Expos scrapbook

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Tought we could use this thread as a combination of Expos trivia, this day in Expo history et al. But it's like a spanish hostel, we'll find on this thread only what we bring.

I'll start with a trivia question. There will be no expo opening day this year, of course :ughh . But let me ask you: This stadium as hosted more Expos opening games than any other.

Little hint: It's not Olympic stadium.

[Ontarioguy]

I didn't look it up but I'm guessing that it's either Shea or the Vet. I'll go with Shea.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

I didn't look it up but I'm guessing that it's either Shea or the Vet. I'll go with Shea.

That's the mindset. Anyone can look something up. We'll see who can take good guess' based on solid knowledge of the team.

[Monarchs29]

I'm gonna guess Cincinnati. And what ever the name of that stadium is/was.

If I recall correctly, the Expos used to open the season for a lot of years, maybe in a row, playing the Reds.

And that's another thing I have against MLB schedulers. I don't have the numbers, but inquiring minds might like to know this.

How many seasons did the Expos open and close on the road?

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Out of 36 years, the Expos opened on the road 30 times. I agree with you Monarch, it's not normal that the team opened more often in the stadium we are looking for than at the Big O. I don't have data for season closer's though.

We havent got the right answer yet.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Wild guess. Jarry Park?

[Chisox73]

I'm going to take a stab at it and say Veterans Stadium.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

The team opened a grand total of 0 seasons at Jarry park.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

The team opened a grand total of 0 seasons at Jarry park.

The Expos started playing in 1969. The Olympics were in 1976. So do you really mean that they didn't have any opening day at home during this time span?

[Augustin_"Gus"]

I actually attended the first ever season opener played in Montréal, a 10-6 loss to the Mets on March 4th, 1988

[Ontarioguy]

Anyone get it right yet AG? If not I'll go with Busch Stadium.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Anyone get it right yet AG? If not I'll go with Busch Stadium.

It's not Busch, nor any of the stadiums that have been mentionned so far.

[Chisox73]

The Expos started playing in 1969. The Olympics were in 1976. So do you really mean that they didn't have any opening day at home during this time span?
Perhaps the biggest reason the Expos never opened at home during the Jarry Park years was the weather.I've never been to Montreal,but April is a pretty cold month there,and the chances of snow up there during the first couple of weeks are pretty good.

That's my take on that.

Back to the question at hand,I'll give it another shot and say Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.

[Monarchs29]

By the process of elimination, and nothing else, it has to be either;

Wrigley Field in Chicago, or Three Rivers in Pittsburgh.

Both these teams used to be in the NLE, and Pittsburgh should still be there, but's that's another argument.

I'm gonna go with Wrigley Field.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

I'm giving Monarch half a point. The Expos have opened more seasons in Three Rivers Stadium (considered by many has one of the worst parks of all time) than anywhere else. Here's the complete list.

Three Rivers, Pittsburgh: 7
Stade Olympique: 6
Shea Stadium, NY: 4
Riverfront, Cincinnati: 4
Veterans Stadium, Philly: 3
Busch Stadium, St-Louis: 3
Wrigley Field, Chicago: 3
Astrodome, Houston: 2
Crosley Field, Cincinnati: 1
County Stadium, Atlanta: 1
Turner Field, Atlanta: 1
Pro Player, Miami: 1

Biggest opening day crowd: 55 456, on april 5th, 1993 at Riverfront. smallest: 4802 on april 6th, 1983 at Wrigley.

Chisox is right about the weather. It can be pretty darn cold here in early april. But usually, the team opened in Montréal about a week after opening on the road, in tropical venues like NY, Chicago or Pittsburgh. Was it really worth it not having an opening day at home for almost 20 years, to save one week? It can be every bit as nasty in Montréal on april 15th, than on april 8th.

While were on the topic on opening day, I would like to nominate this lineup as the weakest ever fielded by the 'Spos for the inaugural game.

April 6th, 1987 at Cincinnati:

Alonzo Powell, LF
Mitch Webster, RF
Andrés Galarraga, 1st
Hubie Brooks, SS
Tim Wallach, 3rd
Vance Law, 2nd
Jeff Reed, C
Reid Nichols, CF
Floyd Youmans, SP

Oddly enough, they lost 11 to 5...

[mikey_s]

By the process of elimination, and nothing else, it has to be either;

Wrigley Field in Chicago, or Three Rivers in Pittsburgh.

Both these teams used to be in the NLE, and Pittsburgh should still be there, but's that's another argument.

I'm gonna go with Wrigley Field.

I don't honestly remember !!!!

My Guess was going to be Pittsburgh but I don't have any great recollection of that either.

For a few years we were opening on the west coast but I don't think it covered 36 years...

[Augustin_"Gus"]

March 24th, 2003: The Expos send Jim Brower and Matt Blank to San Francisco in exchange for Livan Hernandez, Edwards Guzman and a sum of money. Not the worst trade the team ever did, to say the least.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

On this last day of March, little peice of timely trivia. Who is the Expos career leader for homeruns in the month of March?

Not sure if I could give you a hint. We'll see if it's necessary.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

As you may know, I rarely go out of my way to praise RDS (the Franch-canadian equivalent of ESPN). But I have to say they did a good job with the first part of their documentary on the Expos. I was impressed by the quantity of footage from the Jarry Park years the showed, most of wich I had never seen before. A good job of going trough the archives. So a rare thumb up to RDS.

Obviously my travia question was too hard. I'll give you a hint. The guy we are looking for, his name starts with Orlando and ends with Cabrera. :p

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

As you may know, I rarely go out of my way to praise RDS (the Franch-canadian equivalent of ESPN). But I have to say they did a good job with the first part of their documentary on the Expos. I was impressed by the quantity of footage from the Jarry Park years the showed, most of wich I had never seen before. A good job of going trough the archives. So a rare thumb up to RDS.

Obviously my travia question was too hard. I'll give you a hint. The guy we are looking for, his name starts with Orlando and ends with Cabrera. :p

Can you give me one more hint please??????

[Captain Cold Nose]

U.L. Washington.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

No I'm sorry, it's Junior Noboa. :D

The standings of homeruns in march for the Expos are quite simple:

Orlando Cabrera: 1
Every other player to ever put on an Expos uniform: 0

They played only one game in march, in 2003 against Atlanta.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

May as never been such a good month for the Expos. Never, in their 36 year history have they won more then 17 games in may. Their best winning average in a month of may was in 1986 when they went 17 and 10 (,630).

Here are the team's highest winning percentages (expressed in ,000 form) for each month.

April: ,750 (81)
May: ,630 (86)
june: ,704 (94)
july: ,692 (87-88-94)
august: ,818 (94)
september: ,731 (93)

Worst month in club history? May 69. A 4 and 19 record for a whopping ,174.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

May 10th, 1981:

Charlie Lea becomes the second Expos pitcher to record a no-hitter in a 4-0 win at Olympic Stadium against the San Francisco Giants. Here is the box score of the game:



San Francisco Giants 0, Montreal Expos 4

Game played on Sunday, May 10, 1981 at Stade Olympique

San Francisco Giants ab r h rbi
North cf 3 0 0 0
Cabell 1b 4 0 0 0
Morgan 2b 3 0 0 0
Evans 3b 2 0 0 0
Herndon rf 2 0 0 0
May c 3 0 0 0
Bergman lf 2 0 0 0
Smith ss 3 0 0 0
Whitson p 2 0 0 0
Lavelle p 0 0 0 0
Wohlford ph 1 0 0 0

Totals 25 0 0 0


Montreal Expos ab r h rbi

Raines lf 3 1 0 0
Scott 2b 4 1 2 2
Dawson cf 4 0 1 1
Carter c 4 0 1 0
Cromartie 1b 4 0 1 0
Wallach 3b 2 1 1 1
Office rf 4 1 1 0
Phillips ss 4 0 0 0
Lea p 1 0 0 0
Totals 30 4 7 4

San Francisco 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 0 1
Montreal 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 x – 4 7 0

San Francisco Giants IP H R ER BB SO

Whitson L (0-4) 6.2 7 4 4 2 3
Lavelle 1.1 0 0 0 0 1

Montreal Expos IP H R ER BB SO

Lea W (1-1) 9.0 0 0 0 4 8


E–Cabell (6). DP–San Francisco 1, Montreal 1. 2B–Montreal Scott (1,off Whitson); Dawson (5,off Whitson). HR–Montreal Wallach (2,7th inning off Whitson 0 on, 0 out). SH–Lea (1,off Whitson). HBP–Wallach 2 (2,by Whitson,by Lavelle). IBB–Raines (1,by Whitson). CS–North (5,2nd base by Lea/Carter). SB–Dawson (10,2nd base off Whitson/May). HBP–Whitson (1,Wallach); Lavelle (2,Wallach). IBB–Whitson (1,Raines). U–Jim Quick, Bob Engel, Jerry Dale, Paul Runge. T–2:16. A–25,343.

That was the third no-hitter in the then 13 year history of the team. It would take 10 years before another Expo hurler would throw a no-no. A perfect game to be precise.

[Ontarioguy]

Thanks for that AG. Good for you for keeping this forum active...Your doing a better job than me :( ...

It's sad to see that 36 years of history have been completely erased. That no-hitter (in my mind) now belongs to no one. It's not Washingtons. It's dead just like the Expos.

Truly Sad...

How's life cheering for the Cards? I'm trying real hard with the Yanks but some days it just feels forced. You ever get that?

[Augustin_"Gus"]

It's kind of strange to tell you the truth. I had been on with the Expos all my life. I knew the milestones, the records, the playoff performance... You could talk about Miguel Dilone, Rick Dehart, Jim Wolford, Marc Valdes... I knew those guys, I had seen them play. I knew about Jarry Park, the big O, the 82 All-star game, I knew the commentators, the coaches... Now I find myself "rooting" for a team I know close to nothing about. I spent some time recently reading about Sportmans park, the new stadium they are building in St-Louis, the World series titles (right now, I'm just trying to learn the years "My" team won the WS. 48 and 67 against Boston, 82 against Milwaukee... besides that I'm not so sure. I'm trying to learn about Hornsby, Musial, Gibson and the crew. I guess you could say it's a work in progress. So far I'm not regretting my choice.

I'm gonna watch my first game as a Cards fan tomorrow night against the Dodgers. We'll see how that works.

[Ontarioguy]

I know exactly what you mean when trying to learn a new teams history. I'm having the same difficulties when dealing with the Yankees. It just seems so overwhelming, there's so much greatness to learn about. I know Babe wore 3, Gehrig wore 4, Mantle Wore 7 and Maris wore 9. I'm thinking Rizzuto wore 10 but I'm not sure. I don't know any of the other retired numbers by heart, such as Elston Howard, Billy Martin and Thurman Munson. It really is like starting from scratch.

As for naming WS years, waaaay too many. (although I can do it with the Habs but I'm a huge Habs fan) I'm still trying to remember which manager guided which dynasty. :crazy

[Augustin_"Gus"]

That's the good thing with the habs and the Yankees. You name a year, you have a 1 out of 4 (approx.) chance of getting it right.

1993, 1986, 79, 78, 77, 76, 72, 71... Did they won any in the sixties? 60, 59, 58, 57, 56... I'm only halfway there... To think I consider myself a Canadiens fan...

I think I'm gonna get one of those signature with all the years of the Cardinals pennants and WS on my posts. I should learn it in no time.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Let's wish a (belated) happy birthday to Joey Eischen who turned 35 yesterday. I've got a little trivia about Joey. He was part of two trades that respectively moved from and brought to this city two very unique inidviduals, in 1991 and 1995. Could you tell me who those players were? They both had pretty cool nicknames.

Answer in the next post.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

On July 21st, 1991, the Expos acquired Joey Eischen and pitchers Jonathan Hurst and Travis Buckley (???) from the Texas Rangers in return for Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd. And on may 23rd, 1995, they sent Eichen and Roberto Kelly to Los Angeles in exchange for Jeff Treadway and "Oh" Henry Rodriguez.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

I'd like to tip my hat to St-John New Brunswick native and former Expo (briefly), Matt Stairs who hit his 200th career HR last night. Not the kind of numbers that will get you into the Hall of fame, obviously. But if you get to 200 Homers in the majors, that means your doing something right, and youve been doing it for a while. Congrats Matt.

While we are on the topic of former Expos, one former Expo who's having a good season is Chad Cordero. 2-1 with 14 saves and a 1,38 ERA in 26 innings pitched. He struck out 24 while giving up 8 walks. And let's not forget, he's just 23 years old.

[Chicoutimi CP]

You're right, 200 HRs is definitely not Hall of Fame numbers. But before this season, only 254 players had reached that milestone. So that's quite respectable...

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Orlando Cabrera got a great reception from the Boston fans, in his return to Fenway on saturday. And the color guy on NESN (don't know who he is), discussing the letting go of Cabrera to sign Renteria said quote:"I think everybody in baseball would agree that Renteria is a better player than Cabrera".

Maybe I'm too partisan here, but I truely believe that the guy got a little bit carried away. Everybody in baseball would agree that Greg Maddux is a better pitcher than Luis Aquino. But would everybody agree Renteria is better than Cabrera? Without any kind of a discussion? Seem's like a bit of a stretch to me.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

While were on the topic of declarations I don't fully agree with, I heard on the radio this morning that one of the 1990 Cincinnati Reds (think it was Chris Sabo, but I wasn't fully awake at that point in time) who's working for the nationals compared his trio of relievers (Cordero, Ayala, and - of all people- Gary Majewski) to the Nasty Boys. I mean, Cordero's good and getting better, Ayala is a guy that can help a team and Majewski... But to compare them to the Nasty Boys? Let's look at some raw numbers, shall we? In 1990, Myers, Dibble and Charlton put together won 24 games, had 44 saves, had ERA's of 2,08; 1,74 and 2,74 respectively. They gave up 142 walks, while striking out 351 batters in 338 innings pitched. And in addition to that, the three of them combined for 8 and 2/3 shutout innings in the world series, that the Reds won in 4. So let's not get carried away.

I mean, I like pulling comparaisons out of your rear end as much as the next guy, but what's next Chris? I got one for you, how does that sounds:" Rauch and Loiza, and two days of rain".

It's catchy.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Little piece of trivia for you. In the history of the Montréal Expos, only one player hit 3 homeruns in a game more than once. Who is it?

Hint: Late seventies, early eighties. Answer in the next post.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Mister Larry Parrish, is the only Expo to hit 3 homers in a game more than once. Actually, he did it three times, always on the road, always on three consecutive at-bats. At St-Louis on May 29th, 1977, at Atlanta on July 30th, 1978 and finally, once again at Fulton-County Stadium on April 25th, 1980.

If you got it right, good for you!

[awexpos4ever]

Here's one that is rarely answered correctly:

Who was the 1st Expos (signed)?

[Augustin_"Gus"]

I'll go with Donn Clendenon, but it's really a guess.

[awexpos4ever]

Answer: Dave Hartman, a free-agent pitcher on September 10, 1968 - a full month before the expansion draft - I haven't found any evidence to any other signing before the draft so he may have been the ONLY Expos - Hartman never played in the majors and appears to have been a late cut in spring training - he is featured in an interview in the 1969 Expos film ("One-Hundred-And-One")


Question: First Canadien signed by the Expos?

[edclinch]

I loved the Expos first and foremost because of Tim Raines. I grew up between two tv markets in south central Indiana: Cubs and Reds. But the triple A affiliate was the Indianapolis Indians, whom I saw play against Raines in 1986. We saw even smaller Al "What me Worry? Newman."

two questions for all Expos-aficionados.

WHat Expo had the best strike out to RBI ratio, both with Montreal and and in his career? (Raines had career 980 RBI and less SOs.)
Secondly: where was the thriple A farm club located during Montreal's 36 year history?

[awexpos4ever]

Triple-A teams:

1969 Vancouver
1970 Buffalo Bisons which were moved to Winnipeg Whips (through 1971)
1972-1973 Pennisula Whips
1974-1975 Memphis Blues
1976-1981 Denver Bears
1982-1983 Wichita Aeros (changed name to Expos for 1983)
1984-1992 Indianapolis Indians
1993-2002 Ottawa Lynx
2003-2004 Edmonton Trappers

[Chicoutimi CP]

"WHat Expo had the best strike out to RBI ratio, both with Montreal and and in his career?"

Here's the first part answer with a few details :
1-Al Oliver is by far the best, but we have to remember he played just for two seasons. He had 103 SOs and 193 RBIs (ratio 0,534 SO/RBI).
2-Darrin Fletcher is second, 191 SOs and 300 RBIs (ratio 0,637 SO/RBI).
3-Vlad is third, 484 SOs and 702 RBIs (ratio 0,689 SO/RBI).
4-For your info, Raines would come at no. 23 among the players with at least 500 ABs. His ratio is 1,023. ---But compared to the other 15 Expos having at least 2500 ABs, he's #6 right behind Vlad, Cabrera, Vidro, Carter and Foli.---

For their career, here's what it may look like. Due to my limited resources (I don't have sophisticated software as many guys here do), I have established a range so I could start with guys having compiled 200 SOs and 200 RBIs lifetime. So I think I'm close to the truth, at the very least. Lets's say the best of all time would be Tris Speaker -220 SOs, 1529 RBIs, ratio 0,144-. But older players such as Speaker often have incomplete stats regarding SOs (possibly because they were not compiled back then, or they were simply lost, or maybe both).

For the Expos now :
#224 : Al Oliver (756 SOs, 1326 RBIs, ratio : 0,570)
#253 : Le Grand Orange (888 SOs, 1466 RBIs, ratio : 0,606)
#325 : Vlad (558 SOs, 828 RBIs, ratio : 0,674)

I hope that's what you were lookin for.

Have a nice Saturday, everyone.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Josh Labandeira, one of the really bad memories I have of the end of last season, got busted and suspended for using illegal substances. Frankly, the only thing I found him guilty of last september, was being a remarkably inept ball player. If I was him, I would double the dose of wathever he was taking.

[Ontarioguy]

Wow, I had already completely forgot about Labandeira...Soon, I won't even remember guys like Macier Izturis...

Anyone watching Live 8 today??

[Ontarioguy]

Coco Laboy turns 66 today. Happy Birthday Coco!

Born in Ponce P.R., Coco was the starting, rookie, 3rd baseman for the 1969 Expos. He hit 18 HR's and led the team with 83 RBI's. His rookie season would be his best as he would never come close to repeating those numbers again. His final year in the Big League's was 1973. Coco played 420 games, all for the Expos.

Moises Alou turns 39 today, aswell.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

On july 9th, 1973, Expos pitching established a team record for mediocrity by giving up 15 walks to the Cincinnati Reds, including 5 in 2 innings by reliever Joe Gilbert. Turns out that Gilbert gave up a BB every 1 2/3 innings he pitched during his brief stint in the majors (37 in 62 IP).



Cincinnati Reds 11, Montreal Expos 6

Game played on Monday, July 9, 1973 at Parc Jarry

Cincinnati Reds ab r h rbi
Rose lf 2 2 1 0
Morgan 2b 3 2 2 2
Driessen 3b 3 1 1 0
Menke ph,3b 1 1 0 0
Bench c 4 1 2 3
Perez 1b 5 1 2 0
Tolan cf,rf 5 1 1 2
Concepcion ss 4 0 0 0
Stahl rf 1 0 0 0
Kosco ph,rf 0 1 0 0
Geronimo cf 1 0 0 0
Hall p 2 0 0 0
Borbon p 0 0 0 0
Gagliano ph 1 0 0 0
Sprague p 0 0 0 0
King ph 1 1 1 4
Carroll p 1 0 0 0

Totals 34 11 10 11

Montreal Expos ab r h rbi
Hunt 2b 4 1 1 2
Mashore lf 2 0 0 0
Day ph,lf,cf 1 0 0 0
Scott p 0 0 0 0
Bailey 3b 5 1 1 0
Breeden 1b 4 1 2 1
Woods cf 1 0 0 0
Fairly ph,lf 1 1 1 0
Singleton rf 4 0 1 1
Boccabella c 5 0 1 0
Frias ss 4 1 2 2
Stoneman p 0 0 0 0
Renko ph 0 1 0 0
Walker p 0 0 0 0
Humphrey ph 1 0 0 0
Gilbert p 1 0 0 0
Jarvis p 0 0 0 0
Strohmayer p 0 0 0 0
Jorgensen ph,cf 2 0 1 0

Totals 35 6 10 6

Cincinnati 3 0 1 0 0 7 0 0 0 – 11 10 1
Montreal 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 – 6 10 1

Cincinnati Reds IP H R ER BB SO

Hall 3.0 3 4 4 7 6
Borbon 1.0 1 0 0 1 0
Sprague W (1-3)1.0 0 0 0 0 1
Carroll SV (6) 4.0 6 2 2 2 1

Montreal Expos IP H R ER BB SO

Stoneman 2.0 4 3 3 2 1
Walker 1.0 1 1 1 2 1
Gilbert L (1-2) 2.0 1 2 2 5 1
Jarvis 0.2 3 5 0 4 0
Strohmayer 2.1 0 0 0 1 0
Scott 1.0 1 0 0 1 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E–Concepcion (12), Jarvis (2). DP–Cincinnati 2, Montreal 1. 2B–Cincinnati Bench (10,off Stoneman), Montreal Hunt (10,off Hall); Breeden (6,off Hall); Jorgensen (7,off Carroll); Bailey (13,off Carroll). HR–Cincinnati Morgan (11,1st inning off Stoneman 1 on, 0 out); Bench (16,3rd inning off Walker 0 on, 0 out); King (3,6th inning off Jarvis 3 on, 2 out). SH–Menke (3,off Jarvis); Mashore (5,off Borbon). SF–Bench (6,off Jarvis). IBB–Stahl (3,by Walker); Kosco (3,by Jarvis). SB–Concepcion (17,2nd base off Walker/Boccabella). CS–Morgan (10,2nd base by Gilbert/Boccabella). WP–Walker (1). IBB–Walker (7,Stahl); Jarvis (2,Kosco). U–Paul Pryor, Bruce Froemming, Terry Tata, Ed Vargo. T–3:08. A–27,324.

[Chicoutimi CP]

On this day in history, in 1969, at Parc Jarry, Kevin Collins became the first pinch-hitter to hit a home run for the Expos, a three run shot in the 6th inning off Jim Bunning, at the time with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Expos were then taking a 4-2 lead only to see the Bucks tie the score in the 7th. But in the 8th, Ty Cline and Coco Laboy hit consecutive doubles to give the Expos a 5-4 win.

Kevin Collins had been acquired by Montreal on June 15, 1969 from the New York Mets with Steve Renko, Bill Carden and Dave Colon in exchange for Donn Clendenon. His contract was sold to the Detroit Tigers on August 2, 1970. With the Expos, he played 52 games (all in 1969) as an infield backup. He maintained a .240 batting average (23/96), 2 home runs, and 12 RBIs. He was the best PH of the team in 1969 with Cline, going 10/29, 1 HR and 6 RBIs.

[Chicoutimi CP]

On this day in history, in 1982, Gary Carter hits a 3 run home run in the first innning while Steve Rogers pitches a complete game to give the Expos a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. It is the 1000th victory in the history of the team. Overall, the Expos won 2755 games between April 1969 and October 2004.

[Chicoutimi CP]

1991 - Dennis Martinez pitched a perfect game as the Montreal Expos beat Los Angeles 2-0 at Dodger Stadium. That was the 13th perfect game in Major League Baseball's history. :clapping

[Ontarioguy]

"El Presidente, El Perfecto!" :radio - Dave Van Horne, right after Marquis Grissom caught that final out.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

I was 13. My grand-mother was over for a visit that day, so we hung out in a room with no TV. When I got a little bored, I went to the living room the catch parts of the game. Martinez was perfect. I kept going back and forth and I got the see the last inning. But I didn't know enough about the game at that point to understand just how meaningful it was. If it happened today, I would be much more excited (heck, I get excited when I have a perfect game going into the ninth when I play on the PS2. Happened twice already this season. Livan and Tomo. Both failed in the ninth). But still, it was a great day in Expos history.

In an unrelated topic, today is the 250th anniversary of the deportation of the Acadian people. On July 28th, 1755, Nova Scotia governor Charles Lawrence issued a decree stating that all Acadians, descendant of french settlers living in what is now Nova Scotia, should be forced out of their villages, and deported. Thousands of Acadians from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince-Edward Island were shipped to the 13 colonies, or to Europe. Thousands died in what is considered one of the most extensive cases of ethnic clensing ever performed in North America (actually, second only to what was done to Native Americans).

Today, the hundreds of thousand descendants of Acadians living in the maritime provinces of Canada, in Québec, in Louisiana and elsewhere commemorate that tragic event by observing a moment of silence at 5:55. As a descendant of Acadian deportees myself, I will do just that.

[Ontarioguy]

What makes me most happy about his perfect game is that the Expos will forever be represented in that tiny and elite club of Perfect games.

Thanks for the history 'update' AG, I didn' t realize this was the official day the order was given. It's certainly a dark part of our history. I find it quite impressive how the Acadians still maintain a sense of culture after all these years. I have a neighbour just down the road from me, a woman in her 60's who is still very proud to be an Acadian, much like yourself.
http://frontenac.ameriques.free.fr/images/drapeau_acadie_150.png

Speaking of returning to our roots, I'm heading back to my hometown of Montreal next Friday (August 5th.). I'm taking the train and should arrive in Montreal around noon. I'll be visiting some of the fine bars in the downtown, old Montreal and possibly on Greene Street in my old neighbourhood of Westmount.(yes yes, I'm a Westmounter, but a LOWER Westmounter, so don't hate me :o ) My final stop of the night will be Crescent street, before I get back on the 11:30 train that night. I love going to Montreal and look forward to every trip there.

BTW, I'm open to any recommendations of things to do/see while there, because I'll have 12 Hours to spend.

Sorry about Hijacking this thread...

[Ontarioguy]

From Today in Baseball History.

July 30th, 1978 - The Expos crush the Braves, 19-0, collecting twenty-eight hits and a National League record-tying eight home runs. Andre Dawson, Larry Parrish, Dave Cash, and Dawson again homer in the fourth inning; The fifty-eight bases break an 85-year-old record held by the Reds.

:gt

[Augustin_"Gus"]

So OG is actually WG (Westmount guy)...

Nobody hates anyone on this board, that's the great thing about it. Actually, I like Westmount. What I especially enjoy, is to take a stroll in the streets of the town in the fall. Just beautiful. And quite an exercise.

[Astros4Life]

i think the expos had a cool logo...the M that looked kind of like Jb...had yall had the right ownership we might see alot more of that M

[Chicoutimi CP]

1985 - Gary Carter hit a pair of solo home runs to tie a Major League record and singled in another run to lead the New York Mets to a 9-2 victory over San Diego. Carter's feat followed a three-homer performance the night before as he became the 11th player in Major League history to hit five home runs in two games.

---Sorry for that mistake :( I read it a little too fast before sending it. I hope I haven't made any enemies because of this.

[Chicoutimi CP]

1980 - Bill Gullickson struck out eighteen - the most ever by a rookie - as the Montreal Expos beat the Chicago Cubs, 4-2.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

After last season, the nationals didn't need to keep Tony Batista. Nope, don't need him. We have our own guy. Vinny Castilla will ply 3rd. Let's take a look at Castilla's numbers.

133 G, 463 AB, 50 R, 115 H, 32 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 62 RBI's.

Now, let's take a look at Batista's numbers in 2004 with the Expos.

157 G, 606 AB, 76 R, 146 H, 30 2B, 2 3B, 32 HR, 110 RBI's

That was a pretty good move on their part...

BTW, Tony Batista's real name is Leocadio Batista.

I did not know that.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

What makes me most happy about his perfect game is that the Expos will forever be represented in that tiny and elite club of Perfect games.

Thanks for the history 'update' AG, I didn' t realize this was the official day the order was given. It's certainly a dark part of our history. I find it quite impressive how the Acadians still maintain a sense of culture after all these years. I have a neighbour just down the road from me, a woman in her 60's who is still very proud to be an Acadian, much like yourself.
http://frontenac.ameriques.free.fr/images/drapeau_acadie_150.png

Speaking of returning to our roots, I'm heading back to my hometown of Montreal next Friday (August 5th.). I'm taking the train and should arrive in Montreal around noon. I'll be visiting some of the fine bars in the downtown, old Montreal and possibly on Greene Street in my old neighbourhood of Westmount.(yes yes, I'm a Westmounter, but a LOWER Westmounter, so don't hate me :o ) My final stop of the night will be Crescent street, before I get back on the 11:30 train that night. I love going to Montreal and look forward to every trip there.

BTW, I'm open to any recommendations of things to do/see while there, because I'll have 12 Hours to spend.

Sorry about Hijacking this thread...

What country is this flag from? Peoples Republic of France? :laugh

[Chicoutimi CP]

1991 - A 55-ton block collapses in Montreal's Olympic Stadium. The Expos, already in last place, will have to play the rest of their home games on the road... What a great moment! :crazy

[Augustin_"Gus"]

What country is this flag from? Peoples Republic of France? :laugh

It's the Acadian flag my friend. Symbol of a proud tough "country-less" nation.

[Chicoutimi CP]

1985 - Expos outfielder Andre Dawson slugs three home runs, including a pair of three-run shots in a 12-run fifth inning, to lead Montreal to a wild 17-15 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Dawson joins Willie McCovey as the only players to hit two home runs in one inning on two different occasions.

I will add that, during his career, the Hawk has compiled those stats:
1373 R (79th on the all-time list)
2774 H (43rd)
503 2B (41st)
438 HR (30th)
1591 RBI (28th)
314 SB (138th)

PLUS : he's on a very short list of three players having 2500 hits, 1000 runs, 1500 RBIs, 400 HR and 300 SB. The two others are Barry Bonds and Willie Mays. Pretty good company!

[Chicoutimi CP]

1972 - Bill Stoneman of Montreal pitches his second no-hitter, beating the Mets 7-0. The temperature at Jarry Park is 53 degrees as 7,184 watch the doubleheader split.

Footnote :
Stoney is 11th on the Expos all-time pitcher list with 51 Ws, tied with Woodie Fryman. He's also second with 46 complete games and 15 SHOs. Most of all, he's the only one with 2 no-hitters. :lookitup

[Ontarioguy]

October 7th to 11th are the dates that the Expos and Phillies battled in the 1981 playoffs. Home-field advantage was key in this one.

The series opener see's a classic pitchers battle with the great Steve Carleton facing off against Steve Rogers. Rogers wins the battle by scattering 10 hits over 8.2 innings while only giving up a single run. Jeff Reardon comes in to record the final out and the save. 34,237 witness the first ever playoff game in Canada.

Montreal took the second game by the same score. Led by Gary Carter's 2-run, 2-out shot in the third. Jeff Reardon get's the save.

As the series shifts to Philadelphie, the defending World Champions are re-energized, taking game 3 by a 6-2 score. Montreal commits 4 errors leading to 2 un-earned runs. Gary Carter throws out 2 runners (Larry Bowa and Bob Boone) attepmting to steal second.

Still facing elimination, Philadelphia comes through in the clutch taking 6-5 win in the 10th inning. Pinch hitter, George Vukovich homers in the bottom of the 10th to give the Phillies the win and all the momentum heading back to Montreal for the decisive game 5.

The Phillies once again sent Carleton to the mound, who was seeking redemption after losing the opening game. The Expos sent Rogers back to the mound hoping he could replicate his game 1 mastery and send the Expos to the NLCS. With no score in the bottom of the 5th, Rogers helps his own cause by singling to centre and driving in Parrish and Speier. In the 6th Parrish doubled in Dawson to give the Expos a 3-0 lead. Rogers once again out-pitched Carleton by tossing a complete game 6 hit shutout. Rogers cemented his place in Expos history and sent his team to the NLCS.



I'd love to hear some of the old-time posters talk about this series. I wish I had been there.

