My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Friday would’ve been New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle’s 86th Birthday. In 1951, Mantle’s rookie season, the 19-year-old outfielder was slumping badly when the Yankees demoted him to the triple-A Kansas City Blues in mid-July. The Blues were managed by Huntsville, Ont., native and... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Stubby Clapp, Rob Thomson, Andrew Albers, James Paxton
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · The Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies and likely the New York Mets will be looking for new managers this off-season, and Windsor, Ont., native Stubby Clapp, fresh off winning the Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year Award for leading the St. Louis Cardinals’ triple-A... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Andrew Albers, James Paxton, Scott Diamond, Jose Bautista
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Left-hander James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) allowed three runs in 1-1/3 innings in his return to the Seattle Mariners’ rotation on Friday after being out since August 11 with a left pectoral muscle strain. It was a disappointing performance, but with his return and North... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Jesen Therrien, Andrew Albers, David Cone, Bob Lemon
Photo Credit: Baseball Quebec (Twitter) My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Philadelphia Phillies reliever and Montreal native Jesen Therrien wins our unofficial award for best Canadian nickname on Players Weekend. The back of the 6-foot-2 right-hander’s jersey (see above) says “MTL-NORD” – a tribute to his home city. Unfortunately, it... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Joey Votto, Andrew Albers, Fergie Jenkins, Marco Estrada
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) had reached base at least twice in 20 consecutive games until his streak was snapped on Wednesday. He fell one game short of tying Ted Williams’ record for most consecutive games reaching base two or more times. Aside from Williams,... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . James Paxton, Andrew Albers, Larry Walker, Joey Votto
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · I think I jinxed Ladner, B.C., native James Paxton with all of my Cy Young talk about him last week. The Seattle Mariners lefty exited his start in the seventh inning on Thursday with a left pectoral muscle strain. He was placed on the... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . J.A. Happ, Dave Stieb, James Paxton
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: If the Toronto Blue Jays advance to the post-season, the first Christmas card they should send out this December should be to Pittsburgh Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage. Searage helped turn around the careers of three ex-Pirates who are now key members of the Blue... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Michael Saunders, Rob Ducey, Rich Butler
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame opens for its 19th season today. It’s well worth the drive to St. Marys, Ont., to visit the museum which is overflowing with one-of-a-kind artifacts. For more information, click on this link. There’s already a game-used bat from Victoria,... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Chris Colabello, Bill Singer, Paul Quantrill
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: I won’t pretend that I really know Chris Colabello, but I do know this, in 29 years of going to spring training in Dunedin and attending Toronto Blue Jays games, I’ve never met a kinder, more generous player. I’ve told this story before, but in... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Goose Gossage, Rob Butler, Dave Stieb
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: If Hall of Fame closer Goose Gossage, who regularly reminds people that he pitched multiple innings in his relief appearances, was angered by Jose Bautista’s bat flip last October, I can just imagine his opinion about Toronto Blue Jays set-up man Drew Storen not being... Continue Reading →