Canadian MLB playoff news and notes - October 25
October 25, 2019
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
- Who threw the final pitch for the Montreal Expos in the last regular season game they played at Olympic Stadium? The answer is right-hander Chad Cordero. The former Expos closer revealed on Twitter last night that he will throw out the first pitch in the first World Series game that the Washington Nationals will host on Friday. Cordero pitched parts of two seasons with the Expos. In 2004, he was their most effective reliever, registering a 2.94 ERA while striking out 83 in 82 2/3 innings and picking up 14 saves in 69 appearances. Cordero moved with the franchise to Washington and toed the rubber for parts of four more seasons with the Nationals before finishing his major league career with the Seattle Mariners in 2010. And catching Cordero’s first pitch will be another former Expo, Brian Schneider. Schneider caught for parts of five seasons with the Expos before joining the Nats in 2005.
- It’s hard not to admire the work that 36-year-old catcher Kurt Suzuki is doing for the Washington Nationals behind the plate during this Fall Classic. His ball-blocking abilities remind me of those of former Toronto Blue Jays catcher Pat Borders. Suzuki is also contributing offensively. The veteran backstop, who was selected in the second round (67th overall) by the Oakland A’s in the 2004 MLB draft, belted a solo home run off Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander (who was taken second overall in the same 2004 MLB draft) in Game 2 on Wednesday. It’s interesting to note that the Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays both selected catchers ahead of Suzuki in the second round of the 2004 MLB draft. The Expos took a catcher named Erick San Pedro, out of the University of Miami, 54th overall. He made it as high as triple-A before retiring in 2008. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays opted for Curtis Thigpen 57th overall. He batted .229 in 57 games with the Blue Jays in 2007 and 2008.
- It was eight years ago today that Canada beat the U.S. 2-1 to secure their first Pan Am Games gold medal in baseball. Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.) and Scott Richmond (Vancouver, B.C.) combined to fan 11 batters, while Jimmy Van Ostrand (Vancouver, B.C.) supplied the offence with a two-run double. The team was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.
The Canadian national team that won gold at the 2011 Pan Am Games eight years ago today. Photo: Baseball Canada/Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
- Happy Birthday to Sportsnet MLB analyst, former Montreal Expos catcher and Windsor, Ont., native Joe Siddall! He played parts of four major league seasons with the Expos, Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers and suited up for four seasons with the triple-A Ottawa Lynx (1993-95, 1997) before becoming a respected broadcaster and analyst.You’ll see him at the desk alongside Jamie Campbell and Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.) on Sportsnet’s coverage for Game 3 tonight.
- And sorry Boston Red Sox fans, but it was 33 years ago today, that this happened: