March 21, 2009

2009 -- UPDATED -- Draft list -- 2009

2009 Canadians in College
 
2010 -- NEW -- Draft list -- 2010

EXTRA BASES -- Canadian Baseball Did Not Die with 6-2 loss to Italy ... James Paxton headed first round bound, 47 Ks in 30 IPs ... Three 90 MPH outings for Jake Eliopoulos ... George Kottaras likely a Red Sox ... Brothers Johnson, Jay and Aaron, from around to corner to PBA, Illinois and then where ... Rory Young, Mike Monster in the 90s ... 21 in all clocked at 88 MPH or more ... Trevor Edwards enjoing UNC Greensboro ... See the Majors for ... Cubs Retire Fergie Jenkins Jersey -- now he can't pitch for Canada either ... Jays sign WBC star Leon Boyd ... See the Around the Minors ... What ever happened to Mike Nickeas ... A History of SS Prospects, Kevin Nicholson .. Tyler Delaney Maine-Presque Isle on the road -- all season ... And In Colleges Chris Robinson to Lars Davis to Aaron Johnson, Illinois baton passed ... Joel Blake, Jesse Sawyer lead South Dakota in Opener ... All the Team Canada news ... On the sandlots ... Andrew Ruck, Brad Van Pelt Impress with Team Ontario ... Q and A with Glenn Jackson.

By Bob Elliott

Well, apparently Canadian baseball did not die on Black Monday, March 9.
That night despite bringing out the big guns -- Donald S. Cherry (Kingston, Ont. -- Canada’s first capital) to throw out the first pitch -- Team Canada fell 6-3 to Italy at the Rogers Centre and was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic.
Three years and three days after Canada beat Team USA 8-6 in the inaugural WBC, for one of Canada’s greatest wins, came one of its most disappointing losses.
Would Canada have held Venezuela’s major-league lineup in check?
Not the point, we’ll never know due to the loss to Italy.
Is Canada’s loss more shocking than the Dominican Republic going two and out?
Or Puerto Rico blowing a two-run lead to be eliminated?
Likely not but you can read about how their nations responded on DominicanRepublicBaseballNetwork.com or PuertoRicoBaseballNetwork.com when you finish here.
Canadian players across North America did not burn their bats.
Canadian players did not throw their gloves into the nearest creek.
Canadian pitchers did not quit and head to the local community centre to sign up for the next ringette class or whatever.
Canada was eliminated with the shocking loss to Italy, led by soft-tosser Dan Serafini, ex-Jay Frank Catalanotto and their bullpen catcher Wayne Forman (St. Marys, Ont.), who did a very poor job or relaying signs from the right field bullpen we might add.
No, they went to work, in Arizona, in Florida, in Louisiana, in Oregon, in Idaho and elsewhere.
What has been happening since Black Monday?
Well, not much really ...

_ LHP James Paxton (junior, Ladner, BC) of the Kentucky Wildcats.
Paxton is pitching himself into first-round draft status. He entered the season as the third or fourth best over-all Canuck. Well, four starts into the season with Kentucky, Paxton has been impressive, impressive, impressive and off-the board impressive. Facing 3rd-ranked LSU Fighting Tigers, Paxton struck out 14 in six innings at Baton Rouge, La. We heard his fastball was clocked at 93 MPH the next day. A day later it was 95 MPH and after checking with the school it was 97 MPH.
Humm baby.
Paxton opened the season, striking out six in 5 2/3 innings against Troy.
The lefty who pitched for coaches Ari Mellios and Mike Kelly with the North Delta Blue Jays then fanned 11 in six innings as Kentucky beat Western Michigan by a 16-5 score.
Paxton then moved to 3-0 whiffing six in 5 2/3 innings in a 12-4 triumph over the Indiana State Sycamores.
“If he stays healthy, just stays the same and does not try to do anything different, he’s without question the top player with Canadian ties,” said a National league scouting director.
And now the highly-respected Allan Simpson (Kelowna, BC) of PerfectGameCrossChecker.com has Paxton tabbed to jump from his pre-season ranking of a third-to-sixth round pick all the way into the first round as he could give Canada first rounder for a third-successive year for the first time ever.
RHP Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.) of the Academie Baseball Canada and the Canadian National Junior Team went 11th over-all in 2007 to the Seattle Mariners and INF Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) of the Langley Blaze and the junior team went 16th over-all to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008.
Paxton started Friday against the Vanderbilt Commodores and was 94 MPH according to a scouting director who was there. He struck out 10 in 6 2/3 innings and will no doubt be selected in the first 25 picks.
"He has two now plus pitches and throws quality strikes," said a scout. "He has a bit of an unorthodox arm action but it doesn't seem to effect him. He hit 94 and he did it easy.."
In all, he has now struck out 47 in 30 innings.
2B Chris Bisson (sophomore, Orleans, Ont.) had a pair of hits as Kentucky scored a 3-1 victory.

