NOTES FROM THE NAT: Vancouver Canadians news

Odds and Ends:

A recurring question always comes up after the MLB Draft each year, who will sign, and who won’t.  This year there have already been 14 players who have signed on the dotted line for the A’s, but I would expect more to come in the next week or two.

The Vancouver Canadians Opening Day roster for Saturday will not be the roster you will see 7 days from now even, as they embark on the first road trip of the year.

I woke up at an un-godly hour today to listen to Andy Dunn on the Team 1040 (it was 8:28), and he is one of the best promoters for the game of baseball, ever.

Flat and simple, he doesn’t leave any question unanswered, and even said that Michael Inoa, the A’s top pitching prospect who has right elbow inflammation and is out for the next 30 days, could end up for the C’s this season, near the end, or in 2010.

Dunn also mentioned how, like I said, the roster will not be the same as you’ll see in a week or two.

I know I’m off topic, but before I get back on track, congratulations to C’s Broadcast Hall of Fame member Barry MacDonald, of Team 1040, who received his plaque today.  B-Mac is a great reason to get up early in the mornings to listen to the radio.

Who will sign?:

Michael Gilmartin was one of 14 to sign yesterday with the A’s, and according to Wofford College, is headed to the Canadians for this weekend.  

First round pick Grant Green, who will not likely go to Oakland even if signed, hasn’t even begun contract negotiations, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.  We might be waiting until the August 17th deadline to sign this Scott Boras client.

Third rounder Justin Marks hasn’t signed as of time of post, but hopes to sign, and "hopes to begin his career with the Vancouver Canadians." Marks would face teammate Chris Dominguez who is reportedly signing with the Giants, and heading to Salem next week for June 23rd.  Article here.  Personally I would love to see his four-pitch arsenal, to go along with the 92 mph fastball at the Nat.

Max Stassi fell a long ways from the first round, ending up at round 4, and will likely head to UCLA for his scholarship.  Stassi is scheduled to play this summer on a traveling team with A’s Manager Bob Geren’s sons this summer, should he not sign.  My guess is Oakland will heavily scout this traveling team, and then go from there before August 17th.

5th round pick Steve Parker, a 3B out of BYU looks set so sign, after telling the Deseret News (no typo), "It’s the best feeling ever, I’ve dreamt of this moment my entire life.  I’ve always wanted to play baseball for a living and now I can."  Parker is set to ’skip his senior season of college baseball’, per the article.   

I’ve already posted about Ryan Ortiz‘ intentions of signing, but turns out there may have been a stop in negotiations for one reason or another, this week because there has been no news, so postpone that welcoming party at YVR for him.   

Ian Krol (left) didn’t play High School ball this year as a Senior, instead playing for a team in Wisconsin that traveled.  Why?  He was suspended.  I don’t care about his past, all I want is this kid to sign because he is an amazing baseball player.  Forgive and forget.  Krol told the Chicago Sun-Times, "We’ve gone through this over and over and over.  Trust me, we’ve made a list a hundred times.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance."

He threw out the first pitch at a Cougars game 9 years ago, and ‘could soon be working there’, as the article said.

A pick after Krol was Rob Gilliam of the UNCG Spartans, and he told the school’s sports desk, "It is truly an honor to be drafted by the Oakland Athletics.  It has always been a dream of mine to play professional baseball and this just brings me one step closer to that goal."  Gilliam can reach 95 on the gun.

Myrio Richard will know all about the A’s system should he sign (as his brother Mike was here in 2007, right), and despite being raw in the outfield defensive, he has a great bat from the 9th round.  His coach wrote on Prairie View A&M’s website that, "I’m glad that Myrio and his brother are both playing in the same organization.  He has the speed and the power to move up in their minor league system."  Sounds like he’s signing to me. 

Sam Dyson struggled this year for South Carolina, but is just a Red-Shirted Sophomore, and could return for two more seasons to work on control.  His coach told the Post and Courier, "He believes he’s good enough to be in the first 15 to 20 picks.  It didn’t happen for him.  Does he have an opportunity to improve that? He does.  Whether he chooses to go that way remains to be seen." He’ll be monitored this summer by the A’s.

