Notes From The Nat

C’s fans that came out to The Nat in season ‘04 will remember fondly the name of Mike McGirr [seen left], who lit up the Northwest League with a season that ended with a 5-0, 0.66 record after 7 starts. 

McGirr, an 8th round draftee for the Oakland A’s from 2003, was enjoying his second spell with the Vancouver Canadians organization, having pitched decently but not outstandingly a year earlier (5-4, 4.66), but during that ‘04 season, as he chewed up hitters and won game after game, it looked like his time had come. As he moved up to Kane County, it looked for all intents and purposes as if he was headed up the ladder in leaps and bounds.

And then, like Keyser Soze… [poof!] He was gone.

Rumour had it that McGirr had an epiphany at the end of his second season, and decided that he had a better chance of making a considerable amount of money with his business degree than he did throwing fastballs.

Personally, I thought the kid was loco. But then, I’d curbstomp grandma for the chance to make the Majors.

Well, it turns out that Mike McGirr wasn’t done with baseball after all. In fact, he’s just beginning his ‘professional sports’ career.

McGrrrrrrrrr is the majority investor and CEO of Real Sports Investments, a company that pays minor leaguers an up-front cash amount (let’s say $50,000), in return for a percentage of their future Major League earnings (let’s say 5%). If the minor leaguer doesn’t make the bigs, they pocket a nice bonus. But if they do, McGirr’s company makes a nice return.

It’s an interesting concept, investing in the future of a real life professional athlete on the rise, but what’s most interesting about the business plan is, McGirr is selling shares of each athlete to folks like you and me, for $20 each.

Co-founder and Cleveland Indians AA minor league sidearm pitcher, Randy Newsom, explained the genesis of the business recently to Baseball Prospectus:

Minor leaguers can make as little as seven or eight thousand dollars ayear. Some have families to take care of, some have to take jobs rightaway once the season is over to pay bills, and many of those that are alittle better off still can?t afford some of the things that could helpthem reach the big leagues, like hiring a nutritionist or going to someof those expensive training institutes. With that in mind, I wanted tocome up with a way that players could use their own upside earningpotential to try to help their financial situation in the present andkind of lock in some of that earning potential, like insurance.

Imentioned this to my friend and former teammate, Brian Pritz, and heput me in contact with another former minor leaguer, our CEO andmajority owner Mike McGirr, who actually wrote a business plan atCornell Business School along these same lines. We started talking,used his business plan as a model, worked some things out, and launchedRSI.

Right now, if you go to http://www.realsportsinvestments.com/, you can buy a share in Newsom, which is reportedly worth 0.0016% of his RSI contract.

If he makes the majors and earns over $1.25m over his career, you’re in profit. If he earns $20m in his life, you’ll increase your stake by 1500%. If he becomes a Barry Zito-like success story, you’ll be able to send the kids to college.

And if he doesn’t make the Majors? Well, it might be worth the $20 just to have the experience of ‘owning’ an athlete.

I’m in. 

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. 

From Sports Illustrated: 

What are all of Oakland’s dollar-conscious disciples to think of theA’s this year? What’s anyone to think? The franchise that made themodern blueprint for winning on a budget has spent the winter tradingaway what few marquee players it had and stocking up on unproven,untested, largely unknown kids. That is nobody’s formula for success.

In fact, if we didn’t know any better, we’d swear that the A’s are … are … rebuilding.

"We weren’t afraid of the word," says David Forst,the team’s assistant general manager. "There’s a negative connotationto it when it’s used by fans, who think they’re going to be watching ateam without any entertainment value. But if you look at it and what itleads to, it’s really exciting.

A likely story. But could it be that this rebuilding process, like just about everything the A’s do, will be less about what everyone else does, and more about thinking outside the box?

The new course of action was charted last October, shortly after theA’s had concluded their worst season since 1998. Beane sat down withForst and others and conducted a top-to-bottom organizational review,Oakland’s first in years. A new strength coach was brought in toexamine why players were having such a huge problem with injuries. TheA’s also hired five new area scouts, adding to a staff that had becomeone of the smallest in the league, and re-sectioned the country to getbetter coverage. They increased their scouting budget in Latin Americaand elsewhere internationally, and have earmarked more money forsigning bonuses.

In case you missed it: "earmarked more money for signing bonuses."

