By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network
The date March 16, 1999 wasn’t all that special on the Montreal Expos spring calendar. 

The Expos edged the New York Mets 5-4 at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. levelling the Expos Grapefruit record at seven wins, seven losses. 

Yet, the highlight of the day in Expo land did not happen in Palm Beach County, but back in Montreal.

That is the day Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. entered the world inside a Montreal hospital.  

Coming off a 65-win season the Expos under general manager Jim Beattie and manager Felipe Alou, an inductee to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys, Ont., were hoping for better in 1999. They were but only by a small margin. They won 68 times.

Ismael Cruz, then the Jays director of Latin American scouting and then general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who spoke French to Guerrero’s mother during negotiations, handed out a signing bonus of $3.9 million US in July of 2015. The year before at the deadline day -- when Jays major leaguers were in Houston complaining about not adding any help after being promised so when they left Dunedin -- most the Jays scouting brass was in Dunedin evaluating Guerrero.

This week, Guerrero hit .579 (11-for-19) with three RBIs for the class-A Lansing Lugnuts to win Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Week honours for Week VII. He was the best of the 78 Canadians not in the majors.

How the week that was for Guerrero as he

_ Didn’t play in a 6-4 loss to the Fort Wayne Tincaps before 3,968 fans at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing, Mich.

_ Playing third base and hitting third, he was 1-for-4 with a double, his 10th in a 5-1 victory against South Bend Cubs before 3,845 at Four Winds Field. He doubled to left in the third inning.    

_ Playing third and hitting clean-up, he was 2-for-4 in a 5-4 win over South Bend before 5,023 at Four Winds Field. He singled to centre in the second and did the same again in the eighth. 

_ Playing third and batting in the No. 4 spot he was a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs in an 11-7 loss to South Bend in front 5,448 at Four Winds Field. Guerrero singled to right in the four-run first to knock in a run, singled to centre in the second making it 5-0 and doubled to left in the fourth cutting the South Bend lead to 11-6.   

_ Playing third and hitting fourth he was 2-for-4 with a double in a 5-3 victory over South Bend before 5,709 fans at Four Winds Field. Guerrero singled to second in the fourth and doubled to left scoring the tying run as the Lugnuts scored four times in the eighth.

_ Playing third and batting third, he was 3-for-4 with a double in 10-3 win against the Lake County Captains before 2,010 fans at Cooley Law School Stadium. Guerrero singled to left in the first, did the same in the fourth and doubled to right in the eighth.   
 
_ Did not play in a 5-3 win over Lake County before 9,165 at Cooley Law School Stadium. 

BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
Player / Class / Team    AB    R    H    HR    RBI    AVG
Vladimir Guerrero - A Lansing    19    6    11    -    3    .579
Jesse Hodges - A Myrtle Beach    16    2    6    -    1    .375
Jacob Robson - A West Michigan    22    4    8    -    5    .364
Brett Siddall - A Stockton    18    4    6    2    3    .333
Josh Naylor - A Lake Elsinore    28    5    9    -    6    .321
Matt Hague - AAA Rochester    25    4    8    1    2    .320
Eric Wood - AAA Indianapolis    18    4    5    3    3    .278
Demi Orimoloye - A Wisconsin    22    5    6    1    4    .273

Jordan Lennerton - IND Quebec    21    4    10    -    8    .476
Sebastien Boucher - IND Ottawa    16    6    7    -    1    .438
Michael Crouse - IND New Britain     31    5    11    1    3    .355
Phil Craig-St. Louis - IND Quebec    15    1    5    -    4    .333
Wes Darvill - IND Winnipeg    23    4    7    -    4    .304
(Minimum 10 AB’s required)                        
 
BEST PITCHING PERFORMANCES
ANDREW ALBERS LHP - AAA GWINNETT BRAVES
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
2 5.2 6  -  -  - 8 1-0  - 1.15  0.00
 
Andrew Albers was signed as a free agent in the off season by the Atlanta Braves, and the veteran lefty has been a valuable addition to their Triple A affiliate Gwinnett Braves pitching staff. This week he made two relief appearances the first on May 18th is an 8-5 loss to Durham Bulls when he pitched three scoreless innings, giving up three base hits while striking ou five Durham batters, but was not involved in the decision. On May 23rd in a 6-5 win over the Buffalo Bisons he threw 2 2/3 scoreless surrendering three hits and while striking out three Bison hitters to earn his third win of the season. These two outings improved his record with Gwinnett in nine games to 3-1 with a 3.27 ERA.  