[XPOFAN]

I was at the first two games. Exciting stuff. I remember it was chilly (no roof then) but people didn't care. When Carter hit that home run, people went nuts. It's funny, so much of the games has slipped out of my memory, but I remember the walk back to the Metro and the celebration that was going on in that tunnel.

Back then, I never thought 2004 could have happened.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

It's really unfortunate. Rogers had been so good against the Phillies. Yet, when we think about Steve Rogers and the 81 playoffs, there's only one pitch that comes to mind, and you know wich one it is... That's the cruelty of sports. You can be as good as you want at any given time, but in the peoples mind, one pitch, on play, on at-bat, can overshadow so much of what you did right.

[Ontarioguy]

Bonne Anniversaire, mon cher ami Gus! J'espere que tu t'amuses bien aujourd'hui!

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Thanks a bunch OG. I'm getting older and not necessarily wiser, but what are you gonna do?

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Last weekend, young man by the name of Tommy Gagné was arrested in connection with the murder of a young gas station attendant in Montréal. So all weekend long, they showed us the images of Gagné being brought in, handcuffed, wearing an Expos cap...

You can't buy publicity like that, can you:(

[Ontarioguy]

This fall in order to save up some money to come to Montreal I got a job at a 24hour Petro-Canada on the Transcanada highway between Montreal and Ottawa. I worked overnight much like Brigitte Serre, so I find this story touches close to home. Our place had been robbed before and there was always the risk that 'highway roberry' could actually happen. It was always a nice feeling when the cops would come in around 4am to gas up. I knew for the next 5 minutes my life wasn't in danger and neither was my cash. Now I don't know how things work in Quebec, but in Ontario, it's illegal to have someone all alone like that on nightshift. If that ever happened in Ontario there would be a major poop-storm. I always had a partner when I worked with me on night shift. Anyways, that's just my take on the whole thing, since I've lived it, sort of...

[Augustin_"Gus"]

A happy birthday to our friend Yankees Rule. :clapping

Actually, with the time difference, his birthday is already over out there in Etten-Leur.

Hope you enjoyed it my friend.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

A happy birthday to our friend Yankees Rule. :clapping

Actually, with the time difference, his birthday is already over out there in Etten-Leur.

Hope you enjoyed it my friend.
Happy Birthday Chris!:gt

Have a great one!

[Gjm130]

I wonder what happened to Barry Jones??
He was 11-4 in 1990, and he used to play for the White Sox before coming to Montreal.

[Ontarioguy]

Happy birthday Chris! You're a good guy! You also make me feel young;)

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Happy birthday Chris! You're a good guy! You also make me feel young;)
:laugh Comparison in age :laugh

You're 19 and he's...oh, I get it:)

[Augustin_"Gus"]

He dosent post very often anymore, but he stills come by, early in the morning to check out what's going on. So let's wish a happy birthday to our friend Monarch.

BTW Monarch, I know Conerbrook is in the western part of the province. But I still find it a little odd that a paper from Newfoundland would be named "The Western Star".

Have a good one. :waving

[Ex-Expo fan]

Happy B-Day Monarch:waving

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

He dosent post very often anymore, but he stills come by, early in the morning to check out what's going on. So let's wish a happy birthday to our friend Monarch.

BTW Monarch, I know Conerbrook is in the western part of the province. But I still find it a little odd that a paper from Newfoundland would be named "The Western Star".

Have a good one. :waving
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!:clapping

[Ontarioguy]

Happy Birthday Monarchs.

They say that Western NFLD, is a beautiful place. Stephen Brunt (Globe and Mail Sportswriter bought himself a cottage as soon as he got there, saying he just fell in love with the place) One day when I have the money, I'll take a trip to the rock. I haven't seen enough of my great country.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

There's been another attempted coup in the Phillipines last week. Hopefully it didn't cause any trouble for our collegue Runningshoes53 who's a resident of that country.

[Ontarioguy]

Poor Vlad lost 3 first cousins in a car accident in the Dominican Republic. How sad.:(

link (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AsKJIvcfYwg3OWse4Btfa_gRvLYF?slug=ap-angels-guerrero&prov=ap&type=lgns)

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Little pop quiz for you hot shots:

When the Expos left, it had been 25 years since the last time the club had completed a trade with this formation, the longest "no-trade" streak nos Amours had going by more than a decade. Wich team was it?

Give you a hint, all things considered, it's a pretty short trip from Montréal.

The answer later.

[Ontarioguy]

I can't wait for the answer to this question.

Where do you find all of these juicy questions? Is it from a media guide? Do you know if there are any still for sale somewhere around town? I'd love to get my hands on one.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Little pop quiz for you hot shots:

When the Expos left, it had been 25 years since the last time the club had completed a trade with this formation, the longest "no-trade" streak nos Amours had going by more than a decade. Wich team was it?

Give you a hint, all things considered, it's a pretty short trip from Montréal.

The answer later.
Cardinals?? Yankees??

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

I can't wait for the answer to this question.

Where do you find all of these juicy questions? Is it from a media guide? Do you know if there are any still for sale somewhere around town? I'd love to get my hands on one.
Ditto! :hp

[raineman30]

E-Bay has more media guides than you can shake a stick at. Go to e-bay.com, type in expos guide.

[Ontarioguy]

Cardinals?? Yankees??
Definately not the Yankees. Ever trade with them seemed to turn into a disaster. Hideki Irabu, where are you now?

[Augustin_"Gus"]

The media guide is my friend indeed.

It's not St-Lou or the Yankees. Altough not trading with them for 25 years might have been a positive for our club...

The answer when I come back to work tonight.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Astros?
White Sox?
Marlins?
Giants?
Twins?
TELL ME ALREADY!!!:laugh

[Ex-Expo fan]

I don't know, I'm taking a wild guess, the Jays?

[Augustin_"Gus"]

After they rocked the baseball world on it's very foundation, when the Expos aquired Tony Solaita in return for Dyer Miller on july 30th, 1979, the Expos and the Toronto Blue Jays, kind of went:"you know what, let's never make another deal again. I don't think MLB is ready for another shakeup of that magnitude".

So Ex-Expo Fan got it right. :clapping

[Ontarioguy]

Wow. The Jays seemed like too easy an answer. Great stuff.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

After they rocked the baseball world on it's very foundation, when the Expos aquired Tony Solaita in return for Dyer Miller on july 30th, 1979, the Expos and the Toronto Blue Jays, kind of went:"you know what, let's never make another deal again. I don't think MLB is ready for another shakeup of that magnitude".

So Ex-Expo Fan got it right. :clapping
Guys, I have an idea. I'll create a thread and every day Gus or someone else will ask one question. We'll all try to answer that question and if we do we get a point, if we don't no points. It'll be a sort of game.
Only one question asked per day though. ;)

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Looks like Luis Ayala is out for the season. Reconstructive elbow surgery.

Unfortunate. The guy pretty much came out of nowhere to be one of the very good relievers of the last couple editions of the team. Now, the future only will tell us if he can bounce back from this.

Not to mention that it puts our friend Franky in a jam. Who's he gonna send out there to pinch hit for his pitcher if Ayala's out for the year? Does anyone has Claudio Vargas' number? If you do, please send it to the offices of the Nationals ASAP :laugh

[Ontarioguy]

Looks like Luis Ayala is out for the season. Reconstructive elbow surgery.

Unfortunate. The guy pretty much came out of nowhere to be one of the very good relievers of the last couple editions of the team. Now, the future only will tell us if he can bounce back from this.

Not to mention that it puts our friend Franky in a jam. Who's he gonna send out there to pinch hit for his pitcher if Ayala's out for the year? Does anyone has Claudio Vargas' number? If you do, please send it to the offices of the Nationals ASAP :laugh

One of my favourite Expos from the last day's of the franchise. He was so good for us in 2004 and so reliable.

I see you have a new line underneath your name. I'm guessing you saw that same Halloween Special as I just did, this week on CBC?

[Augustin_"Gus"]

One of my favourite Expos from the last day's of the franchise. He was so good for us in 2004 and so reliable.

I see you have a new line underneath your name. I'm guessing you saw that same Halloween Special as I just did, this week on CBC?

I didn't this week, but have many times in the past.

What seemed for about three weeks to be a wonderful month of march just turned into Smarch, with it's awful awful weather...

[Ontarioguy]

Former Expo Marquis Grissom announcedhis retirement.

During his time with the Expos he lead the league in Stolen Bases twice (91, 92) and picked up 2 gold gloves (93,94). Perhaps his most famous moment in Expos History was catching the final out in CF during Dennis Martinez's El Perfecto.

A true professionnal and a total class act, Marquis loved his time in Montreal

Great Career.

Have a good life Marquis!:clapping

[Augustin_"Gus"]

When I heard the news of Grissom's retirement, my first reaction was: Marquis Grissom was still playing? Tought he retired five years ago...

He was never one of my favorites, and he stretched his career a little too long. But he was a valuable asset to the Expos and was very popular with the fans. That has to count for something.

matchs joués : 2165

moyenne : ,272

Doubles : 386

Triples : 56

circuits : 227

points produits : 967

buts volés : 429

[Augustin_"Gus"]

I just started a third season with the Expos on All-star Baseball 2005 on my Play Station 2 (they still exist, you bet they do. They're 2 time defending World Series champions) and I just wanted to let you in on a little observation I did. Juan Rivera (who's still with the club as our regular first baseman) is a marked man. When the CPU gets frustrated and pitches inside when I beat him by 12 of more runs, he always throw at the head of Rivera. Of all the beaned players, of all the pitches inside I've seen in two years +, Rivera must have gotten 90% of them. And he's got kind of a short fuse (he charged the mound on a couple of occasions, then again, if you were the guy always targeted, you'd probably do that as well...)

[Ontarioguy]

I just started a third season with the Expos on All-star Baseball 2005 on my Play Station 2 (they still exist, you bet they do. They're 2 time defending World Series champions) and I just wanted to let you in on a little observation I did. Juan Rivera (who's still with the club as our regular first baseman) is a marked man. When the CPU gets frustrated and pitches inside when I beat him by 12 of more runs, he always throw at the head of Rivera. Of all the beaned players, of all the pitches inside I've seen in two years +, Rivera must have gotten 90% of them. And he's got kind of a short fuse (he charged the mound on a couple of occasions, then again, if you were the guy always targeted, you'd probably do that as well...)
Your post gave me a good laugh AG.

In the real world, today, former Expo Pedro caused a bit of trouble because he beaned 3 batters. Benches cleared. All good fun if you ask me.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Pedro, Pedro... a Pedro who played for the Spos, who threw inside a lot...

I... Did Pedro Borbon play for the Expos? Must have missed that...

Nick Johnson was so mad when he got beaned, I tought he was about to throw his cellphone at Martinez's head...

[Centreville82]

I'm giving Monarch half a point. The Expos have opened more seasons in Three Rivers Stadium (considered by many has one of the worst parks of all time) than anywhere else. Here's the complete list.

Three Rivers, Pittsburgh: 7
Stade Olympique: 6
Shea Stadium, NY: 4
Riverfront, Cincinnati: 4
Veterans Stadium, Philly: 3
Busch Stadium, St-Louis: 3
Wrigley Field, Chicago: 3
Astrodome, Houston: 2
Crosley Field, Cincinnati: 1
County Stadium, Atlanta: 1
Turner Field, Atlanta: 1
Pro Player, Miami: 1

Biggest opening day crowd: 55 456, on april 5th, 1993 at Riverfront. smallest: 4802 on april 6th, 1983 at Wrigley.

Chisox is right about the weather. It can be pretty darn cold here in early april. But usually, the team opened in Montréal about a week after opening on the road, in tropical venues like NY, Chicago or Pittsburgh. Was it really worth it not having an opening day at home for almost 20 years, to save one week? It can be every bit as nasty in Montréal on april 15th, than on april 8th.

While were on the topic on opening day, I would like to nominate this lineup as the weakest ever fielded by the 'Spos for the inaugural game.

April 6th, 1987 at Cincinnati:

Alonzo Powell, LF
Mitch Webster, RF
Andrés Galarraga, 1st
Hubie Brooks, SS
Tim Wallach, 3rd
Vance Law, 2nd
Jeff Reed, C
Reid Nichols, CF
Floyd Youmans, SP

Oddly enough, they lost 11 to 5...

I was at one of the Opening Day games in STL. 1996. Natural grass was back at Busch for the first time since 1969. The area was buzzing because of the new ownership and manager. "Baseball Like It Oughta Be" was the Cardinals mantra that year. Opening Day in STL is an unofficial holiday. Words can't describe how special it is to actually attend one. It's a shame the Expos didn't have that atmosphere...Shame on the owners..


The Expos won the game, BTW...

[Chicoutimi CP]

1969 - Bill Stoneman of Montreal pitched a 7-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in only the 10th game of the Expos' existence.
www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B04170PHI1969.htm

[Augustin_"Gus"]

At old Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadum if I remember correctly.

The Expos arrived just as the legendary old ball parks were leaving the scene. Would have been cool to be there, watching the new Expos in those old stadiums.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Wow, close to 40 new posts on the Expos forum yesterday. That might be a new record. Nicely done, people.:gt

Looks like a lot of Expos fans were desperately trying to get out of Easter day celebrations.

Sorry honey, I have some real important business to do on the computer :laugh

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Tip of the cap to one of the great Expos of all times, Pedro Martinez, on recording his 200th win yesterday. The first 55 of them were in the blue pinstripes of the Expos.

[Ontarioguy]

Jim Bowden got caught driving drunk in Florida. He had cuts on his face from arguing with his girlfriend. He had slurred speech and the puffy red cheeks. Ran a stop sign and got caught, refused to take the breathalizer.

Looks like this guy doesn't confine his stupidity to the front office.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

The alcohol problem would explain some of his trades...

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

The alcohol problem would explain some of his trades...
That's exactly what I said!:crazy

I hated that nut anyway for trading Wilky:grouchy

[Augustin_"Gus"]

That's exactly what I said!:crazy

I hated that nut anyway for trading Wilky:grouchy

I truly believe Brad has gone to a better place. For the first time in years, he's playing for a team that has A) an owner and B) a coach.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

The Expos scrapbook, the little thread that could, has now gone over the 3500 views mark. Big thanks to everyone that viewed and posted. And as would say our friend Ontarioguy, let's keep on keepin' on.

I've got my sights set on cathing the Bitter Rivals thread. :D

[Augustin_"Gus"]

I went by the proposed site of Labatt Park this morning. Those towers are pretty high. I don't know if they're are already people residing on the site, but they have two very big towers under construction at this point.

More condo space, exactly what Montréal needed.

I give those folks a week before they start complaining it's too noisy after the games at Bell Center and take their case to the city.

Of course, they know they're gonna be living next to the arena, but they'll buy there and complain anyway. Just like those people living in old Montréal who complain about the horse carriages. No one tried to hide the fact there were carriages in that neighborhood. If you can't stand the smell, why move there in the first place?

Long story shorty, we'd be a lot better with a baseball stadium on that piece of land instead of condos.

But that's just me.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

I give those folks a week before they start complaining it's too noisy after the games at Bell Center and take their case to the city.
.

Too bad Lucien Bouchard isn't premier anymore...

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Hey O'guy, Gus, maybe you should sticky this thread, ut is the most active thread and it is becoming ''priceless'' because it had been started a while ago.
How about it?

[Ontarioguy]

I went by the proposed site of Labatt Park this morning. Those towers are pretty high. I don't know if they're are already people residing on the site, but they have two very big towers under construction at this point.

More condo space, exactly what Montréal needed.

I give those folks a week before they start complaining it's too noisy after the games at Bell Center and take their case to the city.

Of course, they know they're gonna be living next to the arena, but they'll buy there and complain anyway. Just like those people living in old Montréal who complain about the horse carriages. No one tried to hide the fact there were carriages in that neighborhood. If you can't stand the smell, why move there in the first place?

Long story shorty, we'd be a lot better with a baseball stadium on that piece of land instead of condos.

But that's just me.
Where exactly was the proposed site, AG, I know it was going to be near the Bell Centre but I wasn't entirely sure where. Is it down below, near St Antoine and St Jaques??

