Mark Whicker: Get ready for spring training stories about comebacks, new philosophies and can’t-miss prospects
“Spring training is the original fantasy league.
Under the friendly skies of Florida and Arizona, the road to October seems unimpeded. No one has lost a game that mattered since November, and, for most teams, September. And no matter how many times those peaceful days are invalidated by the chill of April, the optimism keeps bubbling up.
Those who write about spring training need a serious Geiger counter to find actual news. There are injuries, signings, the occasional tantrum, but most spring days are spent watching people who will never get to a major league game without a ticket competing against others in the same boat.”
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R.I.P. Jose DeLeon, former Expos pitcher
Onetime Montreal Expos pitcher Jose DeLeon has died of cancer at the age of 63.
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BWDIK: Black, Jenkins, Lopez, Paxton, Quantrill, Soroka
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s “But What Do I Know?” column discuss Otto Lopez, Cal Quantrill, James Paxton, Tyler Black, Fergie Jenkins and Michael Soroka.
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Otto the Swatto Lopez goes deep for San Fran
Otto López (Montreal, Que.) hit a two-run home run in his first game in a San Francisco Giants uniform.
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Gallagher: 2024 a great year for Expos brand
Canadian Baseball Network contributor Danny Gallagher writes that 2024 is shaping up to be a big year for the Montreal Expos brand.
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Mark Whicker: Orioles’ acquisition of Burnes might be most important move of off-season
Canadian Baseball Network columnist Mark Whicker writes that the Baltimore Orioles’ acquisition of 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes might be the most important move of the off-season.
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BWDIK: Caissie, Haar, Mayberry, Palmegiani, Pivetta, Stairs
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s weekly “But What Do I Know?” column discusses Owen Caissie, Damiano Palmegiani, Nick Pivetta, Matt Stairs, John Haar and John Mayberry.
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Balazovic invited to Twins' big league spring training
Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) has been invited to big league spring training by the Minnesota Twins.
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BWDIK: Black, Caissie, Clancy, Leblanc, Lopez, Votto
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s weekly “But What Do I Know?” column discusses Joey Votto, Tyler Black, Owen Caissie and Jim Clancy.
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Glew: Expos “big part” of new Canadian ball hall inductee Martin’s childhood
“When Russell Martin was growing up in Montreal, his father used to take him to a handful of Expos games at Olympic Stadium each year.
The price for a hot dog at the Big O was a little steep, so his dad, who made a living as a busker playing his saxophone in Montreal subway stations, often packed sandwiches.
“My dad was a great storyteller, and he would make up these stories like, ‘Here comes Russell Martin at the plate. There’s a shot deep to right field.’ He would make up stories about me hitting homers in the games,” recalled Martin. “He kind of helped me create this visual that I could get there someday.”
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Shushkewich: Martin savors Canadian ball hall honour
“Sitting in a golf cart fielding questions from numerous journalists via a conference call, newly elected Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Russell Martin was in good spirits as he reflected on his career.
He answered questions about all aspects of his playing career, from competing in youth baseball in Montreal to catching Greg Maddux in his early days with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The four-time major league All-Star even discussed his post-career coaching aspirations.
“I have loved my experiences with the coaching at the recent World Baseball Classic and with the Blue Jays, although I haven’t coached too much since my playing days,” reflected Martin from his cart. “I have three little girls at home that need their dad but once they get older, I definitely can see myself getting into coaching more.”
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Martin, Key, Stephenson, Heisler, Godfrey, Birnie to be inducted into Canadian ball hall
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s class of 2024 will consist of six new inductees.
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BWDIK: Brigden, Fryman, Hall, McKay, Miller, Paxton, Peters
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s weekly “But What Do I Know?” column discusses James Paxton, Adam Hall, Trevor Brigden, Dave McKay and Woodie Fryman.
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Teeple: Guerrero's arbitration hearing illustrates economic divide between pro sports, average family
Devon Teeple, of The GM’s Perspective, writes that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays haggling over a couple of million dollars in an arbitration hearing further illustrates the “stark economic divide” between professional sports and the average family.
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Vancouver native Karunaratne hired as Cardinals' senior VP for business operations
The St. Louis Cardinals have hired Anuk Karunaratne (Vancouver, B.C.) as the club’s new senior vice president for business operations.
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Brigden, Peters invited to Rays' MLB camp
Canadians Trevor Brigden (North York, Ont.) and Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) have been invited to the Tampa Bay Rays major league camp this spring.
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Betts: Who’s Canada’s next Edouard Julien, Matt Brash?
Who will be the first Canadian to make their major league debut in 2024?
Canadian Baseball Network writer Matt Betts offers three strong candidates.
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BWDIK: Alou, Beltre, Teahen, Votto, Walker, Jenkins
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s weekly “But What Do I Know?” column discusses Larry Walker, Tood Helton, Fergie Jenkins, Felipe Alou, Adrian Beltre and Mark Teahen.
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Mark Whicker: Mauer’s first ballot Hall of Fame election raises questions
Canadian Baseball Network columnist Mark Whicker writes that Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer’s first-ballot election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame raises some questions. Whicker ponders “whether a player with such holes in his career shouldn’t have been subject to a multi-year evaluation.”
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Paxton signs with Dodgers
Left-hander James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) has signed a one-year, $11-million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Ronald Blum of The Associated Press. The deal is pending a physical.
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