Votto leads Canucks in MLB
The all-star game has come and gone for Major League Baseball players and it’s time for the boys of summer to return to work.
Among Canadians, former National League MVP Joey Votto — the Cincinnati Reds’ first baseman — is again putting up the best numbers. He’s seventh in the National League with a .318 average, tied for 12th in homers with 15 and was a starter in the all-star game.
He’s become the standard bearer now for Canadian baseball, supplanting Justin Morneau as the country’s top position player.
Here’s a look at how some of the other Canadians in MLB are faring at the allstar break:
Brett Lawrie, third base/second base, Toronto Blue Jays. Hometown: Langley, B.C.
Like the rest of the Jays, Lawrie’s season has been one of major disappointment. He suffered a rib injury and missed the beginning of the MLB campaign. Then in late May, he sprained his ankle and missed another six weeks. In 39 games, Lawrie is batting just .204 with 14 RBIs.
Michael Saunders, OF, Seattle Mariners. Hometown: Victoria.
The 26-year-old had a breakthrough season in 2012 when he slammed 19 dingers. He had 507 official atbats and hit .247 with an onbase percentage of .306. This season, his OBP is an almost identical .303 but his average is down to .225 and he’s sitting at just six homers.
Justin Morneau, 1B, Minnesota Twins. Hometown: New Westminster, B.C.
Morneau was enjoying a terrific first half in 2010 when he suffered a concussion. He began coming back in 2012, batting .267 in 134 games. This season, the 32-year-old’s average is marginally better at .273 but his home-run total is a pedestrian seven.
Ryan Dempster, P, Boston Red Sox. Hometown: Gibsons, B.C.
In his best season, the 36-year-old right-hander was a 17-game winner with an ERA below 3.00. That was five years ago. Now Dempster will have to be content trying to hit double-digit victories as he sits at 5-8. At least he’s on the good Red Sox. Dempster’s ERA this year is 4.24 in 110 innings pitched.
Jason Bay, OF, Seattle Mariners. Hometown: Trail, B.C.
Once a .300 hitter with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 34-year-old is now a part-time player with the M’s. Bay has appeared in 64 games and is batting only .214, although he does have 11 homers.
Russell Martin, C, Pittsburgh Pirates. Hometown: Montreal.
Martin left the perennial contender Yankees after two seasons for the perennial doormat Pirates. Now those Pirates are the second-best team in baseball. Martin’s numbers aren’t particularly eye-popping — .239 with eight homers and 34 RBIs — but he’s obviously having a positive impact.
John Axford, P, Milwaukee Brewers. Hometown: Simcoe, Ont.
Axford had two dominating seasons as the Brewers’ closer in 2010 and 2011. Last season he wasn’t nearly as good, and this season hasn’t been much better. His ERA is 3.72 and he has zero saves in just four opportunities.
Erik Bedard, P, Houston Astros. Hometown: Navan, Ont.
The once-prominent lefty, who went 13-5 with the Orioles in 2007, is pretty much a journeyman now. This season, with the bottom-feeding Astros, Bedard is 3-6 with an ERA of 4.61. He’s walked 46 and fanned 79 in 91 innings pitched.
Scott Diamond, P, Minnesota Twins. Hometown: Guelph, Ont.
After winning 12 games last season, Diamond likely isn’t pleased being 5-8 at the all-star break. His ERA has taken a turn for the worse, however, and sits at 5.32.
Jim Henderson, P, Milwaukee Brewers. Hometown: Calgary.
The 30- year- old righthander finally made it to the majors last season. This season, his ERA has improved from 3.52 to 2.41 while saving 10 of 13 opportunities. Maybe he’s finding a home.