Canadian Crossing

2023 Toronto Blue Jays second half preview

The 2023 Toronto Blue Jays had 5 all-star representatives in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game in Seattle: Whit Merrifield and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (3rd appearance), Kevin Gausman and Bo Bichette (2nd appearance). This was the first appearance for Merrifield and Gausman in a Toronto uniform.

Jordan Romano was a late add to the American League squad, his second All-Star appearance. Romano checks the boxes for Canadian players and Blue Jays players. Guerrero was also born in Canada.

Former Blue Jays player Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was on the National League team from Arizona. Former Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman made the squad from the Chicago Cubs. Former Toronto 2nd baseman Marcus Semien was the starter from Texas.

Freddie Freeman (Canadian) was the starting 1st baseman from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Gausman wasn't able to pitch in the All-Star Game since he pitched on Saturday in Detroit.

Guerrero Jr. went 0-for-2. Bichette added a sacrifice fly, going 0-for-1. Romano only threw 5 pitches before withdrawing to back tightness, going ⅓ of an inning. Merrifield had a single, 1 of 7 hits by the American League. The National League got its first All-Star win since 2012 with a 3-2 victory in Seattle.

Four years later, he came back for the title 💥 #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/QuHVKofk2I

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 11, 2023

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit 26, 21, and 25 home runs to get through 3 rounds to a victory in the 2023 MLB Home Run Derby. After hitting 91 home runs in 2019 and losing in that format, his time in the derby seemed done.

Guerrero and his father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., are now the first father-son to win the derby. The senior player won the 2007 Home Run Derby in San Francisco.

Guerrero defeated Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers), Julio Rodríguez (Seattle), and Randy Arozarena (Tampa Bay) for the win.

We would guess that the ESPN graphic about where Guerrero was born was meant for Arozarena. The graphic said Guerrero was born in Cuba. Not even close. Guerrero is of Dominican heritage and was born in Montréal in Canada.

Omg @tenilletownes 😍 pic.twitter.com/VzhtJyBWp9

— Tricia (@tricia_nh) July 12, 2023

Canadian country star Tenille Townes sang O Canada before the 2023 All-Star Game in Seattle. We searched for vocal proof but settled for visual proof. Once again, MLB (aka Rob Manfred) and MLB on Fox refused to air the Canadian national anthem.

We do want to thank Buffalo country station 106.5 WYRK for labeling this "Massive Mistake? Baseball Fans Blasting FOX Sports' Anthem Debacle."

While WYRK is new to this phenomem, MLB has been this rude to Canada for well over a decade now.

A bit insulting to play only the U.S. national anthem before the Home Run Derby, even with a Toronto player in the mix, who won the derby.

MLB, Rob Manfred, MLB on Fox need to stop disrespecting Canada

The Toronto Blue Jays went into the All-Star Game break with a 50-41 record. The Blue Jays are 7 games out behind Tampa Bay in the American League East Division. Toronto would qualify as a wild card team at the moment. The Blue Jays are 23-18 at home and 27-23 on the road, which also means more home games in the second half of the season. The division is so tight that the Blue Jays are only 2 games ahead of the last place Boston Red Sox.

The last no-hitter (before today) against the @BlueJays was Justin Verlander on September 1, 2019. This is the second no-hitter by the @Tigers of the #BlueJays, also by Verlander. @MLB

— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) July 8, 2023

Matt Manning (6⅔), Jason Foley (1⅓), and Alex Lange (1) pitched the first combined no-hitter in Detroit history and the first one against the Blue Jays on July 8. The other Detroit no-hitter against the Blue Jays came from Justin Verlander, who has no-hit Toronto twice in his career.

2023 Canada Day notebook

Rogers Centre renovations help but Canada still needs a really good baseball stadium

2023 Toronto Blue Jays preview

2023 Toronto Blue Jays spring training schedule

CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage

The Toronto Blue Jays start the second half of the 2023 season with a homestand with the surprising Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno come back home to Rogers Centre.

Arizona is in July 14-16 (7:07 pm, 3:07 pm, and 1:37 pm) while San Diego is in July 18-20 (7:07 pm, 7:07 pm, and 1:07 pm) before the Jays go west to see Teoscar Hernandez in Seattle and visit the Los Angeles Dodgers.

MLB Extra Innings might run a free preview after the All-Star Game break. Check your local listings.

photos credit: @BlueJays
Twitter captures: @BlueJays; @tricia_nh; @canadian_xing

2023 Canada Day notebook

CANADA IS... pic.twitter.com/biazACVHgB

— Brittlestar (@brittlestar) June 2, 2023

Welcome to Canada Day 2023. Older people might remember this day as Dominion Day, which is essentially the same thing. Our Quebec friends know this more as Moving Day, especially in Montréal.

Our Newfoundland friends celebrate Memorial Day on July 1 for losses of approximately 700 soldiers of the 1st Newfoundland Regiment from the Dominion of Newfoundland at Beaumont-Hamel in 1917 during World War I.

If you are checking in from the United States, you might have the impression that Canada is on fire. The wildfires season started really early. Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta were the major sources of the smoke that went south into the United States. The fact that the smoke went into New York City and Washington, DC makes anything more significant since the cable news channels are there.

Chicago got a significant dose of smoke this week. Those cable news channels report on smoke but not the actual fires in Canada.

Nova Scotia isn't usually on the Canada wildfires list but there were plenty of smoke and fire around Halifax.

Canada says "sorry" for being on fire so much and spreading that smoke across the border.

If you do like Canada, and why would you read this if you don't, we suggest following @brittlestar on Twitter. This is the kind of stuff (at the top of the column) we enjoy from him.

This is our annual Canada Day notebook so you can keep up. With the U.S. holiday, we may not post much until mid week.

Grocery rebate is helpful for Canadians while Americans struggle without help

The grocery rebate we mentioned earlier this year will start going out to Canadians on July 5.

