ADAM FINE -- MLB for Vancouver? Why not | Canadian Baseball Network

Feb. 9, 2010

ADAM FINE -- MLB for Vancouver? Why shouldn't the Olympic city have a try with $365M being spend on BC Place?

By Adam FIne

I’ll be the first to say it: Vancouver isn’t much of a sports town.

Alright, Vancouverites support their Canucks, but from there, the drop-off is steep ... really steep.

“But Adam, Vancouver has no other major pro sports teams!” How about the forgettable six-year debacle that was the Vancouver Grizzlies? In fairness, in their best season in Vancouver, the Grizzlies managed 23 wins and an anemic .280 win percentage. They were also cursed with horrible ownership and management throughout their brief stay in Vancouver.

Nonetheless, my point still stands –- Vancouverites are crazy about their Canucks, but not much else. News of B.C. Lions’ playoff victories still falls behind headlines of the Canucks’ early-season jostling for positioning in the Northwest Division. I couldn’t even tell you if the Whitecaps play in the MLS right now ... heck, I don’t even know where they physically play right now.

I hear Canadians baseball games are fun to go to. What league do they play in?

So, all that said, here comes my bold assertion – Vancouver ought to have a pro ball team. No disrespect to the class-A Canadians.

Hear me out.

BC Place Stadium is about to be outfitted with a retractable roof –- along with a face-lift and general renovations –- at a projected cost of $365M. That’s one hefty price tag for a building whose primary tenant plays to an average crowd of 30,000 people a whopping nine times per season (at an average cost of about $40 per ticket) and where season ticket packages can be snagged for as little as $250.

The expectation is that Vancouver’s recently granted MLS franchise (who will likely inherit the Whitecaps’ name) will also soon call BC Place home. I could be proven wrong, but I don’t see investors getting anything resembling a decent return on their $365M investment with the Lions-Whitecaps duo serving as the building’s primary gate earners. Sure, the building hosts a few other events each year, but none of those are particularly noteworthy. Other interest in the venue may soon take a nosedive with Vancouver’s new world-class convention centre located a hop, skip, and a jump away.

Every few years a major concert rolls through, but the overwhelming majority of touring bands turn to GM Place next door, or even the Pacific Coliseum in East Vancouver, rather than BC Place. That the city and private investors elected to opt for the pricey makeover of the building –- rather than just razing the joint –- is still a shock to me.

The fact is, one gaping problem remains: this is a building in need of a tenant. With due respect to the Lions and the Whitecaps (and auto show attendees), Vancouverites have never forked up serious bucks to catch anything of note at BC Place (with the possible exception of a Rolling Stones concert or two). Corporate support is nonexistent.

Mark my words: if BC Place doesn’t play host to a bona fide pro sports franchise –- one that the Vancouverites invest their dollars and their hearts into –- in the next decade, the renovated BC Place Stadium will stick out like a sorer thumb than it already does in Vancouver’s yuppie-inhabited Yaletown district. Call me a cynic, but I don’t see the Whitecaps playing the role of white night in this saga.

Apart from a pro ball franchise, the only other possibility here is an NFL team. We’re more likely to see Big Country Reeves start for the Grizzlies at GM Place in 2011 than we are to see an NFL team in Vancouver in the next 50 years. So that leaves us with baseball. Is the idea really so crazy?

The biggest obstacles faced by any nascent sports team in Vancouver might not affect ball team as much as one would originally suspect. The biggest obstacle, of course, is the Canucks next door. But the MLB season runs from April until October. The ball team’s schedule would only overlap with the Canucks’ come World Series times or if the Canucks advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals (amusing aside: if Vancouver’s ball team were to come into existence next year, I wonder which would happen first).

Vancouver’s ball team wouldn’t compete with the Canucks’, it would merely give Vancouverites a year-round sports season. No competition, no cannibalization. The April-October season also plays favorably into Vancouver’s otherwise inclement weather; it actually rains more than twice as much in Seattle during the MLB season.

The building is another obstacle. In honesty, even a $365M makeover isn’t going to turn BC Place into Yankee Stadium ... probably not even a top-tier MLB stadium. But that’s not necessarily a deal-breaker. I’m picturing reclining in a seat in BC Place (they’re really going to have to install some respectable seating in this joint at one point or another as well) on a sunny July day, 40 feet from the shores of False Creek, beneath an open roof and clear blue skies ... maybe even catching a fleeting view of the North Shore mountains. All the while, I’m watching as Vancouver’s baseball team takes on the New York Yankees.

Call me crazy, I think there’s a market for that in this city.

There are other obstacles. With the Mariners playing only 200 kilometers away, market cannibalization could be an issue. Still, with their recent return to relevancy, I don’t see the Mariners organization being too concerned about (or reliant upon) their faction of fans from Vancouver. And, internationally, the Mariners’ Japanese TV contracts dwarf any moneys (if any) they receive from Canadian media outlets.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is the question of whether Vancouverites would support a baseball team on a long-term basis. I’m talking about sustained corporate support, a substantial season-ticket base, television ratings, merchandise sales –- the whole nine yards. The conventional wisdom says it can’t be done. They may be right.

But I think Vancouver could do it. With the Olympic Games looming, Vancouver is set to take its place as an international city. This burgeoning city is beautiful, it’s wealthy, and its metropolitan area has a population of over two million people. Vancouver has got to be able to support more than one professional sports franchise.

One final issue involves the team’s ability to compete. Without a hard salary cap, MLB teams need to spend big bucks in order to compete. A $100M annual payroll places you in the top-tier of MLB teams, any less than about $70M places you in the bottom third. That requires committed owners with deep pockets. Even with domestic investors and an Olympic Games and its anticipated influx of foreign investment, the city may have to search far and wide for ownership that fits this bill.

Nonetheless, it’s not an unconquerable obstacle. Moreover, historically, baseball markets haven’t required an immediately competitive team in order to garner local support. Folks in Seattle wouldn’t pay big bucks to sit in an arena and watch their local basketball team get humiliated night after night, but they stuck around when their ball team became the laughing stock of their division.