_ LHP Jake Eliopoulous (Newmarket, Ont.) of the Langley Blaze and the Academie Baseball Canada.
The top high schooler heading into the draft made his spring debut pitching for Langley and coach Doug Mathieson against Cochise College in Tucson Az. at the Arizona Diamondbacks spring facility. On loan from the Brantford Red Sox, Eliopoulos was outstanding in front of over 120 scouts. He was clocked as 88-90 MPH. He displayed a plus changeup, plus slider, In three scoreless innings he allowed two hits, while fanning three.
The lefty made his second outing against Chicago Cubs minor leaguers in front of 100 scouts, six scouting directors and Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry -- no doubt looking for someone he can keep out of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Hendry did pass on “best wishes and good luck” from both Rich Harden (Victoria, BC) and Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC). Eliopoulos was 91 MPH.
Eliopoulos did not have to pass a French test for his next start but he spoke the international language -- strike one -- to join the ABC as their two-week tour of Florida continued. The lefty faced the Philadelphia Phillies minor leaguers Sunday at Clearwater.
He allowed two opposite-field singles in three scoreless innings, going six up, six down in the first two innings. He had one pitch clocked at 90 and was mostly 88-89 MPH. Most impressive was Eliopoulos' movement on his fastball.

_ C George Kottaras (Markham, Ont.) of the Boston Red Sox.
When spring training began the catching situation was settled for the Red Sox with Jason Varitek behind the plate and Josh Bard as the back up and the personal catcher for Tim Wakefield. Bard was released this week and now the former Ontario Blue Jay catcher for coach Danny Bleiwas and Etobicoke Ranger, under coach Bob Smyth, looks assured to make the team.

_ LHP Jay Johnson (sophomore, Sussex Corner, NB) of the Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs,
Johnson pitched 7 1/3 innings as Blair Kubicek’s PBA knocked off the Treasure Valley Chakurs 8-3 in the Hannigan Classic at Ontario, Ore. He gave up one earned run, while walking one and striking out 12. No wonder in one paper we saw the PBA was referred to as The Prairie Power.
This spring in five outings, Johnson is 2-1 with a save and a 3.00 earned run average. He’s worked 21 innings, allowing 15 walks and 21 strikeouts, this despite the fact he has not pitch in weather over 40 degrees yet. 

_ C Aaron Johnson (junior, Sussex Corner, NB), of the Illinois Fighting Illini,
Johnson -- yes that’s his younger brother at the PBA -- was selected Big 10 Player of the week after helping his team take a series from No. 1-ranked LSU Fighting Tigers at Baton Rouge, La. Johnson, was:
_ The difference, thanks to hitting two-run homer with two out in the ninth for a 3-1 win over LSU in front of 7,640 fans.
_ Two-for-3 with three RBIs in a 22-10 loss to LSU before 9,910.
_ Three-for-4 in a 6-2 win over LSU.   
The former PBA stud, who followed Chris Robinson (Dorchester, Ont.) and Lars Davis (Clagary, Alta.)  hit .500 with a .750 slugging percentage over the three-game set. He threw out four of six would-be base-stealers against a speedy LSU team that entered the game having executed on 30 of 35 stolen-base attempts.

