Canada beats U.S.

It's Thursday, so that means the a.m. links are all-blog:

Canada beats the U.S. at the World Limited Overs Baseball Classic, Adam Stern the big star as the Canadians take a 7-0 lead and hold on. I'm afraid I'm not quite of the same opinion of ace blogger James Mirtle on this -- "the country's biggest baseball triumph since the Blue Jays won the World Series in 1993", he calls it -- but it has pumped some life into this dog, and made me take notice. When I'm not contemplating JFJ's The Plan, anyway, the fast-approaching Real Baseball League draft, or how I'm going to walk the dogs in this rain.

More from the blogs on NHL trade deadline day (if you're bored at work, tune in to the  waymoresports.com website and send along any John Ferguson Jr. sightings, favourite JFJ speeches and your interpretation of The Plan as Damien Cox and I live-blog T.D. time, 12 noon to 3:30 pm or so):

JFJ gone wild! Leafs acquire Luke Richardson, trade Ken Klee and I don't get it either. Somebody dust off The Plan and let me know. Meanwhile, the big one has the Avs acquiring Jose (Shaggy) Theodore for David Aebischer, and I don't get that one either.

I'll have more ranting on this a little later in the day, having sat through another Sam Mitchell last night at the ACC, but for now, the Basketball Jones has the calculator out to figure how close the Raptors are to being a .500 team. File it in the "lies, damned lies and statistics" folder. And while you're at it, the Cavs guy who hit the game-winning shot is in trouble.

Arsenal knocks Real Madrid out of the Champions League after a scintillating night at Highbury (for a Spanish-language perspective, with a headline even I can understand, go here).

Pat Quinn's recent endorsement deal needs some possible prizes now -- a seat on a park bench? An early spring golf game? A guide to Hamilton?

It's Hammertime, the former A's bat boy posting to Barry Bonds: "You are loved by many. I love you. You have brought me so much joy in your mastery of the game of baseball. Don't let the bloodhounds win. Finish the mission."

Comments

[Ninja]

Atleast JFJ got something for Klee; a prospect who has had a few years to develop. Which kinda sorta explains giving away a pick for Richardson.

[James Mirtle]

What baseball triumphs am I missing?

I think a lot of people are going to start to take notice of this 'dog' (which has actually had some pretty good baseball so far).

[cycy]

James, Canada beating the US at the '99 PanAm Games in Winnipeg was at the time a pretty big deal, at least here (it was pretty much ignored in the US, though). And although the Jays were a big deal and a national story, they weren't wearing Canada on their chests (I'd have to check this, but did they have any Canadians on the roster at all?). That's my own bias there -- if anything, this might be the biggest upset in Canadian national baseball history. But what surprised me about it was how it seems so many experienced it in a same way, getting home from work and turning on the TV after hearing about this upset in the making -- I'd love to see the ratings, 'cause I think most people missed the early parts. Yeah, I'm watching now. Although I'm still a bit skeptical of the tournament, with its pitch limits -- but it can only get better. And so far, it has exceeded my somewhat meagre expectations.

[Richard Y.]

The Richardson trade makes sense in a way - for he is the first truly steady defenceman they've had since Jason Smith (who Pat Quinn traded away for reasons that still escape me).
However, it would have made more sense if they dumped off some other dead weight (Berg, Belak, Khavanov) and allowed Harrison, Bell, Woz and Kronwall more ice time... an influence such as Luke Richardson would have been beneficial... however, Harrison will never see the NHL until he is traded away... well, we all know the rookie refrain.
I think a few years ago he would have been a better pickup than Leetch. His career is winding down though, it's too bad he won't get a shot at the cup with this squad.