Too bad Lucien Bouchard isn't premier anymore...

If my memory serves me correctly, wasn't it Bouchard who turned Bud and company away when they came in search of public money?

Please, keep your answer Baseball related, we don't need a discussion about the Platform of the Parti Qubecois.:)

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

If my memory serves me correctly, wasn't it Bouchard who turned Bud and company away when they came in search of public money?

Please, keep your answer Baseball related, we don't need a discussion about the Platform of the Parti Qubecois.:)


I was just joking, thinking of what you said now...:waving

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Hey O'guy, Gus, maybe you should sticky this thread, ut is the most active thread and it is becoming ''priceless'' because it had been started a while ago.
How about it?

Dont worry about a thing, WR. This thread is my baby, my pride and joy and, quite frankly, one of the few things that make me life worth living. I wont let it disappear into obliveon. ;)

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Where exactly was the proposed site, AG, I know it was going to be near the Bell Centre but I wasn't entirely sure where. Is it down below, near St Antoine and St Jaques?

St-Jacques (north), Peel (East), Notre-Dame (south) and De la Montagne (west).

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Experts say that the canadian dollar should be at par with the US dollar this time next year. When I heard that, two things came to my mind:

A) I'll have to drop one of my all-time favorite lines: When talking about something that is paid in US$, I'd always make sure to add: "As if there were any other kind of dollars". Won't be accurate anymore.

B) If we want to build a stadium, buy the KC Royals and move them here, it'll be the time to do it. We won't have to contend with the exchange rate in addition to everything else.

I should have a massive tax refund pretty soon. I'd be ready to chip in. Anyone else interested?

[Ontarioguy]

Experts say that the canadian dollar should be at par with the US dollar this time next year. When I heard that, two things came to my mind:

A) I'll have to drop one of my all-time favorite lines: When talking about something that is paid in US$, I'd always make sure to add: "As if there were any other kind of dollars". Won't be accurate anymore.

B) If we want to build a stadium, buy the KC Royals and move them here, it'll be the time to do it. We won't have to contend with the exchange rate in addition to everything else.

I should have a massive tax refund pretty soon. I'd be ready to chip in. Anyone else interested?
The Dollar climbing up would have helped us so much a few years ago. To think it was at .65, Wow.

I'll chip in, my tax refund was pretty small though:(

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Oddly enough (well not really) the golden age of the Expos in the late 70's and early 80's coincided, if I'm not mistaken, with a period where the Canadian dollar was at par with the US currency. They could build a winner, keep their players, they almost landed Reggie Jackson. The exchange rate was a factor on the Expos' success back then.

And a stronger $ in the early 2000's could have changed the faith of the team. But that's something else we'll never know for sure.

[Ontarioguy]

Gus was kind enough to point out to me that this was the 4000th post on the Expos forum.

A big thanks to EVERYONE, who's chipped in over the years to make this little corner of the board what it is.

Let's never forget the Expos and here's to another 4000 posts all about 'nos amours!'

[Augustin_"Gus"]

It was just fitting. I believe you are the senior member among the regulars on the Expos board. They're are privileges that come with that distinction.

[Ontarioguy]

Happy Birthday Claude Raymond!

Claude turns 69 today!

Baseball Almanac's Claude Raymond Stats Page
(http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=raymocl01)

[Augustin_"Gus"]

If anyone is wondering what kind of baseball coverage we get in our beloved media here in this province, here's a hint. Today, on the morning of May 9th, in La Presse newspaper in Montréal, there was exactly, I counted them, 0 articles about baseball. Not even a lousy "in extremely brief caus' we don't give a damn". Nothing. E-rien. Zip, zilch, I wish I could have added "nothing" in Dutch, but I can't find it (altough I learned that, out in the Netherlands, a screwdriver is a "schroevedraaier". Who'd have tought?)

That is definately a new low.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

If anyone is wondering what kind of baseball coverage we get in our beloved media here in this province, here's a hint. Today, on the morning of May 9th, in La Presse newspaper in Montréal, there was exactly, I counted them, 0 articles about baseball. Not even a lousy "in extremely brief caus' we don't give a damn". Nothing. E-rien. Zip, zilch, I wish I could have added "nothing" in Dutch, but I can't find it (altough I learned that, out in the Netherlands, a screwdriver is a "schroevedraaier". Who'd have tought?)

That is definately a new low.

Nothing in Dutch is "niets".

Do you mean a wodka/orange juice with screwdriver or just the tool? :D

BTW in the new spelling it is schroeveNdraaier.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Do you mean a wodka/orange juice with screwdriver or just the tool? :D



Both. I never use the latter without taking a couple of the former. It increases my hand-eye coordination. :p

[Chicoutimi CP]

1981 - Charlie Lea, a native of France, no-hits the Giants 4-0, walking four and striking out eight in the second game of a doubleheader. It is the first no-hitter at Olympic Stadium, which opened for baseball in 1977. It is also the third no-hitter in the Expos' history.

[Ontarioguy]

1981 - Charlie Lea, a native of France, no-hits the Giants 4-0, walking four and striking out eight in the second game of a doubleheader. It is the first no-hitter at Olympic Stadium, which opened for baseball in 1977. It is also the third no-hitter in the Expos' history.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/photo/photogallery/expos_35/18.jpg

[Ontarioguy]

Felipe Alou turns 71 today:eek: ...I didn't realize he was that old.

During his time with the Expos he ammased a record of 691-717.

[Chicoutimi CP]

Speaking of birthdays, Dennis Martinez turns 55 today and Tony Perez is now 64.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Things are not going well for Livan Hernandez. His record is 1-5 so far this year.

I know the Nationals are pretty bad, but still.

I should probably look at a few stats before asessing his performance, like E.R.A., run support, park factor, OPS, GPA, GST and such, but that would be a lot of work.

Still, 1-5, not good.

[Ontarioguy]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Twins released third baseman Tony Batista on Monday, six days after he was designated for assignment.

In 50 games with the Twins, Batista hit .236 with five home runs. The 32-year-old also was a liability on defense, forcing general manager Terry Ryan and manager Ron Gardenhire to end the experiment with a player signed from Japan in the offseason.

The Twins were hoping Batista could regain the form that made him a two-time All-Star with at least 25 homers and 87 RBIs in the majors from 1999-2004, after which he signed a two-year, $15 million deal with Fukuoka of the Japanese Pacific League.

But after lasting one season in Japan, Batista never panned out in Minnesota. He was designated for assignment June 13.

Since then, the Twins have won seven in a row to get back to .500, using a combination of Terry Tiffee, Luis Rodriguez and Nick Punto at third base.

Too bad. I wonder if Batista's ML career is finished. I really enjoyed him during his one season with the Expos. I remember him hitting a Grand Slam against the Cards in St. Louis.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Another Expo who's had better days is David Segui who admitted to taking human growth hormones during his baseball career.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Another Expo who's had better days is David Segui who admitted to taking human growth hormones during his baseball career.
How the mighty are not mighty, and how they have fallen :ughh.

Steroids are killing this sport. :(

[Augustin_"Gus"]

I don't know if you guys noticed or not but, the Braves won't win the NL east this year.

I hope I'm not jumping the gun on this, it's only July 1st, but still. As of today, they're 13,5 games back of the lead, 12 games under ,500. So it seems like the reign of terror of the Atlanta Braves, in the regular season of course (they had the tendency not to be very frightening come october ;) ), is over.

What a shame...

It's too late to suck now. We would have needed that in the 90's and the early 2000's. Not now...

[Ontarioguy]

Did anyone else know that Orlando Cabrera has been on base in the last 59 games? They're talking about it on the Angel Board. (http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?p=600221#post600221)

[Augustin_"Gus"]

And he stole home, I believe on sunday. The pitcher loooked quite ridiculous.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

On MLB.com, they're auctionning a game worn, autographed Frank Robinson Expos' jersey. Any takers? If someone gives me that for my birthday, or for any other occasion, I'll know that person really hates me.

It would start a good camp fire tough. Especially with this wet summer we're having, finding dry wood will be tough. I'd try to lit my Frank Robinson jersey to get things started. It might work...

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Not a very good year for the Expos at the All-Star game.

Vlad for the AL, Pedro for the NL. And that's it.

Tip of the cap to B.C.'s Jason Bay who'll start in front of his home crowd in Pittsburgh for the NL on tuesday.

And let's hope the senior circuit can win one for a change...

[Augustin_"Gus"]

On this day, seven years ago, the Expos were involved in the "other" perfect game of their history. The one we don't like to reminice about so much. David Cone of the Yankees (I think that's in part where the problem lies) threw a perfect game against the Expos at Yankee Stadium.

You win some you loose some I guess. An historic moment in Expos history none the less.

BTW, was that the only time someone threw a perfect game in regular season interleague play? I can't think of another one.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Don't know if you guys saw that, recently they had a graphic showing the players who have the most walk-off hits in major league baseball over the last couple of seasons. David Ortiz is in the lead, obviously, with a rather sizeble lead. Albert Pujols is at number 2, no surprise there. And the third highest total belongs to... two time Expos player of the year Orlando Cabrera.

[Ontarioguy]

Don't know if you guys saw that, recently they had a graphic showing the players who have the most walk-off hits in major league baseball over the last couple of seasons. David Ortiz is in the lead, obviously, with a rather sizeble lead. Albert Pujols is at number 2, no surprise there. And the third highest total belongs to... two time Expos player of the year Orlando Cabrera.
He's so underrated it's incredible. I would have thought being part of that 2004 Red Sox team would have raised his profile but it really hasn't. The guy has a Gold Glove, a World Series ring, plays great defence and is always healthy, but still seems to be an unknown.

[Ontarioguy]

Well the Washington Nationals continue to sever their ties with their Montreal past. Today Livan was dealt for a couple of minor league prospects. The times they are a changin'!

[Augustin_"Gus"]

One team that's really been stacking up on former Expos is Baltimore. In addition to Fernando Tatis, they signed Chris Widger and, proof that things are not going well in Baltimore, they even called up Julio Manon from the minors.

Remember Julio Manon? The Expos called him up from Edmonton I believe it was in 03, he had one great outing his very first time on the mound (threw like 4 innings against Colorado I think), and he looked like a BP pitcher every other time he was called upon. Yet Frank fell in love with him and used him in every kind of important situations that year. And when he grew tired of Manon, he did the same thing with Hector Almonte, who was every bit as bad.

:hp

Anyway. When you have a 5 trillion dollar payroll and you have to pitch Julio Manon, you know you're in trouble.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Let's wish a happy birthday to Jose Vidro, who turns 32 today.

One of the best, if not the best second baseman the Expos had. Now wasting his time in Washington.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Nick Johnson got hurt again in rather spectacular/gruesome fashion. After getting a screamer right in the face last year, he broke his leg when he collided with teamate Austin Kearns today in Shea.

David Wright hit a little flare to right, both Kearns and Johnson slid to try and catch the ball, and Johnson got the worst of it. Jose Vidro, who was also chasing the ball, signalled for help before even retrieving the ball. The commentator on Fox mentionned that he may have seen/heard something at the moment of the impact, wich might just be a good guess.

Altough Johnson was laying down in right field, one of the first guys to get over there to be by his side was Brian Schneider. From what I know about him as a person, that doesent surprise me one bit.

Maybe Johnson's reaction when he heard he was traded to the Expos (slamming his cellphone against a wall) was the right one. That Montréal/Washington adventure has not been an easy one for him.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Nick Johnson got hurt again in rather spectacular/gruesome fashion. After getting a screamer right in the face last year, he broke his leg when he collided with teamate Austin Kearns today in Shea.

David Wright hit a little flare to right, both Kearns and Johnson slid to try and catch the ball, and Johnson got the worst of it. Jose Vidro, who was also chasing the ball, signalled for help before even retrieving the ball. The commentator on Fox mentionned that he may have seen/heard something at the moment of the impact, wich might just be a good guess.

Altough Johnson was laying down in right field, one of the first guys to get over there to be by his side was Brian Schneider. From what I know about him as a person, that doesent surprise me one bit.

Maybe Johnson's reaction when he heard he was traded to the Expos (slamming his cellphone against a wall) was the right one. That Montréal/Washington adventure has not been an easy one for him.

But on the bright side, he is having a career year, and he's unlucky for this event, as his DL stint continues.

I don't care what they say, but Nick Johnson statistically and humanly, is the best player in Washington right now. ;)

[cubaxpos]

Nick Johnson got hurt again in rather spectacular/gruesome fashion. After getting a screamer right in the face last year, he broke his leg when he collided with teamate Austin Kearns today in Shea.

David Wright hit a little flare to right, both Kearns and Johnson slid to try and catch the ball, and Johnson got the worst of it. Jose Vidro, who was also chasing the ball, signalled for help before even retrieving the ball. The commentator on Fox mentionned that he may have seen/heard something at the moment of the impact, wich might just be a good guess.

Altough Johnson was laying down in right field, one of the first guys to get over there to be by his side was Brian Schneider. From what I know about him as a person, that doesent surprise me one bit.

Maybe Johnson's reaction when he heard he was traded to the Expos (slamming his cellphone against a wall) was the right one. That Montréal/Washington adventure has not been an easy one for him.

How did you learn he did so?

[Augustin_"Gus"]

The cellphone thing? It was reported in the media (I know, don't believe everything you hear/read in the media) but they mentionned that, and he never denied the report, so I choose to believe it was a real story.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Watched a couple of innings of the Nationals-Phillies game on RDS. The Nationals had a grand total of two (2) former Expos in the starting lineup. Including Jose Vidro playing first base. I know the circumstances are different, but just looking at that, I had images of Tim Wallach playing first coming back to mind... It was kind of unpleasant.

[cubaxpos]

Watched a couple of innings of the Nationals-Phillies game on RDS. The Nationals had a grand total of two (2) former Expos in the starting lineup. Including Jose Vidro playing first base. I know the circumstances are different, but just looking at that, I had images of Tim Wallach playing first coming back to mind... It was kind of unpleasant.

Thanks for the info on the cellphone. Now, I don't know why someone would be pissed off to play with a team in such a beautiful city, one where people are really pleasant to talk to. I mean, I wasn't born here so i didn't really know a whole heck of a lot about Montreal but I assume (i know what it makes me but still...) he knew a little about Montreal. The fact that his uncle played sometime with some team that played in Montreal tells me that he might've known a few things about Montreal.
I heard that when Cliffy (one of my favorite players of all times) got traded to the Expos from the Fish he was high-fived in the airplane and when he got off it. From the two games I was there, talking to the people that were there and listening to the crowd, I gathered that you guys were:
1)One of the most knowledgeable fans in the game.
2)Really passionate about your team.
There might have been not a lot of people in the stands but the few that were there were yelling and screamming and making it really loud.
I would love for Montreal to at least have a AAA team, preferably a MLB team again.
If a team goes back to Montreal, how would you guys call them?
Count me on the group of the new Montreal Expos fans.

[Chicoutimi CP]

It seems that Frank's journey is about to come an end.

WASHINGTON -- The Nationals officially announced on Saturday afternoon that Frank Robinson will not be back as their manager in 2007. It comes two days after general manager Jim Bowden told Robinson of their decision in separate meetings.

Robinson's contract expires on Oct. 31, and he waited for weeks to learn his fate. He was hoping to manage the Nationals for another three years, but a second-half collapse in 2005 -- after being in first place before the All-Star break -- and a subpar season in 2006 made him fall out of favor with the front office.

Despite a glut of injuries and a fairly low payroll, the club has performed well at times under Robinson. The first two years, with a low budget, Robinson did a remarkable job as the Expos were in Wild Card contention and finished with an 83-79 record both years.

The Nationals are currently 71-89 and will finish in fifth place for the third year in a row, but they will end the 2006 season on a positive note. They are 15-12 during the month of September and 32-37 after the All-Star break, a vast improvement from their 38-52 first half.

Robinson is currently in his 51st season in baseball, 16 of them as a manager. It has not been determined if Robinson will remain with the Nationals in some capacity.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060930&content_id=1691152&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Now that they've finally canned him, the question that's on everybody's mind is: Why now? Why not five years ago?

