2017 Canada WBC schedule
| Date | Game | Time | U.S. TV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 9 | @ Dominican Republic | 6p | Sportsnet One | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 11 | Colombia | Noon | Sportsnet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 12 | @ United States | 7p | Sportsnet One | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All times Eastern. All games air on the MLB Network in the United States. |
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Canada has some new neighbours in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. The United States is always in the same pool but Colombia and the Dominican Republic are new. Canada may be just along for the ride, given only 2 teams advance from each pool. A miracle could happen.
Joey Votto, Russell Martin, Brett Lawrie, Jameson Taillon, James Paxton, John Axford, and Michael Saunders would be very useful on the World Baseball Classic squad for Canada, but those players are unavailable. Let's focus on who is on the roster.
Freddie Freeman is a huge addition, playing for Canada in honour of his mother. Freeman and Justin Morneau should make up the 1B/DH tandem.
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You can't literally have a Canada WBC roster without Pete Orr, who will be at 2nd base. Jonathan Malo (shortstop) and Jamie Romak (3rd base) should round out the infield. George Kottaras will be behind the plate. Tyler O’Neill, Dalton Pompey (Toronto Blue Jays), Rene Tosoni, and Eric Wood will be in the outfield mix.
Ryan Dempster is 39 years old, the second-winningest Canadian pitcher in MLB history, and has never pitched for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. Eric Gagne, 41, hasn't pitched in the majors since 2008. Both veteran pitchers are on the team.
Scott Richmond, Andrew Albers, and Chris Leroux are available to start. John Axford was supposed to be the bullpen ace but had to withdraw at the last minute.
Ernie Whitt will once again manage Team Canada. His coaching staff includes the legendary outfielder Larry Walker.
Whitt will have Ryan Dempster start against the Dominican Republic while Philadelphia Phillies prospect Nick Pivetta starts against Colombia on Friday. The starter against the United States will be determined based on the first 2 games.
👍@DaltonPompey made a great catch.
— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 7, 2017
👎@DaltonPompey made a great catch. pic.twitter.com/1DFzCDfwGJ
Team Canada scored 5 runs in the first 3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin and beat the Blue Jays 7-1 on Tuesday. Dalton Pompey reached base all 4 times with 2 hits, reached on an error and a walk, scored a run, and made a nice catch against his major-league team. Justin Morneau added a 2-run single. Jonathan Malo had 2 hits, 2 RBI, and a run scored.
Canada lost 10-4 to the New York Yankees yesterday. All of the Team Canada runs came on home runs. Tyler O’Neill hit a 2-run blast in the first inning. Eric Wood added solo shots in the 6th and 8th innings.
CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage
Scott Braun and former Montréal Expos player Cliff Floyd will call the first 2 Canada games on the MLB Network from Marlins Park in Miami. Matt Vasgersian, John Smoltz, and Jon Morosi will call the game against the United States. Braun and Floyd will broadcast that game on the international feed. Buck Martinez will take time off from the Toronto Blue Jays to provide analysis in Pool B from the Tokyo Dome in Japan.
Rogers Sportsnet will pick up the MLB Network coverage with the international feed for the Canada-U.S. game.
photo credit: MLB
Not even remotely related to your sports article, but I thought you might be interested in this movie, since you are often in Windsor: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/windsor-worst-place-to-live-women-1.4016597
Posted by: veronica | March 09, 2017 at 09:15 AM
Good read. Sometimes it's the difference between visiting a lot versus living there. Thanks.
Posted by: Chad | March 09, 2017 at 12:45 PM