Canadian MLB playoff news and notes - October 10

PBF Redbirds and Junior National Team alum Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) made just one start for the Atlanta Braves in the post-season despite being the club’s best starting pitcher during the regular season. Photo: J.P. Antonacci

October 10, 2019

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

- Hindsight is always 20/20, but one of the most common laments on social media from Atlanta Braves fans since their blowout 13-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the National League Division Series yesterday, is why was Calgary native Mike Soroka, their best starting pitcher during the regular season, only used in one game in the playoffs? In defence of Braves’ manager Brian Snitker, Soroka was far more effective on the road (7-1, 1.55 ERA in 16 starts) than at SunTrust Park (6-3, 4.14 ERA in 13 starts), so it made sense to have the 22-year-old Canadian start a game on the road. The argument that Braves fans have is that their club clinched the division title with two weeks remaining in the season and Snitker could’ve set up the rotation to ensure that Soroka received two post-season starts. Instead veterans Dallas Keuchel and Mike Foltynewicz started twice in the series.

- You can’t help but feel bad for Montreal native Russell Martin. This was his 10th trip to the postseason - and his fourth with the Los Angeles Dodgers - and despite accumulating all kinds of individual Canadian statistical post-season records, he has yet to play in the World Series. His Dodgers were ousted by the Washington Nationals in a 7-3, 10-innning loss last night.

- New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said yesterday that he hasn’t set his rotation for the American League Championship Series. “We haven't decided that yet,” Boone told reporters. “It may or may not factor who we're playing, but those will be one of the conversations we have over the next couple days. I'm considering everything right now.” The Yankees will play either the Houston Astros or Tampa Bay Rays, after those two teams clash in the deciding game of their American League Division Series tonight. Canadian James Paxton (Ladner, BC) remains the favourite to start Game 1 of the ALCS for the Yankees. For the record, the Canuck southpaw was 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two starts against the Astros in 2019 and 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA against the Rays.

- Happy Birthday to 1972 World Series MVP and former Toronto Blue Jays bench coach Gene Tenace. In the 1972 Fall Classic, Tenace batted .348 with four home runs and nine RBIs in seven games to lead the Oakland A’s to a championship over the Cincinnati Reds. It was one of four World Series rings he would win as a player. He’d earn two more as a bench coach with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993.