Notes From The Nat

We’ve said the words "Vancouver Canadians’ new GM" more times than we care to remember these past two years or so, because the position has been somewhat of a revolving door… and ’somewhat’ may be the biggest understatement since Marion Jones asked her dentist if she needed any work done.

First there was Dan Kilgras - the tassled loafer GM, who was eventually (according to unconfirmed reports) promoted to Team President to stop him from leaving.

Then there was Delany Dunn - the ‘doing the best with what we’re given’ GM, who was installed to run the team on a shoestring so Kilgras could concentrate on ad sales and sponsorships, until new owners came in with a big broom and let him concentrate on what he does best - the game day experience.

Then there was Aileen McManamon - the ‘bums on seats’ GM, who brought in the biggest crowd in ages for opening day last season, but badly miscalculated what it takes to feed such a crowd once they’re in the door, and was quickly shown same.

Then there was nobody, though Andy Dunn handled the job as a consultant for a while… but not really (shh, Immigration might be listening).

Then there was Andy Dunn - the ‘Major League experience’ GM, who would also be Team President, at least according to the info given to the press a few weeks ago.

And now there’s Andy Seymour [seen above] - the ‘fun is good’ GM, who has stepped into the GM spot that, apparently, Dunn didn’t want, nor actually agree to handle, despite what was said to the press… 

So who is Andy Seymour? Why, he’s the Vancouver Canadians’ new GM… and he’s not one to make short term plans, if his last gig is anything to go by.

From his days dressed up in an inflated sumo wrestling suit, to donninga trenchcoat, hat and sunglasses as the mysterious ?G-man,? to creatingaward-winning promotional campaigns such as ?Billy Donovan Night,?Andrew Seymour has been a fixture for the Fort Myers Miracle sinceSeptember 1995. Not anymore.

The Miracle enter their 18th season as the Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Seymour has been there for 13 of them.

?Youknow what?s rewarding, is seeing the families growing up,? Seymoursaid. ?This community has been fantastic down here. But I?ll get to gonorth and continue to have fun.?

Get used to that word - ‘fun’.

A supporter of Mike Veeck?sworking motto, ?Fun is Good,? Seymour said he has been strolling downmemory lane as his last day with the Miracle, Wednesday, Jan. 23,approaches. Memories include:

?The Bobble-butt doll. Madein the likeness of Riverdale High School graduate Tommy Watkins, onlyabout 500 of the dolls were made.

?On June 4, 2003, the dayafter Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa was caught swinging a corked bat,the Miracle announced ?Sammy Sosa Night,? handing out pieces of cork tofans.

?In July 2003, less than a week after Pittsburgh Piratesfirst baseman Randall Simon swung a bat at a Milwaukee Brewers racingsausage, the Miracle held a ?Salute to the Italian Sausage Night? withrandom sausage giveaways and a ?Safe Sausage Race.?

?Lastseason, the Miracle had ?Billy Donovan Night,? at which fans whochanged their minds about attending the game could negotiate with alawyer for refunds, poking fun at the University of Florida basketballcoach who backed out of a contract with the Orlando Magic.

That promotion placed first in the inaugural Minor League Baseball Promotion of the Year Award.

Granted, such a promotion might not hold the crowd’s interest like a pair of three-year-olds building a giant Subway sandwich, or a ‘$1 off your next fish and chips’ voucher from Mr Pickwicks, but one would think we’re in for an interesting ride with Senor Seymour pumping out the bizarro promotions.

Pleasant side benefit: he’s not a pinball executive. That is to say, he doesn’t bounce around from team to team, like many in the minors. And by all accounts, he’s a heck of a guy.

?Asa fan, as a worker and as a friend, I?m dumbfounded to say the least,?[Fort Myers Miracle] season ticket holder Bobby] Izzo said upon hearing the news. ?Andrew?s an institution. He?s theface of the Miracle. He has been forever… There?s not much thatthe man wouldn?t do for anybody. In all the time I?ve known him, Idon?t think I?ve ever seen him have a bad day. I don?t think I?ve everseen a frown on his face. He?s been super… The dedication and the loyalty that I have for the Miracle comes from Andrew.?