In order for the baseball idea to fly, Vancouverites may have to be willing to watch their team get beat up on for a few years before they begin challenging for a playoff berth. But something tells me Vancouverites wouldn’t mind watching a less-than-stellar team take the field on a mid-July day, outdoors in Yaletown.

I can also see merchandise for the Vancouver [insert name here] flying off the shelves downtown. Heck, I’d proudly don a baseball jersey of my Vancouver ... Coastals? Swing and a miss. Call them what you will. I think Vancouver could do it.

Adam Fine is Vancouver born and raised. He graduated from St Georges High School, attended University of Western Ontario in London, Ont. in 2006, transferred to the University of British Columbia in 2008. He graduates from UBC in April as a history major.

Need help up north: Kurtis McCallum (Thunder Bay, Ont.) has set up a web site -- AthleticScout.ca -- which serves as Northern Ontario’s online collegiate sports recruiting.

Throwing for Haiti: The staff at The Baseball Zone came up with an idea to raise funds for relief help in Haiti. Each staff member pledged a dollar for each mile clocked on the radar gun.
Pitchung guru Ryan (Magic Man) Armstrong (Mississauga, Ont.) was the top contributor throwing 97. Remo Cardinale (Thornill, Ont.) the second Canadian the Jays ever signed chipped in $77 for his 77 and Rick Johnston (Peterborough, Ont.) threw a 76, or was it a 36?
With donations from parents and players a total of $1,343 was raised and combined with the matching program by the federal government, added up to a contribution of $2,686. The donation will be made to the Canadian Red Cross.
How about a national “Throwing for Haiti” benefit?
Any other facilities across the country interested?

BMOCs? Know a Big Man on Campus? In the old days -- when there were 500 Canadians playing and not every school had box scores -- we had time to pur over the box scores. Now we do not.
If your son, grandson, boyfried or former teammate has a good weekend or wins player of the week honours, please do not hesitate to send along the link to bobelliott49@gmail.com and we’ll move the news along the line.

Help: We're still looking for help on college news and notes. If you know someone mentioned on the school page, please send us the link at (bobelliott49@gmail.com) and we'll post it under In College.

Help I: Want to write on baseball ... Canadian baseball that is? We have the room, we have the space, all we are is missing is money to pay you. If you want to become a scribe -- Canadians in the minors, Canadians in college, Canadians on the sandlots, whatever, you want to promote Canadian baseball.
Send us your story ideas and suggestions and we’ll consider them all.
See your name up in lights -- just like us -- without the pay cheque.
Contact us at (bobelliott49@gmail.com).!

Jets nine will dine: Legendary Team Canada pitching coach Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.) will be the guest speaker for the annual Vauxhall Academy banquet March 6. Boucher is in the running to be hired as the Yankees Canadian scout.
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach will also be a guest on honour as well.
Vauxhall gives out $10,000.00 to current players in scholarships.

Langley Blaze head south: The Langley Blaze and coach Doug Mathieson has firmed up their March schedule (with pitching probables to follow)

Monday -- March 15, Arrive Phoenix, attend San Francisco vs San Diego Padres @ Peoria Sports Complex

Tuesday -- March 16 Game vs Milwaukee Brewers 9 am @ Maryvale
Game vs Chicago Cubs 1 pm @ Fitch Park.

Wednesday March 17 -- Game vs Gateway College 9:30 am @ Pima Sports Complex
Game vs Cochise College 12:15 pm @ Pima Sports Complex

Thursday March 18 -- Practice @ Pima College 8:30 am
Game vs New Mexico College 12:15

Friday March 19 -- Game vs Indian Hills 9 am @ Pima College
Game vs Williston College 12:15 pm

Saturday March 20 -- Game vs Luna College 9:15 am
Game vs Claredon College 12:15 pm

Sunday March 21 -- Game vs Chicago Cubs 10 a.m. @ Fitch Park
Game vs Milwaukee Brewers 1 p.m @ Maryvale

Monday March 22 -- Game vs Milwaukee Brewers 1 pm @ Maryvale

Tuesday March 23 -- Game vs Cinncinati Reds 9:30 am @ Goodyear

Burrowing along: The Brock Badgers have a new website -- brockbadgersbaseball.com -- and it’s worth a peak.

The World comes to Thunder Bay: Before the world arrives in Thunder Bay for the World Junior championships July 23-Aug. 1 a pre-Worlds tournament will be held in Minneapolis July 12-20.
Besides Team Canada, Team USA and Chinese Taipei, the Minnetonka Millers, the Chaska Cubs, the Minneapolis U 20 and the St. Cloud and area Selects will play in the warm-up event to be staged at Minnetonka Veteran’s Field, Chaska Athletic Club, Midway Stadium and Faber Field. Officials are exploring moving a couple of the games to the Twins new home of Target Field.

The World also comes to Edmonton: The city of champions is basically the city of international baseball in Canada. And now Ron Hayter and his group will welcome another group in 2012 -- the Women’s Baseball World Cup.
Edmonton has hosted seven international events in all, including hosted the pre-Olympic qualifier in 1995, the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 2004, and the 2008 World Juniors Championship.
Thunder Bay chair Warren Philp is at TwinsFest this weekend spreading the word.
TwinsFest was a success, with lots of interest from Minnesota ball fans in the warm-up and the Worlds themselves getting pictures of Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC), Jesse Crain (Toronto, Ont.), Rene Tosoni (Cotquilam, BC) and Corey Koskie (Anola, Man.) in Canada jerseys and hats along with Michael Cuddyer, Denard Span, Delmon Young and Joe Nathan in US gear.

Any Windsor Lancer want to play ball: If you are at the University of Windsor or are thinking of heading there and are thinking of playing ball check out the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=318259129744&ref=ss).
The Lancer group is intended to see how many students would be interested in playing for a varsity ball team. Plans are in progress to initiate a club team for next year which will hopefully become a varsity team.
If you are interested email mireaulc@uwindsor.ca with your name, level of study, email address and summer team. More information will be provided as soon the updates are provided.