_ RHP Rory Young (Chase, BC) of Langley.
Young worked the final two innings against Cochise pitched the final two innings hitting 91 with four strikeouts. He displayed a plus breaking ball, while allowing a home run.
Young was clocked at 90 MPH against the Cubs in his second start for Mathieson. Mathieson and the Langley team had plenty of guests including Milwaukee Brewers minor leaguers Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC), OF Adam Stern (Port Stanley, Ont.) and Stosh Wawrzasek Langley, BC), along with Seattle Mariners’ farmhands Phillippe Amount (Gatineau, Que.), OF Tyson Gillies (Langley, BC) and RHP Mitch Hodge (Vancouver, BC) all were around the fields or the hotel.
Lawrie would win a favorite pro player poll after treating the Langley team to diner.

_ RHP Mike Monster (Kelowna, BC) of Langley.
Monster followed Eliopoulous to the mound against Cochise and had a great first inning hitting 90 MPH five times. In the second inning he walked a couple but maintained his velocity while allowing a triple.
Monster hit 92 against the Cubs, but was bothered by wildness and had a couple of walks. Cubs’ minor-league RHP Vince Perkins (Victoria, BC) showed for a visit.

_ LHP Evan Grills (Whitby, Ont.) of the Ontario Blue Jays.
Everyone’s choice to be the top Canuck selected in the 2010 draft, Grills showed an 88-89 MPH fastball as he beat the Academie Baseball Canada 10-2 at Cocoa Expo in Cocoa, Fla. The Jays swept the doubleheader winning the second game 5-4.
Grills pitched five innings, allowing one run on five hits in a 4-3 win over Brookdale Community College. Grills, with excellent deception, didn’t walk a man and struck out 10 facing hitters two years elder than he is. He was clocked at 87-88, touching 90 MPH a few times.

_ RHP Brandon Kaye (Langley, BC) was 87-89 MPH pitching four innings for the Douglas Royals, coached by Josh Ridgway against Ryutsu Keiza, a touring university team from Japan. Kaye, brother of Scott Richmond (North Vancouver, BC) allowed three runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out five. Douglas lost 7-1, while Kaye left with Douglas down 3-1.

_ RHP Jeff Gibbs (Toronto, Ont.) of Team Ontario.
Gibbs was clocked at 88 MPH in a 7-5 win over Riverland College at Cocoa in front of 19 scouts, six college coaches and Greg Hamilton, director of Baseball Canada’s national teams. Gibbs worked four innings allowing four hits and one earned run. He struck out six.
Second time out, Gibbs worked three strong innings and was at 89 MPH in a 15-4 win the John Cooper School (Tx). He allowed two hits and a run, while striking out four and is coach Murray Marshall’s best prospect.

_ RHP Jerome Werniuk (Toronto, Ont.) of the Ontario Prospects.
The 6-foot-6 member of the Canadian National Junior Youth Team was clocked at 88 MPH in Florida, pitching for Rob and Rich Butler.

_ RHP Zak Miller (Surrey, BC) of Langley.
Miller pitched five scoreless innings against Eastern Arizona holding the opposition to two hits. He struck out eight, most on his plus changeup He pitched at 84-85 MPH and touched 88.

_ RHP Colin Kleven (Langley, BC) of Langley.
At 6-foot-5 and with size 16s Kleven walks in some huge shoes. He filled them. Kleven hit 89 MPH vs. Indians Hills.
He was 91 MPH against the Kansas City Royals minor leaguers. Mostly, he sat at 88. He showed a much better breaking ball and changeup. Kleven pitched three innings allowing four hits, including a homer, while striking out four. He has committed to Western Iowa. RHP Mitch Hodge-Neilsen (Vancouver, BC) of the Royals stopped for a visit.

_ RHP Paul Barton (Qualicum Beach, BC) of the Vancouver Cave Ducks.
On loan from the Parksville Royals, Barton was clocked at 88 MPH in Tuscon.