It’s not often that when a pro sports GM leaves a town, that people are actually sad about it, and the local press writes glowing tributes of their time with the team.

Some background on the Larry Donovan promotion:

In this much-lauded promotional extravaganza, the Florida StateLeague franchise paid tribute to the painfully indecisive FloridaGators basketball coach (on June 1, Donovan signed a massive contractwith the NBA’s Orlando Magic, but backed out one day later in order toreturn to the University of Florida).

On "Billy Donovan Night," the Miracle did everything short of handingout flip flops to fans as they walked through the turnstiles. But atthe heart of the evening was this little nugget of genius — any fanwho had second thoughts about attending the game was given theopportunity to negotiate out of their ticket purchase by consultingwith a lawyer and then (in certain cases) shooting a basketball througha hoop.

"It was like — Bam! — there it is. There’s our hook. For us, thehoneymoon continued. We put out a teaser about the promo, and theAssociated Press picked it up and ran a story. After that, everybodyjumped on it. All of this occurred during a period when there wasn’tmuch happening in the sports world, so the timing worked out great."

Indeed, the Miracle’s unorthodox promotion received prominent local andnational media coverage, and resulted in a crowd that was more thandouble the team’s Wednesday night average. All in all, it was a fittingstunt for a franchise with ties to the most legendary name in the worldof sports promotions.

And finally, from Seymour’s own bio on the Fort Myers Miracle staff directory:

Often mistaken for THE ROCK, Andrew enjoys entertaining. An interestthat has served him well in his second career as a Motion Pictureaction & Stunt double where Andrew has done body stand-ins for VinDiesel, Sean William Scott, Will Smith and Jack Black. In his sparetime, Andrew enjoys watching infomercials, organizing his fridgemagnets and speaking of himself in the-third-person. Favorite MoviesInclude: Slapshot & House Party 1 thru 4. Favorite Players: PaulKariya, Michael Vick, Torii Hunter & Bill Bellamy. IQ:Self-described ? ?somewhere yo-yo?ing between Nickelodeon and C-Span.?Little known fact: Andrew has written songs for both Luther Campbell& Glen Campbell.

Methinks maybe we got a good deal here.

Side note: While I’m on the ‘good people arriving’ tilt, I should also mention that a good person is leaving the C’s. Long time pleasant person, Game Day Goddess, and Ticket Mistress, Lori Bonang, is moving on to opportunities new.

One of the last remaining folks on staff from the pre-ownership change era, she will be missed (especially by guys like me, fighting opening day crowds to find someone - anyone - who knows where my press pass is).

Be happy, Loz. 

Regular visitors to Nat Bailey Stadium would no doubt be aware ofthe existence of the man they call ‘Dancing Hans’. You can see him tothe left there, stomping out some Chicken Dance love, and that’s longbeen the enduring image of the best darn cheerleader in minor baseball.

Hedoesn’t get paid to come out to every home game and entertain the fans. He’s not looking for a career change, or a way to work up through the system and one day be GM. He just likescoming out to the ballpark, dancing on a dugout, and getting the localyokels worked up into a tween-innings frenzy or seven. People like Hans are a huge part of what makes minor league ball so much fun, and that volunteer spirit is something we sometimes take for granted. We get used to having guys like Hans around, and it’s only when they’re not there that we realize what we’re missing.

Last year,unfortunately, Dancing Hans wasn’t dancing. He’d gone through somehealth issues, but was back at the ballpark as soon as he could walkagain (much to his doctor’s concern, I’m sure), and if not for his wifefollowing him around with a big stick, to be used with force if histoes started to so much as tap to the beat of YMCA, I’m sure he wouldhave wheeled himself around the bases on a hospital gurney during the7th inning stretch. Instead, he helped out with the webcast game call on the final day of the season with his son, Tim.

Anyhoo, the relevance of all this comes frommy having opened one of the local papers, The Richmond Review, only tofind myself face to face with a huge full color model shot of theHanster himself.

And darn it all if Hans has a lot more volunteer work going on than just Chicken Dancing at The Nat!

So as a tribute to the skinniest gams in pro sports, I give you Dancing Hans’ 15 minutes of (local) fame:

The text:

"I read The Richmond Review so that I can keep up with what is happening in our fine community." 

