#Jesse Goldberg-Strassler

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C's Recap - Fraze! Everybody Clap Your Hands! Kirwer's Grand Slam Caps Off Canadians 3rd Straight Victory Over Spokane

C's Recap - Fraze! Everybody Clap Your Hands! Kirwer's Grand Slam Caps Off #VanCanadians 3rd Straight Victory Over Spokane. #MontysMounties #WeAreBlueJays

The Vancouver Canadians have put themselves in position to win their first series of 2021. They won their third in a row over the Spokane Indians with an 8-2 triumph at Ron Tonkin Field Friday. Spokane got to C’s starter Nick Fraze just four pitches in by putting runners at the corners on singles by Eddy Diaz and Hunter Stovall. Fraze got ahead of Brenton Doyle with one ball and two strikes but…

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Minor League Baseball Gives Us The Corgi Races We Need

The world and its problems can seem unknowably vast, and I might as well tell you that there is nothing in this blog post that is going to do much to help make that any easier to comprehend, or bear. But there is some promise, or at least some reason for hope, inherent in the simple largeness of our world. So much of what we can see is blaring black smoke and appears hopelessly and irretrievably aflame. But there is the honest and restorative possibility of things other than that, if only because the world continues out of our eyesight and over the horizon. What we see is not all there is, or all that could be.

Here is an example: while I watched two terrible Major League teams ache their way through a hungover blooperfest of a game on Sunday afternoon, the Midwest League's West Michigan Whitecaps were hosting the first West Michigan Whitecaps Corgi Race Championship at Fifth Third Ballpark before their game against the Lansing Lugnuts. Jesse Goldberg-Strassler, the radio voice of the Lansing Lugnuts, put video proof—that another world is possible, and also that this was really happening—on Twitter that afternoon.

This seemed important on its own, in a number of ways; the mystery of it deepened when Goldberg-Strassler clarified that this was not a one-off, but just one heat in the day's broader attempt "to determine a true Corgi racing champion." If you have watched the video that Goldberg-Strassler shot, you see the challenges inherent in this.

The most obvious of these involves the participants themselves. Corgis are graceful and remarkable creatures, to be sure, but they are distractible and goofy in all the ways a dog should be, and they are, by dint of their natural tendencies toward chunk and floof, not really built for speed. It could also be pointed out that few world-class athletes come so close to having their bellies touch the ground when at rest, or naturally look like they're wearing weird fluffy pantaloons.

But again: you have reviewed the video, and so have noticed that the biggest shortcoming that Corgis have, as racers, is also the thing that makes them among the world's great animals. They're Corgis. One of the participants in the heat above bails on the whole thing about a third of the way through, and another ends it by running in circles for reasons known only to itself. Even the championship race, which came after a series of heats had winnowed the opening field down to a final six, involves one of the racers pulling up well early, presumably because he or she smelled something extremely interesting in foul territory.

Of course, with events like this, the journey is more important than the destination. The winning Corgi, Baymax, is pictured above with the trophy that the Whitecaps commissioned for the event. It's more than two feet tall, which appears to give it a significant edge over Baymax. It was, Whitecaps Promotions Manager Matt Hoffman told me, the most significant expenditure of the day, alongside a $200 gift card to "a doggy boutique in Grand Rapids" which we can only hope Baymax has already blown on upscale chew toys.

The thirstiness of minor league teams is a fact of life, but promotions like Corgi Racing Night exist in a different universe than those promo nights in which teams dress their players up like burritos or Jar-Jar Binks. Hoffman's initial task was finding a new twist on the team's "dog day" and, inspired by his girlfriend's love of Corgis and the obvious merits of the idea—"For the cuteness factor," he told VICE Sports, "it had to be corgis"—he settled on the idea of pregame Corgi races. The team's six-person marketing team mocked up a racetrack and set out to promote the event on social media, where it proved exactly as popular as it should have.

To the victor goes the treats. Image courtesy of West Michigan Whitecaps

"It blew up!" Hoffman said. "I received a phone call from the President of the Michigan Corgi Club and she had questions. She relayed the info to the members of the club and that helped promote." The field expanded to 38 Corgis in all, running in heats of six or seven. The team's expenditures were low. "Regarding a minor league budget, I like to say anything is possible if you're financially smart," Hoffman said. "We only had to purchase snow fence, stakes, and race lanes for the race itself" in addition to the trophy and the gift card. The Corgis and their owners did the rest.