_ LHP Mitch Clarke (Kitchener, Ont.), of the Intercounty Terriers.
Clarke was 87-88 MPH facing the highly-ranked Miami-Dade College Sharks in Miami. Despite having a knot in his shoulder after two innings, he pitched through the problems and worked four innings allowing two earned runs. Clarke had hit 90 MPH at the Mississauga Major Legue Scouting Bureau camp, held by Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC). Clarke’s 2008 record with the Terriers was 19-2, with 181 strikeouts in 118 innings.

_ RHP Jon Fitzsimmons (London, Ont.) of the London Badgers.
Fitzsimmons was at 88 MPH in Florida for coach Mike Lumley’s Badgers.

_ RHP Francois Lafreniere (Sherbrooke, Que.) of the ABC.
Lafrenière was clocked at 87-88 MPH as the Joel Landry’s ABC beat the Ontario Blue Jays 5-2 at Cocoa.
   
_ RHP Christopher Romano (Markham, Ont.), of Team Ontario.
Romano hit 88 MPH in a 4-1 loss to the ABC. Romano pitched four innings, giving up two hits and fanning eight.

_ RHP Yan Fortin (Saint-Eustache, Que.) of the ABC.
Fortin hit 88 MPH in a 4-1 win against Team Ontario.

_ RHP Johnathon Solazzo (Mississauga, Ont.) of the Blue Jays.
Solazzo was also clocked at 88 MPH.

The big Picture ...

“Total all these names,” said one veteran scout. “Let’s see you’ve got Paxton, Eliopoulous, Monster, Johnson, Werniuk, Young, Kleven, Gibbs, Miller, Kaye, Barton, Clarke, Fitzsimmons, Fortin, Lafreniere, Romano and Salozzo all throwing 88 MPH or better. That’s 17 guys.
“You’ve got Matt Bannister (St. John’s, Nfld.) at the University of British Columbia, Jean-François Soucy (Lapocatière, Que.) from Quebec. plus Brandon Petite (Glace Bay, N.S.), Steven Inch (Edmonton, Alta.) and Jordan Wong (Calgary, Alta.) at the Vauxhall Academy. What’s that and I may be missing someone?”
Well, that’s 21 arms throwing 88 MPH or better.
“I can remember all the scouts wetting their pants over Shawn Hill’s double snowman (88 MPH) in a February indoor workout and I was one of them,” said the scout. “They all could be throwing 90 MPH by draft day. Who knows? I do know that there is lots of talent.”

What about the position players?

_ C Brooklyn Foster (Langley, BC), of Langley.
Foster was 5-for-7 against Cochise and Eastern Arizona. He was 2-for-4 with a double, against the Cubs.

_ SS Wes Darvill (Langley, BC) of Langley.
Darvill impressed the Cubs executives going 3-for-3 including a triple and three stolen bases facing pro pitching.

_ OF Jeff Hunt (Cambridge, Ont.) of the Terriers.
Hunt had three hits in the Intercounty’s 5-1 win over Triton and knocked in two runs in an 8-7 win over Moraine Valley in front of 11 scouts and he singled in a 12-5 win against Jefferson.

_ OF Chandler McLaren (Guelph, Ont.) of the Terriers.
McLaren drilled an 85 MPH fastball to the right field fence to knock in a run in an 11-10 win against the Florida Memorial Lions, had two hits in the 15-1 loss to the 6th-ranked Miami-Dade Sharks, had two hits in a 7-4 win against the Toronto Mets and singled twice, with two RBIs, including the game winner in an 8-7 win against Moraine Valley. He also had two doubles and three RBIs in the 12-5 win against Jefferson.

_ OF Jonathan Gilbert (Quebec City, Que.) of the ABC.
Gilbert had two hits in the 5-2 win over the Jays. ABC dropped a 5-4 decision to the Western Illinois Leathernecks, whom they impressed.


Impressing for the 2010 draft, besides Grills?

_ C Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) of Langley.
Deglan threw out 2 runners against Cochise. And he gunned down a Cubs runner attempting to steal.

_ RHP Justin Atkinson (Toronto, Ont.), of the Blue Jays.
Atikinson showed a free and easy loose arm and athletic delivery but needs to add velocity as is presently 82-83 MPH.