He probably will sign, but Mike Spina had a great career for the U of Cincinnati, and as a Senior has no more years of eligibility left,  it may come down to the price being right. He may not have thought he would fall to the 11th, but told a local paper, "It was a great feeling, [...] You really can’t explain it."  The article mentioned he is ready to begin his ‘minor league journey’.

College teammate Lance Durham is the son of Leon ‘Bull’ Durham who once played for the C’s in the AAA days, so he may have some advice on if he signs, from Bull himself.

That’s the first 11 picks, and the Top 5 countdown is coming today, with two exciting recaps from the 2009 season. 

With the draft just a little under 48 hours away, most college, high school and junior college Baseball players are preparing for the MLB First-Year Player Draft, hoping their name will be called by the time Round 50 comes to a close.

Most players won’t care who drafts them, they just want an opportunity to show what they can do.  Can you blame them?  They obviously want a big signing bonus but most would trade in the big cash just to play pro ball.

Once a player is selected, the tendency is to look up the teams in the organization of which you were drafted, and see if you know anybody else in the club’s system.  That’s where we come in.  

Last year we had comments and emails from players and their families, and we even had some interviews to go along with those comments, but the fact of the matter is this is one of the first sites they’ll see, seeing as how we cover a short-season team, a good starting spot for a young player’s career.

Well, let’s try to make it easier for you to figure out stuff about the Vancouver Canadians, in the 2nd edition of ‘A draftee’s guide to Vancouver Baseball’. 

1. The Nat is not a hitters park:

Nat Bailey Stadium, home of the C’s, is about as much of a Hitters Park as Wrigley Field is new.  When it is considered a Hitters Park, Kirstie Ally will be slim.  Do you get my point?  It really isn’t.

There were 10 homers for Vancouver at home last season, in 38 games.  That’s average of 0.26 home-runs for the home team per game.

Obviously if you’re a pitcher this will probably go well with you, and take into consideration there were only 6 home-runs for the opposition last year at The Nat.  Yes 6 homers, and that’s a grand total of 16 in 38 games.  That’s less than half.

Leave the ball up and you can still be punished, with a ball to the gap or down the lines, but if you’re a hitter, the right field corner is a great spot to leg out a triple, and if there’s an errant throw on the play, you could end up having a Triple+Error, like Dusty Napoleon last year, and have an Inside the Parker.

This field is even smaller than it was three years ago, so don’t complain, we’re not used to HR’s.  Everett?  Go ahead, knock yourself out.  If you’re lucky you can hit 6 home-runs as a team in one game there, as they did on September 3rd, 2006.  The Canadians won 20-7 and had a run each inning except the 5th, when Everett scored 7 (on two homers).

2. To club or not to club:

Since all of the players will be between 18 (Nino Leyja) and probably 23/24, they all want to do one thing in a country where the legal age is 19.  I think it’s obvious.  

In Vancouver the biggest hot-spot is The Roxy, a popular nightclub in Downtown.  Here’s the thing, you’ll get hit, fined, suspended and eventually released.  Just ask Shawn Martinez who got beatup at the club five years ago, before being suspended which lead to his release the next season.  He didn’t even take part in the fighting part, he was just a victim.  Learn from this kids, Roxy at your own risk.  Although I must say, I’ve heard it is a great spot if you be careful of obnoxious drunks.

If you don’t believe the Martinez story, ask your Pitching Coach Craig Lefferts, he was his Pitching Coach then as well.

3. Yes it’s cold, get over it:

We’re Canadians, don’t live in Igloos, it doesn’t snow after March, and it heats up in July.  We use a ‘Celsius’ tracker for temperature, yes it sounds foreign I know, and it is much more accurate than your way to figure it out.

The average temperature for Vancouver last year in June when the C’s were at home was 71 degrees, and there was only 4 games out of the 9 that were not Sunny.

