(1)
Whether it turns out to be Justin Morneau or Jason Bay, Ryan Dempster or Russell Martin, isn't necessarily the point.
In the bigger picture, given the number of individuals starring in the majors these days, Canada could have a helluva team for the next World Baseball Classic.
The tournament, scheduled for next March, is starting to appear on the radar screen and will take on a greater presence locally once the Buffalo Bills and their sideshow have moved along after their game against Miami Dec. 7.
Toronto, playing out of the old SkyDome, joins Tokyo, Mexico City and San Juan, Puerto Rico, in holding first-round games. Already nearly 7,000 strips of tickets – available before January in six-game packages – have been sold for the March 7-11 mini-tournament. Canada will face the U.S., Venezuela and Italy in the double-knockout competition, with the top two teams advancing to the second round in Florida.
The obvious attraction locally is Canada-U.S., with Morneau, Martin, Joey Votto et al taking on Derek Jeter, Ryan Howard, A-Rod and the gang, even though teams have yet to be named and details are incomplete as to who will be attending.
Players coming off surgery probably won't be allowed to participate, and there likely will be a limit on how many players a team can lose.
For instance, the Cubs don't want to lose Dempster and Rich Harden (Canada) and Victor Zambrano (Venezuela), three-fifths of their rotation, while attempting to proceed with spring training.
Factor in pitch counts and spring rustiness and it's not an ideal situation. But it's the best baseball can do for a world event, and with the quality of Canada's team – which beat the U.S. in the 2006 inaugural – it might be some fun.
As for the O'Neill award, fans can vote through the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame at St. Marys. Start at their website – www.baseballhalloffame.ca – and go from there.
ONLY A HALF CENTURY? Not that this matters vis a vis Brian Burke joining the Maple Leafs, but it was 50 years ago today George (Punch) Imlach was named coach of the team he would guide to four Stanley Cups within a decade.
NOT REALLY A HALF MILE: The gremlins struck in yesterday's mention of the Breeders Crown finals at The Meadowlands. They go for a half-mil' – as in $500,000 purses each race – and not, obviously, a half-mile.
ON THE CORNER: This could set a trend for the Jim Proudfoot Corner of the Star's Santa Claus Fund: Steve Plumley of Etobicoke offers $41 to help kids at Christmas and calls it a buck for every year the Leafs haven't won the Stanley Cup.
Think of the coming riches.
Let's have a $50 paragraph, starting with John Seymour of Bobcaygeon, Bev and Ray Giacomini of Newmarket, Ross Sendell of Etobicoke and Lorne Flynn of Mississauga, in memory of his dad Gerard. More 50s arrive from Daki Proudfoot, in honour of his uncle, and Madelaine and Bill Bowyer, in memory of great grandchild Maddie. Toronto's Susan Shiomi helps out in memory of Mr. and Mrs. K. Shiomi and another half-yard shows from Geoff, Greg and Drew. Barrie's Norm Thomas adds $50 in memory of long-time CBC employee Bob Thomas and Howard Berger, who does such a thorough job covering the Leafs for FAN radio, hands over $70 in tribute to his friend Chester, whom he remembers, correctly, as the finest dinner companion anyone could ask for.