_ RHP Bruce Lombard (Oakville, Ont.), of Team Ontario.
Lombard showed size, arm strength and good rotation on the breaking ball, while needing to refine delivery and be more consistent with pitches. Lombard pitched two innings, allowing one run and striking out four in a 15-4 win over John Cooper School (Tx).

_ C James Anderson (Barrie, Ont.), of Team Ontario.
Anderson had a good trip from a production perspective and right now is a solid follow as a catcher or a corner guy.

_ INF Brandon Dailey (Brantford, Ont.) of the Terriers.
Carey hit a two-run homer in the 5-1 win over Triton and had two hits and two RBIs in a 10-0 win over the Mets and a bases-loaded double off the fence -- just missing a grand slam -- in a 12-5 win against Jefferson.

_ LHP Brian Smith (Toronto, Ont.) of the Toronto Mets.
Smith looked at home against older competition with an effortless delivery.

And on the college front:

_ RHP Jason Barry (senior, Castlegar, BC), of the Idaho Coyotes.
Barry was named Cascade Conference Pitcher of the Week as he pitched a 3-2 victory over No. 7 ranked Lewis-Clark State Warriors. Barry tossed a complete game three-hitter, allowing one earned run. He did not walk a man and struck out three. Two of the three hits he allowed were infield hits, while not allowing a runner to reach third base in the final five innings.

_ LF Jared Wolf (senior, St. Thomas, Ont.) of the Western Illinois Leathernecks.
Wolf went 6-for-7 as Western Illinois thumped Medaille 24-0 at Cocoa Stadium in Cocoa, Fla. Wolf drove in four runs. The six-hit performance were the most in a single game by a player since coach Hyman has been coaching at Western.

Canada did lose to Italy, but Canada is still producing quality players. 

BIG Man on CAMPUS: C Trevor Edwards (freshman, Toronto, Ont.) owns a .500 average after his first four games, including a homer and six RBIs. He had two hits and a pair of RBIs in an 11-3 romp over Duke. Edwards hit a solo homer in a 6-5 victory against Princeton.

How bout them Jays: First let's start this segment off with an apology. We were wrapped up in spring training and then the daily World Baseball Classic and tracking the Canadian teams spending March break in Arizona and Florida that e have neglected the the Seamheads Historical League.
The owner, president -- not on an interim basis -- manager of the All-Time Blue Jays Neate Sager (Ottawa, Ont.) has been rolling along while we neglected him. The Jays sit two games up, four games over .500  in the Expansion III division over the Arizona/Colorado Diamondbacks/Rockies.
1B Carlos Delgado leads the Jays in hitting in the three triple crown categories with a .318 average, 39 homers and 111 RBIs. Delgado leads Lou Gehrig and Reggie Jackson with a 1.036 OPS.
The Jays knocked off the Minnesota-Washington Twins-Senators by a 7-6 count, scoring four times in the seventh off Hall of Famer Walter Johnson. Troy Glaus had two doubles, while Tony Fernandez, Devon White and Lloyd Moseby one each as they tagged the HOFer with the loss.
Rance Milliniks hit a ground ball in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 win against Baltimore-New York Yankees. He brought home Joe Carter who hit a one-out double. LHP Jimmy Key pitched a complete game for the win and he held CF Mickey Mantle hitless -- Joe DiMaggio started on the bench and pinch hit in the seventh.
Mulliniks had a ninth inning single in the opener of the two-game series a 5-4 win giving him back-to-back, walk-offs.
The Jays vaunted pitching sits 17th with a team ERA of 5.20. Rogers Clemens is 13-9 with a 3.46 in 32 starts. However, the rest of the starters ... Jimmy Key (11-10, 5.38 in 29 starts), Dave Stieb (7-6, 7.19 in 16 starts), David Wells (5-5, 5.92 in 12 starts), A.J. Burnett (6-3, 4.60 in 12 starts), Pat Hentgen (3-4, 6.64 in 10 starts), Juan Guzman (0-2, 5.70 in three starts) and Doyle Alexander (0-0, 6.89 in one start). Ol’ Reliable Roy Halladay is 11-17 with a 4.64 ERA in 31 starts.
The Montreal-Washington Expos-Nationals, managed by ESPN's Jonah Keri (Montreal, Que.) are atop the Expansion Two Division. Rusty Staub leads the Expos with a .343 average. Larry Walker and Staub are tied with the home run lead, at 21 apiece. Gary Carter is tops with 86 RBIs.
On the mound Old Unreliable Pascual Perez has 15 wins while Steve Rogers has the best ERA at 4.01.