July was on average 70.1 degrees, including 10 out of 11 straight games where it was exactly 70.

August was a chilly 68.6 on average at The Nat.

On the road?  For the season, it was 81.3 degrees on average.  The coldest game on the road was just 3.6 degrees cooler than August’s average in Vancouver, and that was a pair of 65 degree games at the end of the season (September 1, Salem-Keizer, August 27th, Everett).  The coldest series on the road was 66.3 during that Everett series.

The warm series were in Tri-City near the end of July, 89.4 after 5 games, 88.6 in Spokane (August 6th through 10th), and a season-high 93.4 degrees while in Boise, during Independence Day.

Don’t worry boys, you can get your tan on in Boise, in the 102 degree heat (July 3rd).

4. The Spencer Flynn’s:

Who is Spencer Flynn?  He botched a call in a meaningless afternoon game in 2007, where he called a ball that landed 5 feet foul, a fair ball.  He is now in the California League and I heard he’s doing better now, but the fact of the matter is these are Rookie Umps who are mostly just starting out their careers.

Honestly, I can tell you all these umpires do try their hardest, but as they’re just starting out there will be mistakes, and there will be blown calls.

It’s part of baseball.  Most of them are former players so just picture yourself in their shoes, before you throw a fit at one for a bad call.  Karma.

5. A community Team:

This club is locally-owned, which is the best case scenario, in my opinion, for a Minor League Team.  You have one of, if not the best, staffs in all of professional baseball, and a group of volunteers that keep the place running smoothly.

President Andy Dunn has turned this team around, after helping with the Expos and Nationals, and I believe the Marlins as well, years ago.  Dunn is the guy you would want to be running a team you play for.

The GM Andrew Seymour is a promotions master, and runs this club very very smoothly.

The Media Relations man/Broadcaster Rob Fai is the best in the business, and Jason Takefman and his ticket staff get the word out for fans to see you guys play.  It really is one of a kind at Nat Bailey.

Groundskeepers, lead by Tom Archibald, keep the field in the best shape it’s ever been in, as well.

The owners visit the games, mingle with the crowd, and are just always there.  Jake Kerr and Jeff Mooney are the reason that professional baseball is thriving in this city.

6. Field Staff Second-to-None:

Manager Rick Magnante is eighth all-time in Canadians victories by a Manager, and is into his fourth season with the C’s, which as Rob Fai pointed out on the weekly radio show this week, is a first in the 104 year history of professional baseball in Vancouver.  Magnante may just be my favourite go-to-guy in all of baseball.  He knows the game, he knows tendencies, and more importantly for me, can put together a phenomenal interview.  ’Skip’ is a real treat.

Pitching Coach Craig Lefferts pitched in almost 700 MLB games for the Cubs, Padres, Giants, Orioles, Rangers and Angels, where he amassed 101 saves, 1 complete game, 45 starts, and a WHIP of 1.25.

Lefferts was once a 13-game winner in the Bigs, and was the closer for the 1989 San Francisco Giants as they went to the World Series against Tom LaRussa’s Oakland Athletics.

Hitting Coach Casey Myers, (left) a former Pac-10 Player of the Year (back-to-back years), spent parts of two seasons in Vancouver, one on rehab, one just because that’s where he was assigned out of college, and knows more than anybody that The Nat is tough for hitters.

He had 7 homers in 2001, and 0 in 2006 after 17 games.  Myers was a teammate of guys like Rich Harden and Dan Johnson, and spent five seasons in Midland (AA).

Travis Tims and the training staff are excellent, and Clubhouse Manager Glenn Hall, or ‘Glenn Magic’, is the best, by far, Clubhouse man in all of baseball.  He is phenomenal, and a class act at that.

7. Salem Keizer = Kings:

The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes have won the Northwest League for 5 of the last 9 seasons, including three years in a row.  The San Francisco Giants put all the prospects on this team for a year, and sometimes too, just to dominate the NWL.

This year, however, will be different.  Our boys from Vancouver will win the West Division, I’m sure of it.