Looking for summer work: The Medicine Hat Mavericks are looking for a director of promotions and a director of ticket sales for 2010.
The work schedule for promotions would be May 25-Aug. 15 (approximately 24-30 evenings and eight community events) with a salary of $2,000.
The ticket sales position is commission based
Email resume and/ or letter of interest to office@themavericks.ca or call Greg Morrison 878.4294

Learning session: The 32nd annual spring training course for fans, run by the professor William Humber kicks off Jan. at 23 Seneca College (1750 Finch Avenue East (between Don Mills Road and DVP) in Toronto.
There are six Saturday sessions -- except for Feb. 13 -- from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. which will cover among other things Josh Gibson, Blue Jay ball talk, Canadian Baseball, 100 Baseball Places You Must Visit, Hanlon’s Point SABR Chapter, Red Sox Fever, umpire Lisa Turbitt, and more.
Gibson: The Legend behind the Plate - The story of Negro Leagues slugger, who has been called the greatest player of his day is a new documentary by Duquesne University students for the Pittsburgh-based Josh Gibson Foundation.
The Hanlan’s Point Chapter of SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) will meet, Ian Hamilton will interview Josh Pahigian (101 Baseball Places to Visit before You Strike Out), and Joe Posnanski of Sports Illustrated (Sole of Baseball: Road Trip through Buck Owens’ America) and Mal Romanin, Blue Jays P.R. whiz; Turbitt has been an umpire for 30 years, working nine Canadian National Championships and two women’s World Cups of Baseball and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum delegation led by Tom Valke and Scott Crawford.
Register on line at or Google Seneca College Continuing Education, and click on How to Register. A variety of options is available including telephoning the registration area and using a credit card. The registration code is IMG931FQ and the cost is $65 plus GST.
Or you can Humber at (416) 491-5050, ext 2500 or email bill.humber@senecac.on.ca for details and info.

Profiles: To answer an email question about profiles ... we are having some problems with the rotation on the main page ... so here we go ... 202 players in all, who can update their stats, place pictures and obtain exposure.
From Alberta 15.
From British Columbia 23.
From Manitoba 4.
From New Brunswick 8.
From Newfoundland and Labrador 1.
From Nova Scotia 3.
From Ontario 142.
From Quebec 1.
From Saskatchewan 5.
And since Prince Edward Island is pitching a shutout, from Florida 1.

IN YER FACE: The Canadian Baseball Network facebook group is up and running ... and running fast:
Mike Nitsos (Whitby, Ont.) of the Iowa Western Reivers, is the 400th to join.
Grant Kveder (Lethbridge, Alta.) of the Gonzaga Stags is No. 500.
Dan Chappel (Edmonton, Alta.) formerly of the Longview Lakers, the Mayville State Comets, the Southwest Mustangs, the Schaumburg Flyers and the Edmonton Cracker Cats is No. 600.
Drew Parker (Surrey, BC), who has signed a letter of intent to pitch for the Brewton-Parker Barons this fall and former ace of the JUCO World Series champion Chipola Indians, is No. 700.
Andrew Brock (Burnaby, BC) of the Idaho Coyotes is No. 800.
Derek Papp (Windsor, Ont.), who used to pitch for Judson, is No. 900.
Jonathan Lussier (Montreal, Que.), former C-DH with the Les Ailes du Quebec alongside Phillipe Alexandre Valiquette, Alexandre Periard and Mathieu Poirier is No. 1,000.
Ben TInklin (Kitchener, Ont.) of the Canadian Thunderbirds, who is headed to Kaskaskia College, is No. 1,100.
Catcher Curtis Davis (Surrey, BC), who played with the Fraser Valley Chiefs in 2008 and this year will play for the White Rock Tritons and Team BC is the 1,200th to join the group.
Kevin Bowes (Chatham, N.B.) who plays outfield for the Chatham Ironmen and coached the New Brusnwick Selects at the Canada Cup is No. 1,300.
Stephen Holland (Summerside, PEI), who in 2008 played for the Summerside Chevies and was picked up by Kings County for bantam nationals is No. 1,400. He pitched, played first base, and outfield.
Ian Robillard (Montreal, Que.), who coached the Montreal Orioles in junior (LBEQ) play and this year will coach Les Ailes du Quebec (U-17) is No. 1,500.
OF Mark Sleeman (Vancouver, BC), formerly with John Harr's North Shore Twins and who played for the Vancouver Cave Ducks in 2008, is our No. 1,600.
RHP Shawn Hetherington (Tsawwassen, BC), the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds closer, is No. 1,700.
RHP Craig Hucul (Saskatoon, Sask.) of Williston State College, is No. 1,800.
TJ Code (Vancouver, BC), a coach with the Langley Blaze is No. 1,900. Code played with the likes of Kyle Paul, Jordan Lennerton, Jon Hesketh, Matt Lesek, Justin Dyck, Jeff Thompson, Tyson Gillies, Shane Wilson and Jon Syrnk with the Blaze from 2003-05. He began coaching in the fall of 2007.
Our No. 2,000 is Cam Newitt (Barrie, Ont.). Cam's father, Gary Newitt played in Oshawa before joining the Pittsburgh Pirates minor-league system. Cam played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Intercounty League until he retired and now coaches bantam baseball in Barrie.
Our No. 2,100 is RHP Ryan Oxford (Sussex, N.B.), who pitched for Vancouver Island University (VIBI) and plans on playing for New Brunswick at the Canada Summer games this year.
And our No. 2,200 is Jorhn Kaluzniak (Brandon, Man.) of the Manitoba Youth Selects.
Our group has representation from all 10 provinces led by Ontario, which has 757 members. B.C. has 340, Quebec has 175, Alberta has 127, Saskatchewan 67, Manitoba 47, New Brunswick 52, Nova Scotia 23, Newfoundland 20 and Prince Edward Island 15, plus 35 states led by Michigan, plus nine other countires.