One of the big beefs with the A’s and their drafting philosophy has long been that they don’t pick the guy they want most with their early draft picks - they pick who they can easily afford.

Personally, I’m okay with that. The difference between a $3m 1st rounder and a $1.5m first rounder can often be nothing more than 1-2mph on a fastball, or one less injury in a senior year, or a school that’s in the national spotlight. I see nothing wrong with picks like Swisher, Blanton, Suzuki, Powell, Buck, Robnett, etc etc. For the most part, they do the job well.

But then there’s the Tim Lincecum’s [left] that, once in a while, pop up, destroy the local UBC Thunderbirds for a year or two, and make you think, "hmm… an extra mill in the draft signing budget would be a nice thing about now, so he could be wearing our colours and not steamrolling them…"

More scouts. More bonus money. No more ‘injury-prone’ gambles.

Looks like the C’s don’t just get new jerseys and logo this season… we’re also going to get a new level of talent on the playing field.

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.

All I can say, is wow.  The Canadians are going nowhere but up, and this just proves that statement!

(Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC) - The Vancouver Canadians have ahandful of new fans as Country music sensation Big & Rich alongwith Cowboy Troy came out for the Vancouver Tour stop wearing VancouverCanadians jerseys and game hats.

The Canadians who will be changing their look for the upcomingseason saw 13-thousand Big & Rich fans go wild when Cowboy Troycame out with John Rich wearing Canadians gear and acknowledged the C’sseveral times during their finale which finished with the Troy signingthe shirt and the hat and giving it to lucky fans in the crowd.

The C’s have made great strides in increasing their public profile,but were humbled to see a Grammy award winning Music Group come out andsupport Vancouver’s baseball club.

Thanks to Country music’s BIG & RICH!!!

C’s Media Boss, Rob Fai, is not only a media genius - but a promotional whiz! If this is part of the Andy Dunn effect, we’re certainly getting a great first impression of how his staff will be working!

The worst kept secret in Vancouver baseball has finally been confirmed, as Andy Dunn has put his John Hancock on an employment contract and settled in as the new (public) boss of the Vancouver Canadians.

Of course, this will be his second season at the helm, after he stepped in on a consulting basis last season when the Aileen McManamon experiment was shut down due to a lack of hot dogs, but ownership’s desire to keep their abrupt dismissal of the previous Team President out of the papers (and certain Immigration restrictions) meant Dunn stayed behind the scenes, didn’t put out any press conferences, and quietly lurked in the shadows making sure everything was ticketyboo, on and off the field.

From today’s piece by Lyndon Little in The Sun:

Dunn is already well versed in the running of the club. Introducedto the new owners by marketing guru Mike Veek, Dunn was employed by theclub as a consultant last summer. With the departure of McManamon, hetook on many of the de facto duties of a club president, but had tomaintain a low profile in order not to violate the terms of theconditional work permit with Immigration Canada.

"I had to becareful what I did," admitted Dunn, who is married with three childrenall under 10 who will join him in Vancouver once the school year isover in Florida.

"But I’m looking forward to being more visible to the public now."

So what comes next?

Firstly, celebration. This is a guy with baseball in his blood, who has run Major League stadium operations and farm systems, for several teams. He’s a guy who has the foresight to see what a success story the C’s could be with a little guidance, he’s a guy who clearly understands what a douchebag Washington Nationals GM Jim Bowden is, and walked away from that outfit with his reputation solid and with several good people walking in his wake, and he’s someone who can shove his fingers into the dirt at second base and tell you if it needs watering.

Of course, he’s going to have a job in front of him to penetrate Vancouver’s terrible sporting press pages with any sort of consistency. Don Taylor doesn’t seem able to say the name "Vancouver Canadians" without shuddering for a second and blurting out "MARKUS NASLUND AND ROBERTO LUONGO!" to make up for it, but if there’s one thing that the Vancouver sporting public looks for more than anything else when deciding where to spend their dollars, it’s competency.

That’s why the Canucks didn’t draw for so many years. It’s why the Grizzlies were run out of town on a rail, and why the Vancouver Voodoo’s short life as a pro roller hockey team is still a running joke to this day. Give the people a solid product, good value for money, and a plan to grow both on and off the field (think Vancouver Giants and Vancouver Whitecaps) and they’ll show up in numbers.