Good Reading: A new book entitled OVER THE FENCE IS OUT! by Jim Shearon, with a picture of Montreal Expos OF Larry Walker on the cover, is on sale. The book tells the stories of Canadian success in baseball; from the 64 women who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, to 1994, the year the Montreal Expos could have won the World Series, to Napoleon Lajoie the greatest Canadian who never was, to Elijah Pinnance, Canada’s first aboriginal big league player, a Little League team with a left-handed shortstop, why Perth is a great ball town, along with Jason Bay, Russell Martin, Justin Morneau, Matt Stairs and Walker.
Also look for an alphabetical list of every Canadian to play in the majors between 1871 and 2008; from Alexander to Zimmerman, with photographs. It is available for $18.95 in bookstores.
For an author-signed copy, please send a cheque or money order for $23 ( includes texas and postage to:
Jim Shearon
79 Tiffany Place
Kanata ON K2K 1W5 .

Sherwood Park Looking for Arms: Coach Jordan Blundell is looking for for two RHPs to fill his spot with the Sherwood Park Dukes. Blundell has two spots open and would like to fill them with Canadians. Contact Blundell at j.blundell@shaw.ca or 250.740.5218.

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 (St. Laurent, Que.), Alexandre Periard (St. Eustache, Que.) and Mathieu Poirier (Montreal, Que.) 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.
And 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 group which haa representation from all 10 provinces led by Ontario with 529. Next are British Columbia (223), Quebec (149), Alberta (105), Manitoba (39), New Brunswick (35), Saskatchewan (26), Nova Scotia (20), Newfoundland (12), Prince Edward Island (six) plus 31 states: Michigan, Texas, Arizona, Massachusetts, California, North Dakota, Pennsylvannia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, Hawaii, Missouri, Iowa, South Carolina, Kansas, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, New Jersey, Washington, Colorado, Illinois, Souith Dakota, Montana, New York, Utah, Georgia, Maine, Virginia, Ohio and Louisiana, as well as Washington D.C. We're reard in nine other countires -- South Korea, Israel, Italy, Uraguay, Australia, Afghanistan, Spain, Great Britain and Germany.

