Tuesday, October 7, 2003
Canada seeks Olympic bid
By BOB ELLIOTT
For SLAM! Canadian Baseball
Ernie Whitt says he thinks of himself as an honorary Canadian.
Heck, for a fortnight in August 1999 he could have run for office. Mayor of Winnipeg or prime minister of Canada? His call.
Whitt managed a plucky band of Canadians, who captured the country's attention at the Pan Am Games that year with wins over the U.S. and Cuba and a bronze medal.
A minor-league instructor with the Blue Jays, Whitt will run Team Canada when it gathers in Phoenix on Oct. 17 to prepare for the Americas Olympic qualification tourney, which begins Oct. 27 in Panama.
The top two teams gain entrance to the 2004 Athens Olympics. How the Americas get two entries and Europe gets three -- powerhouses from Italy and The Netherlands, plus the host Greek team -- is a subject for another Olympic Moment day.
"It's a difficult task no question," Whitt said from Dunedin, Fla. "Anything can happen in a short series, we proved we can play with Cuba and Team USA in Winnipeg."
The ground rules have changed. In Winnipeg, only minor-leaguers not on 40-man rosters were eligible. This time everyone not on a 25-man roster, as of Aug. 31, can play.
"We're as good if not better than in 1999," Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada director of national teams, said. "Our lineup compares favourably to 1999 and our pitching is better."
The rule change means Canada will have three players with major-league service time this season: Detroit Tigers right-hander Chris Mears, born in Ottawa and a Leaside grad before moving to Victoria, B.C.; Gatineau's Pete LaForest of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays; and Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau of New Westminster, B.C.
"The fact those three have been made accessible to our program and are passionate about playing, is a key," Hamilton said.
Besides, Canada and Panama, the 13-team qualifier includes: Aruba, The Bahamas, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba and the U.S.
"The thing that helped in Winnipeg is that players played with so much passion, it was such a great thing to watch," Whitt said. "My approach will be the same as in Winnipeg: You are representing your country, it's an honour, play hard and don't make mental mistakes."
Back from the 1999 are Stubby Clapp, Matt Logan, Todd Betts, Ryan Radmanovich and Mike Myers.
How bad do people want to play for Canada? Well, former Jays outfielder Rob Ducey had knee surgery to play in the World Cup qualifier in August at Windsor. Ducey, who retired in 2002, knocked in the winning run in the opener of the best-of-three series as Canada scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to beat Puerto Rico.
Ducey will be in Panama. So will former major-leaguers Rob Butler, Kevin Nicholson, Jason Dickson and Mike Johnson, who is coming home from Korea where he was 8-0.
Hamilton was unable to obtain Adam Loewen and Erik Bedard (Baltimore Orioles), Jeff Francis (Colorado Rockies), Vince Perkins (Jays), and Chris Begg (San Francisco Giants) since all reached their pitch limit this summer.
Canada will play the U.S. twice and hopes to schedule three games with Arizona Fall League teams.
Hamilton landed Whitt with a lucrative offer: Meal money and the chance to manage Canada again.
"Managers and coaches don't get medals," Whitt said. "One player didn't make the Pan Ams. Players voted that I should get that medal and it sits very proudly on my TV."
At the Baseball Canada convention in Windsor in 2000, Whitt was presented with a special achievement award and told Hamilton, "If you ever need me ..."
The roster for the Olympic qualifier is almost finalized. Hamilton needs another catcher and will take a pitcher from Canada's entry in the World Cup tourney in Havana, Oct. 13-25.
Organizational pros are not eligible, so rosters are made up of former pros, independent-leaguers and collegians.
Paul Spoljaric pitched a masterful 6-0 shutout over Puerto Rico enabling Canada to qualify. Spoljaric declined an invitation for this tournament.
Area players on the World Cup team are East York's Rob and Rich Butler, Brantford's Jess Bechard, Tillsonburg's Chad Ricketts and Hamilton's Sean Jones.
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TEAM CANADA'S 2003 ROSTER
PITCHERS
LHP Phil Devey Lachute, Que. (1-0 won-loss record, 5.06 earned run average, 1 save) Double-A Chattanooga, Reds; (0-2, 9.82) Triple-A Las Vegas; Dodgers; (3-2, 5.77) Long Island-IND.
RHP Jason Dickson Chatham, N.B. Somerset Independent 10-5 3.73
RHP Brett Gray Wyoming, Ont. (5-3, 3.94, 1 save) Double-A Chattanooga; (1-0, 0.96) Single-A Potomac; Reds.
LHP Mike Kusiewicz Nepean, Ont., (3-1, 4.13) Triple-A Sacramento; (0-1, 4.30, 1 save) Double-A Midland; A's.
RHP Shawn Hill Georgetown, Ont., (3-1, 3.54) Double-A Harrisburg; (9-4, 2.56) Single-A Brevard; Expos.
RHP Mike Johnson Sherwood Pk., Alta. (4-3, 3.72, 1 save) Triple-A Fresno; Giants (8-0, 2.80) Korea.
RHP Chris Mears Victoria, B.C. (0-3, 5.87, 5 saves) Detroit Tigers; (5-1, 2.78, 2 saves) Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.
RP Mike Myers Tillsonburg, Ont., (5-2, 5.53) Triple-Iowa; Cubs.
RP John Ogiltree Mississauga, Ont., (3-3, 3.83, 2 saves) Double-A New Haven; Jays.
HITTERS
C Pete LaForest Gatineau, Que., (.178 average, 0 homers, 6 RBIs) Tampa Bay Devil Rays; (.269, 14, 38) Triple-A Durham; (.250, 3, 15) Double-A Orlando.
3B Todd Betts Scarborough, Ont., (.287, 14, 51) Yakult Swallows, Japan.
2B Stubby Clapp Windsor, Ont., (.217, 3, 23) Triple-A Richmond; Braves.
IF Hyung Cho Scarborough, Ont., (.360, 14, 66) University of Houston; Mariners.
1B Matt Logan Brampton, Ont., Brampton, (.268, 3, 36) Double-A New Haven; Jays.
1B Justin Morneau New Westminster, B.C., New Westminster, BC (.231, 3, 14) Minnesota Twins; (.268, 16, 42) Triple-A Rochester; (.329, 6, 13) Double-A New Britain.
SS Kevin Nicholson Surrey, B.C., (.294, 7, 45) Double-A Altoona; Pirates.
1B Scott Thorman Cambridge, Ont., (.243, 12, 56) Single-A Myrtle Beach; Braves.
OF Rob Butler East York, Ont., (.376, 8, 21) Toronto Maple Leafs, Inter-County.
OF Rob Ducey Cambridge Did not play
OF Jeff Guiel Langley, B.C., (.240, 13, 48) triple-A Salt Lake, Angels.
OF Ryan Radmanovich Calgary, Alta. (.277, 18, 58) Somerset-IND; (.301, 2, 20) Monterrey Sultanes, Mexico.
OF Jeremy Ware Orangeville, Ont., Double-A Harrisburg; (.300, 1, 1) Triple-A Edmonton; Expos.
(IND denotes Independent league teams)
