A Slow but Respectable Start

Mast year was a record year for Canadians in MLB.  Over 23 different Canadians played in a major league game, with some very impressive performances.

After almost one month into the 2008 season, there has been 6 position players and 8 pitchers on a team roster.  Matt Stairs leads the position players in batting, helping the Blue Jays to a surprisingly competitive start.  Reds rookie Joey Votto is close behind, hitting almost .300 with 3 homeruns.  Mark Teahen leads all Canadian batters with 4 homeruns.

The great start by the Cubs has been helped by Ryan Dempster, whose 3-0 start with a 3.00 ERA is a major reason of their success.  The starter role seems to suit him!  We’ll have to wait for Erik Bedard to me taken off of Seattle’s injured list before we can see him in action.

There should be more Canadians coming, and there’s a healthy crop at AAA.  That will be the subject of an upcoming post.

For now, we’ll cheer on the 14 and hope that number goes beyond 24!!

Canadians and Baseball

Canadians have a long history of baseball.  Every since the late 1800’s, Canada has played a role in the evolution of baseball. 

Some players and achievements are well known (Expos, Jays, Larry Walker, Fergie Jenkins, Justin Morneau).  Others are only known to a few diehard fans in Canada.  This blog will not only keep track of players in today’s leagues, but reflect on the past and contributions Canadians have made to the game.

I hope you enjoy the posts and gain some appreciation to the role of Canada in baseball.  hey, we’re not just all about hockey!!