Mark Whicker: Sixty years ago, little-known engineering prof saw baseball’s future
“Long before there was Bill James and his vast acolytes of baseball codifiers, there was Earnshaw Cook.
He was the subject of a Sports Illustrated piece called “Baseball Is Played All Wrong,” based on his computerized analysis. That piece ran in 1964. In those days, computers themselves were about as big as Boog Powell, the Orioles’ lefthanded slugger. Yet Cook’s theories has somehow trickled down to the major league dugouts of today.
Cook found that starting pitchers should work a couple of innings, be removed for a pinch-hitter, and be relieved by a better pitcher who would work five or so innings. Then the guy whom we now know as the “closer” would work the eighth and the ninth. The theory was that pitchers should not hit, and pinch-hitters would increase the run totals by a dramatic margin.”
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HarbourCats sign Macleod, Paterson, five others
The Victoria HarbourCats have signed seven players, including Canadians Cam Macleod (Vancouver, B.C.) and Brett Paterson (Victoria, B.C.).
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Big changes coming to Goldeyes' Blue Cross Park
The Winnipeg Goldeyes have announced several upgrades to Blue Cross Park that will be in place for the upcoming American Association season.
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IBL's Guelph Royals re-sign Morro
The Intercounty Baseball League’s Guelph Royals have re-signed shortstop Conner Morro (Cheltenham, Ont.).
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Ottawa Titans sign former Yankees prospect Gray
The Ottawa Titans have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher and former New York Yankees prospect Shane Gray.
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McFarland: Hemmerling making his late father proud at Barton
“Before every one of his starts, you will see Reece Hemmerling grab a pendant around his neck, look up at the sky and say four words.
“I love you, Dad.”
It’s a new pre-game ritual for the Beaumont, Alberta product, after his father passed away in November.
The pendant matches a tattoo that Hemmerling had etched on his arm, featuring an anchor that represents how his dad, Troy, was the anchor of the family, and a grey ribbon representing Glioblastoma Cancer awareness.”
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IBL's Guelph Royals re-sign Thomas
The Intercounty Baseball League’s Guelph Royals have re-signed pitcher Kyle Thomas.
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Terriers' College Player of the Week: Zach Marriott
Hendrix College infielder Zach Marriott (Oakville, Ont.) has been named Terriers’ alum College Player of the Week.
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Glew: Axford officially announces retirement
National team alum and longtime big league reliever John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) officially announced his retirement on Tuesday night.
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BMOC Week VII: Barbieri, Crowell, Crowson, Gomes, Gurney, Lachance, Soucie
Canadian Baseball Network writer Matt Betts summarizes the top performances by Canadians in the U.S. college ranks from the past week in his latest “Big Man on Campus (BMOC)” column.
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R.I.P. Bill Ferguson, former Blue Jays board chair
Former Toronto Blue Jays board chair Bill Ferguson passed away on February 10 at the age of 86.
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Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Week: Sean Heppner
Thanks to his record-breaking 16-strikeout performance for the UBC Thunderbirds, right-hander Sean Heppner (Tsawwassen, BC by way of Point Roberts, Wash.) has been named Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Week.
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Glew: Remembering the Jays' first spring game, 47 years ago today
The Toronto Blue Jays played their first spring training game 47 years ago today. Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew shares the details of that historic contest.
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Shushkewich: From the backyard to Vauxhall to D1, brothers thriving in similar baseball paths
“Hailing from Abbotsford, B.C., Carlin and Cardel Dick are two of just over a 1,000 Canadian-born players who have decided to head to the United States to continue playing baseball at the post-secondary level.
The brothers make up 1.1% of those Canucks who are suiting up for a D1 program and represent 15% of those players suiting up in the United States who call Abbotsford home.
While the brothers are playing for different programs this season, their journey to postsecondary opportunities ran through the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball in Vauxhall, Alta.”
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Rangers, Terriers, Tigers in Florida, Blaze, Dawgs Arizona bound
The Mississauga Tigers, Etobicoke Rangers and Langley Blaze will soon embark on their annual spring trips to the south.
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BWDIK: Caissie, Julien, Pivetta, Rogers, Toro, Votto
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s weekly “But What Do I Know?” column discusses Joey Votto, Nick Pivetta, Owen Caissie and Edouard Julien.
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IBL's London Majors sign Mosher
The London Majors have signed infielder Tyler Mosher (Dutton, Ont.).
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IBL's London Majors sign Krzeminski
The Intercounty Baseball League’s London Majors have signed infielder Gibson Krzeminski (Tecumseh, Ont.).
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Terriers' College Player of the Week: Matt Brown
University of South Florida right-hander Matt Brown (Oakville, Ont.) has been named Terriers’ College Player of the Week.
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ICYMI - Langdon: Joey Votto recalls roots, offers tips for kids
With Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) signing a minor league contract with his hometown Toronto Blue Jays, we thought we’d resurrect this story Scott Langdon wrote about Votto and the slugger’s Toronto baseball roots from December 15, 2020.
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