UPPER DECK I -- Rene Tosoni, Futures Games MVP, Best of the four Canucks in St. Louis, plus MLB Scouting Bureau reports ... Looking for Chatham Diamonds ... Final roster for Ontario camp ... R.I.P. Ron Steele.
UPPER DECK II -- Year I, 50 EXTRA BASES blogs ... from Brett Lawrie signing to James Paxton being drafted ... from the Nationals in 2008 to the Mizuno Camp to the World Baseball Classic ... to Canadian promotions to the 40-man (Alexandre Periard) to Canadian promotions to the big league (Chris Leroux). It's all here and more for you to check on ... and links to what has been going on in the Majors, the Minors, in College, with Team Canada and on the Sandlots. Plus in out first year of the site we've had excellent contributions by Kevin Glew, Jonathan Hodgson, Allan Simpson, Bob Broughton, Shi Davidi, Adam Morrissette.
KEVIN GLEW -- David Corrente, eight-year Blue Jays minor leaguer attends HOF ceremonies at St. Marys ... William Bargel helps keep Mississauga North unbeaten at eliminations ... Anthony Ricciardi heads south.
ADAM MORISSETTE -- Okotoks Dawgs Academy opens this fall ... Rare double for Colin McKean ... Ontario senior eliminations draw ... In the Majors ... Jason Bay shines in limelight ... Pat Gillick involved with Philies ... Erik Bedard to DL ... Mark Teahen like a turkey sandwich ... Avril Lavigne tosses first pitch ... Larry Walker: True Canadian hero ... San Diego Chicken, 35 ... Ron Piche, Canadian HOFer injured in car crash ... Brian Ostrosser, former Met ... In the Minors ... Four Canucks to Futures ... Nick (Eggs) Weglarz ... Brockville's Wayne Amyotte, 1969 Bristol Tiger ... Vancouver Canadians 25 big leaguers and counting ... Erie Gagne rebuilds shoulder, reputation ... Tyson Gillies a burner ... Karl Gelinas shuts down centre of universe ... Justin Randall disappointed with deal ... FA Jeremiah Sammy signs with Rockies ... Kyle Dhanani joins Brewers ... In College ... Chris Bisson leads the Cape in SBs ... Mike Mokriy does it all for Prospects ... Tanner Brotzel coaching Regina ... Adam Reynolds keeps hair ... Team Canada ... World Cup 2009 ... Rowan Wick in the Dominican ... On the Sandlots ... The Legend that is Bill Green ... Vauxhall's 2009-10 roster ... London master plan panned by Mike Lumley ... Riverview's Jon Loughery home from down under ... Kenny McIlroy pitches Kingston to win ... Ron Baron Manitoba HOFer ... Carl Matheson, Nova Scotia legend.
TODD DEVLIN -- Chris Robinson has an Iowa average attractive to the Cubs ... Geoff Wendt's wise men select Ontario Youth Team ... Welland's Royce Consigli signs with A's ... In the Majors ... Russell Martin reason for Dodgers success ... Scott Richmond took the right fork ... Jason Bay becomes dual citizen ... Felipe, Moises Alou back in Montreal ... Matt Stairs opened doors ... Joey Votto candid about absence ... Chris Leroux recalled by Marlins ... In the Minors ... Eric Gagne on comeback trail ... Pete LaForest hits for Quebec cycle ... Nick Weglarz helps Indians to 5th place ranking ... Marc Bourgeois, Twins draft ... In College ... Adam Loewen, Russell Martin, Rene Tosoni ex Chipola Indians ... LSU recruit Chad Stang signs with Milwaukee ... Luis Castillo is all-Nebraska ... Bob Broughton: Okotoks, Swift Current lead divisions ... Andy Williams, Andre O'Conner join Regina ... Team Canada ... Evan Grills, National Junior Team veteran ... On the Sandlots ... R.I.P. Roméo LeBlanc, Canada's 25th GG, Expo fan ... Brodie Ross helps Blue Jays win Heartland ... Alan Cattrysse hits like machine ... Moncton's Serge Vatour leads batting race ... Chris Sorensen slam helps Fredericton beat Chatham ... Taylor Phillips, Kevfin Sawatzky honoured at Campbell River.
UPPER DECK III -- Lansing scholarship offers collapse -- must read if your son is headed off to school.
UPPER DECK IV -- London Badgers waltz past Tecumseh Thunders to win OBA midget eliminations in Sarnia ... Windsor Stars beat Leaside twice in London to take seniors ... Georgetown scores late to beat Windosr Stars at Mississauga ... Jeff Hutton big deal at NBC World Series with game-winning double in the 8th.
JONATHAN HODGSON -- WMBL playoff wrap.
UPPER DECK V -- Canada Cup goes to BC ... Canada Cup award winners ... National Junior Team selections.
UPPER DECK VI -- Steven Inch signs with Phillies ... Chris Bisson all-conference ... Deadline looms for James Paxton, Jake Eliopoulous and other unsigned Canucks ... Brian Smith pitcher of tourney at NABF juniors ... Cory Pappel wins NY State college honours.
SHI DAVIDI -- Baseball Canada adjusts focus with Olympic ouster.
UPPER DECK VII -- Jays go 1-for-9 signing Canuck draftees, James Paxton, Jake Eliopoulos unsigned, head to school
UPPER DECK VIII -- Quebec beats Ontario II at junior nationals.
UPPER DECK IX-- Ontario, represented by London Badgers beats Quebec 7-1 to win midget nationals.
UPPER DECK X -- Ontario wins boys bantams, Quebec takes girls bantams ... MVPs, all-star team ... Medal standings ... Saskatoon wins peewee West ... Chris Bisson ranked 39th best prospect in Cape Cod League ... Jay Johnson, Corey Pappel, Nathan Forer also ranked by PG after their summers ... Aaron Dunsmore and Aaron Johnson help Rochester Honkers win Northwoods League title ... Marlins farmhand Chris Leroux interviewed.