"Being on the field with the corgis and the owners was incredible," Hoffman said. "The Lansing players were in the dugout watching the entire thing and the Whitecaps players were all huddled around watching it as well. The Corgis and the owners were beyond excited." Hoffman says he hopes to have 80 Corgis in the event next year. In this world of limitless possibilities, good and bad, there seems no reason to stop there.

Minor League Baseball Gives Us The Corgi Races We Need published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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C's Recap - 2017 Vancouver Canadians Pitcher Zach Logue Goes to Oakland in Matt Chapman Deal

All the best to 2017 Vancouver Canadians pitcher Zach Logue (@ZLogue_17)who goes to Oakland in the Matt Chapman deal. Logue was drafted by the Jays in the 9th round in 2017 out of Kentucky (@UKBaseball). #VanCanadians #MontysMounties #BlueJays #Jays

A key member of the 2017 Northwest League champion Vancouver Canadians has a new major league home. Lefthander Zach Logue has been traded to the Oakland Athletics by the Toronto Blue Jays for third baseman Matt Chapman. Also going to Oakland are shortstop Kevin Smith, lefthander Kirby Snead and 2021 first-round pick, righthander Gunnar Hoglund. The 25 year-old Logue was a ninth-round pick of…

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C's Chat - Dom Abbadessa

The latest C's Chat @csplusbaseball is with 2019 #VanCanadians outfielder Dom Abbadessa (@AyyDom), the #BlueJays 23rd pick of 2016 out of Huntington Beach HS, CA. #LetsGoCs #MontysMounties #LetsGoBlueJays

Dom Abbadessa is in his fourth year in the Toronto Blue Jays system.

Now up to bat in this episode of C’s Chat is 2019 Vancouver Canadians outfielder Dom Abbadessa.

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Abbadessa out of high school in his hometown of Huntington Beach, California with their 23rd round selection of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft. That was not the only big thing going on…

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C's Alumni Update - Ravel Looking To Dazzle With Lansing

C’s Alumni Update – Ravel Looking To Dazzle With Lansing

Andy Ravel was drafted by Arizona in 2013 but opted to sign with Toronto in 2016.

Rhymes with travel—that’s how you pronounce the last name of Andy Ravel, whose travels have taken him to the Lansing Lugnuts this year. That’s where the 2016 Vancouver Canadians righthander is trying to unravel the mystery of pitching consistently in his first full season of professional baseball.

Ravel…

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C's Alumni Update - Hartman Ready To Fill Bullpen Void In Lansing

C’s Alumni Update – Hartman Ready To Fill Bullpen Void In Lansing

Nick Hartman has appeared in 30 games out of the bullpen so far in his minor league career.

The stage is set for Nick Hartman to take on a bigger role in the Lansing Lugnuts bullpen. The 2016 Vancouver Canadians righthander has seen fellow former 2016 C’s relievers Zach Jackson and Jackson McClellandreceive promotions from Lansing to Dunedin over the weekend. If Hartman’s recent performances…

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C's Chat - Hunter Steinmetz

The latest C's Chat is with 2018 #VanCanadians outfielder and current Lansing Lugnut Hunter Steinmetz (@HSteinmetz7). Jefferson City, MO native drafted in 11th rd of 2018 MLB Draft by #BlueJays from @MissouriStBears. #LetsGoBlueJays

The latest guest to get on base with C’s Chat is 2018 Vancouver Canadians outfielder and current member of the Lansing Lugnuts Hunter Steinmetz.

The 22 year-old Steinmetz made quite a splash in his 2019 debut. He was summoned up to Dunedin from extended spring training May 2 and belted his first professional home run in his season debut at Jackie Robinson Stadium to help the Dunedin Blue Jays…

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C's Recap - C's Tweets May 1-11, 2018

C’s Recap – C’s Tweets May 1-11, 2018

Here’s the latest edition of C’s Tweets about the Vancouver Canadians from players, team officials, broadcasters, bloggers and other persons of interest in the month of May so far. The tweets feature a grab bag of interviews, video highlights, scouting observations and anything else of interest about the players who donned the C’s red, black and white.

