EXTRA BASES XVI -- Morneau, Whitt Lead Team Canada in WBC, O’Neill to Morneau
All-American honours for Davis, Regan

By BOB ELLIOTT

Why is Canadian baseball on the rise?
Justin Morneau thought a second before answering.
Then, the former American League MVP came up with some possibilities.
“It could be thanks to Larry Walker,” Morneau said.
“It could be due to the Blue Jays success from when they won the World Series.
“Or it could be due to the development of the Canadian National Junior Team and success that Greg Hamilton has had.”
And there could be another reason summarized Morneau (New Westminster, BC) like Team Canada playing well enough at the Rogers Centre to advance to the second round of the second World Baseball Classic.
“We outplayed Team USA for a day in 2006 and hopefully after this, we’ll be able to say we advanced to the second round,” Morneau told reporters in a conference call. “If everyone is healthy, we can put a team together that’s as good as other countries.”
Team Canada will gather in March 1 and work out the next day at the Bobby Mattick training complex Jays in Dunedin, Fla. They will play exhibition against with the Jays, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees follow March 3-5. Then, they fly to Toronto for a workout and the opening game with the Team USA March 7.
Everyone knew Ernie Whitt has permission from the Phillies to manage Team Canada again and Morneau is no surprise to be the first player named to Team Canada. Whitt will manage Single-A Clearwater in the Phillies system this year,
The 45-man provisional roster has to be handed in Jan. 16 and the final 28-man roster (13 pitchers and 15 position players) will be handed in on Feb. 22.
Whitt is from the Windsor, Ont. suburb of Clinton Township, Mich and has been a fixture in Toronto ... since 1977 with the Jays and managing team Canada since 1999 at the Pan-Am Games in Winnipeg.
“I feel pretty Canadian, I’ve been a part of baseball in Canada since 1977 and I’ve been involved in the community (as a player or coach),” Whitt said.
It will be his first time at the Rogers Centre since he was fired along with manager John Gibbons and coached Gary Denbow and Marty Peavy June 20.
“It’s going to be tough,” he said. “But you know what? We’re there to accomplish a goal and that’s to move and advance as far as we can in this tournament. You just let things go and move forward.”
While the Jays gave up on Whitt -- one of their most popular players ever -- he said “I was very disappointed at the time, but I never thought Team Canada would have given up on me.”  
Whitt is as respected amongst Canadian players as their own agents or say Hamilton, who coached many of the players as teenagers. The feeling is mutual. Whitt has developed a strong admiration for Canadian players, work ethic and playing the game the right way.
“I’m so proud of managing a team of players that go out and play the right way. They play it with passion and pride for their country. You don’t always get that at other levels. They put it all on the line,” Whitt said. “Most of the players have been in these tournaments before. They know it’s a short sprint so we have to stay very aggressive, play under control, play with some emotion and passion -- just put it all out there.”
Whitt managed Canada to a bronze at the 1999 Pan Ams beating Cuba and Team USA, finished fourth at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and a 2-1 record at the inaugural WBC in 2006.
In 2006, Canada beat South Africa -- where goes that rivalry as South Africa is in the Mexico City pool along with Cuba, Australia and Mexico -- with a ninth-inning rally, then LHP Adam Loewen (Surrey, BC) pitched 3 2/3 scoreless to beat Team USA’s star-studded lineup 8-6, before Mexico knocked off Canada and LHP Jeff Francis (North Delta, BC). Although to be fair someone may have jinxed Frances, who recorded the first two outs of the game on two pitches.
"Man, this is going to be a quick game, two pitches, two outs," said a voice in the Team Canada dugout. Francis only recorded two more outs before he headed to the showers.
Canada was the only team with a 2-1 record not to advance, losing on run differential tie breaker.
The WBC tourney features a double-knockout formula. Team USA was almost eliminated before playing its third game -- had Canada beaten Mexico.
“Now it doesn’t matter if you win by one run or 10,” said Whitt. “Whoever wins the game is going forward. In international play you have to play every game like its the seventh game of the World Series.”
All-star Russ Martin (Montreal, Que.) of the Los Angeles Dodgers will do the catching.
