We’ve Gone Too Far

I had to get up early to head to the airport, so I missed the play in question. The Jays were down by one in the ninth. Jose Bautista had just walked to load the bases with Edwin Encarnacion coming to the plate with one out. I’d already missed most of the game, and just I needed sleep and I would see the result in the morning.

I didn’t think it all the unreasonable to wake up to see Encarnacion had launched a grand slam to win the game for Toronto. I never could have expected what did transpire.

Joey Bats Gets Made!

Just weeks after learning that Jose Bautista has supplied more urine samples than Lindsay Lohan over the past three years, the Blue Jays slugger has garnered yet another honour. It was announced that Bautista will be the Canadian cover athlete for MLB 12: The Show. Well deserved, but too bad they couldn’t put him on the US cover too. Apparently that honour will go (not undeservedly) to the extremely marketable Boston Redsox firstbasemen Adrian Gonzalez.

Matt Stairs Retires

Matt Stairs has retired from Major League Baseball after a 19 year career.

Stairs played with the Fredericton Schooners as a youngster in the NSSBL, winning 2 MVP awards. Had it been a month or so earlier he may have been playing for the Royals in 3 weeks at the Canadian Senior Baseball Championship in Chatham, N.B. Former pro players must be released or retired prior to July 1 in order to gain reinstatement as an amateur, and although Royals’ GM, Jody Peterson, will ask for reinstatement, but the participating teams would have to agree to allowing Stairs’ participation, which is not likely to happen.

However, he did say that Stairs could dress in a Royals’ uniform as a coach. Stairs has the blessing of the team’s coaches, Mike Lint and Jamie Estey, the latter having played minor ball with Stairs in Fredericton. Stairs has said that he plans on being in Chatham for the Nationals, Aug. 25-28, to support the tournament and his team of many years ago.

Stairs’ career numbers are .263 batting average, 265 HRs, and 897 RBIs. He also holds the Major League record for career pinch-hit homeruns (23) and teams played for (13).

Wildcats’ Josh Parker Wins NSSBL Player of the Week

Kentville Wildcats rookie catcher, Josh Parker, has been chosen the Cleve’s Source for Sports Player of the Week in the NSSBL in the week just ended (July 16). Parker, a Dartmouth native, and former Dartmouth Junior, led his Kentville club to an 11-1 victory over the Halifax Pelham Molson Canadians last Wednesday. Parker smashed his second home run of the season and added a double to go along with 2 RBIs.

Parker is the nephew of Todd Parker, a longtime catcher with the Dartmouth Dry.

His battery mate, Shayne Conrad, already a Cleve’s Player of the Week, also received consideration for the award.

Playoffs Begin at World Baseball Challenge

The World Baseball Challenge, sponsored by the Toronto Blue Jays and the city of Prince George, B.C., has encountered the weather problems in trying to get games in at the prestigous baseball tournament.

Due to rain and extremely wet field conditions, Thursday’s game between Canada and Chinese Taipei was cancelled. This game could have altered the standing but only if it had of resulted in a seriously lopsided victory for Canada and forced the organizers to use the tie breaking rules.

After consulting with both teams, the umpires, the host committee and the grounds crew it was determined not to reschedule the game, but instead move onto the playoff round.

The final standings are as follows:

1. Cuba 5-0
2. Chinese Taipei 3-1
3. Toshiba Japan 3-2
4. Canada 2-2
5. Bahamas 1-4
6. Beijing 0-5

Canada face the Bahamas at 4:00 ATL today; Beijing and Japan at 7:00, and Chinese Taipei at Cuba at 11:00.

The winner of the Chines Taipei/Cuba game goes directly to the tournament final on Sun.

Again all action can seen on the World Baseball Challenge website.