Seems that Felipe Alou's tenure in San Fran is over as well. In all and all, it was a tough day for former Expos managers. I also heard that Jeff Torborg got a parking ticket. :laugh

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Happy Franky's gone, he had a respectable playing but not managin career.

You can expect Joe Girardi to manage us after the season, god I wish the Expos were still around, the Habs in Montreal is great but there no sidedish of Expos anymore :ughh

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Wow, that was some catch Endy Chavez made last night. Had the Mets won, that play would have been replayed over and over for decades to come when talking about great post-season plays. Now it's a formidable catch, but in a loosing cause, so it's not quite the same.

I was never a fan of Chavez, but recongnized he had skills. Good defensive abillities, had a better arm than most center fielders, had speed, but he hit too many fly balls, his plate coverage was average at best, he never walked... Basically, he was good in most aspects of the game, but the problem was that elusive first 90 feet...

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Endy Chavez is such a great hitter...now in New York.

He's won a partial starting job, can run and this year, is effective all around except power.

Why couldn't he be this good in Montreal, Washington and Philly (where he was used as an occasionnal PH and PR :D )

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Two Expos, one had a slightly better week than the other:

Mark Grudzielanek, the G-Man himself, was awarded the gold glove for his work at second base for the Royals this year. Came as kind of a surprise. The guy was good defensively, formed a great double-play combination with Lasing, but a gold glove? Plus, he must be in his fifties now. Anyway. Great for him.

And it's probably the only thing the Royals will win in the near future...

At about the same time, major league baseball announced reliever Guillermo Mota as been suspended for 50 games for use of a banned subtance.

My personnal best memory of Mota: His first at-bat as an Expo. He hit a long homerun in the foul netting in left at Olympic stadium on June 9th, 1999 against Boston. Believe it was a three run shot.

He's gonna have some time to practice his swing.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Don't ask me exactly why I tought of that, but there's this anecdote that popped back into my mind just recently.

I believe the Expos recalled a player, a pitcher I think, from the minors (Ottawa I would guess, wasn't that long). He arrived in Montréal in the evening. Upon getting to the hotel (I'm guessing again) he turned on the TV and saw that the game wasn't over. He rushed to the stadium, the game went into extras, he got to pitch in the game and if I remember correctly, ended up winning the game.

Anyone remebers that and knows who it was? I'm thinking of Mark Gardiner, but it's just a guess.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Former Expos 3rd base coach Many Acta has been named the new head coach of the Washington Nationals. Acta had followed Omar Minaya in NY when the club left Montréal. It's his first gig as a head coach.

I don't know about Acta's qualifications for the job. But can he be any worse than his predecessor? If he his, then God help us all!

[cubaxpos]

Do you guys root for the Nats?
I don't

[XPOFAN]

Do you guys root for the Nats?
I don't

Nope. Don't think I ever will.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

With Frank as coach, rooting for the Nationals was completely out of a question. Now that he's gone, it's been upgraded to out of a question.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

The youtube website features the first 6 innings of Blue monday. Not necessarily a fun thing to watch, but I didn't see it live (was not yet 4 when it happened) and I'm curious. There's also a few other things about our Expos on the website.

I don't want to advertise for them, but I do believe this could be a good way to perpetuate the memory of our beloved team. The Expos will never have the following we see for the Brooklyn Dodgers, but a couple of clips of the Expos on a site with that kind of traffic could go a long way to keep them "alive". So if you have tapes, DVD's about our club, team montages, stuff like that, and you have the required technology, I say go ahead and put it there for the world to see.

[cubaxpos]

Why so much bad luck God?????
I mean, Blue Monday occured in part because a pitcher, Fernando Valenzuela, had an RBI after a wild pitch. I didn't know this up until today. That ground ball would have resulted in a double play had the wild pitch not occured.
Jeez, I mean, what else could have gone wrong with Nous Amours???
Thank you Gus for the heads up in youtube.

[Ontarioguy]

The youtube website features the first 6 innings of Blue monday. Not necessarily a fun thing to watch, but I didn't see it live (was not yet 4 when it happened) and I'm curious. There's also a few other things about our Expos on the website.

I don't want to advertise for them, but I do believe this could be a good way to perpetuate the memory of our beloved team. The Expos will never have the following we see for the Brooklyn Dodgers, but a couple of clips of the Expos on a site with that kind of traffic could go a long way to keep them "alive". So if you have tapes, DVD's about our club, team montages, stuff like that, and you have the required technology, I say go ahead and put it there for the world to see.
I took a look around Youtube, and got myself nice and depressed after watching a couple of clips on the end of the Expos. One thing I noticed, and you won't like it too much, was that Frank Robinson has the game balls from the final out in both Montreal and at Shea. I wonder if he still has them?

[cubaxpos]

Why those feelings towards Frank Robinson guys?

[Chicoutimi CP]

EDITED BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL INFO WAS WRONG - On April 10th 1969, at Shea Stadium, Ron Brand wrote a small bit of Expo history : he became the first Montréal player to be used as a pinch-runner during the 9th inning. Coco Laboy had just hit an RBI double when Gene Mauch took him out of the game and sent Brand running in his place. But the latter was stranded there : after Manny Mota drew a walk, Don Bosch lined out to center putting an end to Brand's great premiere and to the game. :dance



:radio Despite the fact that he stole almost 400 bases less than Tim Raines for the Expos, Marquis Grissom leads Montréal for the most career steals of third base with 65. Raines has 60.

The two players lead the team for most lifetime SBs : Tim has 635 and Marquis, 266.

:waving

[Chicoutimi CP]

This is interesting.

http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=56106

[Chicoutimi CP]

In 2001, the Expos left the fewest runners on bases for a whole season with 6.32 LOB per game (1032 in 162 games). Their worst season was 1974, with 7.61 LOB (1226 in 161 games).

On June 8th 1969 at Dodger Stadium, Gary Sutherland gets an RBI on the first Expo squeeze play during the 4th inning. Suds hits a sacrifice that drives Mack Jones home as the Expos get ahead 2-0 against the Dodgers.

About exactly 35 years later, on June 6th 2004 at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, in the top of the 9th, Brad Wilkerson gets the final squeeze play by a Montréal player. On a bunt fielded by pitcher Mike Matthews, Wilkie makes it safe to first allowing Terrmel Sledge to give the Expos a 4-3 lead over the Reds.

[Chicoutimi CP]

When Vladimir Guerrero had 3 hits or more in a game for the Expos, the team had a 67-29 record.

When Gary Carter hit at least 2 home runs in a game for the Expos, the team had a 11-8 record.

When Tim Raines stole 2 bases or more in a game for the Expos, the team had a 82-45 record.

When Tim Wallach had 3 RBIs or more in a game for the Expos, the team had a 56-17 record.

When André Dawson scored a minimum of 3 runs in a game for the Expos, the team had a 21-3 record.

When Rusty Staub drew 2 walks or more in a game for the Expos, the team had a 28-25 record.

[Chicoutimi CP]

*** During his long career in Montréal, Steve Rogers allowed 3 home runs in a game only twice: on July 28 1978 in Atlanta (6-4 loss) and on July 16 1980 in Cincinnati (6-4 win).

*** When Pedro Martinez had 10 strike outs or more during a game, the Expos had a 15-12 record. (Pedro’s was 14-6.) It is also interesting to add that another former Expo has the best career average against him: Marquis Grissom is 13 for 23 life-time for a .565 average.

*** In games started by Dennis Martinez where he pitched at least 7 innings and gave at most 3 walks, the Expos were 90-37 and he was 69-21. He also completed 39 of those games and threw 12 shutouts.

*** Among Montréal relievers with 100 saves and more, John Wetteland was the best at stranding inherited runners: in three seasons, only 23 of them scored on the 99 left by other pitchers. Jeff Reardon seemed to improve as years went by : he was 71/250 globally, but 19/120 during his last three seasons.

[Chicoutimi CP]

*** We all know Vladimir Guerrero has the longest Expo streak of games with at least one hit (31). Rusty Staub has the longest one with at least one time on bases: 46. From August 24th 1969 to April 25th 1970, Le Grand Orange was 53 for 148 (.358), plus 46 bases on balls (.520 OBP). During a single season, Larry Walker reached the bases in 40 straight games, from June 28th to August 13th 1993. He was 44 for 150 (.293), plus 24 walks (.386 OBP).

*** Only one former Expo hit triples in three consecutive games: Mitch Webster, from September 28th to October 1st 1986.

*** Between June 22nd and July 12th 1970, Bob Bailey had a record streak of 11 games in which he hit at least one extra base hit. During that sequence, he hit four singles, seven doubles and seven home runs in 35 at-bats for a whopping 1.314 slugging average.

*** To go a little further on the subject, the longest streak of games with at least one home run by an Expo player is 4. It was done 9 times. Vladimir Guerrero (1998 and 1999-2000) and Andre Dawson (1985 and 1986) did it twice. Bob Bailey (1970), Moises Alou (1993), Henry Rodriguez (1996), Mitch Webster (1985), and Chris Widger (1999) also accomplished the feat.

*** Between June 7th and July 5th 1974, Tim Foli had the longest Montréal streak of plate appearances without striking out. He went 126 PA (covering 28 complete games) without going down on strikes. But surprisingly, he just hit for a .235 average during that sequence.

[Chicoutimi CP]

*** Expos starting pitchers carried games through 10 or more innings 29 times in the 36 years of the team’s history, but never after the 1984 season. They went 16-13 in such games.

*** Bill Stoneman had the longest start on June 3rd 1972, going 11.2 innings and losing 1-0 to the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium in the bottom of the 12th on a single by Johnny Bench.

*** Steve Rogers did it 8 times, compiling a 2-3 record through these extra-inning games while the team was 5-3.

*** During his 20 wins season in 1978, Ross Grimsley made it 3 times through 10 full innings. He completed 2 games, won 1, lost 1, while the third went into the 12th (the Expos won).

*** Stoney (10 innings), Dan Schatzeder (10 innings) and Carl Morton (11 innings) also each had a complete game winning shutout in extra-inning games.

[Chicoutimi CP]

*** According to Retro Sheet Event files, the Expos used a total of 1277 pinch runners during their 36 years history. As mentioned in post # 169, Ron Brand was the first Expo pinch runner on April 10th 1969. Brand also scored the first run as a “p r” on May 1st 1969, while Adolfo Phillips stole a base for the first time on September 9th 1970. Also, Manny Mota was the first caught stealing on May 1st 1969.

*** Overall, Otis Nixon and Pepe Frias pinch-ran the most often: 57 times each.

*** Nixon was by far the most valuable Expo player in that role, scoring 20 runs and stealing 18 bases (in 27 attempts).

*** Among pitchers who acted as pinch-runners, Pascual Perez was used the most frequently: 18 times. He also scored 8 runs.

*** Miguel Dilone was used only 8 times in that role during the 1984 season, but he still stole 5 bases in as many attempts.

[Chicoutimi CP]

*** Only once in the 36 years history of the team an Expo reached the bases 3 times on errors during a single game : Jose Macias was the lucky guy on June 5th 2002, in a 3-1 Montreal win over Pittsburgh at the Big O.

*** The most RBIs in a game by an Expo batting pitcher is 4. It was accomplished 5 times: Mike Wegener (1969-07-11), Don Stanhouse (grand slam on 1977-07-06) Scott Sanderson (1981-04-16 plus grand slam on 1982-09-11), and Bryn Smith (1989-07-02).

*** The most hits in a game by an Expo batting pitcher is 3. It was accomplished 14 times. Steve Renko did it 3 times and Livan Hernandez, twice.

*** In only 478 plate appearances as an Expo, Wayne Garrett has the record for being awarded the first base on catcher’s interference the most often, with 4 times.

*** Among Expos’ catchers, Mike Fitzgerald has committed the most batter interferences (6) even if he caught almost 7,000 innings less than Gary Carter, who’s second with 5.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

*** Only once in the 36 years history of the team an Expo reached the bases 3 times on errors during a single game : Jose Macias was the lucky guy on June 5th 2002, in a 3-1 Montreal win over Pittsburgh at the Big O.

That was pretty much the only way Jose "retrait 6-3" Macias could ever reach bases. That and when I started yelling about just how badly he sucked while he was getiing into the batter's box. That seemed to bring out the best in him. I would look like a fool (especially when I screamed at the radio in a public place :p ) but what wasn't I ready to do for my Expos...

[Ontarioguy]

Jose "retrait 6-3" Macias...
This made me laugh

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Ought to admit, I didn't came up with that. Don't remember who I stole it from tough...

[Chicoutimi CP]

Ought to admit, I didn't came up with that. Don't remember who I stole it from tough...

In the late 70s, we used to have Tommy "retrait 4-3" Hutton. Reading your comment made me think of it. Maybe you heard of it years ago and it was burried deep in your mind.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

That's exactly the one. Tommy Hutton. Couldn't remember the name. Any idea who came up with that nickname?

[Chicoutimi CP]

That's exactly the one. Tommy Hutton. Couldn't remember the name. Any idea who came up with that nickname?

I don't know if he really came up with the nick, but during games on the radio, I have heard Claude Raymond call him that name quite a few times.

I remember one time, Raymond described a ground out to second base and after the play ended, he said : «By the way, speaking of 4-3 outs, the Expos have just released Tommy Hutton.»

[Chicoutimi CP]

*** Among Expos pitchers who faced at least 500 opponent batters, John Wetteland allowed the lowest career batting average (.201) and the lowest career slugging average (.297).

*** Pascual Perez allowed the lowest career on base percentage (.266).

*** Jeremy Powell allowed the highest career batting average (.304), the highest career on base percentage (.381) and the highest slugging average (.493).

*** Dale Murray had the best record against base stealers (14 runners caught stealing in 20 attempts, 70%) while the worst belonged to Bob James (0/24, 0%).

*** In that same category, it’s a bit surprising that the best left-hander ranks only fifth. Kirk Rueter (19/29, 65.5%) comes after Dale Murray, Stan Bahnsen (35/52, 67.3%), Rocky Biddle (8/12, 66.7%), and Tomo Ohka (18/27, 66.7%).

*** Surprise, surprise: with all these runners going around, the “great” Jeremy Powell was one of our best at this, ranking 11th (12/23, 52.2%).

[Chicoutimi CP]

*** The Expos came from behind 44 times to win games in 1996 and in 2002, their two best seasons at this. In 1969, they compiled their worst record, with only 20 come back wins.

*** Their two best yearly performances at blowing leads were in 1979 and in 1987, when they let their opponents get away with 27 come from behind victories. The 1991 season was their worst ever, blowing 47 leads for losses.

*** Their most productive inning on an annual basis was the 6th of 1993 with 112 runs. Their worst was the 9th inning of 1984, with only 30 runs.

*** Amazingly, their opponents’ best and worst innings are almost the same. Best: 6th inning of 2001 with 132 runs. Worst: 9th inning of 1998 with 28 runs.

*** Now, the last piece of info to conclude this series. Here are the top five batting averages for opponent players with at least 500 plate appearances: Pedro Guerrero .334; Barry Bonds .319; Tony Gwynn, Ted Simmons, and Garry Maddox .316. Pete Rose had the most hits, with 255.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

You've probably heard of the interview given by Pete Rose, a former Expo, on the Dan Patrick show yesterday, when he said that he use bet on every single game his team played when he was manager of the Reds.

That interview, and the following discussion between Patrick and co-host Keith Olbermann put another former Expo front and center. Olbermann said that there were rumors that Rose would bet on the Reds, but not every night. He wouldn't bet on his own team when he tought they wouldn't win. And Olbermann specifically mentionned that Rose didn't bet on the Reds when Bill Gullickson was on the mound.

You know me, I always like to get to the bottom of things, well, especially when I'm at work and that I've got nothing to do. And frankly, I'm not sure why they would single Gully out. He had 64 starts with the Reds in 86 and
87, and had a combined record of 25 wins and 23 losses. Not great, but certainly not dismal.

He won a total of 72 games with the Expos between 1979 and 1985.