TIM SMITH BLOG -- Day one with Team Canada, by Rangers minor-league OF Tim Smith.
TIM SMITH BLOG -- Day two with Team Canada, by minor-league OF Tim Smith, dealt to Kansas City Royals ... Adam Loewen 2-for-3, Nick Bucci leaves with lead, Canada loses opener to Team USA by 6-4 score in exhibition ... Box score ... Vince Perkins, Matt Kniginyzky join team, Philippe Valiquette injured. UPPER DECK XI -- Team Canada heads to World Cup in Sweden shy of starting pitching -- Again -- 23 named to roster, one spot to fill ... Online fan voting for 2010 ballot for Ford C. Frick award soon to begin with former Expos broadcaster Jacques Doucet and former Expos and Blue Jays broadcaster, the late Tom Cheek bidding to make ballot ... Mike Steed hired to manage Thunder Bay ... Bunny Bradfield and Jack Giffin's Brockville Bunnies live on ... Brantford beats Barrie in Intercouty 20-inning marathon, including 10 scoreless by Chris England, Red Sox win title in four games.
UPPER DECK XII -- Blue Jays honour late Jim Ridley ... Brett Lawrie homers, Shawn Bowman has two hits, Chris Kissock, Vince Perkins, R.J. Swindle have scoreless outings in 11-2 loss to Team USA ... Box score ... Jonathan Malo has three hits, Trystan Magnuson, Bryan Dumesnil, Jamie Richmond, Vince Perkins, Jim Henderson have scoreless outings in Canada's 6-5 loss to Team USA ... Box Score ... Three hits, including home run by Cole Armstrong, Tim Smith triples and singles as Canada loses 7-4 to USA ... Brewers recall John Axford from triple-A Nashville.
KEVIN GLEW -- Canadian Ball Hall lands historic Jackie Robinson ball.
SHI DAVIDI -- Canada set for World Cup opener in Sweden.
UPPER DECK XIII -- Canada upsets Korea with eight in the 7th for 9-1 win in World Cup lid lifter as Nick Bucci, Jamie Richmond, James Henderson and Chris Kissock combine on five hitter ... DH Tim Smith singles and hits three-run HR in 8th ... Venezuela upsets Team USA ... Japan edged Great Britain ... Nicaragua, Cuba, Mexico win ... Canada thunps Neterlands Antillies by 15-0 score ... Matt Kniginyzky tosses six scoreless. Homers by Brett Lawrie, Rene Tosoni, Jonathan Malo ... Canucks mercy Sweden in 19-1 romp ... Rene Tosoni knocks in five runs, Tim Smith, Jimmy Van Ostrand, Adam Loewen go deep ... Brooks McNiven pitches four innings for the win ... Second round begins with 8-0 loss to Team USA in Italy ... Chris Begg takes loss. Chris Robinson has sole hit.
UPPER DECK XIV -- Which team had the best year moving players along to the next level when it came to the draft? The co-winners are 2008 champ, Langley Blaze and the Vauxhall Jets ... World Cup ... Canada beats Mexico by 4-2 score, as benches clear ... Nick Bucci pitches 4 1/3 scoreless, win to Trystan Magnuson ... Two hits apiece by Adam Stern, Rene Tosoni, Shawn Bowman ... Box score ... Canada loses in extras, 5-3 to Australia ... Rene Tosoni has three hits ... Box score... Anyone for ball at Simon Fraser? ... 20-inning marathons in the history of Canadian baseball.
DEVON TEEPLE -- New GBL Champs: Calgary Vipers Expect More Than A Title ... Team Canada ... Jimmy Van Ostrand collects four hits in 19-2 win over Netherlands Antillies ... Canada 3-2 in second round of World Cup ... Homers by Shawn Bowman, Brett Lawrie and Van Ostrand ... Brooks McNiven gains win ... Emerson Frostad delievers clutch single as Canada edges Japan 3-2 in 11 innings at the World Cup ... Rene Tosoni cracks catcher to score winning run, catcher taken off on stretcher ... Jimmy Henderson gets win working three innings ... James Paxton tabbed as seventh best college prospect heading into 2010 draft by Baseball America ... Jeff Lounsbury has successful recruiting class at Brock ... Jason Rubinstein tosses three scorelss for the Niagara County College win ... Know any BMOCs?
UPPER DECK XV -- Jays Double A, Alex Anthopoulos, follows Team Canada ... Adam Loewen drives in Brett Lawrie with winner as Canada beats Chinese Taipei 5-3 ... Jamie Richmond pitches five, win to Trystan Magnuson in relief ... Rene Tosoni homers ... Two doubles by Cole Armstrong ... Emmerson Frostad hits game-winning slam in seven-run 7th as Canada rallies to beat Italy 16-7 ... 13 runs in its final two at-bats ... Three hits, five RBIs for Chris Robinson ... Three hits for Adam Stern, Jimmy Van Ostrand ... Chris Kissock picks up win.
UPPER DECK XVI -- Matt Kniginyzky pitched six scoreless, Canada beats Venezuela 9-2 ... Shawn Bowman, Adam Loewen hit homers ... Two hits each for Adam Stern, Rene Tosoni, Jimmy Van Ostrand ... Brett Lawrie homers in top of 9th to break tie ... Nick Bucci works five scoreless in Canada's 3-0 win over Puerto Rico as third round begins at World Cup ... Bucci, Trystan Magnuson, Dustin Molleken, Jim Henderson combine on one hitter ... Rene Tosoni knocks into two extra runs in 9th with double ... Three hits for Chris Robinson ... World Cup news and notes and results ... Tom Boleska, Matt McGraw, Brian Essery all with Great Britain ... Brawl in the Fall go to host Intercounty Terriers in 18U as Aaron Bain pitches the win, Christian Fearon knocks in four ... Team Ontario wins 16U as Brandon Collins pitches win, 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs.
