Baseball Canada | Four Canadians in Major League Baseball Post-season

October 02, 2006

Four Canadians in Major League Baseball Post-season

Four Canadians, including three former Baseball Canada national team members, have extended their seasons into the Major League Baseball Playoffs.

First baseman Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.), catcher Russell Martin (Chelsea, Qué.), right-hander Jesse Crain (Toronto, Ont.) and right-hander Rich Harden (Victoria, B.C.) will all try to help their teams to a World Series title when the playoffs begin tomorrow.

A four-time national team member, Morneau is considered one of the front-runners for the American League MVP award after a career year in which he led the Minnesota Twins to the American League Central division championship by batting .321 with 34 homeruns and 130 RBI. The 25-year-old has represented Baseball Canada at the 2006 World Baseball Classic, the 2003 Olympic Qualifier, the 2001 World Cup and was also a member of the 1999 National Junior Team.

Morneau’s team-mate in Minnesota, Jesse Crain, who made his first appearance on a Canadian national team at the 2006 World Baseball Classic will bolster the Twins’ bullpen as they hope to move on to the American League Championship Series. Now in his third season in the Major Leagues, Crain pitched in 68 games in 2006, posting a 4-5 record with 1 save and a 3.52 ERA.

Rookie Russell Martin burst onto the scene this season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After an outstanding spring training, Martin was called up to join the Dodgers on May 5^th and quickly took over as the team’s No. 1 catcher. In addition to being rock solid behind the plate, Martin hit .282 with 10 homeruns, 26 doubles and 65 RBI in 121 games. After starting the season 12-17 for last place in the National League West, the Dodgers went 76-57 after Martin’s arrival to capture the National League Wild Card title. Martin has most recently represented Canada at the 2005 Regional Olympic Qualifier and the 2003 Olympic Qualifier. He also donned the red and white for the National Junior Team in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

After spending most of the season on the disabled list with a strained elbow ligament, Rich Harden is healthy again just in time to help the streaking Oakland Athletics in the post-season. The A’s starter is 4-0 with a 3.35 ERA this season and 46 strikeouts in 43.0 innings pitched.

St. Louis Cardinals coach Dave McKay (Vancouver, B.C.) will also add to the Canadian content in the MLB playoffs.

MLB PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

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