8. The Nat Notes factor: 

So by the end of reading all of this you have to be wondering, what the hell is Nat Notes and why do you guys cover the Canadians?

We’re two fans who watch most of the home games, if not all, and listen to the radio webcasts when we can when Vancouver’s on the road (FYI radio broadcasts by Rob Fai are fantastic on the C’s site), and we are in no way affiliated with the Vancouver Canadians, or their staff.

The point of this site is to give parents, friends and baseball fans alike a chance to read about the team, how their friend, brother, son or ex-teammate is doing, and all the roster moves and such that come with that territory.

While this is a blog, it means our opinion, which it really is an opinion, can tick people off, or can make people agree with us.  But while that’s the case, if there’s anything you don’t like being posted on here, whether it be a nickname we give a player, or something we write about that you don’t agree with, comment at the end of the post.  We’ll respond, guaranteed.

Happy reading, and good luck boys. 

2009 MLB Draft:

FASFIM:

If you’ve ever been at Nat Bailey Stadium, you’ve probably wondered, "How much do these guys get paid".  Well, it’s probably about as much as you get working at McDonalds over a two-week period.  It is really not that much, despite being a professional athlete.  The big cash comes in the Majors, and considering most players who have played for the C’s won’t ever necessarily realize their dream, they need something to fall back on.  

Along the way, they will need help financially to keep the dream going, to support their families while they’re off on the road for 5 months.  A new organization started by the families of two ex-Canadians is trying to better the lives of those minor leaguers struggling to make ends meet.

Financial Aid Serving Families in Minors is a non-profit organization catering to all MILB families who qualify for financial aid (a list is being worked on apparently).  To qualify you would need to be married and/or have a child (one at least).  This also meets the Federal poverty guidelines, so it is not just something where a player can say "I need money," when they’re really not poor.

The organization hopes to one day create an education scholarship delivered annually to disadvantaged youth who excel in baseball and in the community.  A children’s book is also in their sights, to be sold in MLB and MILB team stores.

Their events include ‘A day in the life’ of a Midland Rockhound and Kane County Cougar, while the winner receives an Autographed Bat and Ball, to go with their new Team Jersey and Hat. 

Who started the company?  2004 Canadians Nick Blasi and Steve Sharpe, as well as his wife Laurel who is President of the organization.

Laurel Sharpe spoke to Nat Notes about the organization this week:

"I am living first hand, the life of a minor league family.  It is challenging and difficult to keep a family together, while traveling, finding a place to live and the minor league salary.

FASFIM was formed to advocate family wholeness, assist player’s children and support married players in Minor League Baseball.  We work to fulfill our mission with fundraising and providing financial aid through housing expenses, groceries and travel.  Thereby alleviating some of the hardships and struggles for the minor league family, living at or below the federal poverty line.

Pope John Paul II said, ‘As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live’, and I could not agree more."

Thanks so much to Laurel for her time, and I encourage everyone to visit the link below.

You can learn more at their website, where you can also donate money to the cause. 

Alumni Report:

This is an abbreviated version of the alumni report, but seeing as how his wife is head of FASFIM, we look at Steve Sharpe’s (top) season so far:

The 2004 Canadian was 3-0 in AAA Sacramento between April 25th and May 25th, before returning to Stockton, where he pitched three shutout games in the month of April.  He has pitched four times since coming back to the Cal League, and has given up just three hits in 9 innings.  He is 4-0 with a 2.49 ERA this season, combined.  He has just two walks with the Ports as well.

Sharpe attended Central Missouri State, while Jeff Gray went to Southwest Missouri State, and Gray has had a phenomenal season.

The 2005 hurler is 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA with the Sacramento Rivercats, but has just 5 strikeouts in 18.2 innings.  That sounds worse than it is because he’s still managed to get batters out, as they’re batting .169 against him.

Gray was called up for Mothers Day, and pitched to one batter (Vernon Wells) and got him out to end a Blue Jays threat in the 9th, before being sent down that week.  He was called up last week, threw another out in the Bigs, and was once again sent down.  The hardships of baseball, I tell you.

Tickets:

Since Canadians tickets first went on sale on May 23rd, Ticket director Jason Takefman assures me that they have soared since, and the C’s have enjoyed much success whether it be online, by phone, or at will-call.

"Ticket sales were great this week, and really complimented our historic Opening Day Saturday (June 20th) [...] Box Seats are hard to come by for a few games already."

C’s Food at The Nat:

How many times have you said to yourself, ‘Man I want something different tonight, I’m done with Ice Cream and Hot Dogs,"?

Fear no more, as the C’s have you covered.  They have introduced a new initiative geared towards vegetarians, and fans who just like variety.  From the press release:

 (Nat Bailey Stadium – Vancouver, BC) – The Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club has been named as one of the Top 10 Vegetarian Friendly Minor League Ballparks in North America by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).  Nat Bailey Stadium has been rewarded for having “cruelty free” menu items available for their fans.

Currently on the Nat Bailey Stadium menu, the Canadians offer up a host of healthy alternatives including Veggie Dogs and Vegetarian Sushi (veggie rolls and brown rice veggie rolls).  Available in our Granville Island Brewing Executive Dugout Suite the C’s offer up veggie burgers, fresh fruit platters and mixed baby green salads.

“We are proud to be recognized for something that we as an organization have worked hard at over the past few seasons.  The Canadians know that Vancouver is a very health conscious city and we want fans to know when they come to the ballpark they can maintain their healthy lifestyle while enjoying a baseball game in the sunshine”, says Canadians President Andy Dunn.

“We would also like to recognize our concession partners Aramark .  With our partnership alongside Aramark, we are very pleased to be able to offer all of our fans quality concession options here at Nat Bailey Stadium”.

The Canadians ranked in the top ten out of more than 200 Minor League stadiums and were the best in the Northwest League according to PETA’s latest report released on June 1^st.

You can view the PETA report in its entirety by click the link below:

http://www.peta.org/feat-veg-ballparks09-p3.asp

Sounds great, and makes me want to head to the Nat for some food right now.  

On another ‘note’ (pardon the pun), the C’s are holding another batch of singing auditions this weekend, to compliment how many hopefuls came out last Sunday to sing the National Anthems at ballgames.   They will be next Friday, June 5th, at Oakridge Center (West Galleria), between 6 and 7pm.

And if you’re into getting your kid into C’s gear, why not attend ‘Mommy and Me Hit The Tee’ next Wednesday at Nat Bailey.  Email Andrew Seymour for info on the kids ‘Baseball 101′ for kids between ages 3 and 5.  His contact info’s on the C’s website.

Superstar Series: 

One of the main attractions for C’s fans last year was the Superstar series, which brought the San Diego Chicken, Fergie Jenkins, Bret Hart and Tim Raines out to ‘The Nat’.  This season the four-game roster has been completely revealed, and it features Bill Buckner, Cecil Fielder, Dave Henderson and Bill ‘Spaceman’ Lee (left).

Henderson was a teammate of Buckner’s on the infamous 1986 Boston Red Sox World Series team, and is famous to Pacific Northwest Baseball fans for his personality on Mariners broadcasts in recent years, being a tandem with Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus for games in the Emerald City.

He hit one of the biggest Homeruns in Post-Season history, in the 86 ALCS which gave Boston a comeback win.  Henderson hit a two-out, two-strike two-run shot which was enough to give Boston the 9th inning win.  He could’ve been the goat of the series, like Buckner was later on that season, after tipping an Angels HR into the stands from the tip of his glove, but the dinger made fans quickly forget about that.

Dave played for 5 MLB clubs, including Seattle, Boston and Oakland.  He has 7 career HR’s in October baseball, and 197 in the Regular Season.  He will be at Nat Bailey on August 4th, against Yakima.

Lee was the final addition, and he is most-noted for his off-field antics more than his baseball game itself.  The Spaceman has been the feature of documentaries, books and much more.

