Brewers Sign Lawrie

The Milwaukee Brewers have announced the signing of this year’s top draft pick, Brett Lawrie.  Terms were not disclosed.

Lawrie hails from Langley, B.C.and was the 16th overall selection in the 2008 MLB Draft. He became the highest drafted Canadian positional player in the history of the Draft and was just the sixth Canadian ever selected in the first round.

Rich Harden to the Cubs

The Chicago Cubs, in their pursuit of the National League’s Central Division, have aquired Rich Harden from the Oakland A’s.  In response to Milwaukee’s trade this week for CC Sabathia, the Cubs responded by sending a pitcher, 2 outfielders and a minor leaguer for Harden and pitcher Chad Gaudin.

A’s manager Billy Beane (of Moneyball fame) refused to say they were in a selling mode, but said they have aquired some young players for the future.  However, they did give up a starting pitcher who was 5-0 so far this season.

It should be interesting to see how Harden can contribute towards the Cub’s pennant chase.  The central division is becoming quite a battle with Milwaukee and the Cubs looking strong, and the surprising Cardinals staying in the race.

Congrats to the Drafted Canadians

This year’s MLB draft was a good one for Canada, and history making as well.  The most notable pick was Brett Lawrie of Langley, BC who became the 4th highest Canadian draft pick of all time, and the highest position player.  Only Adam Loewen, Jeff Francis and Phillipe Aumont have been picked higher than this year’s 16th overall pick.  He is now the property of the Milwaukee Brewers, an organization with a few prominant Canadians in their managerial ranks who probably had some good knowledge of the Canadian.

It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if Lawrie lasted one more pick.  The Toronto Blue Jays picked 17th, and if he had been available he would have been a logical pick for them.

On the second day of the draft (yes, it goes for multiple days! we saw another 31 Canadians drafted.  Here’s the list:

• Andrew Albers; North Battleford, SK (10^th round, 315^th/Padres), LHP
• Brad Furdal; Ancaster, ON. (11^{th round}, 323^rd/Rays), RHP
• David Francis; Mississauga, ON (12^th round, 370^th/Braves), RHP
• Marcel Champagnie; Bolton, ON (15^th round, 469^th/Angels), SS/OF
• Carter Morrison; Langley, BC (16^th round, 479^th/Reds), CF
• Stosh Wawrzasek; Langley, BC (16^th round, 488^th/Brewers), RHP
• Michael Crouse; Port Moody, BC (16^th round, 489^th/Blue Jays), OF
• Nick Bucci; Sarnia, ON (18^th round, 548^th/Brewers), RHP
• Jordan Meaker; Burlington, ON (20^th round, 618^th/Diamondbacks), RHP
• Mathieu Poirier; Montreal, QC (21^st round, 634^th/Athletics), RHP
• Mitch Delaney; LaSalle, ON (21^st round, 650^th/Yankees), 1B
• Carter Bell; Courtenay, BC (22^nd round, 657^th/Giants), INF
• Marcus Knecht; Toronto, ON (23^rd round, 698^th/Brewers), OF
• Michael Gosse; Pitt Meadows, BC (23^rd round, 703^rd/Tigers), 2B
• Lionel Morrill; Edmonton, AB (24^th round, 726^th/Twins), OF
• Brad McElroy; St. Thomas, ON (25^th round, 759^th/Blue Jays), OF
• J.R. Robinson; Burnaby, BC (31^st round, 939^th/Blue Jays), LHP
• Jordan Lennerton; Surrey, BC (33^rd round, 1003^rd/Tigers), 1B
• François Lafreniere; St-Bruno, QC (34^th round, 1017^th/Giants), RHP
• Ruddy Rio-Nunez; Montreal, QC (35^th round, 1066^th/Phillies), OF
• Nick Purdy; Grafton, ON (36^th round, 1075^th/Royals), RHP/OF
• Clay Caufield; Toronto, ON (38^th round, 1160^th/Yankees), RHP
• Nick Fogarty; Richmond Hill, ON (40^th round, 1208^th/Brewers), LHP
• Benson Merritt; Smithville, ON (42^nd round, 1259^th/Reds), RHP
• George Agyapong-Mensah; Mississauga, ON (44^th round, 1329^th/Blue Jays), RF
• Jean-François Ricard; Montreal, QC (44^th round, 1334^th/Mets), LHP
• David Cooper, Edmonton, AB. (44^th round, 1337^th/Diamondbacks), SS
• James Kottaras; Markham, ON (45^th round, 1357^th/Brewers), 2B
• Ashton Florko; Trail, BC (45^th round, 1359^th/Cubs), LHP
• Nathan Linseman; Ariss, ON (45^th round, 1361^st/Tigers), LHP
• Leonardo Ochoa; Longeuil, QC (48^th round, 1428^th/Giants), SS

The Struggles of Gagne

2002-2004 were defining years for Eric Gagne.  For those three short years, he was one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball.  His ERA’s never went above 1.00 in an era were 3.00 is respectible.  The game was over once his name was called because nobody was going to do much off of him.  I remember hearing the roar of the Los Angeles crowds when his name was announced … they then knew they could leave early to beat the traffic because the game was over.

He holds the record for consecutive saves at 84, where the next closest is Gordon at 54 and Hoffman at 41.  Noboday has ever come close to this record, reminding me of a certain hit streak.  At the time of the streak, he was regularly compared to Bob Gibson’s 1968 season … with little debate.

But an elbow injury sidelined him for over a year, and now he’s never been the same.  Today it was announced the Milwaukee Brewers have dropped him as the closer.  It’s sad to see a pitcher with such a great multi-year performance see it end because of an injury.  What would have happened if he had stayed healthy.  Would more pitching records fall like the consecutive saves?

Eric Gagne was a very good pitcher who gave us one of the greatest pitching performances in history.  But that will be hard to remember after the recent struggles.  Which is a shame.