Canadian Gem

Laurence Miedema

SALT LAKE CITY–When blasts that would have been home runs in most other Pacific Coast League ballparks kept turning into warning-track outs at Vancouver’s Nat Bailey Stadium, Canadians manager Mike Quade decided to have a talk with his frustrated hitters.

All Quade could tell them was what everyone in the PCL has known for years. "Vancouver is the ultimate pitcher’s paradise," Quade said.

And the Canadians staff was taking full advantage of it in the Athletics affiliate’s first–and probably only–season in Vancouver since 1978. If a stadium can be built in time for next season, the team likely will move to Sacramento.

Until then, A’s pitching prospects are prospering north of the border. Vancouver’s 4.18 team ERA led the league, and two of the seven PCL pitchers who had sub-4.00 ERAs at the all-star break were Canadians–righthander Brett Laxton (3.30) and lefthander Mark Mulder (3.66). Righthander Blake Stein (4.02), acquired from the Cardinals in the Mark McGwire trade, was just off the pace.

The Canadians led the league with eight shutouts and had won 25 of 28 games in which they allowed two or fewer runs. The staff could have been even more dominant had it not lost righthanders Chad Harville, Tim Hudson and Brad Rigby to big league promotions early in the season.

"Just the fact the team ERA is near the top says a lot about the team, including the bullpen," Quade said. "We’re in the right park, too."

Unlike most of the high-elevation parks of the old PCL or the warm-weather cities added to the league in 1998, Nat Bailey rarely benefits a hitter–especially at night. Vancouver sits at sea level, and the cool, moist air tends to keep anything but the best-hit balls in play.

But don’t discount the Canadians’ pitching talent. Harville, Hudson and Rigby pitched well for the Canadians and continued to do so after their promotions. Quade sees similar futures for Laxton, Mulder and Stein soon.

Oakland Athletics

AAA	Vancouver
AA	Midland
A	Modesto
A	Visalia
A	Southern Oregon*
R	AZL Athletics
	* short-season