By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada It seems fitting that the greatest Canadian pitcher was the first hurler to toss a shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays. On April 24, 1977, Fergie Jenkins, toeing the rubber for the Boston Red Sox, dominated the Jays for nine innings in front of 29,303 fans at Exhibition Stadium.... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? … Edwin Encarnacion, Miguel Batista, Eric Thames
My weekly observations about stories around the baseball world from a Canadian perspective (Please follow me on Twitter: @kevinglewsports): - It sure seems like Toronto Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion is accumulating a lot of RBIs this season. That's because he is. In fact, by my calculation, if he keeps knocking in runs at his... Continue Reading →
How did Fergie Jenkins perform on Canada Day?
Devoting a blog entry to the greatest Canadian ever to play in the big leagues is the best way that I can think of to celebrate Canada Day. Chatham, Ont., native, Fergie Jenkins, signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in the early ’60s, but it wasn’t until the Chicago Cubs acquired him in 1966 that he... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? … Ryan Dempster, Corey Patterson, Gary Carter
My weekly opinions, observations and rants about some Canadian baseball stories (Please follow me on Twitter: @kevinglewsports): I’m old enough to remember George Bell patrolling the outfield for the Jays, and circus music played in my head when the ball was hit to Fred Lewis last season, but those two seem like Gold Glove... Continue Reading →
Canadian Free Agents – Jeff Francis
Vancouver, B.C. native Jeff Francis became a free agent last Wednesday when the Colorado Rockies declined to exercise his $7-million option for 2011. Plagued by shoulder woes for the past two seasons, the Canuck southpaw, whose 55 career victories make him the winningest left-hander in Rockies history, is hoping to stay in Denver. MLB Trade... Continue Reading →
Ex-Expos – Whatever happened to … Boots Day
You might say that Boots Day was destined to be a Montreal Expo. After all, his first big league at bat – a walk against Mike Wegener – came against the Canadian club on June 18, 1969, and his first major league hit was recorded off of Montreal reliever Carroll Sembera on April 18, 1970.... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? … Kyle Drabek, Yunel Escobar, Ryan Dempster
My weekly opinions, observations and rants about some Canadian baseball stories: I can’t wait to watch the Blue Jays No. 1 pitching prospect and their future ace, Kyle Drabek, make his big league debut on Wednesday night. But wait, the game is only on Rogers Sportsnet One, a channel not available on my service... Continue Reading →