In that respect, the Vancouver Canadians are on really solid ground. Especially now.

Again, from The Sun:

Dunn says he understands the challenges of operating a minor league baseball team in a major league market such as Vancouver.

"Iunderstand that Vancouver is a hockey town," he said. "What we want todo is make our team a premier summer attraction. Long after the scoreis forgotten, people remember the park experience. We want to creatememories. "

"We realize we’re now in somewhat of a uniquesituation," said Kerr’s partner Jeff Mooney, the executive chairman ofA&W Canada. "With the departure of the Ottawa Lynx, we’re now thelast minor league pro baseball team in the country with a major leagueaffiliation. We want to preserve the heritage of pro ball in Vancouverand build on it."

Welcome to the city, and welcome to the team, Andy Dunn. And may I be the first to apologize for the number of times both you and Delany Dunn will have to say "no relation" over the year ahead.

But hey, now that I’ve said all this nice stuff about you… can we have a stadium speed gun? Please? 

Andy Dunn was announced as the Canadians 10th President today, following the resignation of Aileen McManamon back in June.  Dunn has been a ‘consultant’ to the team since July, and controlled the ship per-say.  

The Vancouver Canadians are proud to announce the addition of Andy Dunn to the organization in the role of President.
The announcement came at a press conference at Nat Bailey Stadium where owners Jake Kerr and Jeff Mooney introduced Dunn to the media.

Dunn, 38, has a vast amount of experience at all levels of MLB with his most recent position being Director of Player Development for the Washington Nationals.
Prior to his role within the Nationals organization, Dunn was the Vice President of Ballpark Operations which included the task of turning RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., into a facility ready for Major League Baseball.  Dunn was the Vice President of Florida Operations for the Montreal Expos during their transition to Washington, D.C.

He also worked with the Florida Marlins organization, both as president of Sales and Marketing and Director of Florida Operations and General Manager for the Marlins Class A Brevard County Manatees. 

Dunn was named the Florida State League Executive of the Year in 1999 and 2000.  He was also awarded the Bob Stower Minor League Baseball Award in 2002.
Dunn’s background in baseball gives the Vancouver Canadians an immediate presence across North America as his experience and relationships have earned him the respect of many at all levels of the game.

Andy lives in Vancouver, B.C., and is married to wife Kristi with his three daughters, Hailey (9), Colby (7) and Kennedi (3).

 This making you excited for Opening Day?  A great day for Canadians fans indeed.

Oh and by the way, when I mentioned a few days I guessed Andy Dunn would become the new GM/President, I had no idea he would occupy that position a few days later.  I had no knowledge of who would become the new boss, so don’t go thinking I ruined the surprise for the Canadians to announce - my guess was as good as any of yours.

Player-favourite Clubhouse Attendee Glenn ‘Magic’ Hall, a West Van resident, will be returning to the C’s in 2008 as the ‘Clubbie’.  

Making the players meals, washing the uniforms, watching over the clubhouse etc. are just part of his duties with the Canadians.  Essentially, it’s a 24-hour job and not many people are cut out for the position.  Luckily for the Canadians and their future players, Glenn is.  From the C’s site:

Glenn Hall will be returning for the 2008 season marking his fourth year with the Vancouver Canadians. A die-hard Bruce Springsteen fan, Glenn spends countless hours at Nat Bailey as the ‘Boss’ of all that goes on in the C’s clubhouse. Glenn prepares meals for the team, ensures their uniforms and other personal belongings are ready for each and every home game and is generally every players ‘big brother’ during the season.
Glenn resides in West Vancouver, B.C. during the season.

And, here’s an excerpt from an article The Province did on Glenn Magic back in 2006.

Hall ? dubbed "Glenn Magic" by the C?s ? also does all the cooking. And the grocery shopping. And the cleaning. He has an apartment at Horseshoe Bay, but he?s never there. In winter, Hall works in northern Alberta and B.C. as a cook in work camps for the oil and gas industry. He?s used to being around gangs of hungry men. But working for a sports team ? in particular, a baseball team ? is something he always wanted to do.

"I was always curious about doing this job," says Hall, who found out about the Canadians job on the Internet. "The atmosphere is tremendous," he says. "The baseball knowledge that you?re exposed to and the players at this level are totally appreciative. ? You don?t get the bitterness you might get with some of the older players further along [?] And you get invested in how they do. That?s one thing I wasn?t prepared for. You get emotionally involved in how they?re playing."

