UPPER DECK VII -- Jays 1-for-9 with Canucks, Paxton, Eliopoulos unsigned

Aug. 18, 2009

By Bob Elliott

Trumpets blared and horns honked the morning after the June draft concluded.
The Blue Jays had jumped into the Canadian talent pool with both feet.
The Jays drafted nine Canadians in all.
And when the clock stuck midnight the only Canadian player the Jays had signed was infielder Jonathan Fernandez, a 34th round choice and Canadian-born son of Tony Fernandez (Toronto, Ont.) from his days as a Jays shortstop.
As legendary scout Bobby Mattick used to say “drafting players is easy, signing them is hard.”
The Jays entered the final 14 hours before the midnight deadline yesterday with five of their top eight picks unsigned. President Paul Beeston, assistant general manager Alex Anthopoulos and scouting director Jon Lalonde went over slot to sign two picks (plus two others).
Lalonde signed the Jays No. 1 pick Chad Jenkins of Kennesaw State for $1.359 million last week, but the Jays next three picks were unsigned as both sides could not come to an agreement.
Headed back to Kentucky University for his senior year is lefty James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) whom the Jays chose 37th over-all with a sandwich pick. He was the top Canadian player selected in the draft.
Headed off to school, either Chipola College or Long Beach State University, is lefty Jake Eliopoulos (Newmarket, Ont.), who pitched for the Brantford Red Sox and the Canadian Junior National Team. Eliopoulos was the Jays second-round pick, chosen 69th.
And headed to Arizona State is Mesa, Az. high school right-hander Jake Barrett, the Jays third-rounder.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder Paxton was 5-3 with a 5.86 earned run average at Kentucky. Paxton walked 20 and fanned 115 in 78 1/3 innings this spring. He ranked third in the NCAA in strikeouts per nine innings (13.2), behind No. 1 pick Steven Strasburg of San Diego State and Mark Serrano of Oral Roberts hurler.
Paxton was represented by Scott Boras, who said at the all-star game he had told teams not to draft Paxton unless they were willing to spend “a lot more than a million.” The Jays have not had a Boras client since Robbie Alomar, who fired Boras in 1991.
Boras negotiated a four-year, major-league $15.67 million deal with the Washington Nationals for Strasburg before midnight.
It is believed that the Jays offered slot money, in the range of $860,000 for Paxton, while the Boras camp was looking for a $1.3 million signing bonus.
“Kentucky is a great place,” Paxton told the University of Kentucky athletics web site. “I love the people there – the coaches, the staff and my teammates. I feel like with the Jays, we just couldn’t come to an agreement and going back to Kentucky is going to be a great option for me. I am going to get a lot better working with the coaches there and hopefully have a great season and year at Kentucky.”
Kentucky lost recruit right-hander Steven Inch (Edmonton, Alta.) who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies after being drafted in the sixth round. Having Paxton arrive on campus is good news for coach Gary Henderson, who also has shortstop Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.).
“The coaches at Kentucky have been really good to me,” Paxton said. “They have helped me a lot, mentoring me and teaching me the game of baseball. It has been a great experience at Kentucky and that made it a lot easier to come back for my senior year, knowing that I would get to work with such a good coaching staff again.”
The Jays made a slot money offer of $530,000 to Eliopoulos. The offer was denied and a request was made for $700,000.
Earlier on deadline day the Jays signed:
_ Jacob Marisnick, a Riverside, Calif. high school outfielder for $1 million, three times the amount of the suggest slot money and was the third-highest bonus of the round. MLB assigns dollar amounts to each slot and insists that scouting directors stay within the salary guidelines.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder has plus speed and power was selected in the third round and had planned on attending Oregon. Going into the draft after hitting .397 with five homers, 26 RBIs and 21 stolen bases, he was rated the 39th best high school prospect in North America by Perfect Game scouting service.
_ K.C. Hobson, a Bakersfield, Calif. high school outfielder for $500,000. The son of Butch Hobson, who had committed to Texas A@M is the son of former Boston Red Sox manager Butch Hobson. The Jays gave the sixth rounder three times the recommended $150,000 max for picks after the fifth.
_ Andrew Hutchison, a Lakeland, Fla. high schooler, selected in 15th round.
_ Daniel Webb, a Northwest Florida State Junior College righty for $450,000 bonus. The 18th rounder he had his fastball clocked at 94 m.p.h. but was not consistent.
The other Canadian selections are heading to school: outfielder Jonathan Gilbert (Quebec City, Que.) selected in the 40th is going to Chipola, catcher Mike Reeves (Peterborough, Ont.), 42nd is off to Florida Gulf Coast, infielder Maxx Tissenbaum (Toronto, Ont.) 43rd Stoney Brook, righty Brandon Kaye Langley, B.C., 45th, University of British Columbia, right-hander Jeffrey Gibbs (East York, Ont.) Maine and Burke Seifrit (Spruce Grove, Alta) 50th, Southern Nevada.
The bad news for the Jays is that it's tough to receover from not signing three of the top four picks from your draft class.
However, the good news is they'll get three compensatory picks in next year's draft.
"We took a tough sign in Paxton. We knew that," said general manager J.P. Ricciardi. "In the second round we took a high-schooler with options (Eliopoulos), you don't know if you're going to get that guy. So we took some kids who slid, a little later, with the understanding that if we didn‚t get the top guys, we'd have a little more money to get the guys down below."
Marisnick, Hobson, Hutchinson and Webb were all rated highly rated entering the draft, but all fell due to signability quetions. The Jays paid over slot for each of them which had always been Toronto's fallback position.
"We get a sandwich pick back for Paxton, we get a second round pick for Eliopoulos and we get a third-round pick for Barrett. With what we have here and what we have next year, we could conceivably have nine picks in the first three rounds. But, you‚ve got to be able to sign the players."
If they did have that many picks, signability would be a priority for some of them.
"You could take a player you know you're going to sign, someone who you know flat-out will sign. You look at Marc Rzepczynski and Brett Cecil. They signed and now, two years later, they're in the big leagues, drawing major-league service time and major-league pay."
In all 17 Canadians drafted in June signed.
Fernandez was the only one the Jays landed.

National actions: Vaughan will hold the Baseball Canada bantam boys nationals beginning Thursday at Vaughan Grove Sports Park with all 10 provinces represented as well as the host Vaughan Vikings.
And next Friday the girls nationals get underway at Bond Park in North York. Six teams Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia will be competing.

Never too early to shop for Christmas: The 2010 Justin Morneau calendar is now on sale for $15. Nine dollars of each program go to support Baseball Canada amateur and BC baseball progams.
You can order of the BC baseball website: playballbc.com with all of the key dates for 2010 marked.
We've seen most of the months and the photography is excellent.

Help: 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).

Help I: 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.

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.
And 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.
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.

Don't forget Delaware: So says Blair Hains. The former Intercounty umpire (1991-2006) worked the memorable semi-final playoff game between the Brantford Red Sox and the Toronto Maple Leafs, after the great power outage in 2003, when the CIty of Toronto couldn't turn the lights on at Christie Pitts. The game was resumed in Brantford, The defining moment came late in the game when three Leafs went down swinging.
Now Hains works NCAA DIvision II and Division III games where the best teams are John Hopkins and West Cheste.

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