Eligible families of 4 will receive up to $467; single people without children get up to $234; and seniors will get up to $225.

Speaking of smoking, Canadian cigarette packages have been more obvious about the evils of smoking than any U.S. cigarette packaging. The Canadian push will get a boost starting August 1. Health Canada is introducing new warning labels on the cigarettes themselves. Some of the messages include:

• Cigarettes cause cancer
• Cigarettes cause impotence
• Cigarettes damage your organs
• Tobacco smoke harms children
• Poison in every puff

Canada will become the first country to put warning labels on individual cigarettes.

This also might be a deterrent for smuggling cigarettes. While the packaging has been different, the nuance between individual cigarettes from the U.S. vs. Canada has been virtually zero. Now American cigarettes can be identified because they don't have warning labels on the actual cigarette.

If you smoke in the United States and thinking your cigarettes are expensive, Canadian smokers are like, "hold my beer."

39,999,998… 39,999,999… 40,000,000!

Canada’s population has officially reached 40 million people! 🎉 https://t.co/dR46gGFq8x #40millionCDNS #40MillionAndGrowing pic.twitter.com/V4PzrN9tHN

— Statistics Canada (@StatCan_eng) June 16, 2023

Statistics Canada has Canada at 40 million and growing. Canada's population grew by a record 1.05 million in 2022 with 96% of that increase due to international migration.

The housing shortages in several major Canadian cities, not just Toronto and Vancouver, means even more housing needs to be built. Even Windsor is struggling with housing shortages.

The American Dream is alive, just in Canada. To be fair, even the American Dream is struggling in Canada.

I Am Canadian was the long-time slogan of Molson Canadian beer. The time was 1994-1999 and again in 2000-2005. Canadians are fairly humble about (aboot?) their own country. This was a nice reminder of the reasons why Canadians should be proud of what they have. Canada Day feels like a good day to watch that commercial.

USCG presser about the lost submersible

Odd

The thing was discovered by CDNs

Using a CDN ROV

From a CDN ship

The effort was supported entirely from St John's .. with Canadian Coast Guard ships

RCAF Auroras constantly dropping sonobuoys

AND yet "Canada" was never mentioned

— robert lavigne (@robertlavigne) June 23, 2023

Canada is a helpful country but U.S. journalism goes out of its way to not acknowledge Canada's help. Still blows my mind that they ignored what Canada did on 9/11 with airplanes, and not just in Newfoundland.

Olivia Chow will be the next Toronto mayor

We did report on Toronto's next mayor. Olivia Chow knows her way around Toronto. There is a lot of work that needs to be done and we couldn't think of anyone better to do this difficult work.

U.S. makes progress on same-sex marriage, but still short of Canada (2013)

While Canada legalized same-sex marriage in 2005, Ontario is celebrating 20 years of same-sex marriage since the first ceremony was performed on June 10, 2003. There was a time where some people went to Canada to get married before they could in the United States. 

Love is love.

CW announces summer schedule filled with Canadian television

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian TV coverage

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

The CW debuts of Canadian TV shows air later this month:

• Family Law July 7
• Moonshine July 7
• Son of a Critch July 24
• Children Ruin Everything July 24
• Run the Burbs July 31

We have details on times for those debuts. There is also some lovely reading on what Paramount + is doing with Canadian film and Canadian television. Variety looks into the difficulties of making Canadian TV.

Your humble narrator has seen 19-2, the English language remake of the Quebecois show of the same name. The French version was created by and stars Claude Legault and Réal Bossé. Now Netflix in the United States has the original French-language version of the show. That version has 30 episodes over 3 seasons.

Acorn TV carries the English language version with Adrian Holmes and Jared Keeso.

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for late June 2023

CBC normally runs Canadian films on Saturday nights in the summer. Canada Day falls on a Saturday so the CBC will run Canada Day festivities. The films resume on July 8 and we will have an update next Friday.

CBC News Special: Canada Day 2023 runs at 11:30 am local time (noon in most of Newfoundland) for 2 hours. The 2-hour prime time celebration Canada Day in the Capital featuring the annual Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill runs at 8 pm local time.

CBC will also air Tower of Song: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen, a star-studded tribute concert honouring the Canadian musician and songwriter. Times differ depending on where you are in Canada.

2023 CFL Week 4 preview

The CFL smartly schedules a Canada Day game, though in the CFL city least likely to celebrate the holiday. Winnipeg is in Montréal for the 7 pm Eastern kickoff. The BC Lions are in Toronto for a July 4 eve (July 3) game on Monday night.

The Saturday and Monday games are on TSN in Canada and the CBS Sports Network in the United States.

The league also gave 3 of the 9 teams the weekend off so they can celebrate in style: Calgary, Hamilton, and Saskatchewan.

Rogers Centre renovations help but Canada still needs a really good baseball stadium

2023 Toronto Blue Jays preview

The Blue Jays play on Canada Day at 3:07 pm against Boston. Toronto is wrapping up a homestand on Sunday that featured both Bay Area teams — Oakland and San Francisco. The Blue Jays then travel to Chicago and Detroit before the All-Star Game break.

Rogers Sportsnet will have the Canada Day game. MLB Network usually carries the Canada Day game but not in 2023. The channel is not even carrying a Saturday afternoon game. MLB Network will have Sunday's matinee game, hopefully with the Blue Jays feed.

The Toronto Blue Jays have a 45-38 record so far in 2023, 11 games out in the AL East Division. Alek Manoah is not coming back soon. The Blue Jays will not have a position player starting in the All-Star Game (July 11 in Seattle) for the first time since 2019.

The NHL celebrates free agency day on July 1, which is Canada Day. Hope your team gets better players, providing your team is in Canada.