Hans Havas, President of the West Richmond Community Association [who knew?], and President of the Richmond Youth Concert Band.

See the Richmond Youth Concert Band in concert along with the Richmond Orchestra on Friday, Feb 25 at Gateway Theatre as part of the Music Lover’s Concert.

Call 604-270-1812 for tickets. 

What’s hilarious is, this ad runs right beneath a Letter To The Editor that complains that someone on JonesRoad isn’t picking up their dog doody. Seriously - they even describehow it’s a big dog, "judging by the size of what it leaves behind."

Some people change the world complaining about dog crap, others change it by giving and giving and giving.

Love your work, Hans.

Can the prospect of success for the Vancouver Canadians in season 2008 get any stronger than it is right now?

A true Canadian joining the C’s after a three-team minor league stint in the states.  Welcome home, Mr Seymour.

January 16^th, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CANADIANS BRING ON HOME GROWN TALENT TO FILL GENERAL MANAGER?S ROLE

VANCOUVER CANADIANS ADD CANADIAN ANDREW SEYMOUR TO FRONT OFFICE STAFF

 (Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, BC) ? The Vancouver Canadians are proud to announce that Andrew Seymour has been named the 10^th General Manager in club history Wednesday.  Seymour comes home to Canadaafter more than a decade working with the Fort Myers Miracle (FloridaState League), Tyler WildCatters (Texas-Louisiana Ind. League) and theThunder Bay WhiskeyJacks (Northern Ind. League).

Seymour is a native of Toronto, Ontarioand has been a part of the highly successful Goldklang Group whichincludes mentor Mike Veeck who instilled his ?Fun Is Good? mentalityinto the C?s newest General Manager. 

Canadians President Andy Dunn looks forward to Seymour?sarrival later this month, ?Having known Andrew for the past ten years,I am very proud to have him join our staff in the General Manager?sposition.  Andrew will bring a ton of experience to our staff and astrong promotional background that will be enjoyed by Canadians fansfor years to come?.

Nominated for an Elaine McLaughlin award (Community Service Excellence), Seymourhas been a part of numerous Minor League Baseball awards including the?Larry MacPhail?, ?John Johnson? awards and the brains behind some ofbaseball?s greatest minor league promotions.  From Bobble-Butt &Bobble?ection to Mike Tyson Night where fans got a plastic ear with apiece missing, Seymours wacky and eccentric ways should make him an instant hit out at Nat Bailey Stadium.

?Vancouver has it all ? great people, stunning beauty and culture and tremendous opportunity with a really strong owners in Jake Kerrand Jeff Mooney.  I can?t wait to get started with President Andy Dunnand the Canadians crew and continue living out my dreams inprofessional baseball,? said Seymour who arrives in Vancouver in the coming days from his home in Florida.

Ticketsfor the 2008 Vancouver Canadians Baseball season are now on sale bycalling the C?s Front Office at 604-872-5232 or visiting http://www.canadiansbaseball.com.  The Canadians open up the 2008 NWL season on Tuesday, June 17^th vs. the Tri City Dust Devils at Nat Bailey Stadium. 

So we have the major league experience of Andy Dunn as President, and now the minor league experience and promotional showmanship of Andrew Seymour as General Manager.  How much longer until Mike Veeck jumps aboard to sell pretzels?

My first promotional proposal to Seymour is the following: An Anthony Recker Bobble-Butt. 

Oh come on, you know you want it.

Well, a lot has gone on with the C’s behind the scenes while we’ve been in off-season mode, and much of it I can’t yet talk about, simply because it’d be spoiling some neat surprises.

Here’s what I can tell you: Nat Bailey Stadium baseball Version 2008 is going to be awesome.

Let’s roll through the highlights.

First, yes, as has been mentioned below, there will be a new logo. The ‘concept logo’ Jeremy found will not be it, nor will it be close to it. Not sure where that one came from, but while the new logo will in all likelihood not be too far removed from the current logo, it will be a far, far, FAR improved version - thank god.

Much as I’ve been pushing for a team name change for a while, and have support on the issue from some folks on the inside, the Canadians name will not change. And to that I say, "Go Capilanos."

