My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · For baseball writers on the fence about whether Larry Walker deserves their Hall of Fame vote (Part 2, continuing from last week), I offer this tweet from Baseball Reference on December 1: “Only 10 RFs had more WAR for their careers than Larry Walker... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Joey Votto, Tim Raines, Fergie Jenkins, James Paxton, Scott Diamond
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Congratulations to Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) who clubbed his 248th career home run last night to move past Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.) into third place for most home runs by a Canadian. It was a solo shot in the first inning off Miami... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Joey Votto, Tim Raines, Felipe Alou, Buck Martinez
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · It’s been a great season for Etobicoke, Ont., native Joey Votto, but the past two weeks have been particularly memorable. On June 28, he broke Maple Ridge, B.C., native Larry Walker’s record for most career walks by a Canadian when he notched his 914th... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Tom Goffena, Balor Moore, Tony Fernandez, Rondell White
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · The MLB Draft is set to begin tomorrow night at 7 p.m. E.T. in Secaucus, N.J. Thanks to the compensatory pick they will receive from the Cleveland Indians for Edwin Encarnacion, the Toronto Blue Jays will have two first-round selections (22nd and 28th overall).... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Joey Votto, Eric Gagne, James Paxton, Tim Raines, Dick Williams
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Nine years ago today, Etobicoke, Ont., native Joey Votto became the third Canadian to belt three home runs in a major league game. The Cincinnati Reds first baseman went deep off three different Chicago Cubs pitchers – Jon Lieber, Sean Marshall and Sean Gallagher... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Luke Easter, Kelly Gruber, Tim Raines, J.J. Lannin
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: It has become an Easter tradition in this column to pay tribute to ex-big league slugger Luke Easter on Easter Sunday. “Luscious Luke” was a hulking, 6-foot-4, 240-pound slugger who became the 11th African-American to compete in the big leagues when he debuted with the... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Larry Millson, Joey Votto, Tim Raines, Don Sutton
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: Longtime Globe & Mail scribe and Toronto Blue Jays beat writer Larry Millson was presented with the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's Jack Graney Award by Hall board members John Starzynski and David Morneau in a ceremony between innings during the Blue Jays’ 6-4 win... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . David Price, Fergie Jenkins, Erik Bedard, Roy Halladay, Ernie Whitt
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: Anyone out there still angry that the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t sign David Price to a long-term deal? The all-star lefty, who inked a seven-year, $217-million contract with the Boston Red Sox following a superb two-month stint with the Blue Jays in 2015, is experiencing... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Tim Raines, Dave Stieb, Kelly Gruber, Eric Gagne
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: One of my favourite spring training stories so far this year is that according to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, Toronto Blue Jays players have taken to calling minor league instructor Tim Raines “HOF” – as in “Hall of Fame.” The Montreal Expos legend was elected to... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Wayne Gretzky, Jim McKean, Roy Halladay, Tim Raines
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: On the Dan Patrick Show on Thursday, Wayne Gretzky shared that baseball was his favourite sport when he was growing up. The Brantford, Ont., native, who’s the NHL’s all-time leading scorer, said that if he had been given the choice of playing professional hockey or... Continue Reading →