Twitter capture: @brittlestar; @StatCan_eng; @robertlavigne
photo credit: Health Canada
video credit: Molson Canadian beer

Rogers Centre renovations help but Canada still needs a really good baseball stadium

The new bleachers that are literally RIGHT at the visitors Bullpen… and a bunch of signs saying you can’t ask for autographs… pic.twitter.com/TfN4AU3sz8

— Geoff Rohoman (@RadioRoho) April 6, 2023

The Toronto Blue Jays return home today for the 2023 home opener. Rogers Centre has the first level of renovations done. You've heard Ben Wagner and Dan Shulman talk incessantly about the changes to outfield seating in 2023. This is part of why the Blue Jays started with a long road trip to St. Louis, Kansas City, and Anaheim (with a 6-4 record).

The original plans included grass but that seems to have disappeared. SkyDome was a replacement for Exhibition Stadium when it opened in 1989. The dome was a huge success, unlike the roof at Olympic Stadium in Montréal.

The sad reality is the new changes at Rogers Centre might be the best MLB scenario for Canadian baseball fans. The history of MLB stadiums for Canadian teams is a miserable one.

Consider the 4 new MLB franchises in 1969.

Kansas City moved into Municipal Stadium, the old home of the A's and current home of the NFL team. The Royals got a new baseball-only stadium in 1973 where they still play. San Diego moved into San Diego Stadium, current home of the AFL Chargers.

Seattle moved into the minor league Sicks Stadium that never became terribly viable in the lone season of the Seattle Pilots. The franchise moved to Milwaukee where they had an old major league stadium in County Stadium.

Montréal had a couple of not so great options for the new Expos. The Autostade on Rue Sainte-Catherine E, just east of St. Laurent, was the home of the CFL Alouettes (1968–1971, 1973-1976). The Autostade could have been a truly intimate baseball experience. A number of factors led the group away from Autostade and onto Jarry Park, which was only supposed to be a temporary home for 3 seasons. That turned into 8 seasons.

Jarry Park was a single deck stadium without cover, quaint even for its time. Olympic Stadium hosted Les Expos starting in 1977. The sightlines were great for football, not as much for baseball.

Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, home of the CFL Argonauts, was the Blue Jays first home stadium. The fans had cover in the outfield seats but not over the 3rd-base side.

2023 Toronto Blue Jays preview

2023 Toronto Blue Jays spring training schedule

The best MLB stadium in Canada is a theory and a plan: Labatt Park in Montréal. Downtown. Grass with a dome. Small, intimate, a true baseball stadium.

If Montréal knew the Rays were coming for certain, building a baseball stadium would be a no-brainer. Building Labatt Park for the new Expos would give Canada a true MLB baseball stadium.

Comerica Park in Detroit and even Sahlen Field in Buffalo, permanent and temporary MLB stadiums near the Canadian border, offer more of what Canadian cities should have in a baseball stadium. The Detroit stadium's upper deck is too steep but the lower deck has wonderful sightlines, even from a pedestrian friendly view in centre field from outside the gate.

Not every stadium is going to be Wrigley Field or Fenway Park. Canada teams deserve a better viewing experience at a MLB ballpark on Canadian soil.

CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage

The practical nature of Toronto and land means revamping Rogers Centre. The improvements look great. Just the idea of not having home runs fall into a pit just past the fences is a substantial change.

I've seen the Blue Jays and Argonauts at SkyDome. I've seen Les Expos at Stade Olympique in Montréal. I've seen minor league baseball in Vancouver and Winnipeg. The Forum and Maple Leaf Gardens were legendary hockey arenas. Canadian baseball fans deserve a similar place for Major League Baseball.

Twitter capture: @RadioRoho
photo credit: @BlueJays

2023 Toronto Blue Jays preview

The last game the Toronto Blue Jays played that counted was such a playoff collapse that the team retooled its lineup. More speed and less power, especially in the outfield.

All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernández went to the Seattle Mariners, the team that advanced in the 2022 MLB playoffs. Right-handed reliever Erik Swanson and lefty pitching prospect Adam Macko went from Seattle to Toronto.

The Blue Jays acquired Dalton Varsho from Arizona for outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and top catching prospect Gabriel Moreno.

Tampa Bay centre fielder Kevin Kiermaier signed a 1-year, $9 million contract. Brandon Belt is a 1B/DH backup after playing his entire career in San Francisco.

Never forget the time Kevin Kiermaier stole the Blue Jays' pitching game-plan card 💀 pic.twitter.com/TXqLbGKXfZ

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) December 10, 2022

Matt Chapman and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are at the corners with Bo Bichette and Santiago Espinal up the middle. Whit Merrifield, Cavan Biggio, and eventually Addison Barger serve as backups to infielders and likely outfielders.

Varsho, Kiermaier, and George Springer make up the starting outfield.

Alek Manoah, Chris Bassitt (new free agent), Kevin Gausman and Jose Berrios will be the primary starters on the mound. Ross Stripling left for San Francisco. Yusei Kikuchi is in the starting pitcher mix.

Canadian Jordan Romano is the closer, with bullpen roles other high-leverage jobs going to pitchers like Swanson, Yimi García, Anthony Bass, Tim Mayza, and (let's hope) Nate Pearson.

Hyun Jin Ryu (starter) and Chad Green (new free agent reliever) will join the season in progress after Tommy John surgery.

2023 Toronto Blue Jays spring training schedule

2022 Toronto Blue Jays go down in 2 straight to Seattle

Quite a few MLB teams might have too many play-by-play people and analysts. Not the Toronto Blue Jays.

Dan Shulman will call the majority of the games for Rogers Sportsnet. Buck Martinez and Joe Siddall will provide analysis. Will Martinez call those games when Shulman is not there? Will Matt Devlin step in as he did in 2022?

Some personal news for Blue Jays opening week:

I'll be getting to work alongside @benwag247 as colour analyst for some of our Jays broadcasts on @fan590 this year.

I'll also be contributing pregame TV analysis to Blue Jays Central, similar to what I've been doing for Raps.

— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) March 29, 2023

Siddall is also in the studio with Jamie Campbell when not in the booth. Ben Wagner would be a logical person to step in for Shulman, as he did for spring training games. Except Wagner doesn't have a regular colour analyst and is prohibited from traveling for road games. No other MLB team is this cheap and pathetic. None.

Blake Murphy will help out on some radio broadcasts but he has a busy schedule, too. Murphy won't start for another week, beginning with the Blue Jays series in Anaheim. 

Pat Tabler's contract was not renewed, as we noted in our spring training schedule. Deserved a better exit. Even a switch to studio work or radio colour analysis would have made sense than letting him go. If you really thought there was a retirement (it wasn't), Tabler is working as a fill-in analyst on Cleveland Guardians telecasts in 2023.

TVA Sports has 81 Blue Jays games en Francaise as part of a new 3-year deal to carry geais bleus de Toronto.

MLB Network will have the vast majority of U.S. appearances, generally taking home feeds. Fox, Fox Sports 1, TBS, ESPN, and Apple TV are all possibilities but those outlets tend to limit Blue Jays appearances, even with a team in last year's playoffs. Unless there is a change, Fox Sports won't show the Toronto Blue Jays on either side of the border.

CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage

If you have been watching Blue Jays spring training games, Ben Wagner spends a lot of oxygen on the changes coming to Rogers Centre in terms of outfield seating. Changes are also coming to distances from home plate and the height of the outfield wall.

The wall had been a standard 10 feet. The height is reduced to 8 feet in straightaway centre field and up to 14'4" in right-centre field and down the left field line. The wall down the right field line is now 12'7" while the wall in left-centre will be 11'2". The power alley walls will be 10'9" in right-centre and 12'9" in left-centre.

As for outfield distances, down the left and right field lines are still 328 feet and centre field is at 400. The changes come in left-centre at 368 feet (from 375 feet) and right center at 359 feet (from 375 feet).

The Rogers Centre changes also mean a late home start for the Toronto Blue Jays. The team travels to St. Louis, Kansas City, and Anaheim before the home opener on March 11 against Detroit.

In other off-field news, the Toronto Blue Jays won't have the home run jacket celebration. The jacket had the words La Gente del Barrio — "the people of the neighbourhood" — on the back along with the home countries of the players.

The talented and fun team is still talented and somewhat fun but the spirit is changing under manager John Schneider. The trades of Hernandez and Gurriel seemed to signal the end of that era.

2023 Team Canada World Baseball Classic wrapup

2023 Team Canada World Baseball Classic preview

Team Canada won as many games (2) in the 2023 World Baseball Classic as in the 2006 version. The team finished 3rd, one position away from advancing out of Pool C.

Canadian MLB players to watch in 2023 (TSN)

Some of those Canadian players are on the Toronto Blue Jays, such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jordan Romano, Zach Pop, and Otto Lopez (minors, for now).

Josh Naylor and Bo Naylor, Tyler O'Neill, Cal Quantrill. Those among others.

There are 2 Canadian MLB players to watch though not right away. For the first time since 2008, Joey Votto will not be on the Opening Day roster for the Cincinnati Reds. The first baseman is still recovering from surgery last August to his left shoulder and bicep. 

Votto is in the final season of his 10-year, $225 million contract. Cincinnati General manager Nick Krall said while he hopes Votto will end his career with the Reds, Krall would consider trading Votto to his hometown Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline, if Votto wanted a trade.

The incredibly warm response Votto got in Toronto in 2022 would be even more dramatic if Votto switched from red to blue. Votto will benefit from the disappearance of the shift in 2023. Something to think about closer to the end of July.

Michael Soroka has not thrown a pitch in a MLB game since August 3, 2020. His 2023 Atlanta season will be delayed by a hamstring strain. This is after considerable Achilles damage.

What Team Canada could have done with a healthy Joey Votto, Michael Soroka, and Josh Naylor. 

NEWS: @Dempster46 & @SieraSantos are joining @KMillar15 to co-host @MLBNetwork's @IntentionalTalk. Debut show is March 31st at 5 p.m. ET.

Release: https://t.co/Rgg5nbCVgk pic.twitter.com/qGwRBkP8EL

— MLB Network PR (@MLBNetworkPR) March 15, 2023

Ryan Dempster has the second most wins and strikeouts of any Canadian MLB pitcher, both behind Ferguson Jenkins. Okay, so Dempster retired with a 132–133 record but he does have 2,075 strikeouts.

Dempster has built a nice side career as a part-time analyst for Marquee Sports for the Chicago Cubs. Now he is joining the MLB Network on its Intentional Talk show with Kevin Millar and new host Siera Santos.

Millar has been the one constant of the show with different hosts. He has that role of loud and a little obnoxious, a milder version of Paul Bissonnette from the NHL side.

Dempster was on the Marquee telecast when Team Canada had an exhibition game with the Chicago Cubs earlier this month. Dempster's lone appearance in the World Baseball Classic came in 2017, 4 years after his retirement.

photo credits: Toronto Blue Jays; Rogers Sportsnet
Twitter captures: @BRWalkoff; @BlakeMurphyODC; @MLBNetworkPR

2023 Team Canada World Baseball Classic wrapup

We were rather pessimistic about Team Canada after the 2017 World Baseball Classic. The performances were colossally terrible.

Team Canada didn't advance out of Pool C in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Yet the future is rather bright for Team Canada.

Before 2023, Canada had only played in 1 mercy (merci en francaise?) rule game, a rather humiliating 14-4 loss to Italy in 2013. At least the game went 8 innings, given that 7 innings is the minimum for a mercy game.

Team Canada had 2 mercy rule games in 2023, both in 7 innings: the front end with a 18-8 win over Great Britain and a 12-1 loss to the United States.

Canada posted a 5-0 shutout win over Colombia and a 10-3 loss to Mexico. Team Canada finished with a -3 run differential (27-30), not so bad given 2 blowout losses.