DYLAN RHEAULT RHP - A SAN JOSE GIANTS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
3 3.1 2  - -  - 1  -  -  0.97  0.00
 
Working out of the bullpen for San Francisco’s Single A affiliate San Jose Giants in the California League, Dylan Rheault has been very consistent all season. This week he made three relief appearances and although his team lost all three games, Dylan’s performance was excellent in every one. On May 17th in a 6-4 loss to Visalia Rawhide he tossed a scoreless inning and gave up one base hit, but was not involved in the decision. On May 20th in a 14-4 loss to Modesto Nuts he threw 1 1/3 scoreless, allowing up one base hit while striking out one batter but again was not involved in the decision. On May 23rd in a 5-4 loss to Lancaster Jethawks he pitched a scoreless, hitless inning, but for the third time this week, was not involved in the decision. His record with San Jose in 17 relief appearances is now 0-0, onee save with a 2.29 ERA.
 
NICK PIVETTA RHP - AAA LEHIGH VALLEY IRON PIGS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
1  7.0 7  1  1  -  9  1-0  -  1.00  1.29
 
Nick Pivetta realized a baseball dream on April 30th, 2017, when he made his Major League debut with Philadelphia in a start versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since he was called up as an injury replacement, his return to Lehigh Valley was inevitable and when that happened, he quickly demonstrated that the demotion would not affect his performance. On May 23rd in a 3-1 win over Indianapolis Indians he pitched seven innings, gave up seven base hits and one earned run while striking out nine Indianapolis batters to earn the win. This outing improved his Triple A International League record in four starts for the Iron Pigs, to 4-0 with a 1.04 ERA.

ANDREW CASE LHP - AA NEW HAMPSHIRE FISHER CATS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
3 4.1 3 1  1  1 1 1-0  - 0.98  2.20
 
Andrew Case was promoted this week by the Toronto Blue Jays to their Double A affiliate, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the Eastern League. Didn’t take long for Andrew to adjust to his new surroundings, as he made three relief appearances for the Fisher Cats during the week. On May 18th is a 9-2 loss to Trenton Thunder he pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one base hit, but was not involved in the decision. On May 20th in a 9-1 victory over Reading Fightin’ Phils he threw a scoreless inning, surrendering one hit, striking out one Reading hitter but again, was not involved in the decision. On May 23rd in a 3-2 win over the Portland Sea Dogs he tossed two innings, gave up one base hit and one earned run, and earned his first win at the Double A level. His record with new Hampshire in three appearances, now stands at 1-0 with a 2.20 ERA.

 
PLAYER MOVES & TRANSACTIONS
RHP John Axford (Simcoe, Ont.) - Re called to Major League roster by Oakland Athletics from Re Hab Assignment at Triple A Nashville Sounds.
 
RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) - Optioned by the Philadelphia Phillies to Triple A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.
 
LHP Connor Lillis-White (Toronto, Ont.) - Moved by the Los Angeles Angels to Double A Mobile Bay Bears from Single A Inland Empire 66’ers.
 
LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) - Placed on the Disabled List by Chicago Cubs at Triple A Iowa Cubs.
 
INF Malik Collymore (Mississauga, Ont.) - Free Agent signs Minor League Contract with the Cincinnati Reds.
 
 

INF Phil Craig-St.Louis (Gatineau, Que.) - Free Agent signs with the Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League.
 
1B Jordan Lennerton (Langley, BC) - Free Agent signs with Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League.
 
RHP Jasprit Shergill (Vaughan, Ont.) - Free Agent signs with Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League.
 
RHP Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.) - Announced his retirement on May 20th and was removed from roster of Long Island Ducks IND Atlantic League.
 
C Mike Blanke (Granby, Que.) - Released by Southern Maryland Blue Crabs IND Atlantic League.

2017 Canadian Baseball Network Players of the Week

Week I _ INF Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) El Paso (Padres).

Week II _ RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) Lehigh Valley (Phillies).

Week III _ INF Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) El Paso (Padres).

Week IV _ 1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) and RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) Lake Elisnore (Padres).

Week V _ OF Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.) West Michigan (Tigers).

Week VI _ OF Gareth Morgan (North York, Ont.) Western Michigan Whitecaps (Mariners)..

Week VII _ 3B Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays).