Thanks to reader ‘canadiansfan’ who tipped us about Shawn Haviland’s blog.  Shawn’s blog which is titled ‘Ivy League to MLB’ features his tips on work ethic, and his thoughts on the baseball world as well.

It’s worth reading, and I encourage C’s fans and baseball fans alike to check it out.  If anyone has links to his articles that he wrote for the Vancouver Sun in the summer, if you could post a comment here linking them, that’d be awesome.

If Journalism is an avenue Haviland would like to venture into after baseball, he’s certainly doing a great job.

With a wind chill of -14 hitting the Lower Mainland today, some might be dreading a couple more months of freezing temperatures, while others may look on the brighter side - hey, there’s exactly 6 months until Vancouver Canadians Baseball.

Yes, that Thelma’s Frozen Lemonade may not sound so appealing at the moment, but I guarantee as we creep closer to Opening Day, they’ll look better and better.

I was just looking at a 2009 MLB Draft Preview the other day, and they had the A’s slotted to pick #13 in the first round this upcoming June, one spot lower than when Jemile Weeks was selected last year.

While there’s no David Price or Pedro Alvarez in this year’s edition of the draft, RHP Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State looks to be a front runner for the #1 pick, while two other right-handed pitchers, Aaron Crow and Alex White, are right up there in the rankings as well.

One player who may be around when the 13th pick is called to the stage, is Matt Purke, a LHP from Klein HS, the alma mater of 2008 Canadian Jeremy Barfield.  Some draft previews have Purke at the #4 spot, while others have him being picked as late as 11th overall.  

A guy I’ll personally be looking at with be RHP Tom Lemke, out of Northwest Christian HS in Arizona.  Lemke is 6′7, 205, despite being a High School Senior.  Imagine if he’s still growing ;)

Why am I mentioning the draft which is 5 months away?  Well, today, with no major baseball news on the go, I thought I’d mention 5 promotions the Canadians could add to the 2009 list.

1. Anthony Recker Bobble-Butt Night: Recker was a Catcher for the C’s in 2005, who attracted the attention of the female fans, including one lady who ran on the field to slap his butt (if I recall).

2. Jersey Giveaway Night: Most of the teams in Minor League Baseball have at least one Alternate Jersey.  The Canadians have one, which has turned into more of a regular jersey, but still it’s their Alternate.  The Spokane Indians and Everett Aquasox are just two examples of teams who auction off their jerseys for charitable profit.  The Indians have worn pink jerseys for Breast Cancer Night, and the Aquasox Camo ones, for Camp Erin.  How bout a pink jersey for a Canadians Breast Cancer Night, or even just a game where you auction off game-worn jerseys for charity?

3. Jeremy Barfield Fathead Night: A Fathead is a life-sized poster that you can put on your wall.  In an Interview with Nat Notes over the summer, Barfield suggested that he’ll know he’s made it big when he gets his own Fathead.  How cool would it be for the first 250 or 500 fans to receive a life-sized poster?

4. Alumni Night: I know last season for the Jersey Unveiling that a bunch of Vancouver Baseball Alumni went to Nat Bailey Stadium, but wouldn’t it be cool if guys from the past all came out to the Nat for a game in the summer, to be honoured?  Maybe’s it’s just me…

5. Fan Fest: Nat Bailey Stadium has hosted Fan Fest a few times over the last half-dozen or so years, but only a hand-full have been successful.  In 2007 only about 100-200 fans showed up on an Overcast day, while years before maybe 500 or 600 fans came out to the Nat to test their luck in the Outfield, or to take a tour of the Dressing Room.  This year, the draft will be held on June 9th and 10th, so maybe there can be one day where most of the team shows up before the season, for a Meet and Greet with the fans.

I’m sure no matter what the C’s go with, it’ll be a smashing success, just like 2008’s promotional schedule, with the likes of Fergie Jenkins, Tim Raines and the San Diego Chicken.