LET’S GO! @_BoNaylor_ 💪#WorldBaseballClassic2023 pic.twitter.com/NZEAzyG2Oa

— Baseball Canada 🇨🇦⚾️ (@baseballcanada) March 15, 2023

Team Canada finished 3rd behind Mexico and the United States. Canada has automatic qualification for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

On one level, Team Canada beat up on the 2 weakest teams in Pool C in Phoenix and weren't close to the 2 top teams. On another level, Canada has a lot of young players who will do a lot better in 2026.

Canada won as many games (2) as the team did in 2006. A 2013 win over Mexico was the only other win until 2023.

FUN FACT:

With a HR and a triple in yesterday's win over Colombia, Otto Lopez became the 1st 🇨🇦 player to record a HR and a triple in a WBC game since Adam Stern (London, Ont.) did so against the U.S. on March 8, 2006.

*From @baseballcanada game notes@cfssports @GLCanadians pic.twitter.com/FOyHCE5eSc

— Kevin Glew (@coopincanada) March 15, 2023

Freddie Freeman and Tyler O'Neill were the biggest offensive names going into the tournament. Jared Young provided the only run against the United States with a home run.

Edouard Julien proved to be a strong lead-off hitter for Team Canada and played 2nd base. Canada hasn't always had a lot of top talent on the left side of the infield, but Abraham Toro at 3B and Otto Lopez at SS got their feet wet and will only be that much better in 2026.

Bo Naylor was solid behind the plate. Would have been fun to watch his brother Josh play in the same lineup.

Jacob Robson, Owen Caissie, and Denzel Clarke were pleasant surprises in the outfield.

Noah Skirrow was impressive on the mound in the win over Colombia. Cal Quantrill had a rough outing against the United States but someone needed to go up against that team. Scott Mathieson came out of retirement to get the final outs against Colombia.

Freeman got injured in the Colombia game and was withdrawn from the team. If Canada had beaten Mexico and advanced, the hope was that Josh Naylor might have been ready to DH in the next round.

O'Neill went 4-4 for 4 RBI, Robson went 4-4 with a RBI, and Julien hit a HR and had 4 walks against Great Britain. Team Canada drew 16 walks in that game.

2023 Team Canada World Baseball Classic preview

The joke has always been that if Canada could play their coaches, the team would be better. The young players definitely benefited from coaches such as Larry Walker and Russell Martin and the only manager Team Canada has had in the WBC, Ernie Whitt.

Joey Votto might be a DH in 2026 or a coach. Either way, you know Votto will be involved.

The current reality is that this team has a lot of young talent with minimal MLB experience. 3 years changes a lot of this dynamic.

CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage

Canadian viewers in English saw the international feed with Rich Waltz and Buck Martinez. The surprise was that Fox Sports let the international feed go for all the games, except for the United States game. Fox had Jason Benetti with John Smoltz and Ken Rosenthal.

Waltz had fond memories of working Triple A baseball games with the Las Vegas Aces in places such as Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. One concerning theme is the loss of minor league baseball in Canada. Dry information is one thing; Waltz's enthusiasm for road trips to western Canada gave wet emotion to dry information.

There was a bit too much focus on Canada's 2006 win over the United States in the WBC. The 9-run 1st inning in 2023 stopped that chance cold in its tracks.

Adam Loewen pitched 3⅔ scoreless innings and earned the win in 2006. Loewen came out of retirement to pitch in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Loewen converted to an outfielder and even played in the outfield for the Toronto Blue Jays. Loewen's personal saga is quite remarkable.

More than baseball ❤️ #WorldBaseballClassic https://t.co/xoorngIVXT pic.twitter.com/n5ihTWljbt

— Baseball Canada 🇨🇦⚾️ (@baseballcanada) March 14, 2023

We saw the Great Britain players mimic tea drinking. Canada players mimic the antlers of the moose. The spirit of playing for one's country is part of the fun of the World Baseball Classic.

With a few breaks, fewer injuries, and more experience, Team Canada will be fun to watch in 2026.

photo credit: World Baseball Classic
Twitter captures: @baseballcanada; @coopincanada; @baseballcanada

2023 Team Canada World Baseball Classic preview

Despite what Harold Reynolds said in 2015 about Canada's inability to catch a baseball, Canada is back for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Canada is in Pool C with United States, Mexico, Colombia, and Great Britain at Chase Field, home of the MLB Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix. Top 2 teams advance. The United States will be one of those teams. Canada has never advanced out of the World Baseball Classic (WBC).

Canada did go 2-1 in 2006 but not strong enough to advance. A 10-3 win over Mexico in 2013 is the only WBC victory for Canada since then. 0-2 in 2009, 1-2 in 2013, and 0-3 in 2017. In 11 games, opponents have outscored Canada 82-48.

Date	Opponent	Time	Cdn TV	U.S. TV
March 12	Great Britain*	3p	Sportsnet	Fox Sports 1
March 13	United States	10p	Sportsnet One	Fox Sports 1
March 14	Colombia	3p	Sportsnet	Fox Sports 2
March 15	Mexico*	3p	Sportsnet One	Fox Sports 2
* home games. All times Eastern.

 

Games will also air in French on TVA Sports in Canada and in Spanish on FOX Deportes in the United States. Rich Waltz will call the WBC games with Buck Martinez providing analysis on the international feed carried by Rogers Sportsnet.

Game coverage is also streamed via the Sportsnet and Fox Sports outlets.

Team Canada's primary issue is that their depth has not been strong and players have bad timing with injuries or newly signed free agents to participate. Joey Votto, James Paxton, Jordan Romano, Mike Soroka, and Rowan Wick are not available for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Freddie Freeman, Bo Naylor (brother of Josh), Abraham Toro, and Tyler O'Neill are the most famous players on the offensive side. Phillippe Aumont, John Axford, Matt Brash, Adam Loewen, and Cal Quantrill are notable pitchers. If coaches could play, Team Canada would be in better shape.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who could have played for Canada, chose to play for the Dominican Republic, but withdrew from the 2023 version.