The team will have new uniforms - they’re going retro to a degree, but I’m not able to tell you in what way just yet. Suffice to say, you’ll notice the change. From a mile away.

There will be a team mascot, which is a positive step from a fan experience point of view, especially speaking as a soon-to-be dad of two.

All the C’s games will be broadcast in season 2008 - be it via radio or webcast - but here’s the kicker; the home games will be broadcast online via streaming video. FINALLY!

The long awaited changes to the NWL set-up, where the Arizona League is killed off and the Northwest League becomes the new rookie league, have not come, and will likely not arrive in 2009 either, due mostly to nobody in the Major League farm systems having the time or inclination to actually make it happen. That will continue to be threatened for another few years, but nobody is too keen to lose 30 players from their system in any great hurry.

The new Vancouver Team President will be announced next Monday, and though I know who it’ll be, I’m keeping my mouth shut for a bit so the team can announce it to full fanfare, which the announcement will deserve. 

As for this blog, the arrival of video webcasting of the C’s home games means we can shelve plans to do that ourselves. It’d been something I’d been planning for a while, and that we actually had a little budget for this season (thanks to those people who keep hitting the Westjet ad for their holiday travel plans), so we’ll either use that money to pick up a speed gun (so we can finally see how fast C’s pitchers are hurling), or do what we’ve done the last two years and send it to charity.

I’m guessing speed gun. 

On a personal note, I’ve sold my editorial services company, Unreel Media, to an American buyer, so I have a little more spare time than usual. Expect that to bring some more improvements to the site over the coming months - at least until I get my new PR firm up and running.

Oh, and we’ll be looking for new writers for the blog to join Jeremy and myself and really round out the coverage, so if you like the baseball, are committed to seeing a bunch of games this season, and know how to string a few interesting words together, drop us a line. We’ll talk.

Numerous Vancouver Canadians alumni are getting ready for Spring Training, which starts in just over two months, by playing in the Winter Leagues, south of the border.  Here’s a round-up of where some players are.

Venezuelan League: 

Leonardo Martinez, El Gordo himself, is playing with Aguilas del Zulia, alongside fellow A’s prospect Henry Alberto Rodriguez.  In one appearance so far this year, closing out a game, Leo gave up a walk in 1/3 of an inning.  Rodriguez has pitched 33 innings, and if my Spanish (babelfish) is correct, he’s 1-3 on the hill, in 8 starts.

Carlos Arrieche and Walter Correa are listed on Aguilas’ roster but haven’t played yet.

Gregorio Petit, Brad Knox and Ben Fritz are all spending their winter in Caracas, playing for the Leones.  Javier Herrera was originally supposed to play with them, but is injured.  Drew Macias, brother of Lorenzo (2006 Canadian) is patrolling the outfield in Caracas as well.

Petit is batting .225 in 29 games, while Fritz and Knox are each doing pretty well, with Knox’ ERA at 4.24, and Fritz’ at 4.40 respectively.

Stockton catcher Raul Padron and former Athletic and current Toronto Blue Jay Marco Scutaro are also playing in Caracas.

Dominican League:

Two-time Vancouver Canadian catcher Sandy Madera (’01 and ‘02) is struggling with Azucareros del Este batting .063 in 16 at-bats. 

A bunch of ex-C’s are holding ship in Cibao, like Nelson Cruz (’02), Eduardo Sierra (2002) and Keith Eusebio (2006 and 2007).

Eusebio hasn’t set foot on the mound, but Sierra did going 0-0 with a 2.57 ERA in 7 appearances.

Cruz held a big role with his Dominican club, batting .314 with 4 dingers, 17 RBI and 5 doubles in 29 games.

It was reported by Baseball America last week that 2002 Vancouver Canadian side-armer Shawn Kohn was released by the A’s, after six years in the system, bringing him to AAA Sacramento.  The University of Washington product had good seasons as a mamber of the organization, but with all the recent minor league signings (and trades aka the Dan Haren trade), his release was only a matter of time.

Today, the Oakland Clubhouse talked to Keith Lieppman, as he explained of four more minor leaguers getting the boot. 