The infield shapes up with Morneau at first, Washington Nationals’ Peter Orr (Newmarket, Ont.) at second, Kansas City Royals Mark Teahen (whose roots go back to St. Marys’ Ont.) at third and Chris Barnwell (whose father is from Shelburne, N.S.) at short. Barnwell spent 2008 at Triple- A Albuquerque in the Florida Marlins system.
The outfield consists of Boston Red Sox Jason Bay (Trail, B.C.); Nick Weglarz (Stevensville, Ont.), a Cleveland Indians farmhand; Philadelphia Phillies post-season hero Matt Stairs (Fredericton, N.B.) and Adam Stern (Port Stanley Ont.) who began 2008 at Triple-A Norfolk.
Cincinnati Reds Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) will be the DH.
Olympian Mike Saunders (Victoria, B.C.) won’t be available since he is coming off shoulder surgery.
Canada’s Mr. International Baseball Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) will be on the team in back-up role.
“Beating Team USA was a great source of pride, we were hoping to advance, hopefully this time we can make the second round,” Morneau said. “The regular schedule is different, a grind of 162 games, such a long rewarding season. This is much shorter.”
And bragging rights in 30 clubhouses are on the line. Morneau admitted he “let Joe Mauer (Team USA and Twins catcher) have it,” tooting Canada’s horn about the win against Team USA upon returning to Fort Myers, Fla. for spring training in the spring of 2006.
“I know it was only one game and we’re used to three games series or best-of-seven in the post-season, but as Canadians we are pretty proud. I’ve been telling Dustin Pedroia he’d better get ready for that Canada-USA rematch.”
The Red Sox second baseman won the American League MVP award with Morneau finishing second.  
“In Phoenix when we beat Team USA, Steve Nash (of the Phoenix Suns) was there supporting us, a lot of the boys in the dugout were happy to see on the scoreboard that he came out to support us,” Morneau said. “I’m not sure if the Maple Leafs are in town or whether they’ll come out to the park.”
After Canada edged South Africa in 2006 with a ninth-inning rally, we remember 3B Corey Koskie (Anola, Man.) telling us “That was a game with October-style emotions in the first week of March -- I wasn’t ready for that.”
“You hear the anthem, you stand there, look down the line and you’re not the only Canadian in the lineup, you’re with a team full of guys there’s a sense of pride there,” said Morneau. “Obviously you have to keep an even keel in baseball, but in such a short format, there’s a lot of emotion involved.”
Morneau, the top Canadian in the game, was an American League MVP in 2006 and runner-up this season, has appointed himself assistant as director of player personnel in charge of recruiting for general manager Hamilton.  
And Hamilton, Whitt and the rest will need help rounding up arms.
A year ago Canada was sitting pretty with all the arms. The season was not kind to Canucks arms
LHP Erik Bedard (Navan, Ont., left shoulder), RHP Shawn Hill (Georgetown, Ont., right forearm), RHP Scott Mathieson (Langley, BC, Tommy John surgery) and LHP Loewen (left elbow) all won’t be available when Canada meets Team USA Saturday March 7. Well, Loewen might be there, but due to a second serious injury it will be as a hitter.
“I’m trying to get everyone that’s healthy,”  Morneau, “I think the toughest thing for us is guys who were hurt last year are some of the not only best Canadians but best players in the game. We’ll go on without them and we’ll hopefully step up the guys that do get a chance. There’s guys that any time I run into them, I’m talking about it. I spoke to Ryan Dempster at the Baseball Canada banquet.”
And no doubt Morneau will be doing some lobbying Jan. 24 at the Renaissance Toronto Hotel at Rogers Centre in Toronto,
“I’ve been looking forward to this thing since the last one,” Morneau said. “Hopefully we’ll get Rich Harden. Bedard has had a pretty significant injury. Hopefully we’ll get Jeff Francis. It looks like Dempster will be there,”
With Chicago Cubs starters Harden and Dempster, plus Francis of the Colorado Rockies, Team Canada has a shot to be one of the two teams to advance to the second round from a pool which also includes Venezuela and Italy.
Whitt explained that there are pitch counts on all starters. And he joked that unless he can't talk Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC), Canada’s greatest position player, into DHing for the WBC, Walker will be part of his coaching staff.
Paul Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) who pitched on the 2006 team will also be a coach.
Morneau is already getting ready.