The Arizona Diamondbacks made a pair of huge deals Friday, sending closing sensation Jose Valverde to Houston for Chad Qualls, Juan Gutierrez and former playoff hero Chris Burke, while also acquiring Dan Haren and Connor Robertson from Oakland, giving up six prospects.

Yes, the one-game Vancouver Canadian Robertson is on his way out from Oakland after making his MLB debut this season, with the All-Star pitcher Haren.  Oakland picks up pitchers Brett Anderson, Greg Smith, Dana Eveland and positional players Carlos Gonzalez (OF), Aaron Cunningham (OF) and Chris Carter (1B).

After being named Midwest mid-season all-star, LHP Brett Anderson was added to the Baseball America Low Class A All-Star team this off-season, complimenting his combined 11-7 win-loss record from stints in the Midwest League and Visalia of the California League.  He had a 3.07 ERA, as well as striking out over a batter an inning in 23 games as a starter.  The best part?  He turns 20 in early 2008.

If Oakland had acquired LHP Greg Smith last off-season, I’d be ecstatic.  Really, I would.  But now?  It seems like a case of turn-around now, more than prospect for the soon-to-be 24 year old. His Senior Year of University he was 9-0 with a 0.12 ERA, and struck out a Louisiana state record 20 batters in one game.

In his first professional season (all-be-it in short-season), he was named to the Pioneer League All-Star team, in addition to being the league’s pitcher of the year.  He was also named to the Baseball America Rookie All-Star team after that 2005 season.

He moved to the California league in 2006, and was a Post-Season All-Star in that Single-A league, plus he was a High Class A All-Star, per Baseball America.  Why was he so good?  Try going 9-0 with a 1.63 ERA in 13 games, with two comploete game shutouts, allowing just 16 earned runs in 88 innings.  Want the short form?  He was dominant.

This year he was a combined 9-5 with a 3.54 ERA between AA and AAA in the Diamondbacks organization.  He spent this fall in the Winter League with Scottsdale where he went 2-2 to go along with his 2.61 ERA in six appearances.  Still, he’s a good pick-up.

The final pitcher picked up in the trade was Dana Eveland, a 24-year-old currently pitching in the Mexican Winter League.  He stands at 6′1, 240 throwing as a southpaw, where he has a 2.33 ERA for Aguilas de Mexicali, in addition to his 3-1 win-loss-record.  He was 1-0, 1.65 in 9 games (7 started) in the minors this season (between Visalia and Tucson), but when he reached the majors he struggled, allowing 8 earned runs in five innings, despite picking up a win.

The Washington State native is no rookie to the majors, having played 9 times in 2006, going 0-3 with a 8.13 ERA.  He should start the year in Sacramento or Midland.

Moving onto the position players, Carlos Gonzalez is a good person to start with.  Once considered the next top prospect for Arizona, he is an outfielder who has more than a dozen accolades to go with his career.  This off-season in Venezuela, he batted .266 with 11 extra-base hits including two dingers.  In exactly 500 at-bats this season between AA Mobile and AAA Tucson, he had 144 hits, 38 doubles, 3 triples and 17 home-runs.  Maybe not the next Tori Hunter or Ichiro Suzuki, Gonzalez will probably be the next Nick Swisher, to an effect.

1B Chris Carter comes from California, and is what one might describe as a power-hitter.  He was sent from the White Sox to Arizona last week, and is now becoming a member of the A’s organization.  He batted .291 in almost 500 AB’s, sending 25 balls out of the park, and picking up an OPS of over .900.  He was named a Low Class A All-Star this year, and will probably open up 2008 in Stockton or Midland.

The final prospect picked up in the trade is Aaron Cunningham, an outfielder who is 21 and 5′11, 195 pounds.  Between three teams within Arizona’s minor league system this year, he batted .308 with 16 home-runs, 10 triples and 31 doubles, striking out just 89 times.  Cunningham was a teammate of Andre Piper-Jordan at Everett CC, and the Anchorage, Alaska native could be the outfielder of the future.  A well-rounded player, Aaron batted .282 with Scottsdale in the AFL this year, sending two balls out of the park. 

