Happy Canada Day!

This is a repost from last year, but with a few additions...

Happy Canada Day!



This is a list of Canadian Rattlers with the years played and their hometowns:

Kris Dabrowiecki (2009) - Toronto, Ontario

Chris Dennis (2009) - Amherstburg, Ontario

Taylor Green (2009) - Courtenay, British Columbia

Brock Kjeldgaard (2009) - London, Ontario

Brett Lawrie (2009) - Langley, British Columbia

Eric Periard (2000) - St. Eustache, Quebec

Phillippe Aumont (2008) – Gatineau, Quebec

Michael Saunders (2006) – Victoria, British Columbia

Sebastien Boucher (2005) – Hull, Quebec

Jon Lockwood (2005) – Toronto, Ontario

Hyung Cho (2004) – Toronto, Ontario

Tanner Watson (2002, 2003) Arnprior, Ontario

Lanny Patten (2002) – Drayton Valley, Alberta

John Cole (2002) – Kanata, Ontario

Chris Mears (1999) – Victoria, British Columbia

Jordan Zimmerman (1997) – Kelowna, British Columbia

Derek Bieniasz (1995, 1998) – Toronto, Ontario

A few pictures of the 2007 post-season trip through Canada with Cal Ripken, Sr.

Parliment

Terry Fox statue

The view into Hull.

Outside RCMP HQ

Wendy's AND Tim Horton's!!

Just over the border

Corner Gas clip with special guest.

USA 6, Canada 5

The ESPN Report....Watch and listen for something I am going to call Yankees on the Brain Syndrome at the World Wide Leader.



Oh, and it's pronounced Puts.

Box score:

Ex-Rattlers for USA:
Matt Thornton ('98, '99, '00): IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, K
JJ Putz ('00): IP, 2H, R, Save

Ex-Rattler for Canada:
Phillippe Aumont ('08): IP, 2H, BB, 0R, 2K

I am looking at TSN.CA for some video of Aumont pitching into and out of trouble in the bottom of the seventh, but apparently their videos do not want to work in the US today.

And since Gameday won't allow a cut and paste here is a transcription of Aumont's inning:

• Dustin Pedroia doubles to right
  
• Jimmy Rollins singles to third. Pedroia stays at second
• With Chipper Jones batting, Aumont throws a wild pitch. Rollins to second. Pedroia to third
• Jones walks. Bases loaded. No outs.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• David Wright Lines out to short. Bases Loaded. One out.
  
• Kevin Youkilis strikes out swinging. Bases Loaded. Two out.
  
• Curtis Granderson strikes out swinging. Three out. Zero Runs.
• Aumont yells in triumph and pumps fist!
• Judges give Aumont 9.5 out of a possible 10 points for fist pump!
  

Those last two bullet points may not be on the original gameday entry.

When there is a list like this....

you don't ask. You just post The 100 Most Influential Canadians in Baseball in 2008 from the Toronto Sun. Along with an appropriate picture and pullouts of various names.



Don't have to go too far to fins an Appleton Baseball Hall of Famer

3. Pat Gillick, senior adviser, Philadelphia Phillies.

As GM, he guided the Phillies to the 2008 World Series — his third. He became a Canadian citizen in November of 2005 after living in Toronto since 1976 and has always supported Canadian baseball. He led the Jays, Orioles, Mariners and the Phillies to post-season play 11 times in his final 20 seasons. He added Jamie Moyer, Brad Lidge, J.C. Romero, Joe Blanton, Matt Stairs, Jayson Werth, Greg Dobbs, Scott Eyre, J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin, who were all small pieces to complete the puzzle.

Then, there's a familiar faces at #7:

7. Doug Melvin, GM, Milwaukee Brewers.

For a guy who used to throw indoors alongside future Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins, and never pitched in the majors he has done okay. The Chatham, Ont. native has seen his Brewers go from 56 wins in 2002 to 68, 67, 81, 75, 83 and 90 and a NL wild-card berth. Melvin had his contract extended by three years in October.

#9 is someone we hope to see in Appleton at some point in the next few months.

9. Brett Lawrie, catcher, Milwaukee Brewers.

Ten months before the 2008 draft the Langley, B.C. product struggled with a move from third to behind the plate. How did he adjust? He was selected in the first round — 16th overall — by then Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik, the highest ever for a Canadian high school position player. Youngsters trying to decide between baseball and other sports should take note of Brett and his $1.7 million US signing bonus.

Another person who may be visiting Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium this season is at #27.

27. Gord Ash, assistant GM, Brewers.

He is Melvin’s right-hand man with the Brewers, handling contract talks. The Toronto native has helped make the Brewers Canada’s team when it comes to the June draft: no less than nine Canadians are active in their system. Also part owner of the Milwaukee Admirals hockey team.

A Rattler from '08 is down at #65.

65. Phillippe Aumont, Mariners.

When MLB rated its top 50 Prospects for 2009, the Gatineau, Que. right-hander was 33rd. Aumont was at the Futures Games at Yankee Stadium but did not pitch due to an elbow ailment. The 6-foot-7 stud is a giant to Quebec players.

You're going to have to click the link to find out where Midwest League alums like Justin Mourneau, Jason Bay, and Joey Votto rate on that list.