The outlook for Canada would be much different with Josh Naylor, Nick Pivetta, Jameson Taillon, Zach Pop, 

Team Canada World Baseball Classic status in significant doubt

2017 Team Canada World Baseball Classic preview

"We were talking about foul balls in the stands up in Toronto, and because there's not a lot of people that grew up playing baseball in Canada, they're not used to catching a lot of balls in the stands … not many people catching that one, anyway." — Harold Reynolds (2015).

Canada could use some more minor league teams on Canadian soil. The COVID-19 pandemic made that even more problematic with teams, such as the Vancouver Canadians, having to play south of the border.

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Canada played a pair exhibition games in Arizona prior to the World Baseball Classic: the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday in Mesa and the Seattle Mariners in Peoria yesterday.

Jared Young had a strong 2 RBI double in the first inning against the Cubs. The team lost 11-7 to the Chicago National League franchise.

Seattle defeated Team Canada 5-3 yesterday in Peoria, AZ.

Here's hoping for a respectable Canada showing in 2023.

photos credit: Baseball Canada

2023 Toronto Blue Jays spring training schedule

A normal start to spring training but yet another year without a finish at Olympic Stadium in Montréal. The Toronto Blue Jays haven't been to Quebec's largest city since 2019. 

Unlike 2022, the Grapefruit League starts on time (tomorrow) and will end on time. As the Blue Jays have done since 1977, the team trains in Dunedin, Florida.

2023 Blue Jays Spring Training schedule

February 25 @ Pittsburgh
February 26 NY Yankees
February 27 @ Atlanta
February 28 Detroit/@ Philadelphia
March 1 @ Baltimore
March 2 Pittsburgh
March 3 Tampa Bay
March 4 @ Detroit
March 5 Philadelphia
March 7 @ Pittsburgh
March 8 Minnesota
March 9 Atlanta/@ Tampa Bay
March 10 @ Boston
March 11 Baltimore
March 12 @ Philadelphia
March 13 Boston
March 14 @ NY Yankees (6:35p)
March 15 Pittsburgh
March 16 @ Baltimore (6:05p)
March 17 Philadelphia/@ Philadelphia
March 18 NY Yankees
March 19 @ Tampa Bay
March 20 @ Detroit
March 22 Baltimore
March 23 @ Minnesota
March 24 Philadelphia (6:07p)
March 25 Detroit (6:07p)
March 26 @ NY Yankees
March 27 Philadelphia
March 28 @ Philadelphia (12:05p)

All times at 1:07 pm (home)/1:05 pm (road) unless noted. All times are EST through March 11; EDT March 12-28.

Rogers Sportsnet will carry all the home games and 5+ select road games, including the opener on Saturday. The road games might come from alternate feeds (think YES). You can always check to see which games are on television.

ESPN+ will carry 2 Toronto Blue Jays spring training games, using the available feeds. Those telecasts will be the home game with Philadelphia on March 24 and the road game with the New York Yankees on March 26.

MLB Network in the United States will carry live and tape-delayed versions of spring training games, including live coverage of the Toronto home opener. Games may be subject to blackout in a team's region.

A statement from Pat Tabler: pic.twitter.com/X74VZCzuLn

— Sportsnet PR (@SportsnetPR) December 2, 2022

The spring training broadcast schedule will have Dan Shulman and Ben Wagner sharing play-by-play duties while Buck Martinez and Joe Siddall as colour analysts. They are likely to be TV/radio simulcasts for those TV games. The plan is to carry all the home games in Dunedin plus 5 select road games.

For those who wondered, Pat Tabler left (forced out). Rogers chose not to replace Tabler in the booth, though Siddall and Caleb Joseph are the likely backups. Ben Wagner gets to suffer through another year in the radio booth without a permanent partner. Trust us when we say this is an embarrassment for Rogers.

Martinez will also be the analyst for the Pool C international feed (Sportsnet feed) from Phoenix, AZ for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Pool C features Canada, United States, Great Britain, Mexico, and Colombia.

Sportsnet will not resume on-site radio broadcasts for #BlueJays road games this season and will instead provide remote coverage from its downtown Toronto studio.

“I’m very disappointed in the network,” said retired Jays radio voice Jerry Howarth. https://t.co/xOlEqbn6CX

— Toronto Star Sports (@StarSports) February 17, 2023

As if things weren't bad enough for Wagner, et al, the Toronto Blue Jays will be the only MLB team whose radio broadcasters will not travel in 2023.

2022 Toronto Blue Jays spring training schedule

2021 Toronto Blue Jays spring training schedule

2020 Toronto Blue Jays spring training schedule

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We will deal with all the changes to the Toronto Blue Jays in our season preview.

photo credit: Toronto Blue Jays
Twitter captures: @SportsnetPR; @StarSports

2022 Toronto Blue Jays go down in 2 straight to Seattle

The third player in team HISTORY with a multi-homer game in the Postseason:

THIS GUY ✌️ #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/V2Edcurn1V

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) October 8, 2022

The argument in 2020 was that the Toronto Blue Jays had been road weary and couldn't overcome the laser precision of the Tampa Bay Rays. 2021 was an amazing season but no playoffs. The 2022 version worked hard down the stretch to gain home field advantage and get the Seattle Mariners to fly thousands of kilometres and deal with customs.

The Blue Jays outscored the entire Tampa Bay and Cleveland series in Game 2: 8-1 lead where they couldn't shut the barn door in time. Game 1 featured a shutdown of the Blue Jays offence.

Teoscar Hernandez hit a 2-run home run in the 1st inning and a first pitch blast in the 4th inning. Former Toronto ace Robbie Ray gave up both home runs. Ray didn't go to Toronto in the regular season, reportedly because he hadn't had the COVID-19 vaccine. The new rules allow unvaccinated players into Canada.

