By: Bryan Svec

Bryan Svec: Hello Tim, can I interview you for �Around the ABL�?

Tim Schneider: Okay.

Bryan: First of all, how do you feel your team has done this season?

Tim: A little worse than I had originally expected, but still well enough to compete for 3rd place in the Midwest division.

Bryan: What have you tried to do differently in 2007 as opposed to 2006 in which you hovered around .500?

Tim: I tried to get a better pitching staff and bullpen, which I have done, but in doing so, I have cost myself some big offensive numbers. This has cost me some really close games in 2007 already.

Bryan: When you look around the league, what teams have surprised you in the 2007 season?

Tim: Indiana�s current record isn�t too surprising, however with that being said the way they started the season and the way they fell off so quickly did surprise me a lot. Philadelphia has surprised me a lot as well. I knew they were attempting to rebuild a bit, but to be in 4th place and 30 games out at the All-Star break is a bit disappointing. In the south, Dallas caught me off guard. I thought the first six weeks were a fluke, but the fact that they remain in 2nd in the division at the break is a great success.

Bryan: With that, can you make a bold prediction in both the Northern Conference and Southern Conference over the second have of the season.

Tim: Up north, St. Louis will overcome the 10-game deficit and take the Midwest Division Wild Card from Detroit. In the south, Dallas will make the playoffs.

Bryan: What will you do in the second half of the season to get over the .500 mark?

Tim: What I should�ve done at the beginning of the year, nothing. I won�t change anything and allow the ship to right itself.

Bryan: Early prediction: who will win the championship in 2007, and who�s your prediction for the 2008 championship?

Tim: Chicago will win it this season, and Miami will win it next season.

Bryan: Last one, who do you think will be the breakout team in 2008?

Tim: New Orleans has all their prospects ready to go. They already have 3rd place wrapped up for the 2nd straight year, and next year should be the year they contend for the playoffs in their new division.

Bryan: Thanks for your time.

Tim: Yeah.

Next, we have Cameron Norris, the newest owner in the ABL. Norris hasn�t had his team for more than two weeks, but is doing a reasonable job in holding down the Tampa franchise. We caught Norris walking out of the Tiger clubhouse, and here�s what he had to say:

Bryan Svec: Hey Cam, can we talk for a couple of minutes?

Cameron Norris: Sure. You want my number or do you want to do it here?

Bryan: Right here is fine.

Cam: Okay.

Bryan: How does it feel to be the newest owner in the ABL?

Cam: It�s an experience and a great learning one at that; looking at the banter and the talk between everyone in the league, it�s easy to let that get to you and scare some people away. But for the most part, everyone has been welcoming and there to help with everything. Jay certainly has been a big part of my quick development going from coaching to owning.

Bryan: Have you figured out what your plan is going to be with the Tigers yet, or are you still feeling out what you�ll do with the team?

Cam: I�ve felt it out for the most part, I know what I�m going to do. This season, we�re just going to finish what we started, and the record should indicate that we have a ways to go. Luckily, my prior owner built a strong minor league system and we have the prospects to create a solid starting lineup that could take the field as soon as next year. Thanks to the prospects, Tampa is in a position for success and we hope it comes soon.

Bryan: From what you�ve been exposed to, what are the surprising teams of the season thus far?

Cam: I have a little bias, but Connecticut has been playing really well this year. The team I really like though is Las Vegas; they have a lot of pieces. I also like the way Chicago plays.

Bryan: What three teams have been disappointing thus far?

Cam: Tampa has been for one, I don�t like being 22-67. Cleveland has also been doing horrible. Los Angeles started pretty strong, but they�re in danger of falling out of the race.

Bryan: Who do you think will win the All-Star Game tonight, and any predictions on who will win the Player of the Game?

Cam: Miami has shown that they deserve having a dozen or so All-Stars. They�re far and away the best team in the league, so I like the SL to win and I�ll take Gandolfo as the PoG. Sorry for being so predictable.

Bryan: No problem. Who do you think will win the championship in 2007, and what team will breakout in 2008?

Cam: Chicago proved that they can beat Miami this year, and it looks to be Miami and whoever makes it out of the NL. Chicago, Boston, and Connecticut are so close its going to be a fun race to watch. I like Las Vegas and I think they could give Miami a run if they hit their stride at that point, but I'm going to go with Chicago for the championship because they're the champs and they have the target.

Bryan: So who do you think will be the breakout team of 2008?

Cam: As far as sheer improvement, Tampa is not going to lose 130 games next season. I�ll say it now; we may end up with the greatest turnaround. I wouldn�t mind seeing Indiana do well either. They�ve certainly shown flashes of what they could be at some point, so I�ll go with them.

Bryan: Thanks for your time.

Cam: You�re welcome.

To complete our trio, we have Houston Outlaws owner Kyle Borland with us. He�s been trying as hard as he can to get his team back up to .500, but found some time to sit down with me and answer a few questions. Here he is with some intriguing explanations to his falters in 2007:

Bryan Svec: First of all Mr. Borland, how do you feel your team has done thus far in 2007?

Kyle Borland: We have done awful; nothing has worked for the team in the first half of the season.

Bryan: What has gone wrong this season? I seem to remember in 2006 you had a winning record.

Kyle: Yes, we did have a winning record in the 2006 season, but the big changes from then and now was the trade involving Miguel Oliveras and Vic Cruz. They have both been big run producers in the Outlaws lineup. With those two leaving, the lineup has lost almost all its pop and the runs just aren�t coming as often as they used to. The other thing is that the Houston pitching has not lived up to its potential; the only pitchers on my whole staff with earned run averages under 4.00 are Sergio Moretti and Carlo Mota. We should be one of the better rotations in the league.

Bryan: Who is the surprise team in the ABL this year?

Kyle: Dallas.

Bryan: Elaborate you bastard.

Kyle: Dallas has certainly opened some eyes this season; it seems their young team is starting to come together. Even though they have had a strong start this season, I believe they won�t be able to hold off Los Angeles from taking the wildcard in the division.

Bryan: What teams have been disappointing to you in 2007?

Kyle: Houston has been especially disappointing to me, but the other has to be Philadelphia. They are doing even worse than Houston right now and they have better players. The pitchers are getting no run support from their lineup, and Marc Poles with a 2.56 earned run average but only a 7-8 record is a travesty.

Bryan: What will you try to do in the second half of 2007 to get back in the race, or have you already packed your bags?

Kyle: There is really no way for Houston to be in the race any longer. At this point, I�m just going to try and get the team back up to .500. I plan on bringing a few younger pitchers up this season to take place of those that are faltering, such as Franco Panizo, and I just have to watch my prospects to see when they will be ready to help this team win.

Bryan: Who do you think will win the championship in 2007, and who do you think will be the breakout team of 2008?

Kyle: I started off the season thinking that Miami would take the cake in a powerful revenge move against Chicago, but with Boston�s recent tear, I think they are going to be the ones to give the Talons a run for their money. As for breakout teams next season, I see Houston, Dallas and New Orleans slugging it out in the new Texas Division and they will all hold surprising records.

Bryan: Thanks for your time.

Kyle: No Problem.

There you have it: three owners, three unique views about the state of the ABL. Between these three owners and their responses, you have to think that the ABL can only get more exciting from here. At only the halfway point, only few can wait to see what the rest of the 2007 season holds. But if these three owners showed us anything, they showed us that it should be a great ride. Come back soon for the next edition of �Talking with the Owners�.