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|  Wys³any: 2019-09-12 04:44:53 Temat postu: es to let him hit the market. "Id like to keep playing,
Just a week or so ago was the 10th anniversary of the final game the Expos played in Montreal. There are many reasons the team wound up leaving town for Washington, starting with the strike/lockout of 1994 when the Expos had the best record in the Majors only to see the season shut down in mid-August and the World Series cancelled. You can throw in lack of post-season appearances (one) and a relatively fan unfriendly stadium in the wrong part of town and an ownership at the end that wasnt committed or couldnt afford to keep a very good team together. But I discovered something over the weekend that might have profoundly changed the history, and ultimately the future, of the Expos franchise: the 1971 draft. In 1971, the Chicago White Sox lead off the draft by selecting catcher Danny Goodwin, who never really panned out at the Big League level. The Expos, picking fourth overall, chose a short stop out of Tennessee by the name of Condredge Holloway. Condredge was not only an outstanding baseball player, a sport he actually preferred, but also an excellent quarterback. His parents were committed to seeing him get an education and his mother refused to sign his contract with the Expos. Condredge went on to play baseball and football at the University of Tennessee, where he excelled at both sports. He was actually the first African American to play quarterback in the Southeast Conference. Holloway ultimately chose football for his pro career and after being drafted by New England as a defencive back, opted for the CFL and landed in Ottawa. Later on, he was named Most Outstanding Player in the CFL with the Argos in 1982 and along with Joe Barnes, helped the Argos to a drought-ending Grey Cup victory in that 82 season. In 1999, he was named to the CFL Hall of Fame. On more than one occasion, Holloway spoke of what might have happened if he had chosen baseball and favourably compared himself to Brewers Hall of Fame shortstop, Robin Yount. The Expos would never know, but to compound their problems with that first round in 1971, fire-balling lefty Frank Tanana went 13th overall to the Angels and left field slugger and future Hall of Famer Jim Rice went 15th to the Boston Red Sox. So, Montreal effectively struck out in the first round. But that wasnt the end of it. In the second round of the 1971 draft, the Expos chose left hand starting pitcher Dan Warthen. His career flamed out pretty quickly. Warthen went 12-21 with a 4.31 ERA and his days in the Majors were over at 25, though he has gone on to be a successful pitching coach and his currently with the New York Mets, who may have the best flock of young arms in the business. But back to the matter at hand. Kansas City had the number five pick in that second round in 71 and chose a young shortstop who would later become a Hall of Fame 3B in George Brett, one of the greatest pure hitters the game has ever seen. Right after that selection, the Phillies chose another shortstop, who like Brett would become a Hall of Fame third baseman and Expos Killer Mike Schmidt, who had tremendous power and played gold glove defence at the hot corner. So lets recap. The Expos ended up with little or nothing in Holloway and Warthen, and could have had two of the following four; Frank Tanana, Jim Rice, George Brett or Mike Schmidt. Three of those four turned into Hall of Famers. Schmidt won a World Series over Brett and the Royals in 1980 and Brett and company beat St. Louis in the 1985 Fall Classic. You cant tell me with Rice and Brett or Rice and Schmidt, the Expos wouldnt have won at least one World Series and that could have changed the course of history for Canadas first Major League team. When you look at the current Kansas City Royals who are just two victories away from going to their second World Series, you can pinpoint a three year span of drafting as being instrumental to their success. In 2005, they took 3B Alex Gordon, now their left fielder number two overall. In 2007, 3B Mike Moustakas went number two and in 2008 1B Eric Hosmer went number three overall. Rising prospect Christian Colon went number four in Round 1 in 2010 and lefty reliever Brandon Finnegan, whos in their pen right now, was taken at number 14 this year. The Philadelphia Inquirer made an interesting point the other day. A Major League all-star game hasnt been played in a multipurpose stadium since it was held at the old Veterans Stadium in 1996. So you can basically count out Rogers Centre at least until the Argos are gone and natural grass is finally installed. This season, former Blue Jays utility outfielder Rajai Davis stole 35 bases for the Tigers. Thats more than they stole as an entire team in 2013. Hampus Lindholm Jersey . At least 90 players who had college eligibility remaining are expected to enter the draft, shattering last years record number of 73. "Its a humongous number, so the first reaction is it makes you step back a little bit," said NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout with the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles. Ryan Getzlaf Jersey . Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton and Kole Calhoun all homered to help the Los Angeles Angels get their first win of the season with an 11-1 rout of the Houston Astros. http://www.authenticduckspro.com/Teemu-selanne-ducks-jersey/ . The fourth-year guard from Carleton University kicked off his varsity career with rookie of the year honours in 2011, before racking up three straight Mike Moser Memorial Trophies for outstanding player. John Gibson Jersey . But sometimes the way you lose takes precedence over the final score. And how the Jets lost the 5-4 game to the New York Islanders on Thursday is what had Coach Claude Noel hot after the game. Scott Niedermayer Jersey . Over the course of his career Glenn is 79-71-1 in 151 starts for a .526 career winning percentage. Since becoming a Stampeder, he has elevated his play and raised his stock around the league. DETROIT -- Mike Babcock insisted being a lame-duck coach next season for the Detroit Red Wings would not be a problem for him. Babcock has one year left on his contract, and told reporters on Tuesday that getting a new deal this off-season is not a priority. "When youre at the stage of my career that I am, Im real comfortable with whatever they want," he said. "I want them to be happy. If theyre not happy, then Im not happy. "I can go year to year." Babcock finished his ninth season as Detroits coach on Saturday at Boston, where the Bruins eliminated the Red Wings in Game 5 of their first-round series. He has won a franchise-record 415 games, a Stanley Cup and a pair of conference championships. He led Canada to a second straight Olympic gold medal earlier this year. "If you put down a list of the best coaches in the National Hockey League, hes on that short list," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. Holland said he has not begun talking to Babcock about negotiating a long-term deal. The Red Wings have Holland under contract for one more year with a team option for another year, and he is "assuming" to have talks with ownership about his future with the franchise this summer. Detroits decision-makers will also have some other topics to ponder, heading into the NHL draft in June and free agency in July. Daniel Alfredsson might be the only unrestricted free agent the team wants to re-sign. TThe 41-year-old forward chose to chase a Stanley Cup with a one-year deal after spending his entire career with the Ottawa Senators.dddddddddddd Alfredsson, though, is not sure if he wants to return or retire. "Its going to be at least a few weeks," he said. "You need time to get away from it. Ill talk to Kenny and Babcock later this week. Both sides want to know what the other side is thinking." Unrestricted free agents David Legwand, Dan Cleary, Mikael Samuelsson, Jonas Gustavsson, Kyle Quincey and Todd Bertuzzi may have to continue their careers elsewhere. The 39-year-old Bertuzzi said he definitely does not want to retire if Detroit decides to let him hit the market. "Id like to keep playing," he said. "I still feel like I can contribute." The Red Wings are counting on their two stars, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, to contribute more than they did during injury-shortened seasons. Zetterberg expects to return 100-per cent healthy after having back surgery two months ago. Datsyuk said he will soon find out if he needs to have surgery on his left knee. "A healthy Pav and Z makes everyone else score more," Babcock said. "Z came back for two games (in the playoffs) and suddenly we have a power play. We didnt have a power play till that. To me those are the guys capable if healthy that can make everyone else around them better." ' ' ' |
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es to let him hit the market. "Id like to keep playing,
