My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Congratulations to Atlanta Braves pitcher and Calgary native Mike Soroka, who just six days after being named the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2019 Tip O’Neill Award winner, was selected to the All-MLB Second-Team on Tuesday. Joining him on that squad is teammate... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Cal Quantrill, Russell Martin, Roberto Clemente, Tom Henke
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · As Nick Lee (@NickLee51 on Twitter) pointed out on Friday, Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) has been the San Diego Padres best pitcher since the all-star break. In 34 1/3 innings in six appearances since the Midsummer Classic, the Canadian right-hander has limited batters... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Edition
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · It’s always special when baseball legend Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) is in St. Marys, Ont., for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction festivities, but this year was extra special because Jenkins brought his 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series ring. The durable right-hander, who... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Eric Gagne, James Paxton, Jose Bautista, Duane Ward, Ricky Romero
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · In case you missed it (like I did), Mascouche, Que., native Eric Gagne ended his comeback bid with the independent Atlantic League Long Island Ducks on May 20. The 41-year-old right-hander was hit hard in five appearances with the Ducks, allowing five earned runs... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Tim Raines, Jimmy Key, Dalton Pompey, Pat Gillick
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: With Bud Selig’s election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Today’s Game Era Committee last Sunday, some baseball writers are now vowing that they will vote for alleged steroid users like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. The train of thought is that... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Russell Martin, Jack Graney, Tom Henke
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • For a major league team to make the postseason these days, they require their stars to be stars, but they also need to have one or two outstanding performers that come out of nowhere. The Toronto Blue Jays have five such players. Twenty year-old... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . John McDonald, Tom Henke, Alex Rodriguez
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • On a New York Mets broadcast in 1988, Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner said, “On this Father’s Day, we’d like to wish all you fathers out here a Happy Birthday.” So to paraphrase Kiner, Happy Birthday and Happy Father’s Day to my wonderful dad,... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Mark Teahen, Justin Morneau, Jamie Romak
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reported on Monday that Mark Teahen (Canadian citizen) had retired. This came three months after I reported it here. Apparently, I need a better marketing plan for my blog. This belated retirement report prompted the ever-witty Teahen to tweet,... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Baseball Canada, Rich Harden, Tom Henke
[twitter-follow screen_name='coopincanada'] My weekly observations about stories around the baseball world from a Canadian perspective: - I continue to ask everyone to please keep former Montreal Expo catcher Joe Siddall and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Joe's 14-year-old son, Kevin, was diagnosed with blood cancer in August and is fighting for his life.... Continue Reading →
Canadian ball hall inductees Raines and Bell shared memorable magazine cover 25 years ago
Twenty-five years ago, 2013 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Tim Raines and George Bell graced the cover of Bill Mazeroski's Baseball Annual. With these former all-stars set to be inducted into the St. Marys, Ont.-based ball shrine on June 29, it seemed fitting that I stumbled upon this publication when I was cleaning out... Continue Reading →