While were talking about Gully, he had his best season as far as ERA's concerned, in the shortened 1981 season (2,80 in 151 innnings pitched). Oddly enough, he was 7-9 that year. He had a career high 11 wild pitches in 1982.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

<$TI>Selig hits one out of the park
<$ST>mlb boss paid $14.5 million
<$AG>Associated Press
<$LR>New York

<$LEAD>Baseball commissioner Bud Selig earned as much last year as some of the league's top players.

Selig received $14.5 million US in the 12 months ending Oct. 31, according to Major League Baseball's tax return, which was obtained by the Sports Business Journal.

Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, received $4,875,000, the publication reported in this week's issue.

Pay for executive vice-presidents included $1.92 million for Rob Manfred (labour relations), $1.3 million for John McHale Jr. (administration) and $1,245,000 for Jonathan Mariner (finance).

Sandy Alderson, who quit as executive vice-president of baseball operations in 2005 to become chief executive officer of the San Diego Padres, made $875,000.

Jimmie Lee Solomon, who replaced Alderson in June 2005, made $543,583.

The publication, citing unidentified sources, said Selig received a $6- million base salary, an equal amount in a bonus and the remainder in expenses and personal fees.

Baseball's central office paid $77.3 million in salaries and benefits to 231 employees, the report said.

The NFL paid $41.5 million to 839 employees in 12 months ending March 31 last year and the NHL $13.9 million to 56 employees in the year ending June 30, 2005, when staff was reduced because of a lockout.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

I was going trhu the individual leader boards in both leagues, looking for Expos. And there are few. Vladdy of course, is near the top in a couple of statistical categories. BA of ,377, 26 hits (as of saturday morning), 6 homers, 20 RBI's. Of course, he's way behind Alex Rodriguez at this point, then again, who isn't?

On the NL side, the names we find are a little more surprising. The ageless Moises Alou is hitting ,377, good for third place in the senior circuit. Micheal Barrett is 5th in RBI's with 17. Ryan Chruch is 4th in the doubles categorie. And maybe the most shocking sight of all, Salomon Torres, who not only pitched for the Expos, but also coached in the Expos farm system, has saved 6 of the 11 games won by the Pirates so far this year, good for forth place.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Two Expos will be celebrating birthdays tommorow, May 21st. Chris Widger will turn 36, while Rocky Biddle will turn 31.

Rocky Biddle is, I believe, the perfect metafor for the 2003 season. Looked really good for a while, and then the roof caved in, big time.

He really kind of came out of nowhere as our closer that year, and after pitching well for a good chunk of the season, when the going got tough, it was over. He couldn't get anybody out. But still, it was fun while it lasted.

Ah, had we had a manager that year... Who knows what could have happened...

"Playoffs? You're talking about, playoffs?".

- Jim Mora

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Well, how 'bout that? The Expos scrapbook, the little thread that could, has now gone over 10 000 views since it's inception in March of 2005. A big thanks to everyone who viewed and posted. And keep 'em coming.

[Chicoutimi CP]

From Baseball Library : The Expos pound the Red Sox‚ 13-1‚ handing Pedro Martinez (11-2) his first loss in 2 months. Pedro still fans 10. Mike Thurman gets win pitching into the 8th inning. Montreal scores 8 in the 8th‚ including a 3-run HR by rookie relief P Guillermo Mota in his 1st major league at bat. He'll have a sac in his only other plate appearance this year.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON199906090.shtml

That was Pedro's first CY season. So the Expos scoring 4 runs in 6 innings against him is really something. Also the "great" Mike Thurman had one of his strongest outings ever, surrendering only 1 run in 7.1 inning.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

I think I remember that HR. It was a blast that hit high in the netting in left at Olympic stadium. A well hit ball for sure.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

There's plenty of birthdays to go around. Former Expos bench boss Bill Virdon turned 76 yesterday. Ken Singleton (60) and Elias Sosa (57) are both a year older than they were yesterday, while Dave Cash will turn 59 tomorrow.

Everyone get happy :candle:

[Chicoutimi CP]

From Today in Baseball History.com : Montreal's Rondell White has six hits, scores five runs, and hits for the cycle in a 13-inning 10-8 win over the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park.

The six hits by White have been a franchise record that still stands to this day.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN199506110.shtml

[Chicoutimi CP]

*** Two former National League Rookies of the Year managed the Expos: Bill Virdon (1955) and Frank Robinson (1956).

*** Only 40 MLB pitchers compiled 50 wins AND 50 saves in their career for one team. One did that with the Expos: Woodie Fryman, with 51 wins and 52 saves.

*** Vladimir Guerrero is the only player who had 200 hits-100 runs-100 RBIs seasons in both leagues. He did it with Expos, in 1998 and 2002, and with the Angels in 2004.

*** We all know Vladimir Guerrero holds the Expos record for the longest hitting streak, with 31 consecutive games in 1999. For streaks with 2 hit games, Bryan Little comes first with 8. That sequence happened between September 28th and October 2nd 1983 plus from April 3rd to 7th 1984 (18/34, .529). During a single season, the longest 2 hit games streaks are shared by Moises Alou and Tim Raines, with 7 each. Raines did it from May 8th to 14th 1982 (17/32, .531) and Alou, from May 1st to 9th 1993 (18/31, .593).

*** In 5702 games, only six times did the Expos not leave a runner on bases during a game. The first time was April 9th, 1975 (at St. Louis) and the last, July 11th, 2003 (vs Florida). Their opponents did (or did not?) the same eight times.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

We knew Brian Schneider really enjoyed his time in Montréal and was among those who were sorry to leave. Here's a quote from mister Schnieder from a few weeks ago that emphasizes the point, from a CP article by baseball writer Shi Davidi.


While that may be true, Schneider, like many, has trouble letting go of the nostalgia for different times in a different place. It's hard not to wonder what might have been if a few key moments had played out another way.

"I think about Montreal all the time," he said. "Emotions start to come back when I see the fans come in with the Expos gear, the hats, the jerseys. That's when I really miss it."

[Chicoutimi CP]

You should all enjoy this.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=226673

Bon week end de la Fête nationale!

[Chicoutimi CP]

From Baseball Library.com : " On Oh! Henry candy bar day in Montreal‚ Henry Rodriguez bangs 2 homers to tie for the NL lead at 25. His Expos beat the Pirates‚ 11-3‚ 9 of the runs coming in the 2nd inning. Rodriguez adds a single and 2-run double."

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON199606240.shtml

[Augustin_"Gus"]

2007 is quite the lean year for the Expos at the all-star game. There's actually more canadians playing (2, Russ Martin and Justin Morneau) than Expos on the rosters (Vladdy, starting, and competing in the HR derby).

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Quantity beats quality everytime they say...

Vlad won the Home run derby, in rather spectacular fashion.

It was a nice touch when, after hitting a 503 feet HR in the second round, he mentionned that mammoth, remarkable 502 footer he hit against Mike Hampton at the stadium when he was with the Expos. I'm sure every Expos fan who saw it remembers it. Against the face of the old 500 level in left. They put a sign afterwards where the ball landed.

Not quite sure what year it was. 2003 would be my guess. Anyone has a memory that hasn't been hampered by alcool abuse as much as mine?

[Chicoutimi CP]

Vlad won the Home run derby, in rather spectacular fashion.

It was a nice touch when, after hitting a 503 feet HR in the second round, he mentionned that mammoth, remarkable 502 footer he hit against Mike Hampton at the stadium when he was with the Expos. Not quite sure what year it was. 2003 would be my guess. Anyone has a memory that hasn't been hampered by alcool abuse as much as mine?

Gus, according to the Baseball-Reference.com Play Index, Vlad has hit 3 homers off Mike Hampton :

one in this game : http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON199909030.shtml

and 2 in this game, which seems to be the one you're lookin for : http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON200307280.shtml

[Augustin_"Gus"]

It would be the first one, a fly ball to left.

Now, I don't personally remember who he got that homerun against; but Denis Casavant on RDS said it was Mike Hampton. And he's not the kind of guy who would say stuff like that unless he knew it for sure. So that was the one.

It's odd, I really don't remember much about it, except being impressed by how hard it was hit and watching sports news bulletin after sports news bulletin so I could watch the replay some more.

Good work Claude, as always.

[Chicoutimi CP]

From Today in Baseball History.com : "The National League registered its eleventh consecutive All-Star victory over the American League with a 4-1 victory at Montreal's Olympic Stadium in the first game played outside the United States. Dave Concepcion's two-run homer off Dennis Eckersley in the second inning was the deciding hit."

Let's not forget that the Expos had 4 starters on the field : Steve Rogers (P), Gary Carter (C), Tim Raines (LF), and Andre Dawson (CF). Al Oliver stepped in in the top of the 6th inning as a replacement for Pete Rose at first base. Rogers won the game while the four position players combined for 4 hits in 10 at-bats, one run and one RBI.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS198207130.shtml

[Chicoutimi CP]

From Today in baseball's history.com:

1991 - Dennis Martinez pitched a perfect game as the Montreal Expos beat Los Angeles 2-0 at Dodger Stadium.

This one's interesting too :

1989 - Vince Coleman is caught stealing by Nelson Santovenia in the Cardinals' 2-0 win over Montreal, ending his Major League record streak of fifty consecutive stolen bases.

[exposhistory]

From Today in baseball's history.com:
This one's interesting too :

1989 - Vince Coleman is caught stealing by Nelson Santovenia in the Cardinals' 2-0 win over Montreal, ending his Major League record streak of fifty consecutive stolen bases.

I just watched this game last week - 5 days later and nos amours would start to implode ... never dawned on me it was exactly 2 years prior to "El Perfecto!"

[Chicoutimi CP]

*** The Expos were involved in 136 games that ended by a 1-0 score in their 36 years history. They won 59 and lost 77. Woodie Fryman, Carl Morton, Scott Sanderson, and Bill Stoneman have the most career 1-0 wins for Montreal, with 3 each.

*** The player sent the most often as a defensive replacement in a season was Ryan McGwire: 68 times in 1998. (Possible reason: Brad Fullmer’s 17 errors at first base.) Lifetime, Pepe Frias was thrown in 222 times as a sub.

*** The Expo starter with the highest quality start ratio is Bryn Smith, with 131 “q. s.” out of 193 starts (67.9%). -A starter gets credited with a quality start when he pitches at least 6 innings and gives at most 3 earned runs.-

*** Jay Tibbs, in 1986, and Oil Can Boyd, in 1990, share one of the most unusual records in Expos history: both had 15 no decision starts during those seasons. Lifetime, Steve Rogers has the most no decision starts, with 83.

*** Otis Nixon (50), Tim Raines (49), Delino DeShields (42), Marquis Grissom (22), and Larry Walker (21) all stole 20 or more bases in 1990, the only season the Expos had five or more 20+ base stealers during their history. Still, that season team’s total was “only” their second best ever: 235. (In 1980, they had 237.)

***To wrap things up: most Montreal Expos career hits by batting order position
1st: Raines 1089
2th: Vidro 546
3th: Dawson 1109
4th : V. Guerrero 652
5th : Wallach 580
6th : Wallach 488
7th : Parrish 349
8th : Speier 432
9th: Rogers 122

Source: Baseball-Reference.com Play Index

[Chicoutimi CP]

From Baseball Library.com :

"On August 14th 1968, Montreal officially becomes a member of the NL."

[Ontarioguy]

For the first time ever, I watched a Nationals game broadcast by NASN, their home network. Just Awful! Complete open homerism, and then the guys would be just flat out wrong. "You see, here we have a runner on 2nd so the catcher is going out to talk to the pitcher and get some new signs sorted out and decide how they want to play it" This is obvious, but I guess there's no harm in saying it, might be some kids watching...the catcher trots back, they zoom in on his signs 'looks like a fastaball inside...' just as he's saying that the catcher sets up outside and its off-speed. Like why bother??

Aren't we, the Canadians, the one's who are supposed to know nothing about baseball, only hockey?? Yeah, Elliott Price was a bit of a homer with his 'Where was that Pitch?!' but him and Mitch Melynk together were a solid combination. These guys were way worse. At one point a Phillie clearly checked his swing, you didn't even need a replay. They were up in arms. Then the replay showed them to be wrong, credit to them, they admitted their error.

The Team 990 had one full time announcer, Elliott Price, basically no budget, and they still put together a much, much, much better product than what I saw/heard tonight.

I'm just ranting really, it just bugs me, they have a precious gift, and they're doing a sub-par job.

Anyways no more :silent:

[exposhistory]

For the first time ever, I watched a Nationals game broadcast by

I have yet to ever see a gnats game or even a highlight (include the Barroid record HR) - when it's turn for their lowlights to be show I turn my head or shut the TV off - they simply don't and never will exist.

[Chicoutimi CP]

You can read two interesting pieces about Tim Raines here :

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6604

http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/archives/207#more-207

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Two birthdays to mention; Jose Vidro turned 33 (I tought he was older than that) and last saturday, Dave Van Horne turned 68 years old. And frankly, I tought he too was older than that...

[Chicoutimi CP]

Former Expos pitcher Torrez didn't let trades bother him
Played crucial role with Yanks, Bosox

IAN MACDONALD
The Gazette

Saturday, September 15, 2007

It seems appropriate that as baseball's long season heads into the final two weeks, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will square off in a crucial series this weekend.

These teams have a long history when it comes to late-season showdowns and pitcher Mike Torrez played a role in some of that drama - with both teams.

In 1977, Torrez pitched two complete-game shutouts in helping the Yankees beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

During the offseason, Torrez signed with the Red Sox as a free agent and posted a 16-13 record for Boston during the 1978 season. But he is remembered most for serving up the home run to the Yankees' Bucky Dent in the 1978 American League one-game playoff.

Montreal baseball fans will remember Torrez as a member of the Expos, who acquired the right-hander from the St. Louis Cardinals in late 1971. He pitched well for the Expos in 1972 as they struggled during their fourth year as a major-league franchise.

Torrez led the team in wins with a 16-12 record.

Torrez went 9-12 in 1973, but rebounded with a 15-8 record in 1974. After that season, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles along with Ken Singleton in exchange for pitcher Dave McNally and outfielder Rich Coggins.

"I was disappointed, because I enjoyed Montreal," Torrez, 61, recalled in a recent telephone interview. "My (first) wife (Danielle) was from Quebec and our son, Iannick Michael, was born at the Lakeshore Hospital. We lived in St. Laurent. I had a lot of good buddies in those days."

As far as baseball goes, Torrez got over the disappointment of being traded quickly. And this wouldn't be the last time he'd be involved in a major trade.

"Trades are part of the business," Torrez said. "I won 20 games that year (1975) with the Orioles and Kenny hit over .300. We felt good."

But after that season in Baltimore, Torrez was involved in a huge trade, going to the Oakland A's along with Don Baylor in exchange for Reggie Jackson and Ken Holtzman.

Torrez went 16-12 with Oakland in 1976, but early in the 1977 season, he was traded to the Yankees.

Besides the two complete- game shutouts in the 1977 World Series, Torrez pitched 51/3 innings of scoreless ball in the deciding game of the American League Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals.

Torrez became a free agent after the season. Wife Danielle wanted him to return to the Expos, since the couple and their 6-month-old son still lived in St. Laurent. But Torrez and his agent picked Boston.

Torrez enjoyed five good seasons with the Red Sox.

When asked about his Montreal memories, Torrez recalled the late Gene Mauch, who was the Expos' original manager. Mauch was an old-school skipper who felt players had to govern their lifestyle away from the diamond to be the most effective on it.

"He'd call me into his office," Torrez said. "He'd say: 'You have a great arm, but you have to be serious about what you want to do. The way you pitch you can make a lot of money.'

"Even if he was a hard ass, he helped my career. He helped me become what I became. After I was traded, I did make a lot of money. I thank him."

Torrez is now a successful businessman who commutes between White Plains, N.Y., where he owns a company, and the Chicago suburb o Naperville, Ill., where he lives with his wife, Teresa. He started the company 12 years ago.