UPPER DECK XVII -- Canada plays Puerto Rico for bronze ... Canada loses nothing game to Cuba 5-1 ... Adam Stern, Jonathan Malo have only hits ... Far from a nothing start for Chris Begg ... Box Score ... Best World Cup ever assured ... Rally late to beat the Netherlands by 11-5 score ... Shawn Bowman, Jonathan Malo homer as Canada Rallies from 4-0 deficit ... Trystan Magnuson picks up third win ... Adam Loewen, Bowman knock in three apiece
UPPER DECK XVIII -- Canada wins bronze, Humm baby! Canada beats Puerto Rico 6-2 at 38th World Cup for first-ever medal ... Jamie Richmond works four innings, leaves with 4-2 lead, Dustin Molleken and Trystan Magnuson work two scoreless each and Jim Henderson works scoreless ninth. ... Shawn Bowman double keys three-run 1st ... Jonathan Malo hits RBI-triple ... Jimmy Van Ostrand hits two-run homer.
UPPER DECK XVIV -- Adam Stern went to World Cup to fill Stubby Clapp role, played centre, hit lead-off and hit .327 for Canada's bronze-medal winning team ...RP Trystan Magnuson, 3B Shawn Bowman make all-World team ... Matt Kniginyzky wins ERA title, with 18 scoreless ... Rene Tosoni leads in runs scored award ... USA beats Cuba for gold ... Brandon Kaye headlines UBC bllue chip class ... Billy Ralston second to commit for fall of 2010 ... Shaun Valeriote transfers to Yavapai.
SHI DAVIDI -- Canada's fortunes turn Sept. 29, 2009 ... World Cup notes, All-World team, ratings ... UBC recruit class.
UPPER DECK XX -- Who were those guys in bronze? The 24 men who brought home Canada's first medal from the World Cup with a 6-2 win over Puerto Rico in the bronze-medal game ... Former Markham C Carson Kelly one of eight selected to 2010 Team USA 16U National Trials.
ALLAN SIMPSON -- Uninspiring ’09 Season Can’t End Soon Enough ... LHP James Paxton, LHP Jake Eliopoulos, LHP Evan Grills, INF Chris Bisson, C Kellin Deglan and RHP Steve McKinnon make Perfect Game's top 300 prospects for 2010 draft ... C Eric Sim, RHP Corey Pappel, RHP Nathan Forer, Bisson and LHP Jay Johnson impress in college summer leagues.
ADAM MORISSETTE -- College Baseball Connect helps place Canadians in school ... Canada wns -- intra-squad game ... Three hits for Jalen Harris, Brandon Dailey homers.
UPPER DECK XXI -- After watching Phillippe Aumount, Brett Lawrie and Jake Eliopoulos go through the process, now it is Evan Grills' turn ... Canada beats Washington Nationals instructional league team 6-4 ...
Rene Tosoni, Adam Loewen, Nick Weglarz, Scott Mathieson, Phillippe Aumont and Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette headed to Arizona Fall League.
UPPER DECK XXII -- Stubby Clapp visits old haunt ... Canucks lose 2-0 to Houston Astros instructional league team.
UPPER DECK XXIII -- Braves beat Canucks, BC boyos 2-hit Seminole ... Marcus Knecht impresses at Connors State ... Jays sandlot players of the month.
UPPER DECK XXIV -- Dr. Al, Canada's pal, Canucks drop pair to Sumter.
UPPER DECK XXVI -- National Jr. Team thumbs ... Canada loses final two games of fall trip ... Leon Taylor looks for old bats, balls and gloves to ship to Jamica ... Baseball Ontario and The Baseball Zone organizing a trip south during March break.
TODD DEVLIN -- College ball heads into playoffs ... Baseball Ontario/The Baseball Zone offers a trip south in March ... 11th annual Canadian International College/Pro Showcase Oct. 31-Nov. 1 ... Team BC off to Arizona ... Wanna go to school? When are you writing your SAT? ... Ontario Blue Jays head south.
UPPER DECK XXV -- Baseball woos a Ralph, 2B Jimmy ... Canucks lose to Houston Astros on eighth-inning error.
UPPER DECK XXVII -- Daniel Pinero has rare double, OBA champs include Mississauga Majors, bantams ... Woodslee, minor midgets ... Richmond Hill Phoenix, minor bantams ... Georgetown Eagles, peewee ... London Badgers, midget ... Milton Red Sox, junior B ... Lindsay Lakers, Midget B ... Georgetown, Midget C ... Cannon Cup to Intercounty ... Erindale wins senior ... Leaside wins Greater Toronto Senior League ... Baseball Ontario/The Baseball Zone offers a trip south in March.
UPPER DECK XXVIII -- Evan Grills impresses vs. favored Royals 4-1 ... Jupiter Day I ... Five IP for Ontario Blue Jays, 9 Ks ... RHPs Mike Ellis, Steve McKinnon Joel Pierce pitch for Team BC in 2-0 loss to Team Elite ... Ryan Stajduhar leads way for BC in win over Ontario Blue Jays in exhibition play ... Toronto Jays to interview Alex Agostino, Denis Boucher and third man for Canadian scouting position.
UPPER DECK XXVIV -- Mantle lives up to his name for BC at Jupiter ... Jupiter Day II ... Kyle Williard pitches complete game, Ontario Blue Jays lose 4-2 to Bob Jackson Midwest ... Adam Anderson gets save for Ontario Reds in Arizona ... Steven Janetta has two hits in 6-2 loss to TeamOne Showcase ... Zac Sardelitti doubles and singled in 6-2 decision to ABA Texas ... Sardelitti doubles, singles in 7-2 loss to Orange County 17s.
DEVON TEEPLE -- Jason Takefman takes over Vancouver Canadians.
UPPER DECK XXX -- CG by CJ Machete gives Jays 2-1 record ... Jupiter Day III ... Team BC no hit ... Steven Dressler wins second in Arizona for Ontario Reds ... Hironori Imato delivers game-winner.
