It was an early-bird look at the 2008 schedule, when the Canadians released their ‘Schedule Preview’ back in October, but the real thing is out, and she’s a beauty.

Included in the 2008 schedule are seven weekday Nooners, four Sunday Nooners (including the final home game of the season) and a June 17th Opening Night, as the C’s host the Tri-City Dust Devils.  The radio schedule is every home game that falls on a weekend (this is for the Team 1040), but Rob Fai will broadcast EVERY game on the C’s website this season, in addition to a video webcast for all 38 home games.

The longest home-stand is 8 games, and falls between the 12th and 19th of August, when Boise and Salem-Keizer drop by.  A rare 6-game home series splitting games between Eugene and Everett convenes the 27th of June, finishing on the 2nd of July, which means the Canadians will be home for Canada Day once again.  

The only downside so far for me?  A scheduled 9 fireworks nights (there is no promotion schedule out yet, but Rob Fai mentioned this on C’s TV).  Nine?  Oh, come on.  I know they’re a big seller, but like someone mentioned to me, if they over-do Fireworks nights, the novelty will wear off and it won’t be a sellout every time they happen (but, then again, this season attendance should rise dramatically).  Then you add in all the angry neighbour tenants (I’m thinking those living in the area), and it might not be as picture perfect as the game itself.  Who knows though, I could be proven wrong.  Hopefully.

Vancouver opens the season at home, with a 5-game series with the Dust Devils, but finish on the road, ending the Labour Day weekend trip to Everett that had grown tradition with some fans.  The Canadians will be in nearby Everett midweek in late-August, and on the BC Day long weekend (Sunday through Tuesday).  After that BC Day long weekend, the Canadians directly head to Spokane.  There couldn’t be a more perfect Road Trip.

59 more days until Opening Day.

———————–

2007’s Canadians weren’t overall the best team in the Northwest League, finishing the season many games behind Salem Keizer.  However, the players that moved up to Kane County this season, are certainly making an impression, opening the season 14-1.  Some wins included a 17-inning affair in Game 1 of a double-header, and a combined no-hitter in another double-header game, pitched by Craig Italiano and former Canadian Branden Dewing.

Corey Brown has emerged as the top 2007 pick on the Cougars, batting .306 in all 15 games, with five home-runs (good enough for a share at the top of the league), 14 RBI, and nine walks.  The down-side?  He’s struck out a league-leading 21 times. 

Greg Dowling has impressed, batting .393 in all 15 games as well, knocking two out of the park, and legging five extra-base hits.  He’s only struck out once, which is great news for the 2nd year Cougar.

Jake Smith, whose 2007 season was cut short by injury, is batting .385, and has emerged as the catching star.  He’ll need to continue that streak of impressiveness, because Stockton catcher Matt Smith has been demoted to the Cougars as of tonight, and will platoon with Jake, Gustavo ‘Rosie’ Rosendo and Jon Johnston in Geneva.

Speaking of Rosie, in five games and 14 at-bats, he has four hits.  Doesn’t really sound impressive, but for a guy pegged to be a career back-up, he’s doing well.  Jon Johnston, the ex-Navy man, hasn’t done so well at the plate, striking out 14 times, with only 7 hits in 41 at-bats.  The up-side, is that he’s stolen five bases in 11 games while managing to hit .171.

Matt ‘Manta’ Ray may be tied with Walter Correa for the team-lead in Errors defensively, but he’s stepped it up at the dish, swinging a healthy .284.  The SS has struck out 15 times, but leads the club in Doubles (6) and At-Bats (67).  Correa and Christian Vitters haven’t been so lucky, batting a combined .223.  Vitters is the every-day third baseman, and has only one error in the field, but has only nine hits in 54 at-bats.

Todd Johnson is swinging the lumber well, with three home-runs and 15 RBI already in the season.  He’s batting .276 and has four doubles.  2007 C’s CP Leonardo Espinal had one at-bat in the 17-inning game, and struck out.  Tough luck Leo.

On the hill, the Cougars staff has been unstoppable.  Scott Hodsdon, Craig Italiano, Travis Banwart and Scott Mitchinson have all three given quality starts on the mound, while #5 pitcher and Canadian-born Jamie Richmond has had a few mistakes in the early season.  

Mitchinson (who never came to Vancouver) is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.81 through 16 innings, while Banwart also has a pair of wins after 16 innings on the hill, with an ERA a bit higher, sitting at 3.38.  He has the only complete game of the season for Kane County.

Italiano, the Opening Day starter, has pitched a no-hitter (with Branden Dewing pitching the last 1.1 of that game), and only allowed three earned runs to cross home plate in 14 innings.  What a way to start a season, following a line-drive to the head last May.  I’m shocked he hasn’t been moved up to Stockton yet.  His ERA’s at 1.93.

Richmond in 12 innings has given up eight runs, 17 hits, with an ERA of 6.00.  Hopefully he’ll find his groove soon.

The other SP, Scott Hodsdon, has pitched two quality starts, yet has the teams’ only loss of the season.  His ERA of 3.12 looks good, but he’s given up too many hits, and three earned runs.

In the ‘pen, Justin Friend (left) is emerging as the star.  In four games, he’s 3-0 with an ERA of .77, and has thrown more innings than SP Scott Hodsdon has.  Friend has given up six runs, but only one has been earned.

Scott Deal, a 2006 C’s starter, is pitching well for Kane County, while he has given up two home-runs in 10 innings.  He should find himself in California sooner rather than later.

Brad Hertzler, who pitched a rain-shortened perfect game in Vancouver last year, has an ERA of .96 in three games, including one start.  His only earned run came on a home-run. 

The other five relievers in Geneva are Nick Walters, Branden Dewing, Scott Moore, Leonardo Espinal and Jose Fragoso (who in 5 innings has 12 strikeouts!), who combined have an ERA of 0.00 in over 35 innings logged between the five.  Oh, and OF Shane Keough pitched one inning of relief, and didn’t give up a hit or run, but walked two.

The Cougars have had a stellar run, giving up on average two earned runs per game, while offensively they score 5.8 runs a game.