06-19-2019, 03:02 AM
Just a week or so ago was the 10th anniversary of the final game the Expos played in Montreal. Cheap Lions Jerseys Online . There are many reasons the team wound up leaving town for Washington, starting with the strike/lockout of 1994 when the Expos had the best record in the Majors only to see the season shut down in mid-August and the World Series cancelled. You can throw in lack of post-season appearances (one) and a relatively fan unfriendly stadium in the wrong part of town and an ownership at the end that wasnt committed or couldnt afford to keep a very good team together. But I discovered something over the weekend that might have profoundly changed the history, and ultimately the future, of the Expos franchise: the 1971 draft. In 1971, the Chicago White Sox lead off the draft by selecting catcher Danny Goodwin, who never really panned out at the Big League level. The Expos, picking fourth overall, chose a short stop out of Tennessee by the name of Condredge Holloway. Condredge was not only an outstanding baseball player, a sport he actually preferred, but also an excellent quarterback. His parents were committed to seeing him get an education and his mother refused to sign his contract with the Expos. Condredge went on to play baseball and football at the University of Tennessee, where he excelled at both sports. He was actually the first African American to play quarterback in the Southeast Conference. Holloway ultimately chose football for his pro career and after being drafted by New England as a defencive back, opted for the CFL and landed in Ottawa. Later on, he was named Most Outstanding Player in the CFL with the Argos in 1982 and along with Joe Barnes, helped the Argos to a drought-ending Grey Cup victory in that 82 season. In 1999, he was named to the CFL Hall of Fame. On more than one occasion, Holloway spoke of what might have happened if he had chosen baseball and favourably compared himself to Brewers Hall of Fame shortstop, Robin Yount. The Expos would never know, but to compound their problems with that first round in 1971, fire-balling lefty Frank Tanana went 13th overall to the Angels and left field slugger and future Hall of Famer Jim Rice went 15th to the Boston Red Sox. So, Montreal effectively struck out in the first round. But that wasnt the end of it. In the second round of the 1971 draft, the Expos chose left hand starting pitcher Dan Warthen. His career flamed out pretty quickly. Warthen went 12-21 with a 4.31 ERA and his days in the Majors were over at 25, though he has gone on to be a successful pitching coach and his currently with the New York Mets, who may have the best flock of young arms in the business. But back to the matter at hand. Kansas City had the number five pick in that second round in 71 and chose a young shortstop who would later become a Hall of Fame 3B in George Brett, one of the greatest pure hitters the game has ever seen. Right after that selection, the Phillies chose another shortstop, who like Brett would become a Hall of Fame third baseman and Expos Killer Mike Schmidt, who had tremendous power and played gold glove defence at the hot corner. So lets recap. The Expos ended up with little or nothing in Holloway and Warthen, and could have had two of the following four; Frank Tanana, Jim Rice, George Brett or Mike Schmidt. Three of those four turned into Hall of Famers. Schmidt won a World Series over Brett and the Royals in 1980 and Brett and company beat St. Louis in the 1985 Fall Classic. You cant tell me with Rice and Brett or Rice and Schmidt, the Expos wouldnt have won at least one World Series and that could have changed the course of history for Canadas first Major League team. When you look at the current Kansas City Royals who are just two victories away from going to their second World Series, you can pinpoint a three year span of drafting as being instrumental to their success. In 2005, they took 3B Alex Gordon, now their left fielder number two overall. In 2007, 3B Mike Moustakas went number two and in 2008 1B Eric Hosmer went number three overall. Rising prospect Christian Colon went number four in Round 1 in 2010 and lefty reliever Brandon Finnegan, whos in their pen right now, was taken at number 14 this year. The Philadelphia Inquirer made an interesting point the other day. A Major League all-star game hasnt been played in a multipurpose stadium since it was held at the old Veterans Stadium in 1996. So you can basically count out Rogers Centre at least until the Argos are gone and natural grass is finally installed. This season, former Blue Jays utility outfielder Rajai Davis stole 35 bases for the Tigers. Thats more than they stole as an entire team in 2013. Cheap Stitched Lions Jerseys . Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton and Kole Calhoun all homered to help the Los Angeles Angels get their first win of the season with an 11-1 rout of the Houston Astros. Youth DaShawn Hand Jersey . - Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis said Wednesday hes "nodded off" during meetings, but he said its something every player does. http://www.wholesalelionsjerseys.com/ . According to a report from CSN Bay Area, the 49ers are bracing for 6-8 game suspension for their outside linebacker.SEATTLE -- Collin McHugh didnt know he was starting Tuesday until late the night before. When he took the mound, he surprised just about everyone with his performance. McHugh struck out a career-high 12 in his season debut to lead the Houston Astros to a 5-2 win against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night, extending Seattles losing streak to eight games. McHugh (1-0) was told he was being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday and flew to Seattle. It wasnt until he got to the team hotel late Monday night that he found out he was going to start for the Astros on Tuesday. Before the game, Houston coach Bo Porter characterized McHugh as a "pitch to contact guy," but the Mariners made almost no contact. McHugh struck out the first three batters he faced to set the tone for his first win in 10 career starts. "That was outstanding. Thats what you call seizing the opportunity," Porter said. The right-hander didnt walk a batter, giving up three hits in 6 2-3 shutout innings. "I dont think anybody prepares to go out and strike out a bunch of people. But I knew I had pretty decent command today with two or three pitches," McHugh said. "It was really good to kind of get the proverbial gorilla off your back with a W." McHughs stuff caught the Mariners off guard as well, as they only reached second once against him. "He was a little different than the scouting report we got. He was 94 (miles an hour) with a pretty good cut slider," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He threw exceptionally well tonight." The Astros offence gave McHugh plenty to work with, as Jason Castro and Chris Carter each hit homers to give Houston a 3-0 lead after two innings. Seattle starter Erasmo Ramirez (1-3) struck out eight over six innings and only allowed three hits, but they included the two costly homers. Three at-bats into the game, Castro just cleared the left field wall for a two-run homer, his fourth. Carter followed in the second inning with a shot to left that landed in the second deck for hhis first homer of the year. Wholesale Lions Jerseys Free Shipping. Seattles Dustin Ackley tried to counter with a deep ball to left in the bottom of the second, but Matt Dominguez made a leaping catch at the wall to end the inning. Dominguez added a homer of his own in the top of the seventh to give Houston a 4-0 lead. The Astros have now won two in a row after a seven-game losing streak, and their offence -- which entered Tuesdays game with a major league-worst .196 batting average -- is finally showing some signs of life. "Once the whole offence is flowing like it is the last couple games, you kind of get in a little groove with it," Dominguez said. "Its been nice being able to score some runs." McHughs 12th strikeout came against Robinson Cano to leadoff the bottom of the seventh, but Porter brought on reliever Raul Valdes with two outs in the inning. McHugh had thrown 89 pitches, well above his high of 73 pitches in his minor league outings this year. Valdes walked Kyle Seager and then gave up a two-run home run to Justin Smoak, Seattles only offence of the game. McHughs call up came after Scott Feldman was placed on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis. Feldman will miss at least one more start, possibly giving McHugh more chances to show what he can do. "He didnt do anything to hurt his chances of sticking around," Porter said. "He definitely earned his keep." NOTES: The crowd of 10,466 was the fifth-lowest in Safeco Field history. Six of the seven lowest crowds at Safeco have been matchups with the Astros, all coming since the start of last season. ... Seattle RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (finger) was scheduled to pitch in a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Tacoma, but instead threw a simulated game at Safeco Field on Tuesday afternoon due to weather concerns. McClendon said the outing went well, and Iwakuma will have a rehab outing with Tacoma on Sunday. ... Astros RHP Lucas Harrell, designated for assignment on April 16, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City. 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