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It’s a long weekend, Athletics Nation!
While the majority of the AN faithful will be celebrating Independence Day come Monday, my long weekend started yesterday with Canada Day. As the rare Canadian A’s fan, I want to take the opportunity to highlight a few past Athletics who hail from up here in the Great White North. While there are currently no Canucks on the A’s roster, a few of the green and gold over the years have come from provinces across Canada. So throw on The Hip, and let’s take a quick tour.
Starting at the west coast, way down on Vancouver Island, we have Victoria, British Columbia native Rich Harden. Over seven seasons with the A’s (2003-2008, 2011) Harden went from a promising arm in his early years to being injury-plagued by the time he was traded to the Cubs in 2008. Rich was known for a high strikeout rate, never having a season with a K/9 lower than 7.9, and before departing to the Cubs he pitched the third and still most recent immaculate inning in A’s history.
Hopping onto the mainland, and into the suburbs of Vancouver, is Brett Lawrie. Hailing from Langley, BC, Lawrie only had a single season with the Athletics before getting moved along to the White Sox. Lawrie’s presence on the A’s came in a year of many frustrations for fans, not too far off from this season. As an extra coincidence, Harden and Lawrie are connected by the same trade tree, as Harden was dealt for prospects including Josh Donaldson, and then Donaldson was later sent away (to Canada!) for a package including Lawrie.
As we shoot eastward to Ontario, I do want to shout out my current home, Edmonton, Alberta. Home of the 1995-98 Edmonton Trappers, the then Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics and my city’s last taste of affiliated ball. Jason Giambi, Eric Chavez, and Miguel Tejada all played way up north in Edmonton before making it to the A’s.
Our next stop is southern Ontario. Just outside of Hamilton sits the town of Simcoe, home of John Axford. You may remember him from a pair of seasons with the A’s a half-decade ago. Axford signed as a free agent in 2016 and finished that year with the second-most innings thrown from the A’s bullpen and a just barely sub-4.00 ERA. The 2017 season didn’t fare as well for Axford, and after a 2018 with the Jays he was gone from MLB ... until a single appearance for the Brewers last year where Axford was injured after five batters faced and only one out.
Moving slightly northeast to the Greater Toronto Area, we’ll take a quick look at a Scarborough, ON, native who only spent half a season with the A’s. George Kottaras was traded to the Athletics in late July 2012, serving as a backup catcher in a surprisingly successful postseason push, and he offered 19 RBI on nine extra base hits over 27 games. Kottaras went on to get claimed by the Royals off waivers in 2013.
Finally, we make our last stop in the maritimes, at Saint John, New Brunswick. A province that’s still home to a Professional Hitter. Matt Stairs is the last Canadian member of the A’s we will highlight today. A member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, Stairs’ time with Oakland was his longest tenure for any one team during his journeyman career. Worth 7.4 bWAR over five seasons as an Athletic, Stairs nailed 122 homers with a 125 OPS+, and on defense he collected 35 outfield assists using his strong throwing arm. After leaving the A’s in a trade to the Cubs, Stairs would end up playing for 13 different teams total, a position player record. While nearly half the league had a chance to cheer for Stairs, he had his best years playing in Oakland.
A’s Coverage
- Ashford: Game #79: A’s snap skid, beat Mariners 3-1
- He: Kaprielian finding consistency, finally gets in win column
- Kawahara: James Kaprielian earns first win of 2022 for A’s, beats Mariners with six strong innings ($)
- Crowley: A’s Ramon Laureano heating up at the right time for a potential trade
- Kawahara: Rookie reliever Zach Jackson adjusting to MLB’s more selective hitters with A’s ($)
- Gallegos: Martinez appreciates chance to stick on A’s staff
- Saraiva: Oakland A’s Win Key Approval for Waterfront Stadium at Port Site
- Pratt: A Comprehensive Howard Terminal Chat with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf (video)
- Franco: Khris Davis Signs With Atlantic League’s Kentucky Wild Health Genomes
MLB News & Interest
- Schoenfield: All-Star voting: Aaron Judge, Ronald Acuna Jr. earn starts as finalists named
- Stark: MLB’s action-packed June: 10 things we learned, from trade deadline rumblings to disappearing sac bunts ($)
- Mintz: Max Scherzer takes generosity to the max with Double-A teammates
- Mullen: What is Bobby Bonilla Day? Explaining why the former Met gets paid $1.19M every July 1
- Davidi: Blue Jays relish Canada Day homecoming three years in the making
- Adams: Yankees Exploring Market For Outfield Upgrades
- Creamer: San Diego Padres Unveil New, “Vibrant” City Connect
- Today in Baseball History
Best of Twitter
We haven’t seen the last of Adrián Martínez with the A’s
Mark Kotsay said he expects Adrián Martínez to get another start, which would come back home against the Blue Jays next week.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) July 2, 2022
July 1 isn’t just Canada Day and Bobby Bonilla Day anymore
Bobby Bonilla isn’t the happiest Mets player today.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) July 1, 2022
Max Scherzer is.
Although he pitched 5 1/2 seasons with the Nationals, his salary was deferred.
Today, he gets wired his first of SEVEN $15 million payments
The Mets are paying Scherzer an AVERAGE of $43.3M for 3 seasons. pic.twitter.com/WeKLyZcFSK
A little insight from Chad Pinder on his prep strategy
Chad Pinder explains how his preparation is different now that he’s an everyday player
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) July 2, 2022
A’s Postgame Live is airing RIGHT NOW on NBC Sports California and streaming here: https://t.co/rZdObRWszo pic.twitter.com/UAnrsxDBFC
Is the bullpen appointed or elected? I can’t remember.
The three branches of government pic.twitter.com/UIAHLstNj2
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) June 30, 2022
Cy Young candidate Brett Phillips was back on the mound yesterday
Brett Phillips: Fielding Position...on a Warm Up Pitch. pic.twitter.com/FtdvfUh78J
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 1, 2022
Finally, my chance to join the roster
baseball should have a tenth position on the field called the team historian. his job is to just know interesting facts about the team. he can stand anywhere and doesn’t have to field, but he’s allowed to bring food and drinks with him and is paid far more than the other players
— Jon Bois (@jon_bois) July 1, 2022
See any familiar names on this timeline?
In celebration of Canada Day, here is a progressive timeline of the All-Time Position Player WAR Leaders who were born in Canada!
— Greg Harvey (@BetweenTheNums) July 1, 2022
Some players featured include @JoeyVotto & @Cdnmooselips33 ‼️
Pitcher one coming soon @baseballcanada @TwitterCanada @sabr @CDNBaseballNet pic.twitter.com/ln4Fvvko6l
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