His take on the ‘Eephus’ pitch was a Spaceball at final version, and is a high and slow pitch which doesn’t cross the plate at more than 50 mph.  Orlando Hernandez and Randy Johnson (right) are two of the more recent players to have the pitch.

The Spaceball has written a total of four books, has like I said starred in a documentary (which is great) and continues to make a name for himself in baseball history in his 60’s.  The ex-Expo will be on-hand to talk about such fame with Vancouver baseball fans on August 31st.

Single Game Tickets:

Single Game Tickets will go on sale tomorrow (May 23rd) at 9:00 AM, and will give you your first chance to purchase tickets to Opening Night, Superstar games, and Team Photo Giveaway night among others.

Remember, there are three easy ways to purchase tickets, whether it be through the C’s Box Office (4601 Ontario Street), online at Canadiansbaseball.com, or by phone, 604-872-5232.

The Box Office will be open from 9 to 5 tomorrow, before closing up on Sunday.  Next week you can buy tickets from the Box Office from 9:30 to 5:00 and 9:30 to 3:30 next Saturday.  Of course, you can buy online anytime.

Nat Notes is presenting the Top 5 games to attend this season, so get your tickets early before they all sellout.

1. Opening Night: There is no night like Opening Night, and on June 20th (Saturday) it’ll be your first chance to catch a glimpse at the 09 edition of the Vancouver Canadians.  While your at it, you get a phenomenal Fireworks show, and a Magnet Schedule, which is given out to the first 2,500 fans.  This game should very well sellout, so get your tickets tomorrow.

2. Canada Day (Nooner): Each Canada Day at The Nat is one to remember, and this one will be no different.  It is on a Wednesday afternoon, and what better way to spend your day off in the middle of the week than at Nat Bailey with fun in the sun.  A Workout Towel that is being given away is also an incentive for you to get out to the ballpark. 

3. Bobble Head Giveaway: The final A&W Family Fun Sunday, and last Regular Season game of the year, also hosts a Bobble Head Giveaway, the first since Tim Hudson a few years back.  Your last chance to see the C’s in their post-season push is Sunday September 6th.

4. Superstar Series Nights: Whether it be on July 27th (Cecil Fielder), August 4th (Dave Henderson), August 12th (Bill Buckner) or August 31st (Bill Lee), all four Superstar Nights are sure to be great ball on the field, and great times off.  Tim Raines and Fergie Jenkins all spent considerable time with fans, and expect much of the same this summer.

5. A&W Family Fun Sundays: Out of the 7 A&W Family Fun Sundays, each one has a different giveaway, for the kids.  June 21st has a Growth Chart, June 28th is a Jersey Giveaway Night, July 12th has a Trucker Hat Giveaway, July 26th presents a Die-cast Car, August 16th is much of the same, and August 30th is a-like.  As I mentioned, September 6th has the Bobblehead.

Other fun nights are Webkinz Giveaways, ALS Day, any Nooner, and The Nat Hot Dog Mania on July 3rd.

Bud Kerr:

The late Bud Kerr’s memorial service will take place on Monday the 25th at Nat Bailey Stadium from 1pm to 2pm.  It will be a semi-formal ceremony honouring a man that knew more about this team than anybody out there.  We had an anonymous reader send in a story about how we’ll remember Bud, and I encourage anyone with stories like this to pass them my way.  Roadkillsports@hotmail.com.

The quote function isn’t working properly, so it’s copy and pasted.  I thank said-reader for sending this in.

He had a very sharp mind for the game of baseball, not just rote-memorization of stats and players. Our last serious conversation was 3 months ago and it was about bunting. I thought it was asinine how players don’t know how to bunt, and don’t bunt more often, because it is not only an integral part of a balanced skill-set, but it could set up so many great opportunities the next time you face that team and pitcher. He would cite examples of times in the playoffs and big games where a bunt would have been perfect, because the 3B was playing back, the catcher had bad knees, etc…

We would get right into it about baseball, cutting right to the chase. Like so many other people, I just listened to what he had to say, like a student learning from a professor. By the end of our phone conversation, we would be yelling at each other, most often in agreement, about the same things we have noticed in the same game.