UPPER DECK XXXI -- Eric Wood pitches Ontario Blue Jays to pool title ... Jupiter Day IV ... Cam Mattice drives in two score the other in 3-2 win over East Cobb Astros 17s ... Jays lose 10-1 to FTB (Florida Travel Ball) Mizuno ... Joel Pierce, Nic Pivetta Steve McKinnon combine on three-hitter as Team BC beats Florida Bombers 8-2 ... Kellin Deglan 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs ... Chase Cuckovich hits an inside-the park homer as Ontario Reds beat Arizona Pro 6-3 ... Zac Sardelitti has three hits, including a double ... Luke Grant registers the win ... Reds finish 4-3 ... CBN Profiles.
UPPER DECK XXXII -- Best Canuck prospects in minors: OF Michael Saunders, 2B Brett Lawrie, RHP Phillippe Aumont ... Concordia takes CIBA ... Shaun Valeriote transfers from Miami of Ohio to Yavapai College and has seven RBIs in fall ball.
UPPER DECK XXXIII -- HELP NEEDED! A plea for help.
KEVIN GLEW -- George Selkirk: Canada’s Mr. October ...LHP Ali Simpson ranked No. 81 on the College Baseball Blog's Top 100 Players for 2010 ... In the Majors ... Jason Bay chat wrap ... Matt Stairs knocks in Phillies lone run in Game 2 ... Rob Thomson waves ‘em home for the Yankees ... In the Minors ... Scott Mathieson on track in Arizona Fall League ... Kyle Dhanani, Joey Paciorek reunited in Brewers system ... Tim Smith a hockey puck at heart ... Game not over for Eric Gagne ... Henry Mabee promoted to double-A Birmingham ... In College ... Jay Johnson pitches in Red-Black game with Texas Tech ... Ryan Fleming, Bryan Condotta off to Georgia State ... Michael Carbone makes Northeast-10 honour roll ... Bill Neale new head man at Bacone ... Team Canada ... Ryan Clarke contributes for Canada ... On the Sandlots ... Billy Harris, Tom O’Reilly, Craig Hope NB HOFers ... Oakville Royals in Indiana ... Kacey Jones wins peewee honour.
UPPER DECK XXXIV -- Scott Mathieson, Shawn Bowman named to 40-man roster ... Tyler Tamayose Pre-season NAIA All-American ... In the Majors ... Matt Stairs says he won't return to Philly ... Mark Teahen dealt to White Sox ... In the Minors ... John Mariotti made a name at Bowie ... Ottawa triple-A park diamond in the rough ... Nine questions four Jean Luc Blaquiere ... Mike Saunders knocking on door ... In College ... Ashley Neufeld drowning victim at Dickinson ... Concordia wins CIBA ... Andrew Ruck to Lafayette ... Cam Sokalski whiffs seven for East Texas win, summer ball ... Team Canada ... Thunder Bay readies for Worlds ... 8th annual Baseball Canada Fund Raiser ... Brandon Dailey's successful season comes to close ... On the Sandlots ... Vancouver Capilanos enter loop ... Aaron Ferguson heads west ... North Bay wins at Mississauga ... Ponies imports from Brockville.
UPPER DECK XXXV -- Matt Faulkner helps Nats to win on Long Island ... Baseball North site operates at University of Maryland ... Holiday gift suggestions ... In the Majors ... Eric Gagne looking for comeback ... Montreal lost some soul when Expos left ... Scouting report: George Kottaras ... In the Minors ... Jordan Lennerton, MIke Gosse reuinited in Tiger system ... In College ... Kelly Norris-Jones continues Illinois line of Canuck C's ... Chris Black a Maine Black Bear ... Bryne Murphy to Missouri Valley ... Team Canada ... Pan-Am teams will call Richmond Green home ... On the Sandlots ... Charlottetown looking for players for N.B. loop ... Passion burns for Peterborough's Casey Burnie ... R.I.P Rino Cantarutti.
UPPER DECK XXXVI -- Nick Weglarz (Indians), Phillippe-Alexandre Valiquette (Reds) and James Aducci (Cubs) on 40-man rosters ... 8 Canadian six-year minor-league free agents ... In the Majors ... Mike Saunders, Phillipe Aumont, Tyson Gillies next wave of young M's ... Scott Richmond gets rookie card ... Brewers not interested in Eric Gagne ... Mike LaValliere turned down major junior hockey to join Bucs ... In the Minors ... Big Red Weglarz gives pitchers code Red ... James Henderson, John Axford share CBN POY ... Stubby Clapp returns to coach Lexington ... Donnie Smith to help at Goldeyes Youth camp ... In College ... James Paxton hopes for last hurrah ... Bob Broughton’s WMBL recap ... Team Canada ... Jim Baba joins idol Ervin Doerksen in Saskatchewan HOF ... On the Sandlots... GM Lou Lamoriello, ex-Thetford Mines manager, inducted in Cape HOF ... Former Nepean Brewer Randy Tieman ... Nationals return to Dartmouth ... Original Met, Glenn Burke, to manage Moncton.
UPPER DECK XXXVII -- Nicholas Dimpfel, Ryan Zimmer on OBA honour roll ... Ron Oneson repeat Badger triple crown winner ... Joel Landry Baseball Canada's coach of the year ... HOFer Jim Baba visits Thunder Bays for progress check ... 1981 Brantford Red Sox looking for familiar face -- Brian Cascadden ... In the Majors ... Jason Bay kinds rejects Sox offer ... Nick Weglarz added to Indians 40-man roster ... Robbie Thomson returns home WS champ ... In the Minors ... From the desk of the Goldeyes GM ... In College ... Washington State broadcaster, Bob Robertson, son of former Canuck MLBer Sherry ... Scott Hoekstra home playing for Parkland ... On the Sandlots ... IBL offers no-frills exitement.
UPPER DECK XXXVIII -- Brett Lawrie, four other Canucks -- Taylor Green, John Axford, Alex Periard, Nick Bucci -- make Brewers top 30 prospects on Canada's Team ... Cale Iorg, Phillippe Aumont, Green Arizona Fall League champ ... In the Majors ... George Gibson, 21 years in the majors ... Billy Harris New Brunswick HOF ... In the Minors ... James Henderson helping Dawgs ... Looking back at Your St. Catharines Blue Jays ... Emmanuel Garcia given position change ... Goldeyes in in eight-team loop ... In College ... Chase Larrson heads to Nicholls State ... On the Sandlots ... Okatoks hits an Alberta home run ... Brett Klassen, Colin Waldner nominated as Manitoba's best.