Trent Peterson, 2003 Canadians southpaw, was let go, after playing most his A’s career in Stockton and Midland.  He’s had an average few years, but he should be picked up by another MILB team.

Michael Rogers, a 2004 top pick in the first-year draft, will have to find a new team to work for, after a very poor couple of seasons.  He was one of the most hyped players in Vancouver back three years ago, but didn’t really show off his skills, going 1-2 with a 4.87 ERA in Canada.

That was his second lowest ERA in the organization, which gives you a good reason why he was let go.  He was a starter-turned-reliever that never really blossomed into something big.

Two years ago TJ Franco came to Vancouver (in 2005), as a closer who ended up being sent to Kane County just days later, and that was just the beginning for the 30th round pick who turned more than a few heads with the A’s.  He split his time between Kane County and Stockton after that, as a starter, but the thing that ended his Oakland stint was the 5.73 ERA in the California League. 

The final player released was Ramiro ‘The Arm’ Mendez.  Ramiro was with Arizona in 2006, before being sent up to Vancouver at the end of the year, where he blasted six home-runs in just 28 games.  He started 2007 in Vancouver, but was immediately sent to the Midwest League, after opening his season with a .600 average in three games.  He struggled with the Cougars, batting .200 in 35 games.

—————————

The C’s are changing up their seating chart for 2008, removing the General Admission, Premium Festival and Premium Festival Reserved sections, combing them all to make a ‘Reserved Grandstand’.  Here is what Ticket Manager Jason Takefman said in response to a question about the new chart.

You are correct; every seat at The Nat will be numbered this year, ensuring
each fan will get their very own numbered seat without fear of losing it to
get up to the concession stands, bathrooms, or to walk around and stretch
their legs.

So yesterday, out went a press notice from the Vancouver Canadians media office, announcing that the following day, the team would be ‘recreating’ Jeff Francis’ UBC Thunderbirds locker at Nat Bailey Stadium. The media, if they so desired, could come and take pictures.

Now, for the layman, that sounds about as exciting as watching the Minnesota Wild do defensive drills. It sounds as entertaining as watching Ben Mulroney talking about himself. It sounds as thrilling as a jumping castle with a slow leak.

But that’s why you’re the layman and Rob Fai is a media darling.

See, if you cover sport in Vancouver on a day like today, what are you going to do for a story? The Canucks aren’t playing, the Lions aren’t playing, there’s no ballgame, no NFL… it’s a dead day.

And when you’re sitting there scratching your head, dying for something - anything - to take a camera to, so as to keep the boss off your ass, well a nice little photo op, complete with a few of Jeff Francis’ old teammates for quotes, well, that’s just manna from heaven.

And they did flock. 14 separate media outlets in all jammed into the long emptied Vancouver Canadians/UBC clubhouse to take pictures of a shirt. That’s basically every media outlet in the city; radio, TV and print.

I tell you no lie, tonight as the missus was getting ready to watch her Coronation Street, she flicked through the stations, and on three of them, all at the same time, there was the C’s clubhouse, bold as brass.

Now, to be sure, there will be no tickets sold this day as a result of the morass of media. Things just don’t work out that way, and that’s why the old ownership couldn’t get the press office staff off the payroll quickly enough at the end of each season, but what they didn’t get way back then (and what most sporting organizations don’t get, to be honest) is that marketing isn’t about selling a ticket today.

It’s about building a brand. It’s about building awareness, and reminding the press that The Nat exists, and, "Yes, it DOES look wonderful now that it’s been all painted, doesn’t it? Here, have a beer and a media guide."

It’s about getting people watching TV to remember there’s a ballpark in Vancouver, and a ballteam to go with it. It’s about getting people to UBC baseball games when their season begins. It’s about making sure people are watching Jeff Francis throw in the World Series on Wednesday night, and thinking, "He’s a local kid. Wonder what other local kids we might have missed at The Nat this season?"

When Coca-Cola puts up a billboard, they know it won’t sell one single bottle of pop. Nobody will look at that sign and think "must buy a Coke right now" - ever. But if they put up enough of them, and keep the brand in your face, when you feel thirsty, what are you going to pick up?