EXTRA, EXTRA: A recap of the previous blogs:
BRETT Lawrie -- First rounder, of the Brewers.
EXTRA BASES 1 -- First week of the nationals.
EXTRA BASES II -- Second week of the nationals.
EXTRA BASES III -- Results from the third week of the nationals.
EXTRA BASES IV -- The best 15-16-year-olds from Canada gather at the Rogers Centre for the annual Mizuno Camp.
EXTRA BASES V -- Checking in on the National Junior Team in Florida.
EXTRA BASES VI -- Dropping in on the Cincinnati Reds instructional camp in Sarasota, more Canucks on the roster than anyone else.
EXTRA BASES VII -- Letters of Intent list of Canadians committed to college.
EXTRA BASES VIII -- WBC SS job goes to Chris Barnwell, Jay Johnson pops at the PBA.
EXTRA BASES VIX -- Baseball Ontario and Baseball Canada's best hear from former Expos ace Steve Rogers.
EXTRA BASES X -- Past All-Canadian team members to go on to the pro ranks
EXTRA BASES XI -- Alexandre Periard (Brewers) Chris Leroux (Marlins) promoted to 40-man rosters.
KEVIN GLEW -- First Blue Jays draft pick, Tommy Goffena, visits the Canadian Ball Hall
EXTRA BASES XII -- R.I.P. Tommy Burgess, former MLB player, National Team coach
EXTRA BASES XIII -- R.I.P. Jim Ridley, former minor-league pro, Intercounty MVP, scout and national team coach. Our all-time hit leader.
EXTRA BASES XIV -- 2008 All-Canadian College Team with links to 2000-07 teams.
EXTRA BASES XV -- Dany Wood is Canuck born, Jim Lutton and Howie Birnie -- Fab 50s, Baseball Canada banquet, BA top prospects
EXTRA BASES XVI -- Justin Morneau, Ernie Whitt to Lead Team Canada in WBC, Tip O'Neill award to Morneau, All-American honours to Shane Davis, Garret Regan
EXTRA BASES XVII -- Zak Miller, Brett Van Pelt turn in skates for scholarships
EXTRA BASES XVIII -- The top 100 Most Influential Canadians in baseball
EXTRA BASES XVIX -- Team Canada's WBC roster and more
EXTRA BASES XX -- Don Campbell wins Volunteer award in Ottawa
EXTRA BASES XXI -- Larry Walker first named to Baseball Canada Wall of Excellence
EXTRA BASES XX II -- Justin Morneau makes dreams come true in the desert
SHI DAVIDI Q & A -- Cincinnati Reds Joey Votto
KEVIN GLEW -- Strong Canuck lobby helps put Jim Rice in Cooperstown
EXTRA BASES XXIII -- Jays All-time manager? Ottawa's Neate Sager, Mark James signs with the Cincinnati, Taylor Boyle asks for help, Gordon Sinclair's Let's Be Personal still a hit, Free hitting clinic, sad day in Simcoe County
EXTRA BASES XXIV -- Larry Walker, Ernie Whitt, Bernie Soulliere, Doc Miller HOF bound, Jon Prevost Pre-season All-Conference, Langley Blaze (Jake Eliopoulos, Mike Monster) heads to Arizona, The Rookie, a poem, Tim Nelson Heads to Italy will miss Canadians 30th gala celebrations, (Justin) Randall has the Handle, All-TIme Expos Sweep Jays, Canadians in College hit 650, Facebook Group nears 1,300
EXTRA BASES XXV -- Scott Richmond, Adam Loewen to chat.
KEVIN GLEW -- Checks in on Russell Martin.
SHI DAVIDI: Stubby Clapp Q and A.
EXTRA BASES XXVI -- Scott Richmond chat.
EXTRA BASES XXVII -- Adam Loewen chat, Jim Shearon's new Canuck ball book, Ty Bouchard helops Northwestern, Pitching opportunties in Sherwood Park, Medicine Hat.
KEVIN GLEW -- Ron Taylor's 40th anniversary of winning with the Amazing Mets.
EXTRA BASES XXVIII -- With Team Canada Day One, Flight Delays, Memories of '06, Jake Peavy Starts for Team USA, Starting Lineup behind Scott Richmond vs. the Jays, Corey Koskie on his concussion, Hockey Night in Dunedin, Canuck Notes.
EXTRA BASES XXVIV -- With Team Canada Day two, Early Reading, Walker Talk, Visitors in Camp, Richmond works 2 2/3 innings, Koskie scores three times Canuck blood lines, Canuck Notes.
EXTRA BASES XXX -- With Team Canada Day 4, Early reading, 9-2 loss to the Phillies, Walker insukted by the Jays starting lineup, Davey Johnson says it is Pay Back time, Late reading, Canuck notes.
EXTRA BASES XXXI -- With Team Canada, Day Four, A (Scott) Diamond in the Rough at Steinbrenner Field against the Yankees, Four Team Ontario grads on WBC, Seven of Danny Thompson's players turn pro off 2002 16U club.
EXTRA BASES XXII -- With Team Canada, Day Five, Early Reading, David Letterman's Top 10 Reasons to Watch the WBC, TV-Radio Coverage, Which WBC Team Canada was better? 2006 or 2009? Jamie Pogue wears the Stars and Stripes, Justin Morneau has a new lid and it fits, Joey Votto comes home, Mike Johnson will start.
EXTRA BASES XXIII -- With Team Canada Day Six, Pre-game Intros; Mike Johnson holds starts Game 1, ,,, Canada-USA Today, Canada-US how they scored. ... What now for Canada? Phillippe Aumont the Great, Davey Collins back with the (Ontario) Blue Jays. ... Jays FLA sked, Late reading.
EXTRA BASES XXVIV -- With Team Canada Day Seven, Upper Deck Stairs, Montreal Station said no to WBC broadcasts, Famous Fathers -- Larry Walker and George Morneau, Where Ontario player learned their ball.
EXTRA BASES XXXV -- With Team Canada Day Eight, Plenty of Reading, One Canuck Advances -- Leon Boyd with the Netherlands, Fire Ernie? Will Scott Richmond Ever Pitch for Canada?
A DAWGS LIFE -- Jonathan Hodgson, our WMBL man, Chris Bisson (Ottawa, Ont.) hit a walk off for Kentucky in 9-8 win over Eastern Kentucky ... LHP James Paxton (Ladner, BC) dominted for Kentucky whiffing 11 against  Western Michigan ... LHP Mark Hardy (Campbell RIver, BC) gained the win, Shawn Hetherington (Tsawwassen, BC) the save as the British Columbia Thunderbirds took the opener, then reliever Josh Brink (Abbotsford, BC) gained the win, Hetherington the save as UBC won a series from the defending NAIA Lewis-Clark Warriors champs. ... DH Kyle Maloney (Peterborough, Ont.) knocked in the winning run and picked up the win for the Greensboro Pride.
SHI DAVIDI -- Q and A with Mark Teahen.
ALLAN SIMPSON -- A Canuck's view of the WBC from south of the border ... UBC likes look of the new yard and news slugger Mike Elias ... Okanagan sweeps pair. ... Chris Bisson hits walk-off, for first college HR, with vid ... Brandon Kaye impressive in Douglas spring debut.
EXTRA BASES XXXVI -- We're No. ? We're No. ? We're No. ? ... Britton-Foster, Eric Brown pitch UBC to doubleheader sweep ... Aaron Johnson leads Illinois ... Tim Cozier had two hits in Niagara opener ... Steve Wickens has two for Gulf Coast ... Gord Gateman wins for Saint Joseph's ... Home Run Society Lobbies for team in Cranbrook.






