My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · When is the last time you heard someone discuss the “Fenway Park effect” when evaluating a player’s Hall of Fame candidacy? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it. And while people continually bring up Coors Field when debating whether Canadian Larry Walker (Maple... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Mike Soroka, Joey Votto, Cal Quantrill, Tony Fernandez
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Calgary, Alta., native Mike Soroka made his regular start for the Atlanta Braves on Friday despite being hit in the right forearm by a pitch from Washington Nationals right-hander Austin Voth in the second inning of a game last Sunday. The Braves removed him... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Larry Walker, Tony Fernandez, James Paxton, Fergie Jenkins
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · For the first time, I’m starting to feel like there is hope that Maple Ridge, B.C., native Larry Walker will one day be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Ryan Thibodaux’s Hall of Fame tracker indicates that the Canadian slugger has gained... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Stubby Clapp, George Gibson, Joey Votto, George Kottaras
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · It’s been 83 years since there’s been a full-time Canadian manager in the major leagues. That was when London, Ont., native and Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer George Gibson served as the dugout boss for the Pittsburgh Pirates. But that drought may end soon.... 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? . . . 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? . . . Gary Carter, Dave Stieb, Kirk McCaskill, Fergie Jenkins
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: Yesterday would’ve been Montreal Expos legend Gary Carter’s 63rd birthday. It seems fitting that Carter’s birthday falls on the same date as the first-ever Expos regular season game. Carter would’ve turned 15 on April 8, 1969 when the Expos defeated the New York Mets (the... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . David Price, Tony Fernandez, Adam Loewen
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • With southpaw reliever Brett Cecil out for the playoffs with a torn left-calf muscle, if I’m Blue Jays manager John Gibbons and I need to get a left-handed batter out late in the game tonight, I’m bringing in David Price to face him. With... Continue Reading →
Cooperstowners in Canada: Rod Carew
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Without Rod Carew, Tony Fernandez probably wouldn’t have recorded more hits than any other player in Toronto Blue Jays history. Fernandez, who rapped out 1,583 hits with the Blue Jays, idolized the Panama-born Hall of Famer and modeled his batting stance after him. And if you were lucky enough... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Roy Halladay, Josh Donaldson, Yogi Berra
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Longtime Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay is excited that his former club will be playing in the postseason for the first time in 22 years. Earlier this morning, he sent out a congratulatory message to the Blue Jays on Twitter. “Congrats to the... Continue Reading →