I will certainly miss his knowledge, and I know his buddies that sit with him during games will also. There aren’t many people you can turn to and have a solid conversation about the intricacies of the game, and now there are even fewer…. 

It’s kind of fitting the 1000th post on Nat Notes (thanks for the support), is announcing a tragedy that has struck the city of Vancouver, the Canadians, and their fans.  How is this fitting?  Well I’m not sure if we’d even be here if it weren’t for Bud Kerr, who passed away last night.  

The walking encyclopedia of C’s knowledge sat in Section 7, Row 3, Seat 2, for as long as I can remember, and walking to my seats every game last year I’d listen to what Bud had to say as I was about to sit down.  He was the one person I never felt guilty to eaves-drop on.

Why wouldn’t we still be here?  I, and I assume Chris as well, have wanted to know more because Bud knows more.  He saved Nat Bailey from demolition, and is, or was, the best Baseball fan Vancouver has ever, or will ever see.

Bud Kerr was our Babe Ruth, but never abandoned us for the Everett Aquasox or any other arch rival for that matter.  There from when the Great Bambino played in Vancouver, until Derek Shunk grounded into a force out, at 2nd base, with Francisco Tirado gripping the ball to signal the final home out of the 2008 season.

Despite recent health issues, Bud was there.  I remember at a UBC baseball game a few years ago I saw him hustling along because he missed the first couple of innings.  It was probably 5 degrees out, and there was this man, the staple at Nat Bailey, sitting watching college baseball.

Last season when the Bud Kerr baseball museum was unveiled, June 18, 2008, I came to the ballpark by myself to see the unveiling, and upon getting there two hours before the game, I marveled at Bud’s collection of memorabilia, and overheard him explaining each piece, to an on-looker.  Whether it was Tom Drees’ dream starts in 1989, or anything else in the case, he knew what it was, and why it was significant.  

On the first Notes From the Nat site, I even remember a ‘Bud Kerr fact’ appearing each time you came onto the site, about ex-players, Stadium facts, and much more.  I would reload the page just to check them out.  I’ve often wondered, who can stump Bud Kerr?  I would guess we’ll never know now, but I can bet you he would’ve reigned supreme no matter who challenged him.

Bud’s been featured in the Canadians Media Guide, the program, and just about everything else you can imagine, and I urge you to head to Nat Bailey and check out his Museum, it is one of a kind.  

I can’t force myself to put "Bud was" in any of this post.  I want to have it "Bud is", and yes there were health issues, but this man was one of a kind.  In 30 degree heat last summer, he stuck out the July 13th game until the 11th or 12th inning, even though his seats had to be smoking hot, and there were maybe a couple hundred fans left.

To quote Jays beat writer Jordan Bastien, on the death of Nick Adenhart, "Everything else today seems meaningless."  That just sums up how I’m feeling, I tried to watch the Canada/Russia hockey game just hours after I heard about Bud, and didn’t shed any emotion on Canada’s loss.  

Rest in peace Bud, keep shining on us, we’ll all miss you.  Please email your stories to Rob Fai, who will pass them onto Bud’s family.  His email is posted on the Canadians website, where they have set up a tribute to Mr Kerr. 

Check out this article, on his museum last June, and keep the Kerr’s in your thoughts, we’re here for them. 

We’ve all seen him, and we all love him.  Bob Brown Bear is a new fixture around the ballpark, greeting kids for high-fives and photo opps, while also catering to the needs of adults who need some mascot loving.  Bob Brown Bear’s handler talked to Nat Notes about the Bear.  Please show your kids at home!

Q: What is Bob’s favourite Nat Bailey Stadium meal?