George Springer and Bo Bichette were involved in an outfield collision with a blooper that brought in 3 runs to tie the game at 9-9. Whit Merrifield was pulled from Game 2 after getting hit in the head with a pitch.

2022 Toronto Blue Jays MLB playoffs preview

Thought @Cardinals would have worst collapse of these wild card series. @Bluejays unfortunately said #holdmybeer. 8-1 lead, going down 10-9. This young core now 0-4 in @MLB playoff games. #NextLevel

— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) October 9, 2022

The young core (Bichette, Guerrero, Kirk, et al) needed playoff experience, preferably winning playoff experience. The team played nervous on Friday and bewildered in the second half of Saturday's game. 

If Springer had been allowed to catch that blooper or hold it to a single, then maybe there would have been a Sunday game. There are other countless moments that would have made a difference. A team that hadn't played in a playoff game since 2001 had a lot more confidence than a team that has had remotely recent playoff success.

Toronto Blue Jays should get creative in broadcast booth with Buck Martinez's cancer diagnosis

A potential Game 3, subject to the result of other games, could have meant a Blue Jays appearance on ABC. Given that ESPN only carried the Blue Jays in the playoffs, that would have been impressive. Like when the Toronto Raptors were on ABC, Citytv reportedly would have sim subbed the ABC feed.

Sadly, this might be Buck Martinez's last game. Nothing is certain and Martinez has to consider a few factors, such as age and health. Matt Devlin filled in for Dan Shulman at times in Martinez's absence. Devlin does have a day job with the Raptors.

2022 Toronto Blue Jays second half preview

2022 Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Game preview

2022 Toronto Blue Jays preview

2022 Toronto Blue Jays spring training schedule

Toronto Blue Jays get swept in 2020 MLB playoffs

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Wait til next year or next level.

Toronto Blue Jays playoffs history

2022	Seattle	0-2
2020	Tampa Bay	0-2
2016	Cleveland	1-4
2016	Texas	3-0
2016	Baltimore	1-0
2015	Kansas City	2-4
2015	Texas	3-2
1993	Philadelphia	4-2
1993	Chicago (AL)	4-2
1992	Atlanta	4-2
1992	Oakland	4-2
1991	Minnesota	1-4
1989	Oakland	1-4
1985	Kansas City	3-4

Twitter captures: @BlueJays; @canadian_xing
photo credit: ESPN/MLB

2022 Toronto Blue Jays MLB playoffs preview

Sea you soon 😉

Get your popcorn ready! #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/I4ov7ioFlV

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) October 5, 2022

Matt Chapman's second half torrid pace. Teoscar Hernandez showing us that trading veterans such as Francisco Liriano can yield benefits. Bo Bichette's electric September hits wise. George Springer's steady veteran leadership on and off the field. Whit Merrifield being a great teammate and displayed his versatility.

Alek Manoah on the mound at the start of the game. Jordan Romano at the end of the game.

While the 2021 Toronto Blue Jays team might have been the best MLB team to not make the playoffs, the 2022 Toronto Blue Jays took the #4 seed in the 2022 MLB playoffs.

Unlike the 2020 version, there will be home playoff games in Toronto in 2022. This was the first season since 2019 that the Blue Jays played all their home games in Toronto.

The Seattle Mariners, a team that has missed the playoffs since 2001, will be the Toronto opponent at Rogers Centre. The games will run Friday-Sunday in Toronto with the best 2 out of 3. The Sunday game is only necessary if there isn't a sweep.

The Blue Jays made a crucial decision to install John Schneider as the manager to replace Charlie Montoyo. Toronto fired Charlie Montoyo on July 13 with the team at 46-42. Schneider went 46-28 and got a playoff spot. The Blue Jays finished in second place in the American League East Division with a 92-70 record.

The wild card round will be on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada with Buck Martinez and Pat Tabler. ESPN will carry the series in the United States with Dan Shulman and Gregg Olsen calling the Blue Jays series for ESPN Radio.

Enjoy the Buck Martinez coverage. There is a possibility that Martinez may retire from the booth after this season. Here is the Rogers Sportsnet coverage of all the opening round series games.

The ESPN coverage will be either on ESPN, ESPN2, or ABC. Dave Flemming, Jessica Mendoza, Tim Kurkjian, and Coley Harvey will have the series in Toronto. By ESPN standards, this could have been a lot worse.

TBS carried a Tuesday night game in Toronto last week. Mostly because New York Yankees and Aaron Judge. Still, there was some love for the Blue Jays on U.S. national television.

MLB Network usually carried the home feed unless Toronto was at home to the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

If the Blue Jays advance, Houston will be the opponent and the American League Division Series will be on TBS in the States.

Date	Opponent	Time	U.S. television
October 7	Seattle	4p	ESPN
October 8	Seattle	4p	ESPN
October 9	Seattle+	2p	ABC

All games on Rogers Sportsnet. All times are Eastern Daylight Time.

The Game 3 time will be unchanged if there are 3 Sunday games, including Toronto. In the event of 2 Sunday games, the Blue Jays move to 4 pm on ESPN. If the Blue Jays are involved in the only Game 3, the scene will shift to 7 pm on ESPN.

The 1946 Montreal Royals should be a significant part of the Jackie Robinson Museum

2022 Toronto Blue Jays second half preview

2022 Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Game preview

🇨🇦 HISTORY 🇨🇦

For the first time, a #BlueJays game was won AND saved by Canadians! @pop_zach pic.twitter.com/rQYOtlSbv6

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) October 2, 2022

2022 Victoria Day notebook: Alberta in the spotlight

Toronto Blue Jays should get creative in broadcast booth with Buck Martinez's cancer diagnosis

2022 Toronto Blue Jays preview

2022 Toronto Blue Jays spring training schedule

Toronto Blue Jays get swept in 2020 MLB playoffs

The young core did get some playoffs experience in 2020. The circumstances were very different, especially in the worst MLB ballpark. Hyun-Jin Ryu got 5 outs and gave up 7 runs in Game 2. Charlie Montoyo took Ryu out of that game. Neither of them are here for the 2022 playoffs.

