds a new Major League team to continue his remarkable career at.
The 34-year-old has no less than a dozen teams interested in his services.
The enthusiasm for his side arm pitching isn't surprising, in his time at Atlanta he was one of the best relievers in baseball.
He became the first Brave ever to pitch 80 or more games two seasons (2007-80 and 2009-87) and set a Major League record for most appearances from the start of the season without giving up a home run (73 games).
Injury slowed his progress in 2010 and he moved to the Dodgers last year before being released this year.
Peter Moylan during his days with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Picture: Getty Images Source: Supplied
This week Moylan caught up with former teammate and Dodgers catcher AJ Ellis, who is certain the Aussie will be back in the majors soon.
"There's a team out there, hopefully it's the Dodgers, who will get a lot of value out of having a guy like Peter Moylan in their organisation," Ellis said.
"You could see his velocity returning the more he pitched last year and with his unorthodox motion the way he throws (side-arm) it's a tough match up for a right handed hitter.
Moylan is also a big personality with a sense of humour to match which was useful when he was playing for the Dodgers minor league team the Albuquerque Isotopes (named after the Simpson's episode featuring the Springfield Isotopes).
"I've never been around a guy who brings a clubhouse together like Peter Moylan," Ellis said.
As well as turning local fans onto the game of baseball Moylan also hopes the SCG matches will inspire youngsters to play the game.
"I would love to see crowds turn up like they used to, back in the 1990s when I was growing up in Perth," Moylan said.
"The Perth Heat would get a packed house every week. It was great, as a teenager I looked up to it and I wanted to play for the Perth Heat and not go to the US.
"I don't want to take anything away from cricket and soccer but for kids to see there is another avenue to an international sport is what I hope for."
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