A: Well, when Bob first got to the ballpark he definitely had a sweet tooth, eating more than his share of cotton candy and ice cream.  But as he saw how hard the players worked to stay in shape, he decided to focus more on things like the Bratwurst with mustard and the Nathan’s Hot Dog.  Did you know these hot dogs are the exact same ones as those at Yankee Stadium?  Bob loves telling our fans that we have the best hot dogs in the city!!!

Q: Who is BBB’s favourite mascot (other than himself, of course)?

A: Bob Brown Bear loves most mascots, including the Famous Chicken, most of all.  When the Chicken came to Nat Bailey this season, they became instant friends and both agreed that the only  mascot that needs a lesson in being nice was Chef Wasabi!

Q: What is his favourite Nat Bailey moment?

A: He loves meeting kids and giving them high-fives, but the best moment of them all?  It would probably be Opening Night, when the stands were full and the electric atmosphere in the crowd when he first arrived at Nat Bailey!

Q: Who does Bob prefer when it comes to Baseball players?

A: One of his favourite players locally  was Arnie Hallgren, the first BC born baseball player to break into the Majors.  Bob has a soft spot for any of the Oakland A’s players that have played in Vancouver as well!!

Q: Why is his name Bob Brown Bear?

A: Bob Brown Bear represents one of the baseball pioneers in Vancouver, Bob Brown.  Mr Brown was very active in keeping professional baseball alive in Vancouver for many years, and is long remembered as one of the men who gave baseball an identity in our city and paved the way for the likes of Nat Bailey and others to find their place into baseball’s history in this city!! 

Q: Is there any Northwest League team he likes to cheer for?

A: I’m not sure if Bob really likes any opposing teams in the NWL, but he is a diehard Canadians supporter and cheering for the visitors is really out of the question!  He does like fair play and likes players that perform well while being good ambassadors for the game of baseball.  Did you know Bob Brown Bear isn’t the only ‘Bear’ in the NWL?  Yep, there’s Boomer the Bear (right) in Yakima that also has a fan base in Yakima, but I got the feeling that there would be no hard feelings because both bears respect each other.

Q: Who would win in a fight?  Leo the Lion, Fin the Canuck, Bob Brown Bear?

A: A fight?  That isn’t really BBB’s style.  I can say this, if it came down to the love of the game, I think Bob’s up there with the best of them.  Also I think Bob Brown Bear could outsmart both Fin and Leo on the diamond, but I don’t believe he could outskate Fin or tackle as hard as Leo.

Q: Which does Bob prefer, a night time game or a Nooner?

A: Bob Brown Bear loves to get his tan on and wear sunglasses at Nooners.  Then again, he enjoys a good rest after a night of cheering, eating and giving hundreds of kids hugs.  Whoever uses the phrase "Don’t Feed The Bears" has obviously never met Bob Brown Bear.

Q: What can you say to kids that are too shy to come up to Bob?

A: Bob Brown Bear definitely knows there are some very shy kids and they can be intimidated by an eight foot bear, but there is always a secret the BBB can tell younger fans at the ballpark.  Close your eyes, hold out your hand, and Bob Brown Bear promises to give a super gentle, super soft, high-five!!!! If you can handle a high-five from Bob, chances are you can handle a wave, a huge or anything else that Bob Brown Bear is great at!

Q: Who could you cheer for if the C’s weren’t an option.

A: It’s the Canadians or bust for him.  If BBB absolutely had to support another team it’d be trying to put his support behind the UBC Thunderbirds in hopes of keeping their winning tradition going out at the ballpark.

Q: Why does Bob Brown Bear love being the C’s mascot?

A: BBB loves being the mascot simply because this is his home (Nat Bailey Stadium) and this is his hometown team! Everyone should get behind their hometown team and try to support them as much as possible.  Could you imagine Vancouver without the C’s? No way, but it takes all of us to try and help keep this team at the top of everyone’s minds so that’s why he loves his job - because it isn’t a job, it’s a responsibility to cheer on the C’s and let everyone know what they can do, to lead us to a Championship!!

I thank Bob Brown Bear’s handler and Bob himself for being a great mascot, and ambassador to the C’s.