Rob Fai, and the Vancouver Canadians management and ownership team, understand this concept, and they are playing it brilliantly.

And maybe, just maybe, if more Canadian sporting organizations played for the long term, instead of the short, we might have fewer articles like this one in circulation:

Once, near the beginning of the current century, there were sixprofessional baseball teams in Canada at the triple-A level or higher,as of Opening Day 2008 there will be just one. We all know whathappened to Les Expos de Montr?al, who bolted French-speakingCanada after the 2004 season to become the Washington Nationals. Butdid you know that Canada has also lost four high-level minor leaguefranchises? The triple-A Vancouver Canadians, Edmonton Trappers,Calgary Cannons and Ottawa Lynx have all left Canada for the UnitedStates in the last 15 years.

It left me wondering, while thepro ranks have diminished, what is the state of the game itself up inCanada? Do they even still play it up there? Or is the country sohockey mad that they a) haven’t really noticed that all the probaseball teams have gone south and b) don’t play much baseball on theyouth level any more?

It’s a great article. But it’s sad that it should ever have to be written. 

Two days ago (October 17th), was the day marking another 8 months until the start of the NWL 2008 season.  We can tell you for sure that the Everett Aquasox will be in Spokane from the 17th of June through the 21st.  How do we know this?  The Spokane Indians have released their tentative 2008 schedule on their website.

Because one team has released it, I wouldn’t say this theory is correct but if you go to that link, it’ll show you when a 5-game series will take place, compared to a three game series.  The Indians open the year with those five games against Everett, before playing another five games against Eugene, in the ‘Emerald’ city.

Meaning for Canadians fans, the C’s will be at home five times between June 17th and June 26th.  This follows with a few three-game sets, etc.

Now, the Indians site does mention when they battle the C’s.

Spokane marches into Nat Bailey Stadium from the 9th of July, through the 13th.  The C’s take on the Indians in Spokane starting the 6th of August, and ending on the 10th of August.

The NWL season will end two days earlier than it did in 2007, on September 3rd.  For those of us who have to go to start school on the 4th and 5th, this is awesome because we can see the C’s finish out the year.  Expect more clubs to release their schedules soon, including the C’s, so stay tuned if you’re one of those people that ‘has to’ plan their summer around the Canadians (don’t we all).

KEOUGH FINDING FORM IN INSTRUCTS:
Oakland A’s Instructionals are underway, which means the best of the class of 2007 (and beyond) are in a field in Arizona being told to shift their feet and raise their elbows.

Scout.com has an interview with Oakland Farm Director Keith Lieppman, in which he says Shane Keough is showing some strong improvement in his first few days of camp.

Keith Lieppman: It?s hard to pinpointsomeone specifically because they don?t keep a whole lot of stats. Wekeep some records of it, but nothing to specific. In terms of someindividual performances, Shane Keoughis having a pretty good Instructional League. He is starting to makebetter contact and looks to be using his speed tool a little bit betterin terms of stealing bases. He is kind of getting some of the roughedges off.

OC: With Keough, do you think his struggles this season were a result of coming back from his back injury last season?

KP: No, I think with him it was just that he hadn?t played verymuch baseball in high school. He?s just somebody who hasn?t had thatmuch experience out there on the field. I think it is just a matter ofgetting the repetitions and being out there. The talent is there. Ijust think he?s just a little bit behind because he got a little bit ofan opportunity at the JC level, but prior to that, he hadn?t playedmuch.

Lieppman went on to name early 2007 C’s first baseman Sean Doolittle as someone who is mashing, and will likely move through the system fast, while 2006-7 C’s outfielder Matt Sulentic is also having a good time of things and will likely not only get back to Kane County next year, but will "definitely" stay in the outfield.

HEAVY HITTERS HURT:
Uptown Corey Brown’s injury has stopped him from getting to Instructionals, and now Amblin’ Danny Hamblin, the other half of Vancouver’s 2007 power duo, has had to pull out after injuring a groin. Also ailing is Josh Horton; The Hornet having injured his hand to the point where he can’t wear a glove, although he’s still able to swing a bat and is doing just that.