UPPER DECK XXXVIV -- Jamie Lehman is the Jays new Canuck scout ... Rob Ducey joins Tampa Bay as a scout ... In the Majors ... Mark Teahen wins coveted Hutch award ... Matt Stairs has his own Street ... Eric Gagne wants baseball back in Montreal ... In the Minors ... Steven Inch -- an arm to dream on for Phillies ... Goldeyes acquire two-time AS Aharon Eggleston ... Your St. Catharines Stompers, 1995-99 ... Derek McDaid and Morrin Centre team up ... In College ... Dan Lazarou to Centenary ... No Cape Fear for Chris Bisson ... On the Sandlots ... Chris Shaw, Bret Heselwood, Evan Hardman among Manitoba POYs ... Kevin Cheppenko added for SCL playoffs ... North Shore's Mitch Rainer heads to Hill as Premier champ.
UPPER DECK XXXX -- James Paxton sues Kentucky to pitch in NCAA squabble ... LOI -- C Peter Bako, OF Marcus Knecht to North Carolina State ... C Kellin Deglan, RHP Mike Ellis to Florida International ... OF Chase Larsson to Nicholls State ... RHP Dan Lazarou to Centenary ... OF Damon Loewen to Lamar ... Kyle Morton to Arkansas Little Rock ... In the Majors ... Jacques Doucet, Tom Cheek, Dave Van Horne Ford Frick candidates ... Ex-Kingston Ponie Dave Tremblay gets bobblehead nite at Lancaster ... Fergie Jenkins auction ... Giants owner Jeff Mallett suits up ... Jerry Howarth, Jays voice a lion in winter ... In the Minors ... Wes Darvill ranked Cubs No. 5 prospect from '09 draft ... Brett Lawrie Brewers No. 2 prospect ... Terrence Dayleg surprises Marlins ... Orv Franchuk hitting coach at Triple-A Portland ... Scott Mathieson re-habbing well ... In College ... Paxton, Paxton, Paxton ... Ryan LaPensee signed with London Majors ... Team Canada ... Steve McKinnon says baseball No. 1 ... On the Sandlots ... Dave Robb back with Okotogs Dawgs ... Cornwall Black Sox get their rings ... Are kids losing interest? No ... Amherstburg gets turf diamond.
ADAM MORISSETTE -- Marc Besteman the best man, recruits players for PlayBall Recruits.
UPPER DECK XXXXI -- All-Canadian College Team Honours Signal of good things to come ... from Jason Bay to Josh Garton
UPPER DECK XXXXII -- Our 10th annual All-Canadian college first, second, third team and honourable mentions for 2009 ... 3B Jesse Sawyer (Calgary, Alta.) Player of the Year.
TODD DEVLIN -- Ottawa ... There used to be a ball team there, an in-depth look from start to finish from Mike Mathile’s first pitch to Dusty Wathan’s final out at triple-A Lynx plus indy ball ... Rob Ducey stages six-year free-agent pro showcase in St. Pete’s ... Curtis Smith transfers from Southwest Minnesota State to Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks.
UPPER DECK XXXXIII -- Top 100 most inflential Canadians in baseball, our third annual poll.
UPPER DECK XXXIV -- Chris Bisson of Kentucky selected third-team preseason All-America, by Ping Baseball ... Ken Griffey, father of Ken Griffey, Jr., ex-member of the Big Red Machine at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium ... Ryan Murphy of the Konica Minolta Pioniers 2009 Dutch Major League MVP and Best Pitcher ... Steve Froese, of the Urbane Blue Knights granted another year of eligibility by NCAA ... Prof William Humber's 32nd annual spring training for fans at Seneca College ... Jesse Barfield, Adam Sten Mark (Lunch) McKenzie highlight cast of speakers at 23rd annual Best Ever coaching clinic ... C Cole Armstrong designated by the White Sox ... Ryan Dempster donates eight Wrigley Field seats and autographed jersies (from Justin Morneau, Jeff Francis, Russell Martin and Dempster) at Baseball Canada auction.
UPPER DECK XXXXV --- Justin Morneau joins Larry Walker on Baseball Canada Wall of Excellence ... LHP James Paxton ranked No. 7 by College Baseball Blog on top 100 collegians of 2010.
UPPER DECK XXXXVI -- John Axford battled a snowstorm, Tommy John surgery, release to re-sign with the Brewers and make the majors ... Okanagan fund raiser with Scott Richmond Feb. 4.
UPPER DECK XXXXVII -- Baseball Canada banquet news & notes.
UPPER DECK XXXXVIII -- Tom Robson winter book fave ... Any college players want to play for Canada? ... Langley Blaze head to Arizona in March ... Worlds come to Thunder Bay ... Edmonton awarded 2012 world womens ... What ever happened to former minor leaguer Aaron Hornostaj? And draft pick Devin Monds? ... Windsor Lancers look to field team ... Sumer work at the Hat.
UPPER DECK XXXXVIIIV -- More famous than Hudson's Bay ... In the Majors ... The best Canuck with the Twins in last decade? ... In the Minors ... Goldeyes GM blog ... Nick Bucci turns heads ... In College ... Calgary's Jesse Sawyer named CanadianBaseballNetwork.com POY ... Ex-Jayhawk David Narodowski Named to All-Canadian College Team ... Shawn Hetherington selected to All-Canadian College team -- UBC ... Marc-Olivier Mimeault-Jodoin, Carl Moniz Earn All-Canada Honors -- Georgia State ... Brent Lavallee earns first team All-Canadian honours ... Luis Castillo all-Canadian team ... Jared Chatwood heads to Billings ... On the Sandlots ... Hub City gets NB expansion franchise ... David DeWolfe a hit in Alberta ... Zach Breault leads Windsor arms.