It’s been a long time coming, but the Canadians have finally revealed their new 2008 jerseys, to the public.  While I’m not as keen on the road jerseys as I am the alternate black and home white, these jerseys are still a huge step forward from the variations of team jerseys since the short-season inception back in 2000.

While wearing the white jerseys, the team will sport the popular red hat, as well as wearing white pants.  On the road, it’ll be black and grey from head to toe, with the black hats, grey uniforms and grey pants.  When the club wears the ‘Alternate’ Jersey, which is solely to be worn on Saturday nights, it’ll be the black hat and either white pants at home, and grey on the road.  

(Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - The Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club introduced a trio of uniforms set for wear during the 2008 Northwest League season.  The uniforms were unveiled at Nat Bailey Stadium by Canadians owners Jake Kerr, Jeff Mooney and President Andy Dunn.

Minutes before the Canadians trotted out their newest look, the baseball club paid tribute to past Vancouver professional teams by inviting 1954 Vancouver Capilano’s Arnie Hallgren, 1965 Vancouver Mountie’s Ozzie Chavarria, 1997 Vancouver Canadians’ slugger Chris Pritchett, as well as Elmer Morishita representing the 1941 Vancouver Asahi Japanese professional club.  All four gentlemen wore jerseys and hats from their playing era.

The Canadians home white uniforms sport red lettering with grey outline stating the word "Canadians" across the front.  The white home jersey marks the first time the Canadians have worn all white since 1999.

The C’s stayed consistent with their road colours remaining with a grey uniform with black lettering etched in white with "Vancouver" marked across the front.  The Canadians will wear a New Era 59/50 black hat with their road grey.

Vancouver rounded out their look for the 2008 season with a black alternate jersey that the club states will only be worn for games on Saturday.  This marks the first time in the Canadians 30-year history that a Vancouver team will take to the field in a black jersey.  The Canadians primary mark will cover the left breast of the jersey and the club will alternate wearing white pants at Nat Bailey Stadium and grey away from home.

The black is pretty much last year’s home jersey, in a different colour, and with a new logo, but it looks much better than the previous years’ jersey.  The white home is reminiscent of the Spokane Indians home jersey, while the road grey is almost completely identical to the Chicago White Sox’ road uniforms. 

Note from Oz: The white home uniform is suh-weet. Gone is the blue that made the ‘Canadians’ easy to confuse with Americans, the ensemble totally goes with Oakland’s traditional white cleats, and you won’t be losing outfielders against the advertising signs anymore. Still not such a fan of the logo, but the uniforms get a thumbs-up from me.

Oh, and if you want to see more of the new uniforms - and those from teams past - The Sun has a gallery online. Just go to this page and click the gallery link on the right.

Petit does well at major league level:

After ex-C’s SS Gregorio Petit was called up to The Bigs over the weekend, it came with a lot of expectations.  During Spring Training, he almost made the club, and having seen him in person, he could’ve been a starter he was playing so well.  Well, after two games at 2nd base, he’s doing exceptional.  He’s batting .375, with 3 hits in 8 at-bats, with four strikeouts.  One strikeout came with a tying run on third in the 8th inning with one out (on Sunday), but he’s young, so you can’t fault him too much.  He’s just getting his feet wet.

Way to go Greg!

Pair of ex-Canadians done with pro ball:

Two 2007 RHP’s from the Canadians are done with professional baseball…for now.  RHP Bryan Collins (left) was released by Oakland, after spending the last month and a half at Papago Park, participating at Extended Spring Training.  He struggled last season in Vancouver, but he had some great stuff, and it’s too bad the system was so crowded he had to be let go before even heading up to Kane County.

The other guy who left the A’s was Lee Land, a closer who joined the C’s late in the season from the Cape Cod League.  He raised more than a few eyebrows, but suffered an arm/elbow injury with four games left in the season, and didn’t report to Phoenix until Extended Spring Training.  He retired from the organization on Sunday.  After four years of four schools, including one where he didn’t even pitch due to an injury, I’m guessing he felt it was time to hang up the cleats.

On a happier note, RHP Brent Lysander and Catcher Dusty Napoleon (thanks for the heads-up Melissa!) were sent to Kane County this morning, with Lysander set to pitch later tonight.

And, on the Canadians front, 2007 Catcher Dante Love is expected to come back to Vancouver, to platoon with Juan Nunez, a Latin catcher currently catching pitches in Stockton, due to an injury within the Ports.