Danny Janzen might be the only Blue Jays player with any decent memory of that short-lived season.

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Rob Thomson is only the 4th manager in MLB history to take over a team at least 7 games under .500 and lead them to the postseason.

Dick Howser, 1981 with the Royals

Cito Gaston, 1989 with the Blue Jays

Jim Tracy, 2009 with the Rockies

Rob Thomson, 2022 with the Phillies

— PhilliesNotes (@PhilliesNotes) October 4, 2022

We noted earlier this season that Rob Thomson was the first Canadian MLB manager (beyond a game) since 1934. Thomson and Schneider have something intriguing in common.

Joey Votto — the best Canadian MLB player outside of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — had his season cut short for surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. Before the surgery, Votto played in his 1,989th career game to set a new Canadian record.

Votto's highlights in 2022 included an excellent series in his hometown of Toronto as well as growth on social media for making friends wherever he goes.

Toronto Blue Jays playoffs history

2022	Seattle	0-0
2020	Tampa Bay	0-2
2016	Cleveland	1-4
2016	Texas	3-0
2016	Baltimore	1-0
2015	Kansas City	2-4
2015	Texas	3-2
1993	Philadelphia	4-2
1993	Chicago (AL)	4-2
1992	Atlanta	4-2
1992	Oakland	4-2
1991	Minnesota	1-4
1989	Oakland	1-4
1985	Kansas City	3-4

Twitter captures: @bluejays (x2); @PhilliesNotes
photo credit: @bluejays

The 1946 Montreal Royals should be a significant part of the Jackie Robinson Museum

We know there will be a Jackie Robinson Museum in Manhattan. We know the public opening will be soon. "Check back in September 2022 for updates on our public opening."

There is a lot that goes into the life and legacy when you explore the museum's Web site.

"The museum celebrates the enduring legacy of one of the most important Americans of the 20th century, chronicling his trailblazing achievements against the backdrop of United States history. Invoking Robinson's role as a champion for racial, social, and economic equality, the Museum's programming places an emphasis on dialogue around critical issues that continue to challenge our society."

The life of Jackie Robinson has been covered in The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) and 42 (2013). You would think you would have a really good idea about the story of Jackie Robinson. Yet both films have a missing chapter.

Jackie Robinson's path to the Brooklyn Dodgers is guided in great part for the time Robinson spent with the 1946 Montréal Royals.

By all accounts, Robinson and his young wife Rachel were treated rather well in Montréal, not as much during road games.

Jackie Robinson was honoured at the 2022 MLB All-Star Game in Los Angeles. Oscar winner Denzel Washington paid tribute to Robinson. 2022 marks 75 years since Robinson made his MLB debut and 50 years since Robinson passed away. As Los Angeles Dodgers all star Mookie Betts pointed out, "It's Miss Rachel Robinson's 100th birthday. So on the count of three, I want everybody in here to say, 'Happy birthday, Rachel.'" The crowd obliged.

Rachel Robinson is the connection back to those days in Montréal.

Having opened its doors last Friday, the Jackie Robinson Museum seeks to bring people from all walks together to commune and appreciate each other’s humanity and diverse experiences. Enjoy a glimpse of the ribbon cutting ceremony led by Emmy Award winner @RobinRoberts pic.twitter.com/QyNcQVhWpZ

— Jackie Robinson Foundation (@JRFoundation) August 2, 2022

"Learn details of Robinson’s five months in the Negro Leagues and his signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers’ AAA farm team in 1946 and with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Meet his teammates, see game-worn uniforms, and imagine Robinson’s daring and captivating style of play."

This doesn't say "Montréal Royals" and likely is literally about actual signings of contracts.

This chapter has been mysteriously missing for a number of reasons:

• Actual good treatments of the Robinsons in Montréal confuses the straight-ahead story of what Robinson experienced outside Canada.
• Minor leagues are not major leagues.
• Canadian history is not something Americans want to know.
• Canada is not the United States.

Museums are set up to give more detail for elements that aren't easily explained. Robinson's story with the 1946 Montréal Royals is worthy of a small wing in a Jackie Robinson Museum. We don't get the impression that this will be a part of the museum but would love to be proven wrong.

Kamala Harris, Jackie Robinson, and their association with Montreal

Montreal has more than a supporting role in 42

Jackie Robinson's Montréal apartment honored by Canada and United States

The Jackie Robinson Museum is at One Hudson Square Building, 75 Varick Street in New York City, near the Canal Street subway stop. The phone number is (866) 454-3772. The museum is only open Thursdays-Sundays 11 am to 6 pm. The Web site points out that there are "Timed-entry tickets only. Advance ticket reservations recommended."

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Toronto Blue Jays had a semi-adventurous MLB trade deadline yesterday. Whit Merrifield, an All-Star in 2019 and 2021 with Kansas City, is headed to Canada for RHP Max Castillo, who has pitched for the big league squad, and minor-league second baseman Samad Taylor.

We could see Merrifield helping out George Springer in centre field (Merrifield can also play 2B). The major issue is that Merrifield didn't come to Canada a few weeks back because he isn't vaccinated. That's a big problem unless he is only playing road games for awhile.

The Blue Jays reacquired reliever Anthony Bass, adding reliever Zach Pop (Canadian), and a player to be named later to the Miami Marlins for shortstop prospect Jordan Groshans, who has great potential in the long term.

The team also got RHP spot starter Mitch White from the Los Angeles Dodgers with infielder Alex De Jesus for minor league pitchers Moises Brito and Nick Frasso.

Toronto traded RHP Jeremy Beasley to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations.

photo credit: me
video credit: MLB
Twitter capture: @JRFoundation