Hi Bob,

I wanted to say thank you for doing such a wonderful job in advancing the Canadian baseball profile.  I think it’s great that you’re leading the push towards building the Canadian baseball community.  You’re truly the one person I (and many others) think of when it comes to consolidating and reporting information on Canadian baseball.

Thanks for all your help in advance.

Best Regards,

Harpreet Padda
University of Toronto

Mr. Elliott
I guess you can’t give me the email addresses of all the Team Canada players, so if you would could you please post this I would appreciate it.
Our family went to the Canada-US game and the Canada-Italy game at the SkyDome. While most people will say it was one good game and one horrible game, I would like to thank the Canadian players for giving up their time to play for their country.

Rather than complaining about who was not here -- Ryan Dempster, Rich Harden, Cale Iorg -- I would like to extend since appreciation to them one and all for all of the excitement they provided my family. It was our best trip to the ball park since post-season games.

Thank you, Phillippe Aumont, thank you Chris Begg, thank you T.J. Burton, thank you Jesse Crain, thank you David Davidson, thank you Scott Diamond, thank you Bryan Dumesnil, thank you Steve Green, thank you Brooks McNiven, thank you Mike Johnson, thank you Chris Leroux, thank you Vince Perkins, thank you Scott Richmond, thank you Denis Boucher and thank you Paul Quantrill.

Thank you Luke Carlin, thank you Russell Martin, thank you Chris Barnwell, thank you Shawn Bowman, thank you Stubby Clapp, thank you Corey Koskie, thank you Justin Morneau, thank you Peter Orr, thank you Mark Teahen, thank you Joey Votto, thank you Jason Bay, thank you Matt Stairs, thank you Adam Stern, thank you Nick Weglarz, thank you Brett Lawrie, thank you Tim Leiper, thank you Greg Hamilton, thank you Larry Walker and thank you Ernie Whitt.

Thank you all for making me so proud to be Canadian

Margaret I.