Some of the newsworthy events that happened…

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C's Chat - Matt Morgan

C’s Chat – Matt Morgan

Matt Morgan batted .273 in late-and-close situations with Vancouver in 2017.

2017 Vancouver Canadians catcher Matt Morgan is the latest guest to catch everything thrown his way in the latest edition of C’s Chat. The 22 year-old backstop is getting his first extended exposure of full-season baseball with the Lansing Lugnuts in 2018. Morgan was a fourth-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014…

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C's Alumni Update - Blue Jays Say Goodbye To Three Former C's

C’s Alumni Update – Blue Jays Say Goodbye To Three Former C’s

Mattingly Romanin posted on-base percentages of .426 and .378 in his two seasons with Vancouver.

Three players with Vancouver Canadians ties are looking for a new employer. 2016-2017 C’s infielder/outfielder Mattingly Romanin and 2016 outfielder Nick Sinay were released by the Toronto Blue Jays this week while 2013 lefthanded pitcher Matt Dermody was designated for assignment.

The 25 year-old…

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C's Recap - Nate Dominates At The Nat As C's Down Volcanoes

C’s Recap – Nate Dominates At The Nat As C’s Down Volcanoes

Nate Pearson kept his Northwest League ERA at 0.00 with three shutout innings Sunday.

Nate Pearson is going to make Toronto Blue Jays fans get over the loss of slugger Edwin Encarnacion if he continues to pitch the way he did Sunday afternoon. Pearson was the compensation draft pick the Jays received when Encarnacion signed with Cleveland and the 28th overall pick in the 2017 draft may have…

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Warmoth, Pearson & Adams Make MLB.com Top 30 Blue Jays Prospect List

2017 #VanCanadians Warmoth, Pearson & Adams on MLB.com #BlueJays Top 30 prospects list. #Jays

C’s shortstop Logan Warmoth is rated as one of the top propsects in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system.

Three members of the 2017 Vancouver Canadians and 15 others with C’s ties have made MLB.com‘s Top 30 Toronto Blue Jays prospect list.

The two first-round picks made by Toronto in the 2017 made the Top 10 list with shortstop Logan Warmoth ranking fourth and right-handed pitcher Nate Pearsonplac…

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C's Recap - Vancouver Victorious In Volcanoes Land

C’s Recap – Vancouver Victorious In Volcanoes Land

Matt Morgan homered, drove in two runs and caught two runners stealing Thursday.

The Vancouver Canadians got back in the win column for the first time in six days as they began an eight-game road trip with an 8-3victory over the Salem Keizer Volcanoes at Volcanoes Stadium Thursday night. The victory guarantees the C’s of at least a .500 finish in the first half as they improved to 19-16. They…

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C's Alumni Update - Will Power Beginning To Show For Williams

C’s Alumni Update – Will Power Beginning To Show For Williams

Christian Williams is spending his first year in full-season ball with Lansing after short-season stints with Bluefield and Vancouver.

Conventional baseball wisdom suggests that hitting for power is the last tool to develop and 2016 Vancouver Canadians first baseman Christian Williams hopes it will happen for him sooner rather than later. Baseball Americanamed the Gulf Coast Community College…

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C's Alumni Update - Denis Diaz Looking For Buenos Dias With The Lugnuts

Story on 2016 #VanCanadians RHP Denis Diaz. Honduras native with Lansing #Lugnuts. #BlueJays.

Righthander Denis Diaz is currently in Lansing for his first year of full-season ball.

Denis Diazremains a work in progress in his fifth season with the Toronto Blue Jays organization but the team still believes in his right arm. Despite a career record of 12-14 and an earned run average just over five, the Jays still believe there’s untapped potential in the native of Tegucigalpa, Honduras,…

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C's Alumni Update - Glaude Handing/Handling The Midwest League

Story on 2016 #VanCanadians RHP Griffin Glaude, now with Lansing #Lugnuts. #BlueJays #Jays

Griffin Glaude has 10 saves over his 50 professional appearances.

Griffin Glaude has had to show the heart of a lion and a lot of fight to get to where he is today in baseball. Those traits are only fitting considering he pitched for the Lyon College Fighting Scots in the American Midwest Conference.

Glaude was passed over in the 2015 draft but the Toronto Blue Jays signed the righthander to a…