The 2018 Toronto Blue Jays also had a single All-Star, a pitcher who would head soon to the New York Yankees. J.A. Happ was the player last year. Marcus Stroman isn't guaranteed to go to the Yankees. He is the only Blue Jays player on the 2019 American League squad at the 2019 All-Star Game in Cleveland.
Stroman will not pitch in the All-Star Game due to a left-shoulder pectoral cramp suffered against Kansas City on June 29. You may see Stroman in the introductions but no Blue Jays player will be on the field for the 2019 All-Star Game.
The only Canadian on an All-Star Game roster is Atlanta starting pitcher Mike Soroka. Soroka is from Calgary and has posted a 9-1 record with a 2.13 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 84.2 innings.
đŸ’¥ PLAKATA đŸ’¥
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 30, 2019
It's official: Vlad Jr. will compete in this year's @MLB Home Run Derby! pic.twitter.com/yKSOUnehTz
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will participate in his first Home Run Derby. He could be a legacy invite since his father Vladimir Guerrero, Sr. won the 2007 Home Run Derby with an 8-year-old Vlad Jr. watching on the field.
Guerrero is the youngest participant in derby history at 20 years, 114 days and will have the fewest career home runs (8 HR in 61 games) in the history of the derby. The Blue Jays hope he doesn't screw up his swing by participating in the home run derby.
The Toronto 3rd baseman hit 6 home runs in May, the first 2 coming on May 14 in San Francisco. Guerrero's June output were both at Rogers Centre: June 5 against the New York Yankees and June 29 against Kansas City.
Blue Jays coach John Schneider, who managed Guerrero at Single-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire, will pitch to him in the home run derby.
Guerrero might have caught a break with his opponent: Oakland A's 3rd baseman Matt Chapman (21 HR) replaces Milwaukee outfielder Christian Yelich (NL-leading 31 HR).
Josh Donaldson hit 18 total homers for Toronto at the 2015 Home Run Derby in Cincinnati. Donaldson finished in the top 3 in the National League voting in 2019 at 3rd base.
MLB, Rob Manfred, MLB on Fox need to stop disrespecting Canada
MLB and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred refuse to do anything about Fox not showing O Canada during its All-Star Game coverage. MLB also doesn't put a lot into a decent O Canada anthem most years, but the effort should still be shown on television.
You can learn more on the history of the frustration behind the yearly act.
Canadian notebook: Celebrating Victoria Day 2019
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. brings a lot of excitement to Toronto Blue Jays
2019 Toronto Blue Jays season preview
Toronto Blue Jays help celebrate the 50-year anniversary of Montreal Expos
Toronto Blue Jays draw Milwaukee Brewers as 2019 opponents in Montreal
2019 Toronto Blue Jays spring training schedule
The Toronto Blue Jays received 0 telecasts on ESPN last season, so the team was expected to get 2 telecasts in 2019. ESPN is true to its word (now). In our season preview, we noted the Boston home opener on April 9 with the banner ceremony for the 2018 World Series champions.
ESPN actually carried a Toronto home game on June 6 with the New York Yankees in town. The Raptors were in Oakland in the NBA Finals in between Game 3 and Game 4 that night.
This may guarantee that the Blue Jays will not appear on ESPN again this season, short of carrying the Bo Bichette MLB debut.
MLB Network carried the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. debut. The channel also carried the Victoria Day matinee but amazingly not with the Blue Jays feed. NESN is better for baseball than its hockey coverage but damn northeast bias. The U.S. channel did carry the Rogers Sportsnet feed on Canada Day.
Roy Halladay makes the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first attempt
CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage
Retirements aren't always official but Bartolo Colon isn't playing anywhere in 2019. Colon was the last major league player who played in the 1900s as well as the last Montréal Expos (2002) player left in MLB.
Toronto has had the shame with Tampa Bay of being the only teams playing on artificial turf. Surprisingly, the Arizona Diamondbacks went from grass to artificial turf. The Arizona version is supposed to be better than the ones at the AL indoor stadiums.
Celebrating Montreal Expos legacy in Washington, DC
We profiled the Montréal Expos cosplay by the Washington Nationals on Saturday. Looks like a fun time and they look so much better in the powder blues.
The 2019 Home Run Derby starts Monday at 8 pm Eastern on ESPN and Rogers Sportsnet. The 2019 All-Star Game airs Tuesday on Fox in the United States and Rogers Sportsnet in Canada. Coverage starts at 7:30 pm Eastern.
photo credit: me
Twitter capture: @BlueJays
Crazy to see more around after 3 day vacation packages from new york to have fun.
Posted by: Lucas | July 11, 2019 at 06:08 AM