"We put corporate logos on T-shirts, hats, boots, tote bags - you name it," Torrez said. "I see Steve Rogers (a former Expos teammate who is now an executive with Major League Baseball's players' association) a lot. He lines me up for jobs."

Torrez and his first wife, Danielle, split up years ago. Iannick Michael lives in Kansas City near his mother. He was married this spring.

Torrez works at fantasy camps in Florida for both the Yankees and Red Sox.

He plays golf frequently with former NHL players Peter Mahovlich and Rod Gilbert.

imacdonald@thegazette.canwest.com
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2007

------------------------------
With the Expos from 1971 to 1974, Torrez was 40-32 with a 3.75 ERA. He ranks 16th in the team's history with his 40 wins. He also completed 22 games (ranking 7th in that category) and had 2 shutouts. His best game with Montreal is possibly a two-hitter in Atlanta which the Expos won 2-1 on June 18th, 1972. Ian McDonald also mentions his first wife, Danielle Gagnon, a woman born and raised in my city, Chicoutimi. On a personal note, I saw him pitch that game on a very very rainy Sunday afternoon. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197205140.shtml

[Chicoutimi CP]

Rondell White is "99 percent" sure this will be his last week as a ballplayer

By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer
September 24, 2007

DETROIT (AP) -- Rondell White plans to retire after finishing this season with the Minnesota Twins.

The popular outfielder and designated hitter said there is a "99 percent chance" he will hang up his spikes for good after this week.

"I missed four months this year. My body hurts," the 35-year-old White said Monday before facing the Detroit Tigers, one of his former teams. "There's a good chance this is it."

White was on the disabled list from April 10 until July 22 with a strained right calf, and he has often been sidelined with injuries since making his debut with the Montreal Expos in 1993.

After going 1-for-4 in Minnesota's 2-0 win at Detroit on Monday night, he is hitting .158 with three homers and 15 RBIs in 101 at-bats over 35 games.

White has 197 home runs, 763 RBIs and a .283 batting average in his career with Montreal, the Chicago Cubs, the New York Yankees, San Diego, Kansas City, Detroit and Minnesota.

It didn't take him long to identify his favorite stop.

"Montreal," he said. "I came up with Montreal, and spent seven years there. Me and Cliff Floyd grew up there, and learned the game together."

White was an All-Star in 2003, when he split time with the Padres and Royals. He finished the year with 22 homers, 87 RBIs and a .289 batting average.

He said he was disappointed with his injury-plagued season, but had his spirits lifted when he and his wife had their first child, Zaiya, on Friday.

"The baby was a breath of fresh air," White said. "I want to be able to play with her, too, and not have two knee replacements."

Minnesota signed White to a $2.75 million, one-year contract last winter with an option for a second year and performance bonuses.

White signed with the Twins before the 2006 season to be their DH, but struggled through most of the year while he was slowed by shoulder and hamstring injuries.

After a rough first half, he hit .351 in September and October as the Twins rallied to win their fourth AL Central crown in five seasons. White finished last year with a .246 average, seven homers and 38 RBIs in 337 at-bats over 99 games.

[Chicoutimi CP]

Here are a few numbers from Rondell White’s career with the Expos. Even if he never made it to the All Star Game, he was really one of our greatest. Had he not been so injury-prone, his stats might have been even better than that:

Plate appearances : 3021 - 13th
Hits: 808 - 11th
RBIs: 384 - 12th
Runs: 420 - 11th
Doubles: 165 - 11th
Triples: 23 - 10th (T)
Home runs: 101 - 7th
Batting avg:.293 - 5th
Slugging avg:.486 - 5th
OPS: .827 - 8th
Hit by pitches: 41 - 7th
Strike outs: 494 - 9th
Outfield assists: 35 - 10th (T)
Win Shares : 91 - 16th


On June 11th, 1995 (http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN199506110.shtml), at San Francisco, he might have had his greatest game ever:
•He hit for the cycle, one of six Expos to do so in the 36 years history of the team.
•He also set a team record for most hits in a game, 6.
•He tied a team record for most runs in a game, 5.

On July 24th, 1994, he had most RBIs in a game for a Montreal rookie, 7. He did it at Dodger Stadium.

His combined salary as an MLB player is 35 401 000$, including this year.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

There are some guys who played for the Expos you just forget about. I had completely forgotten the existence of Matt Herges until I saw him with the Rockies in game 1 of the NLCS. He came into the game, gave up a walk, and was pulled. Wich is pretty consistent with what I remember from his stint with our team.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Well, a couple of Expos birthdays to metion. Claude Brochu turns 63 today, altough wether we should wish him a happy birthday or not is debatable.

But no one can doubt this guy deserves to be wished a belated happy borthday: expo moderator Augustin_"Gus" turned 30 yesterday. And I thank you all for noticing :)

[XPOFAN]

Happy Birthday. :waving

[Chicoutimi CP]

expo moderator Augustin_"Gus" turned 30 yesterday.

Happy birthday, Gus!!!!

[Chicoutimi CP]

Sorry, I don't have the link, but this was sent to me by the SABR in Montreal.

From Bill Madden, NY Daily News: Minaya exposed for missing Ortiz

Omar Minaya, the only GM of the 28 nonparticipating teams to attend the World Series in Boston, revealed somewhat whimsically how, as GM of the endangered, MLB-operated Montreal Expos, he twice could have had David Ortiz for practically nothing.

"The first time," said Minaya, "was when I was at the winter meetings in 2002 and (Twins GM) Terry Ryan came up to me and told me that he was probably going to non-tender Ortiz because he was going to earn between 600,000-$800,000 in arbitration and they didn't want to pay him that.

He said: 'You can have him for two minor-league players.' I don't even remember now who they were, but they weren't prospects. I was ready to do the deal but when I went to (assistant GM) Tony Siegle about it, he said it was going to be too much of problem to create roster room. So, Ryan went ahead and released him and he wound up signing with the Red Sox for $1.25 million."

But after one month of the 2003 season, Ortiz was batting .212
with one home run, prompting Red Sox GM Theo Epstein to have second thoughts about having signed him. "Yeah," said Minaya, "a month into the season I was offered him again. Theo was looking for pitching and he offered me Ortiz for Livan Hernandez, who I had just acquired from the Giants for Jim Brower.

The problem was the Giants were picking up most of Hernandez's salary - I was only paying the major league minimum ($300,000) for him and to trade him under those circumstances really didn't make sense for me. Hernandez went on to win 15 games for me that year." True, but we all know what Ortiz went on to do - and is still doing - for the Red Sox.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Thank you gentleman. That was a shameless plug if I ever wrote one, but sometimes you have to take that kind of matters into you're own hands...

About the Ortiz thing. It's easy to judge that non-move based on the knowledge we have today, five years later. But back in 2003, I would not, under any circumstances, have dealt Livan Hernandez, the last real good starter we had in Montréal, a guy we practically stole from the Giants, for a ,212 hitter with limited defensive skills. Would have made no sense.

But, the first scenario. Not giving up two non prospects for Ortiz, beacuse we couldn't fit him on the 40 man roster? That's quite something. I've got some names of people we could have done without: How 'bout Josh Labandeira. Or Val Pascucci. Who would have picked up those guys anyway?

And since when does the GM has to run his decisions by his assistants? I'd like to have him by my subordonate said no? Inept management really plagued that franchise all the way thru. Top to bottom.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

There's one less Expo in Los Angeles of Anaheim. Orlando Cabrera was traded today to Chicago in return for pitcher Jon Garland. I guess that speaks to how highly the White Sox organisation think of Orlando if they're ready to trade an established starter for a short-stop who recently turned 33. Unless there's something I'm not aware of going on between Garland and the WS (contract dispute, trouble with the manager, etc.).

[Chicoutimi CP]

***While the Expos had le Parc Jarry as their home, their pitcher who had the most wins in that stadium was Steve Renko, with 39.

***The highest career total for home runs by an Expo batter at le Parc Jarry belongs to Ron Fairly, with 58.

***Tim Raines holds an unusual record for Montreal: most bases on balls with bases loaded for an Expo batter, lifetime: 11.

***During the Expos’ 36 years history, there were 115 games in which one of their batters had 5 or more runs batted in. Vladimir Guerrero and Tim Wallach had the most, 7 each.

***The 1989 edition of the Expos will forever be remembered for their disastrous collapse in August and September. But during that season, their starting pitching staff had the most games ever in which they pitched at least 7 innings, with 92.

***Just found Andres Galarraga’s name in the Sporting News Record Book of MLB 2007: “Most games with four or more strikeouts, career: NL—15—Andres Galarraga, Montreal, St. Louis, Colorado, Atlanta, 1988-2000.” Only four of these games were with the Expos, though. Delino DeShields is Montreal’s leader in that category, with 5.

Source : Baseball-Reference.com Play Index.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Two of the remaining Expos in DC have been traded to the Mets. Brian Schnieder and Ryan Church, to NY in exchange for Lastings Milledge. Glad to see Brian going to a decent team. I'd like to see him get to the playoffs for the first time in his career. He's one of the good guys out there.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

As you know, one of the many, many things the Scrapbook is here for, is to keep you on top of all your Amercian basketball association news. :confused: But I tought that was an amusing sidenote. The Québec Kebekwa, most probably the worst name ever doned by a professional sports franchise, has hired a 7 foot tall center named Chad Bell, who just happens to be the grand nephew of James "Cool Papa" Bell, Negro leagues star and baseball hall of famer. I'll see if they do an interview with the young man, see if he has something to say about his famous grand uncle.

I am obligated by law to finish this with the following: More on this story as it devellops!

[Ontarioguy]

The Québec Kebekwa,

Ma Parole! Quel nom!

I guess this is a way to teach Americans how to say Quebecois??:noidea

[Chicoutimi CP]

After all this time without any post, you guys leave me no choice. So I'm sending these :

*** The Expos had a record of 100-387 in games where they had no extra-base hits. Their opponents were 123-400-1.

***As a follow up to the fifth item in post no 221, the record for most 7 innings (and more) starts by an Expo pitcher in a season belongs to Carl Morton: 29, in 1970. But Balor Moore had the most 4 2/3 (and less) inning starts in a single year: 12, in 1973.

***A total of 59 Expos batters hit at least 10 sacrifices in a season. The most unlikely name in that list is Gary Carter! Yep, the Kid bunted 10 times during his rookie season in 1975.

***As a follow up to the fifth item in post no 173, once again, Tim Foli had the longest Montréal streak of plate appearances without getting a base on balls. He went 217 PA (covering 59 complete games, from May 24th to August 1st, 1976) without walking to the first base. But Pepe Frias had the longest game streak without a walk, 79 (with only 177 PA), from June 19th, 1976 to September 4th, 1978.

***In 1976, Steve Rogers got the worst run support ever given to a starter by the Expos offense: 2.74 runs per game. The Expos scored 4 runs or more in only 6 of Cy’s 32 starts during what has been known as the Phase 2 season.

Source: Baseball-Reference.com Play Index

[Chicoutimi CP]

From the Expos Historical Society's web site :

«For the first time in its history, Major League Baseball will own a team after acquiring the Montreal Expos from Jeffrey Loria. Loria sells the Expos for $120 million then buys the Florida Marlins of John Henry for $158.5 million with the difference being made up with a loan from MLB.» And, of course, let's not forget that the Expos will also name Frank Robinson as manager, Tony Tavares as president of the club with Omar Minaya becoming the major leagues' first Hispanic general manager.

What a sad day it was :(

[Augustin_"Gus"]

The question is: Have they Expos been forgotten, almost four years after they're departure. I'd like to suggest the following answer:

A popular networking website wich I won't mention by name (let's just say that it has something to do with having your face in some sort of a book...) has a new feature where you can become a fan of, athletes, artists, sports teams etc. And I saw last week that you can become a fan of the Expos; so I did (for the purpose of the site, cause I've been a fan of the Expos for a while. I didn't just become one). At that point, it was on February 12th, there were about 500 registered Expos fans. Last time I checked, yesterday (11 days later), we have gone over the 4000 fans mark. 300 people register every day. You log on, and you come back an hour later and 20 people have joined in. It's good to see something like that. Let's hope it keeps growing.

[Chicoutimi CP]

Sent to me by the SABR of Montreal. A little long, but still interesting even from an Arizona fan perspective.

=================================================
Vazquez contributing for W. Sox

Kevin Murphy
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 24, 2008 06:36 PM
Remember Javier Vazquez?

His stay with the Diamondbacks was short, and the emergence of center fielder Chris Young, one of three players the Diamondbacks acquired from the White Sox for Vazquez in December 2005, has made memories even shorter.

But more than two years later, it still might be too early to know what team got the better end of the deal.

Under the tutelage of White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper, who made a couple of adjustments to Vazquez's mechanics, the veteran right-hander has continued to be a workhorse - and he just might develop into the staff ace.

"Chris Young is a heck of a player," Cooper said. "But we needed Javy, and we had to sacrifice Chris Young. To get something good you have to give something good."

Diamondbacks fans aren't complaining - and neither should White Sox fans. Vazquez, who came to the White Sox for Young and pitchers Orlando Hernandez and Luis Vizcaino (neither is with the Diamondbacks anymore), turned in a 15-8 record in 2007 with a 3.74 ERA and 213 strikeouts, which ranked sixth in the majors.

With his typical endurance (216 2/3 innings in '07) and control (50 walks), Vazquez might be poised to reach the 20-win mark, a feat he has yet to accomplish in 10 big-league seasons. (He won 16 games in 2001 with the Montreal Expos.)

If Vazquez continues to strengthen as his career ages, he can thank a casual conversation he had with Cooper in the middle of the 2006 season that encouraged him to make mechanical adjustments.

"He feels good about it," Cooper said. "I give him an awful lot of credit. I remember we were talking about it - myself, him and the trainer. We just threw it out there. He said, 'Well, hell, I'm not Greg Maddux. . . . I want to get better.' I said, 'All right, let's go to work.' "

The changes, which Cooper calls "fairly big adjustments" for a pitcher so far into his career, involved lining up Vazquez's feet and eliminating a tilt in his upper body.

"I was comfortable last year," said Vazquez, who this season begins the first of a three-year, $34.5 million extension. "I thought it was something I could do, and that's why we started working on that.

"I don't have any Cy Youngs or any MVPs, so I have to work hard on that."

Cooper only regrets not approaching Vazquez earlier about it. Because Vazquez was a veteran, Cooper kept a looser leash.

But after Vazquez hit a rough patch in the first half of the 2006 season, his first with the White Sox, Cooper suggested the changes.

It didn't take long for the adjustments to click. Vazquez led the White Sox last year in victories, innings pitched and strikeouts.

Vazquez certainly has the respect of White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, who was leaning toward naming Vazquez the Opening Day starter against the AL Central rival Indians on March 31. But in order to break up left-handers Mark Buehrle and John Danks in the rotation, Buehrle got the call.

Vazquez, No. 2 in the rotation, starts the home opener April 7 against the Twins.

"He brings an awful lot to the table prior to this," Cooper said. "He was far from being a poor pitcher. This is a guy that strikes out a lot of guys, and he's got good stuff. He's a prepared guy. You don't have to worry about Javy."

[Augustin_"Gus"]

I guess that was to be expected, with our former GM in office with the Mets. But we might just be headed for an Expos reunion at Shea Stadium this summer. The Mets have just signed Claudio Vargas to a minor league contract. He will eventually make his way to New Orleans (AAA) where he will join Tony Armas and Fernando Tatis (who just will not die apparently). So, should there be a lot of injuries to the Mets pitching staff, and that seems to be the case, we could have Pedro, Vargas and Armas on the mound for the Mets, pitching to Brian Schneider, with Endy Chavez in left, Ryan Church ready to step in when called upon. And who knows, maybe Tatis could unseat David Wright as the team's regular third baseman. :confused:

Now, that's a game I would wear my Expos jersey to.

[Chicoutimi CP]

Catcher Gary Carter, back with the Montreal Expos, joined Bob Boone and Carlton Fisk in the exclusive 2,000 games caught club.

(From Baseball-Reference Bullpen - Footnote : Since then, only Ivan Rodriguez became a member of that very select club last year.)