“For the first time I can remember I actually started hitting in December, I started hitting with Loewen about a week and a half ago, trying to get a little earlier start,” he said. “In the spring it feels like I’m always late to get going, it takes me a couple of weeks to get that timing and when you go into those pretty intense games it makes it tough. The adrenaline takes over a little bit, but you still don’t have that timing so I figured I’d start a little bit sooner and get my hands ready.”
Ticket strips for all six games in Toronto are on sale, with single-game sales available Jan. 19.
Venezuelan fans from southern Ontario and western New York will be dressed in gold, blue and red.
Ditto for Team USA fans in red, white and blue.
And while we’re not sure of how many backers Italy will have, Team Canada supporters will be clad in red and white.
Morneau the Man: Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) won the 2008 Tip O’Neill award presented annually by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. The awarded goes annually to the player to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball’s highest ideals. It is the second time in three years that the Minnesota Twins slugger has snagged the honour, and he becomes the fourth Canadian to win it more than once.
Jason Bay (Trail, BC) and Eric Gagné (Magouche, Que.) as previous two-time winners, while Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC) has won the honour nine times.
Morneau hit .300 in 2008 and finished second in the AL MVP race to Boston’s Dustin Pedroia. He led the majors playing 163 games, while amassing 187 hits, 23 homers, 47 doubles and 129 RBIs. He had a .499 slugging mark. Morneau was the first Canadian ever to win the MLB Home Run Derby at  Yankee Stadium and scored the winning runs.
In his season to remember, Morneau won his second Silver Slugger award -- the second Canadian to win more than once (Walker has won three), the Calvin Griffith Twins MVP award for 2008, as well as the Bob Allison award for leadership and the Oscar Charleston Legacy award, in addition to being nominated for the Marvin Miller award, the Pepsi Clutch Hitter of the Year, the Hitter of the Year by This Year in Baseball and the Hank Aaron award. Morneau was also a finalist for Canada’s Lou Marsh Award.
Past winners
1984 - Terry Puhl (Melville, Sask.)
1985 - Dave Shipanoff (Edmonton, Alta.)
1986 - Rob Ducey (Cambridge, Ont.)
1987 - Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC)
1988 - Kevin Reimer (Enderby, BC)
1989 - Steve Wilson (Victoria, BC
1990 - Walker
1991 - Daniel Brabant (Longuiel, Que.)
1992 - Walker
1993 - Rob Butler (East York, Ont.)
1994 - Walker
1995 - Walker
1996 - Jason Dickson (Chatham, N.B.)
1997 - Walker
1998 - Walker
1999 - Jeff Zimmerman (Kelowna, BC)
2000 - Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC)
2001 - Corey Koskie (Anola, Man.) and Walker
2002 - Eric Gagné (Mascouche, Que.) and Walker
2003 - Gagné
2004 - Jason Bay (Trail, BC)
2005 - Bay
2006 - Justin Morneau (New Westminister, BC)
2007 - Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.)
Pre-season All-American honours I: LHP Shane Davis (Belmont, Ont.) was named to the ninth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Pro-Line Athletic pre-2009 All-America team.
As a red-shirt freshman for the Canisius Griffens, Davis was 12-1 in 13 starts with a 2.42 earned run average for coach Mike McRae (Niagara Falls, Ont.). He walked 24 and struck out 47 in 89 1/3 innings.
Davis was also named to the All-Canadian College First Team.
Pre-season All-American Honours II: OF Garret Regan (Calgary, Alta.) was named to the 2009 NAIA Baseball Pre-season All-America Team. The Pre-season team was chosen by the NAIA All-America Selection committee.
Regan earned NAIA All-American honourable mention and was named to All-NAIA Region VI team and won Sooner Conference First Team honours. He had a .418 average with nine homers, 45 RBIs.
Regan was also named to the All-Canadian College First Team.
Letters of Intent: For both the spring of 2009 -- our 2009 In College list is coming soon -- and the fall of  2010.
WBC-seeing U soon: Once again the World Baseball Classic dates at the Rogers Centre
Game 1, Saturday, March 7 -- Team Canada vs. Team USA, 2 p.m.
Game 2, Saturday, March 7 -- Italy vs. Venezuela, 8 p.m.
Game 3, Sunday, March 8 -- Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 8 p.m.
Game 4, Monday, March 9 -- Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 6:30 p.m.
Game 5, Tuesday, March 10 -- Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 5 p.m.
Game 6, Wednesday, March 11 -- Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 6:30 p.m.
(Losers of Game 4 and Game 5 are eliminated.)
(Game 6 will decide first and second-place placings for the second round.)