Meanwhile, Craig Italiano, who was drilled in the head with a line drive this season, seems like he’s fit and ready for action, having pitched a couple of simulated outings. You always wonder, when a kid takes a shot like that, whether he’ll be gun shy in future, so it’s good to hear about his progress.

In other injury-related news, 2004 NWL MVP and Vancouver Canadians center fielder, Javier Herrera, has been cleared to play Venezuelan Winter Ball with Caracas after two seasons riddled with injury (and suspension).

More suspicious people than I might look at Herrera’s steroid suspension two years back, and his subsequent inability to stay healthy since, and think the two might be related…

Lieppman also makes note that chronically injured 2004 C’s catcher (and 1st round draftee) Landon Powell is likely to have further troubles with his knees in the future, saying, "the chance of reoccurrence is probably great", and, even more interestingly, that the likelihood of a move to another position is not strong. "His catching skills make him what he is," says Lieppman, adding, "He?s aswitch-hitter with power and the whole thing, but with his greatreceiving skills and his throwing, there are really no other places forhim right now."

So you’ve got a guy with bad knees, who will have more knee problems, but isn’t worth shifting to another spot, so they’re going to keep him in the one place that is hardest on a guy’s knees and just see if he can luck it out? Wow - I’m not sure I’d want to be buying Landon Powell futures right now.

That said, Powell can mash. I know nobody likes to spend too much time on a DH-only guy in the minors (a la Jack Cust), since that’s the spot you’d normally put your washed up veterans, but surely it would make more sense to have Powell lose some weight and then actively push him towards first base - or even (I can’t believe I’m saying this) - third? He certainly has the throwing arm for it, and though he’d be a defensive liability, he’d be a defensive liability who could poke 30 dingers for you, from either side of the plate.

Hit the link below for more news. 

They say charity begins at home, but when someone is homeless, where else does charity begin?

Apparently, the Vancouver Canadians front office.

The C’s are donating 100 holiday turkeys through the Salvation Army, with the assistance of Safeway Supermarkets and a bunch of front office staff, to families in need across the lower mainland. The plan is to make this an annual event.

C’s co-owner Jeff Mooney is one of the catalysts behind this move - and what a nice change it is to go from an ownership group that couldn’t afford to patch the players’ pants, to one that will fork out over a grand to feed people that, in all likelihood, will never be able to afford a ticket to a ballgame.

Hey, here’s an idea, C’s - throw a pair of general admission tickets in with each of those turkeys, and feed the eyes, as well the belly!

The handover will take place at the Salvation Army Family Center at Broadway and Fraser on Thursday at 1pm. If you’re in the area, go give the C’s management, owners and staff a pat on the back for putting your ticket money to good use.

UPDATE:
Well, the turkey handover was a huge success - not just for those who’ll be eating well this Thanksgiving as a result of the charity of the C’s, Safeway and the Sally Army, but also from a PR perspective for the team.

You know, I’m surprised more organizations don’t understand just how much they can benefit out of charity giving. Imagine how much positive publicity would come if TD Canada Trust decided to pump $5m into subsidizing low income housing, or if White Spot had a ’show us your welfare check and eat free’ day. If this much press will show up for a hundred turkeys from a baseball team, how many would turn out if Westjet gave 100 low income families free plane tickets to go see their family this Christmas?

Sure, it’s nice to give for the sake of giving. But it doesn’t hurt that, at the other end of it all, you get what you spend back times ten in free publicity. And here’s the proof:

That’d be C’s co-owner Jeff Mooney in the middle, with George Evans of the Salvation Army on his right, and Scott Gibney of Safeway on his left.

MVPs are for bonus babies. All-star spots are for high draft picks.

Butwhat’s left for the guy who turns up early, works his ass off, thenspends the entire game warming up the bullpen, wondering if he’ll getmore than five swings per series?

What do we give to the guy whohas nothing but a dream and way too much time to dream it? What can the80% of guys destined to not get past AA ball, who are there primarilyto catch balls thrown and hit by the other 20%, look toward as theirown private World Series equivalent?

In short, what do the Rudy Rudibaker’s of this world play for?

Answer: The Vancouver Canadians Beer Hawker Player of the Year Award.

