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| Olympic baseball | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 2 2008, 12:44 PM (592 Views) | |
| hobbes | Aug 2 2008, 12:44 PM Post #1 |
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It's the final Olympic baseball tournament. Here's the week that was in my little world in Moose Jaw, Sask. So in 2001 there's a kid from B.C. named Scott Richmond. He's a big right-handed pitcher who's going to tiny Douglas College, playing a little baseball and working on the docks in Vancouver scraping barnacles off of boats. In the summer he played for the Moose Jaw Miller Express in a wood bat summer league with mostly U.S. & Cdn college kids. Pretty small time stuff, but not terrible basbeall. In MJ Richmond is over-shadowed by another kid from B.C. - a 6-5 pitcher named Jason Blackey who is just dominating. Blackey is currently playing 'A' ball in the Red Sox org. At the same time there's a HS kid named James Avery who looks to be the local prospect in awhile (though we've had players make the show before). The summer league team wouldn't call up a HS kid, but he looks like he might be ready for that level. He too is a right-handed pitcher . . . Richmond ended up taking a scholarship to NAIA school Missouri Valley College at 21. He signed an independant contract and as of last year was playing independant ball with the Edmonton Cracker Cats in the Northern League. Avery made the national junior team. He got a scholarship to NCAA Div I Niagara and was drafted in the fifth round in the MLB draft. It's the second time he's been drafted and this time he signed with the Cincinnati Reds. He's in his second season in AA Chatanooga. Last summer Avery got the win in Canada's clinching game to qualify for the Olympics. Richmond signed with the Blue Jay and rose to AAA Syrcause. When the Olympic team was named Richmond was on it and Avery wasn't. Then Wednesday they introduced the Olympic team to the media in Toronto. Except the Blue Jays decided they were going to give Richmond his first MLB start. After a solid MLB debut at 28, he'll start again next week too. But he can't go to Beijing now because he's on an MLB roster. So James Avery is taking his place in the lineup. cheers, hobbes |
| Saskatchewan for the CPL: multis e gentibus vires | |
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| Sergio | Aug 3 2008, 11:10 PM Post #2 |
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Interesting story, one door closes, another one opens for Richmond. So what is the Olympic baseball eligibility? No major leaguers while minor leaguers are eligible or is it no major league team would release their players for duty? If Cuba uses the team which played in the World Baseball Classic you'd have to rate them the favorites. It is too bad baseball is getting removed from the Olympics. I don't understand why as it is a sport played in many countries around the world and is big in the United States and Japan, the home countries of the majority of the Olympic corporate sponsors. |
| "You left as a champion, you will always be in our hearts. Rest in Peace Christian Benítez." | |
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| hobbes | Aug 4 2008, 03:26 PM Post #3 |
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I've got to think Cuba and Japan are the favourites, with the U.S. there with them. The basic rule of eligibility for Canadians is that as long as they’re not on an MLB roster we can use them. I assume this is because MLB teams will let a ‘AAA’ guy go, but won’t release a roster player. Justin Morneau got called up by the Twins mere days before the Athens Olympics started. We might have had a medal if we could have kept him another two weeks. Is the U.S. team still all collegians or do they take minor leaguers? I agree it’s too bad baseball is leaving the Olympics, but hopefully it will help keep the World Baseball Classic going. cheers, hobbes |
| Saskatchewan for the CPL: multis e gentibus vires | |
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| Gunners | Aug 5 2008, 07:15 AM Post #4 |
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The U.S. takes minor leaguers, but some of the best minor leaguers are prevented from going by their MLB clubs. I'm certainly not an expert, but I've read that the U.S. Olympic team isn't particularly strong. With the Cubans and Japanese sending pros, Gold is probably a step too far for the U.S. Bronze would be a reasonable goal. |
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| hobbes | Aug 11 2008, 07:12 PM Post #5 |
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I think the U.S. will get to the semis and after that it’s pretty wide open. I’d bet on a Cuba-Japan final, but who knows. Got a call from China, young Mr. Avery is getting the start against the U.S. Friday night 10:30 p.m. ET start. Prime time, Friday night, major sport, biggest rival — may be one of the most glamourous events of the Canada’s Olympics. I’m looking forward to it. cheers, hobbes |
| Saskatchewan for the CPL: multis e gentibus vires | |
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| alabastergremlin | Aug 11 2008, 07:51 PM Post #6 |
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I think it is a shame they are removing baseball from the games. Even more so when I see a list of some of the "sporting" events that continue to be played. Maybe I'm under estimating the popularity of certain sports elsewhere, but there are more than a couple of "events" that I think should have gone before baseball. |
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| Yogi | Aug 12 2008, 05:31 AM Post #7 |
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What you have something against dressage and synchronised swimming? :lol: I found it bizarre too that both abseball and softball, two sports played in many nations and with a large following are being dropped while more and more of these so called "X Games" sports get added. |
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