Web site comments:

Bob:

How do you keep up with all the Canadian kids.  We have  a few of them here.  We have one kid that did well last year that you may want to keep up with.  Alex Carnall, outfielder from Oakville, Ont..  Hit .371 with 12 doubles and started in RF for us.  Made the Texas-New Mexico Junior college all-star game this past fall.

Shawn Hughes

Asst. Baseball Coach

Cisco Junior College

Hi Bob,

I’m a freshman in college and also a big fan of the Canadian Baseball Network. I just thought I’d give you some names that you may not have for the 2009 list yet.

Those are just some names of former teammates of mine, I wasn’t sure if you had them or not but I just thought I’d send them to you just in case.

Brandon Dhue
Toronto

Morning Bob

Nice to see your new site.
Have an add to your college list.
I hope this is the right way to send the information.

Have a great weekend,
 
Lois Walkling
Nanaimo, B.C.

Bob,
 
Thanks for the heads up on the Canadian Baseball Network, I had not seen it yet.
 
Just to keep you informed, my son is now at Howard College in Texas, and they are one of the top five Ranked Junior Colleges in the nation.
 
Just thought I’d keep you posted as I see Canadian Baseball I a passion for you as it is for me and these two kids will make some noise ... 

Cheers,
 
Andrew Mann
London, Ont.

Dear Bob:

It was a pleasant surprise when we found out about this list. I understand it is a difficult job to rank players from different positions and areas. 

Debbie Fischer
Oshawa, Ont.

Bob,

Good to meet you in person this past weekend. We all appreciate your hard work that you are doing and celebrating the successes of Canadians playing baseball. Keep up the good work.

Josh Ridgway
Program Coordinator
Baseball BC

Mr. Elliott,

Hope everything is going well for you.  We have received a commitment from Brooklyn Foster-C Langley, B.C. I usually check the website every couple days.  It helps me keep track of the players in Canada.  Very good resource.

Thank you,

Rob Allison
Assistant Baseball Coach
Iowa Western Community College

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the quick note.  It was great to see you again.  Would ask that you contact me if there was anything that Baseball BC could do to assist you in your efforts to promote the Canadian Game.

And again, thanks for all you do in that regard for all of our athletes and the game as a whole.

Cheers

David Laing
Director of Operations
Baseball BC

Bob:

Site looks great! Great alternative to the old slam site. Border Cats 2009 Manager Bobby Meier will be using your list to potentially go after some Canadian freshmen, sophomores and or juniors.

Warren Philip
Thunder Bay, Ont.

Bob

Noticed missing from the list of Canadian’s playing in the US is:

Really enjoying the website.
 
Many Thanks,

Sandra Strzalkowski
London, Ont.

Hi Bob,
This is Darin Bell, Carter Bell’s father. We have been following your articles for the past few years now ... good work!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Darin Bell
Courtenay, BC

Bob,
Just read your site, great job, fantastic commitment to Canadian baseball. 
 
Seasons Greetings,
 
Charlie Carey
Hamilton, Ont.