I couldn’t tell you who was the C’s MVP this season because,frankly, it just doesn’t matter. Whoever it was will go up the system,hit the cover off the ball, or peel the leather off catchers mitts, orsnap off breaking stuff that guys like Joe Morgan will say "isn’t asgood as it was in my day", but the guys that the InternationalBrotherhood of Minesweepers, Pastry Chefs, and Beerhawkers, Local 666,decide are the Beer Hawker Players of theYear… well, those guys go down in local legend. They live on in ourheartsand souls and stories and admiration.

Take Joe Newby, the 2005 winner of the BHPoY, who was sooutraged at his and other players’ living conditions with a certainhost family, that he took a video camera and filmed them, laterconfronting GM Dan Kilgras with the tape in what would come to be knownas "dogbloodgate". Newby’s fire, his ability to keep throwing the hardcheese with his head held high, even as all around him bootedgroundballs and waved at infield singles and allowed the runs to rackup, and the fact that he left a porno virus on his host family’scomputer, made him a lock on the big prize.

Newby was recentlyreleased by the A’s, but he’ll always have that video tape, and thememory of Kilgras with steam coming out of his ears, cursing like atourettes syndome patient in the midst of a sugar rush. And pop-ups advertising girl-on-goat sex.

The list of previous winners is as follows:

2006: Andre Piper-Jordan       Threw punches; wasn?t JermaineMitchell
2005: Joey Newby                  ?Accidentally? left a pornovirus on host family computer
2004: Myron Leslie                  Because he was the lastplayer they expected to win
2003: Eddie Kim                     Solid player; awardvalidated by chugging from the mini keg he won
2002: John Baker                   Always swung like itmattered; only hit one home run
2001: Casey Meyers               Inspired by legend of ?Three Fingers?Rowan
2000: Joe B. Cerone               Name rhymed with ?My Charona?;had good-looking sisters
1999: Ricky Freeman              Because Frank Menechino couldn?twin everything
1998: Ben Molina                    Name rhymed with ?MyCharona?
1997: Geoff Edsell                  Left heart in San Francisco; left uniform in New Orleans
1996: Orlando Palmeiro          Tried ? and failed ? to hit us with balls from theoutfield

This year, the award went to a player who had us at hello.

No,he didn’t hit too well. And sure, his defense is a work in progress.And yeah, he’s going to be in the group of players who are told byOakland "we’ll see you next year… in all likelihood."

But toC’s fans, he was Benny Winslow with a chest protector. He was thePlayer to be Famed Later. He was the guy we wanted to see succeed, forno other reason than, dammit, he’s earned a little karma with all thatbullpen work. And he has the best baseball name since Rollie Fingers.

And every now and then, when the opposition was feeling goodabout themselves and the fans were checking watches and the hawkerswere going back for a tray refill, Brother Love, the 2006 39th rounderfor Oakland, with nobody on and two outs, would dig in, stare down apitcher, grip the shaft of his bat a little harder, and think "breakingball down the middle."

Zip. Crack. Off the center field wall for a double.

Love’sline at season’s end wasn’t one that’ll have Scott Boras suggesting heswitch agents, but his commitment to the team, the game, and the redand blue, make him the only man who could take home the big award.

He showed us The Love. All hail ‘The Inferno’.

Also honoured, and no less important, is JD Pruitt, 2007 winner of the infrequently given Beerhawker Inspiration Award.

Pruitt’sability to telekinetically attract fastballs to his elbow, back and asswas enough to take his OBP into the stratosphere, shattering the NWLHBP record like a firmly plunked elbow in the process, and giving birthto the blog images that would become known as ‘lolpruitts’.

Thanks for the memories, JD. You played it like you meant it.

Previous winners of the Inspiration Award are as follows:

2006: James Heuser       Because we had to divert upset honeys when he was charting pitches
2001: Dan Johnson         Rested due to inability to play one fine, hung-over afternoon
2000: Freddie Bynum      Committed 29 errors; hit 2 fans
1997: Jerry Thurston       Because we had to convince people he was playing Triple-A
1996:Will Pennyfeather   Knocked a catcher out cold; played ?Count the Fans? with the hawkers

As for how these awards came to be, that story is deserving of its own post…