On this most gloomy of Sundays in Toronto, some good news is always welcome. And that there is a Canadian angle to both stories is a bonus.
First, from La Belle Province and SABR, comes the news that a group of Quebeckers have started a local chapter of SABR to help keep baseball alive there. They will be meeting this month, and settling on a name. How about the Robinson/Raymond chapter, after Jackie and Claude? Does anyone have any other suggestions for our friends in Quebec?
Second comes the news that Billy Beane's first move after becoming a minority owner and having his GM contract extended to 2012 was to sign B.C.'s own Rich Harden to a 4 year, $9 million contract with a club option for a 5th year at $7 million. As I have Rich Harden's name next to the 2005 AL Cy Young in our Contest, you might think that I consider this to be a fine move by Beane. You would be right.
But, it also got me to thinking. With the Crawford and Harden deals happening in the last couple of days, are we about to see more of these long-term deals for 22/23 year olds with a couple of years under their belts?
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20050403174812990