(Nat Bailey Stadium ? Vancouver, B.C.) ? The Vancouver Canadians are proud to announce that Manager Rick Magnante, Pitching Coach Craig Lefferts and Trainer Travis Tims have been assigned to Vancouver (A) for the 2008 Northwest League baseball season.

 Rick Magnante returns for his 3^rd season as Manager of the Canadians compiling a record of 76-75 (.503) guiding Vancouver to 2^ndin the NWL?s Western Division in 2007.  Rick is one win away frombecoming the Canadians Short-Season winningest coach as his 76 wins asManager trail Dennis Rogers 77 (2003-04).  This winter, Rick traveledto Taiwanas Manager of the South African National Team for the 2007 WorldBaseball Championships, and remains active with the South Africanprogram trying to develop their program.  Rick resides in Van Nuys, CA and has been with the Oakland Athletics organizations since 1997 both as a Manager and as a area scout.

Craig Leffertsmakes a triumphant return to Nat Bailey Stadium after missing theentire 2007 season due to health concerns.  Craig?s health is muchimproved and will now focus his efforts on helping Vancouver?spitching staff this coming season.  A major league career that spanned11 seasons, Lefferts pitched in 696 games over his career, placing him87^th all-time in MLB appearances.  ?Lefty? as Craig is knownaround the ballpark also has pitched in two World Series (84-Detroit,88-San Francisco) as well as a career 72-45 record with 101 saves. Craig resides in Arizona; this will be Craig?s 4^th season in Vancouver.

Travis Tims takes over the trainers room for Nate Brooks who this season takes over in Kane County (A).  Tims is a graduate of Western Kentucky University graduating with a B.A. in Sports Medicine.

The release from the Canadians goes on to mention how a hitting coach has not been announced as of today, but the name will be released as soon as it is official.

After talking with Rick Magnante at season’s end, he wanted to come back, and he will after all.  As for Lefferts, this is tremendous news.  After sitting out last season he is back in Vancouver for the 4th time, and of course having him as a coach is motivation enough for the players - considering his baseball past.

Jimmy Escalante is heading to where he was originally going last season, the Arizona A’s where he’ll be their pitching coach.  Fan favourite Benny Winslow - former player and hitting coach - will remain in Kane County after a good start in the Midwest League in 2007.

Just a few days over six months until the Canadians open the season, buy your tickets now!

So the biggest news in baseball, potentially since the Sosa/McGwire homerun record chase (possibly even since the Pete Rose betting scandal) has hit the headlines, and the damage to the game is likely to be massive.

The Mitchell Report, a 20-month investigation on the topic of drugs in baseball, has been released, and the list of names and evidence that it contains is damning.

Read through the report and you’ll find mentions of Roger Clemens, Chuck Knoblauch, Andy Pettitte, Sammy Sosa, David Justice, Paul LoDuca, David Segui, Rondell White, Jason Giambi, Jeremy Giambi, Jose Guillen, Glenallen Hill, Wally Joyner, Lenny Dysktra, Eric Gagne… and that’s maybe 5% of the names. There are copies of checks cashed by suppliers, there are admissions from former players, and a few current ones, there are trainers fessing up to being dealers… it’s disgusting, top to bottom.

Of the Oakland Athletics organization, the following players are named (former Vancouver Canadians listed with year played):

• Randy Velarde (’97)
  
• Jason Giambi
• Miguel Tejada
• Jose Canseco
• FP Santangelo
• Adam Piatt (’99)
  
• Jose Guillen
• Jack Cust
• David Justice
• Cody McKay

Yes, Jack Cust (seen above) - current Oakland DH. His story, according to the report, goes as follows:

Jack Cust is an outfielder who began his major league career with the Arizona
Diamondbacks in 2001.  Since then, he has played for five teams in Major League Baseball, the Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, and Oakland Athletics.

In 2007, he played with Oakland.At the beginning of the 2003 season, Cust and Larry Bigbie were both playing for Baltimore?s class AAA affiliate in Ottawa.  Bigbie?s locker was next to Cust?s.  Cust eventually asked Bigbie if he had ever tried steroids.  Bigbie acknowledged he had, and Cust said that he,too, had tried steroids.  Cust told Bigbie that he had a source who could procure anything he
wanted, but Bigbie informed him he already had a friend who could supply him.

