Almost as far beneath the MLB radar screen as Toronto high school ball, the independent Canadian Baseball League kicks off its inaugural season tonight. At the game yesterday, I was talking to East York grad and current third-base coach Rob Butler, who decided not to play in the CBL because of his dedication to running his baseball school. Rob and his Toronto Maple Leafs teammate Paul Spoljaric (also an instructor at the camp) would be among the very best players in the new league, and may be added when CBL rosters expand, right after the Intercounty League playoffs.

In the meantime, Butler shares my concern that the head-to-head competition in southern Ontario may be a bad thing for both loops. The watered-down Leafs (Rich Butler and Gamin Teague are among the defectors) swept an ICL doubleheader from the diluted London Majors on Monday in an almost-empty Labatt Park.

Since the Jays game isn't televised tonight, Canadian fans might want to check out the CBL opener at 7:00 on The Score. The homeless Montreal Royales and skipper Gary Roenicke visit the other London team, the Monarchs, led by Willie Wilson. Unless TV makes some new stars out of the mostly anonymous CBL players, the managers may be the biggest gate attractions, which is not a sound business plan. I'll be at Christie Pits, watching the Leafs take on Waterloo while listening to Tom and Jerry.

Kudos to your team for a fine effort, Coach --- it's tough to play in the AL East of high school divisions. Best of luck for next year and a return to the top soon after that.