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Well, the Expos reunion at Shea might happen after all. Vargas and Tatis are both with the big club right now. Tatis leads the majors with a ,1000 BA since his recall.

In my list, I forgot to mention Moises Alou who's with the club. So you could have a starting lineup made of 6 former Expos for the Metropolitans.

Ryan Church seems to be on the verge of realizing the potential the Expos organization always saw in him. ,309 BA, 8 HR, 30 RBI's, ,530 SLG...

[Chicoutimi CP]

From Baseball-Reference Bullpen

« The Montreal Expos, hoping to add the last piece to a playoff contender, trade Brian Holman, Gene Harris, and 6' 10" Randy Johnson to the Seattle Mariners for Mark Langston. Mike Campbell goes to Montreal in July to complete the trade. »

COMMENT : Langston did a good job, 12-9 2.39 ... But the collapse in August and September doomed that trade and for many years, the Expos justified their lack of action at trade deadline by alienating fans with stuff like « we got Langston in 1989 and we still didn't win, so it's ok not to make any move. »

[Augustin_"Gus"]

The downfall of the Expos was due, in large part, to that simple fact: For most of the team's existence, the management, from the owners all the way down, wasn't much for doing things. They were a lot better at finding excuses not to do anything. "We can't deal for players cause it didn't work with Langston. We can't get free agents cause were small market. We can't keep our good players, we can't build a stadium, we can't invest more money..." An endless series of excuses.

[Chicoutimi CP]

(From Baseball-Reference Bullpen)

« Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos pitched nine perfect innings against San Diego before giving up a leadoff double to Bip Roberts in the 10th inning of the Expos' 1 - 0 win. Martinez became the second pitcher in history, after Harvey Haddix, to have a perfect game broken up in extra innings. »

[tinseltown]

The downfall of the Expos was due, in large part, to that simple fact: For most of the team's existence, the management, from the owners all the way down, wasn't much for doing things. The apparent problem with the group that bought the team from Bronfman was that they did it to "save baseball", and did not seem to want to invest in the Expos. After all, if you look at it coldly from a purely financial point of view, if they had held on to the team a bit longer, it could have been them turning a big profit by selling to the Washington group -- but of course they would have then been the bad guys who let the team get away. I wrote a letter to Claude Brochu after he announced the new ballpark scheme, asking him to convince the owners to invest more money in the team, and his reply (which seems to have been tailored to my letter and not just a form letter) was that we were beyond that point, and the future of the team rested on the new park.

As much as some like to blame Omar Minaya for trading away the store, including Grady Sizemore, I cannot fault him, since at that point, there were no real owners to set long term direction, so "win now" was the only reasonable goal, and after years of GMs basically phoning it in after they had balanced the budget at the start of the season, it was refreshing to see Minaya avoid the excuses of past GMs and find creative ways to make deals happen, in spite of the restrictions placed upon the Expos by the other 29 MLB team owners.

[Chicoutimi CP]

Anyone remembers this charming guy?

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/content/sports/epaper/2008/05/31/a1c_samson_0601.html

A bit long to read, but it seems the guy's still as likeable as ever.

[Chicoutimi CP]

The 2008 season is almost three months old and that means it is about to reach the halfway mark. I thought it would be fun to mention a few interesting numbers some Expos compiled after 81 games in some seasons of the team history. I’ll go with the most obvious categories:

Most wins by the team: 49 in 1994.
Least wins by the team: 26 in 1969 and 1976.
Most wins by a pitcher: Charlie Lea, 13 in 1984.
Most losses by a pitcher: Bill Stoneman, 12 in 1969.
Best ERA: Pedro Martinez, 1.54 in 1997.
Most saves: Jeff Reardon, 22 in 1985 and Rocky Biddle, 22 in 2003.
Most hits: Jose Vidro, 118 in 2000.
Most runs: Marquis Grisson, 72 in 1994.
Most home runs: Henry Rodriguez, 25 in 1996.
Most RBIs: Vladimir Guerrero, 75 in 2000.
Best batting average: Jose Vidro, .378 in 2000.
Best on-base percentage: Vladimir Guerrero, .439 in 2000.
Best slugging average: Vladimir Guerrero, .704 in 2000.

Source: Baseball-Reference.com Play Index.

[Chicoutimi CP]

1997 - The Expos retire Andre Dawson's uniform No. 10 prior to the game with Atlanta. Once the festivities are over, the Braves defeat Montreal, 5-3, with Chipper Jones' 3rd-inning grand slam the big blow.

2001 - The Expos beat the Marlins, 9-6. Montreal 3B Geoff Blum becomes the fifth Expo to homer from both sides of the plate in the contest. -Other Expos to switch-hit home runs in a game were Tim Raines (7/16/1988), Bret Barberie (8/02/1991), F.P. Santangelo (6/07/1997), and Jose Vidro (7/03/2000).-

Source : Baseball-Reference Bullpen.

[Chicoutimi CP]

Well, the Expos reunion at Shea might happen after all.

We're getting one step closer : Armas got called up and won his first game as a Met July 1st.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200807010.shtml

[Chicoutimi CP]

From Baseball-Reference Bullpen:

« 1973 - The Expos take two in a doubleheader with the Astros, 12-8 and 14-6 at Parc Jarry. In the first game, John Boccabella hits two home runs in the 6th inning for Montreal. »

Other Expos who will hit 2 home runs in an inning: Andre Dawson @ Atlanta 7/30/78, @ Chicago 9/24/85, and Mike Lansing @ San Francisco 5/7/97.

[Chicoutimi CP]

He got his 2000th career hit yesterday. Great achievement. 553 of those were with Expos. He ranks 24th for Montreal in that category. Sent to me by the SABR Montreal chapter.


Grudzielanek aims to reach milestone
07/12/2008 1:00 AM ET
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com

KANSAS CITY -- Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek is eagerly anticipating his 2,000th hit.

"Absolutely, why wouldn't I?" Grudzielanek said. "Not many people have done that. Being in the game as long as I have and the success I've had over the years, it's definitely an awesome accomplishment, personally. Not many people can say that."

After going hitless in the series opener against the Seattle Mariners, he goes into Saturday night's game just two hits shy of the milestone. He would be the 18th active player and the 251st in history to reach 2,000.

It's been a long time since his first hit in the Majors, so long that Grudzielanek is fuzzy on the details.

"I have no ... I think it was a pinch-hit," he said. "I'm not sure about that. I can't remember that far back, I really can't. They asked me [about it] and I said, 'I think it was [against Mike] Remlinger,' but I wasn't even sure until they told me."

He was partially right. The hit did come off New York Mets left-hander Remlinger -- a double to center field -- when Grudzielanek was a rookie with the Montreal Expos.

But he wasn't a pinch-hitter. He entered the game during the top of the 10th inning, during a Mets' four-run rally, replacing Wil Cordero at shortstop. Grudzielanek can't remember why.

He whacked his double in the bottom half of the 10th, a scoreless inning as the Expos lost, 5-1, at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

That was 13 years and almost 2,000 hits ago.

"That's a lot of hits. I'm flabbergasted I've been in the game this long. I'm thankful. It's an accomplishment ... It's cherished," he said. "There's not a whole lot of guys out there with that many hits, and that play that long and put up those kind of numbers. So I'm proud of it."

Grudzielanek, 38, couldn't remember getting souvenir balls from any of his other milestone hits, including No. 1,000 on June 5, 2001, against Arizona's Robert Ellis when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I want to make sure I grab this 2,000th hit. I want that ball, that's for sure," he said.

Royals manager Trey Hillman had Grudzielanek, who hit .371 (33-for-89) in his previous 22 games, in the No. 5 spot on Friday night.

"It's tremendous, not only for him as a professional, but it's a bright spot for the Kansas City Royals and the position that we're in," Hillman said. "We're not where we want to be in the race -- hopefully, that'll improve -- but meantime, we've got something pretty cool happening to one of our veteran players."

After this, will it be on to 3,000 for Grudzielanek? He just laughed.

"Holy cow, I don't know if my family would let me do that," Grudzielanek said.

[Augustin_"Gus"]

Yeah, hats off to the G-Man for 2000 hits. I certainly wouldn't have bet on his chances of reaching such a mileston when he broke in with the Spos.

A career ,290 hitter, 934 runs, 625 RBI's, All-star selection in 96 with the Expos. Not the kind of numbers that give you the key to the VIP restroom at Cooperstown, but still. You are having a very fine career in baseball when you get to 2000 hits.

His best season hits wise, 201 in 96. They had that great double-play combination going with Mike Lansing at second.

[Chicoutimi CP]

In a game in which Cardinal first baseman Albert Pujols becomes the first player in history to hit at least 30 homers in each of his first four big league seasons, Tony Batista goes deep twice, knotting the score in the ninth and winning the game in the 12th. The Expos third baseman's 199th and 200th career blasts helps Montreal beat the St. Louis in extra innings, 10-6.

Source : Baseball-Reference Bullpen.

[Chicoutimi CP]

Sent to me by the Montreal's SABR chapter: This comes from ESPN, a retrospective of the Expos on the anniversary of the 1994 strike...Keep the Kleenex handy!

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3531010

[Chicoutimi CP]

As the previous post, also sent to me by SABR's Montreal chapter. A bit long, but interesting.

Veteran Cormier feels like a kid again

Bob Duff
Canwest News Service

Monday, August 11, 2008

BEIJING - Rheal Cormier was at a crossroads in his baseball career.

There was nothing left to prove and yet, he still felt that he had something more to give.
Only there were no takers. Not in the big leagues.

The Olympic Games, however, proved to be a different matter.

Cast adrift by the Cincinnati Reds in May of 2007 after pitching 683 major-league games, Cormier of Moncton, N.B., has gone back to his past in the hopes that it might somehow provide him a future in baseball.

At 41, he's the oldest player on the Canadian Olympic baseball team. In fact, he's the oldest player in the Olympic baseball tournament, which starts Wednesday when Canada faces China.

A big-league hurler from 1991-2007, Cormier feared baseball might be done for him, until he was contacted by Canadian Olympic head coach Greg Hamilton.

"When I ended up not playing this year, Greg, through Denis Boucher the (Canadian) pitching coach, talked to me to see if I might consider playing," Cormier said. "They made the connection that way.

"Then Greg called and wanted to see if I was interested in working out and joining the team. At the time, I told him I would get back to him.

"I talked to my family and my (two) kids and my wife felt it was a good opportunity to come and represent my country in the Olympics."

So here he is in China, a crafty southpaw working in the Canadian bullpen alongside players young enough to be his sons.

"I still feel young hanging around with these guys," Cormier said.

The left-hander with No. 37 on his back and the Maple Leaf on his chest was born April 23, 1967, about a week before the Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup.
Now that's a long time ago.

Being able to turn to a veteran like Cormier in a tight spot figures to make Canadian manager Terry Puhl's life a little easier.

"You don't have to always be concerned about Cormier," Puhl said. "He's going to pitch to the right guy. He's been around. That's why he pitched at the major-league level."

This is where it all started for Cormier, part of the Canadian team at the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, launching him toward a pro career. He made his major-league debut Aug. 15, 1991 for the St. Louis Cardinals and spent the better part of the next two decades in the show, including a two-season stint with the Montreal Expos from 1996-97, fashioning a 71-64 record with a 4.21 earned-run average.

When Cormier broke into the big leagues, Canadian major leaguers were an anomaly. While still not abundant, Canadians are far more plentiful in the big leagues today.

During Cormier's tenure, a Canadian was named MVP (Justin Morneau) in the American League and Canadians won the Cy Young Award (Eric Gagne) and batting title (Larry Walker) in the National League.

"It's nice to see," Cormier said. "Canada has produced a lot of good players in the past and I think we have a lot of good players coming up."

Including some of the guys he'll team with here in Beijing. Catcher-infielder Brett Lawrie, 19, was the Milwaukee Brewers' 2008 first-round draft pick in June. Seven of Cormier's teammates own big-league playing experience. Sixteen on the roster play in the farm system of a major-league club.

"We have a good bunch of guys from different backgrounds," Cormier said. "We are building together.

"The guys are pulling for each other and trying to get ready for these games coming up."

Cormier hopes these Games might lead to more games for him, believing that a strong Olympic performance could pique the interest of a major-league team looking to add pitching depth for the September stretch drive.

"I thought this would be a good stepping stone," he said. "Pitch in this again and see what it leads to. We'll see what happens, but if this is the last shot that I get, it's fine. I'm totally content with how my career's gone, but if there's an opportunity to catch on with a team, I'd take it.

"I'm going to try and play for as long as I can."

Bob Duff is in Beijing as part of the Canwest News Service Olympic Team

[Augustin_"Gus"]

On this day in 1989, form the AP

1989 - Dave Dravecky of the San Francisco Giants, in his second start after coming back from cancer surgery on his pitching arm, broke his arm but earned the win in a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Expos. Dravecky entered the sixth inning with a three-hit shutout. He gave up a leadoff home run to Damaso Garcia and hit Andres Galarraga with a pitch. After throwing a wild pitch to Tim Raines, he collapsed to the ground and clutched his left arm in agony.

Now, if memory serves me well, he didn't quite collapsed after pitching to Raines as much as he collapsed while pitching to Tim. Afternoon game at the Stadium, I think, not televised. They only had an overhead shot where you could see Dravecky go down while finishing his pitch... Unpleasant.

[Chicoutimi CP]

From Baseball-Reference Bullpen :

1970 - In a 5-3 Montreal win over the Astros, Bob Bailey hits one of the longest home runs in Astrodome history.

1977 - At Montreal, the Phillies win their 13th straight, a 20th century club record, beating the Expos, 7 - 5. Warren Brusstar is the winner over Joe Kerrigan.

1987 - Tim Raines goes 5-for-5 and hits for the cycle to lead the Expos to a 10-7 win over Pittsburgh. It was the third time an Expo hit for the cycle. Tim Foli and Chris Speier had also accomplished the feat in 1976 and 1978.

[Chicoutimi CP]

*** The most first inning runs allowed by an Expo pitcher during a season was 31, by Steve Rogers in 1974 over 38 starts. The least: Pedro Martinez, 1 ER in 31 starts, in 1997. Unbelievable!

*** As a follow up to Post 225’s fifth item, in 1985, Bryn Smith got the highest run support ever given to a starter (30 games started or more) by the Expos offense in a season: 5.47 runs per game. The Expos scored 4 runs or more in 20 of Smith’s 32 starts that year.

*** Surprisingly, the Expos had a slightly better record with Mike Fitzgerald as a starting catcher than with Gary Carter: they were .542 (257-217-1) with Fitz, compared to .528 (681-609-1) with The Kid. The best starting record belongs to Darren Fletcher with .555 (288-231).

*** Graig Nettles is the oldest Expo batter to ever hit a home run: on April 16th 1988, he was 43 years and 240 days old when he hit his final career HR (no 390) at the Big O against the Phillies. Gary Carter was the youngest, at 20 years and 173 days old, on September 28th, 1974 when he knocked his first career round-tripper at Parc Jarry versus Philadelphia.

*** During his franchise record-setting season of 133 runs in 1983, Tim Raines scored on 96 hits (46 singles, 22 doubles, 6 triples, 11 home runs by teammates plus his own 11 home runs), 20 sacrifice flies, 6 errors, 3 wild pitches and 8 ground outs. Andre Dawson drove him home the most often, with 55 of his 113 RBIs.

Source: Baseball-Reference.com Play Index and Retrosheet event files.

[Chicoutimi CP]

November 29th, 1990 - A consortium of Canadian investors led by Montreal Expos president Claude Brochu agrees to buy the club from Charles Bronfman for a reported $85 million, assuring that the team will remain in Montréal, QC.

[Homestead Gray]

:silent:Anyone remembers this charming guy?

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/content/sports/epaper/2008/05/31/a1c_samson_0601.html

A bit long to read, but it seems the guy's still as likeable as ever.

This guy was a contributing factor to the end of baseball in Montreal. As Bill Lee called on a video on youtube "Samsom that pr**k"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRbwUnXDT5U&feature=channel_page