How did Cust respond to the allegations?

In order to provide Cust with information about these allegations and to give him
an opportunity to respond, I asked him to meet with me; he declined.

Damning.

Even more damning, and far more detailed, is the story of 1999 AAA Vancouver Canadians outfielder, Adam Piatt (seen right). His career stalled in a major way, right at the zero hour as he was due to break through, and this may explain why:

Adam Piatt played as an outfielder with two teams in Major League Baseball forportions of four seasons between 2000 and 2003, the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay DevilRays. In 1999, he was the Oakland Athletics? Minor League Player of the Year.

After [Mets trainer and roid supplier Kurt] Radomski?s guilty plea was publicly announced, Piatt?s lawyer contacted us. We later interviewed Piatt, who voluntarily admitted his use of performance enhancingsubstances. He accepted full responsibility for his actions and said that he had learned animportant life lesson as a result. Piatt should be commended for his candor, for his willingnessto admit that he made a mistake, and for accepting responsibility for his actions.

Piatt was called up to Oakland from the minor leagues in 2000. He said that he
knew nothing at that time about steroids or amphetamines. In 2001, Piatt contracted a viralinfection and lost 24 pounds in ten days. This illness affected his strength and caused extreme200stress. He tried to come back to play baseball in August, but he was unsuccessful. Piatt said thathe worked hard during the off-season to be physically prepared for 2002.

During 2002, hestarted considering using human growth hormone. He researched the subject extensively thatyear.Piatt recalled that he learned of Kirk Radomski through F.P. Santangelo.Santangelo and Piatt were teammates on the Oakland Athletics and on Oakland?s minor leagueaffiliate in Sacramento.

Santangelo described Radomski to him as a personal trainer who was
knowledgeable about dietary issues and as a steroids supplier.Before obtaining any substances, Piatt had several conversations with Radomski.They discussed Piatt?s diet and what Piatt should do and take to get in optimal shape for theupcoming year. Radomski recommended that Piatt modify his diet and work on getting in shapebefore he started using human growth hormone. The conversations were all by telephone. Piattnever met Radomski in person.

Piatt believed he initially obtained human growth hormone and either testosteroneor Deca-Durabolin from Radomski. The substances sat unused for a long time, however, before he tried them. He was more concerned with the possible long-term health risks than with theethical issues.

He also thought about the problems he was having in baseball. A friend on theteam told Piatt that he lacked the bat speed he had enjoyed before his illness. Ultimately, Piattbegan using performance enhancing substances during the 2002-03 off-season. Piatt?s typicalregimen was to take one shot of testosterone per week for three to five weeks. He also injectedhimself with human growth hormone every day until he contracted carpal tunnel syndrome. Hetalked to Radomski about this side effect and then decreased the frequency of his use.

Survey drug testing was conducted in Major League Baseball in 2003. Piatt did
not change his regimen because of that testing. He was tested sometime during the summer.

Piatt retired from baseball in 2004 at the age of 28 because he had lost his love for
the game. He believes that he could have played longer. According to Piatt, the time he usedillegal substances was the only time he did not enjoy baseball. He thought he had "compromisedsomething."

Piatt made some payments to Radomski in 2004, but he said that those were tosatisfy old debts for 2003 shipments. He said he had no need for, and did not use, human growthhormone after he retired. Piatt noted that Radomski never encouraged Piatt to use moresubstances after Piatt said he wanted to stop. Radomski provided eight checks from Piatt, withdates ranging from 2002 to 2004, and totaling $11,550.

Used to be a time when talent was enough. Here’s the Randy Velarde story.

Randy Velarde admitted to us, through his lawyer, that he had used performanceenhancing substances he obtained from Greg Anderson. According to his lawyer, if interviewed,Velarde would have told us he received the "cream" and the "clear" from Anderson in atransaction that occurred in a parking lot during spring training in 2003. Velarde was playing forthe Oakland Athletics at the time, was near the end of his career and was attempting to play foranother year to support his family.

There are a whole load of players named in the report, and I’m sure more will be named in the days or weeks ahead, so I’m not sure whether any of the old Anaheim Angels-system Vancouver Canadians are mentioned, but either way, it’s a tough time to be a ball fan.

MLB teams had until yesterday to add players to their 40-man roster, before the players would be available to all the other MLB clubs in the upcoming Rule 5 draft.  Jay Marshall and Ryan Goleski were taken by the A’s last year (and are now out of the system) but a man was lost, and his name is Jared Burton, a member of the 2002 Vancouver Canadians.

Four former Canadians, and one future Athletic, were added to Oakland’s 40-man roster yesterday, keeping them in the system for the next few months.  RHP Jeff Gray, SS Gregorio Petit, C Landon Powell, and OF Richie Robnett were selected to the MLB roster, as was fireballer Henry Rodriguez, who was with Kane County this season.  Oakland now has two spots available on the 40-man roster.

Gray, a 2005 C’s alumnist, has had an excellent season, and is continuing his success in the Arizona Fall League, after spending 2007 with Sacramento in AAA.  Rodriguez is an up-and-coming prospect with the A’s, and his speeds are Bobby Jenks-like.  Petit spent ‘04 with the Red and Blue, and also played in AAA this season.  Powell was injured with the Rivercats, giving him two injuries that have hampered his professional career (he was sidelined a few years ago, missing a full season of ‘ball).  Robnett was a top pick in the 2004 draft (as was Powell) and reported to Vancouver in late July of that same year.

The additions aren’t too surprising, and with Powell being added you know it means he’ll be ready for the 2008 spring training, otherwise why bother?

The A’s also signed three minor-league free agents, including a name most C’s fans will recognize.  Troy Cate, Todd Donovan and Todd Linden are members of Oakland’s system after being signed over the last few days.  

Cate is a LHP who is in the Mexican Winter League as we speak, and played at Nat Bailey in 2002 as a member of the Everett Aquasox.  His time in the Mariners system brought him to Tacoma in 2003, where he pitched in one game picking up the win, but after four years he was stuck in the California League and went over to the St Louis system.  Side note, he was suspended for 15-games a few years ago for using steroids, hopefully that era of his life is over.

In 2006 he put up great numbers in Palm Beach (Single-A) and Springfield (AA, where he had an ERA of 0.57 in 10 games) but he couldn’t keep up that success in 2007, pitching out of Memphis in the PCL and St Louis in the Majors.  In the bigs, he appeared in 14 games with no decisions, and an ERA of 3.38 coming out of the ‘pen.  He started his career as a starter, but was a reliever in ‘07, and from what the stats say he’s one of those set-up men (ala Kiko Calero, Ricardo Rincon).

The mormon who is also a father, told Joe Weiss of Scout.com, that "I always knew I’d make it," in May of 2004 while still a member of the Mariners organization.

Turning 30 years old in August of 2008, Todd Donovan is not your typical outfielder.  He started his career at the age of 20 with Idaho Falls of the Pioneer League 8 years ago, and has progressed to AAA since.  A career .267 hitter, Donovan was picked up by the A’s last week after being let go by the Rangers.  His career has brought him to stops like Ottawa, Akron, Bowie, Las Vegas, Mobile, and Fort Wayne to name a few.  Most recently, he played for Frisco in the Texas League.

He’s played for six different organizations, with Oakland being the 7th, never making it to the show.  He’s had chances, in Spring Training (and two stints in AAA), and with the big boys during the March training, he has a home-run, three doubles and a total of 9 hits in 36 at-bats.  Batting .250 isn’t terrible but for spring training it could be much better.  Let’s hope he shows Oakland what he’s really got, in what may be his final years as a pro ball player.

Todd Linden may not be a house-hold name to baseball fans, but his brother is in Vancouver baseball houses.  Brother of 2007 Canadians colour-man Mark, Todd has been with the other Bay-Area team his whole career, in the minor leagues.  Todd is 27 and a power-hitting outfielder.  He has a total of 85 home-runs in six minor-league seasons, to go along with eight dingers with the San Francisco Giants, after 502 plate appearances. 

He’s been anything but sloppy in the minors, with a career average of .289 but in the big leagues (and this is in a combined five years in the majors) he has batted only .231.  AAA could be the next move for him (once again) and consider this - he started 2002 in AA and hasn’t been back there since that time with Shreveport (a now defunct AA team).  That’s a long time between four clubs (Fresno - San Francisco’s AAA affiliate, San Francisco and the Florida Marlins who picked him up in the 2007 season, along with Albuquerque with whom he spent time with this year).