World Cup Performances -- Latest: Quote -- "Nick Bucci was unreal"

[Mass Haas]

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"Going Deep:" Trip to podium long time coming for Canadian baseball team veterans

By Shi Davidi (CP)

TORONTO - The Canadian baseball team was due for a little bit of good fortune, especially after enduring such a tough run over the past 13 months.

Five one-run losses at the Beijing Olympics. A one-run setback to the United States in an emotionally charged game at the World Baseball Classic. The stunning defeat to Italy that followed and knocked them out of that tournament.

That's why Saturday's bronze-medal win at the IBAF World Cup in Italy felt so good. The timing and format of these events usually end up stacked against Canada, and the breaks never seem to go its way, making any success that much sweeter.

"Every time it seems like we had a little bit of bad luck and for once it all clicked for us," said veteran outfielder Adam Stern of London, Ont. "Everyone position player-wise came up big at some point and everybody contributed. It wasn't relying on two, three guys like we have at times.

"In the past it's been frustrating because we had the teams and we had the talent but we never fully capitalized on picking up one another."

The medal is just the second ever for the senior national program, which also won bronze at the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg. And it was accomplished with a roster in transition from the mostly veteran base that had carried it to the Olympics.

Contributions came from up and down the roster, although youngsters like right-hander Nick Bucci of Sarnia, Ont., and second baseman Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C., both 19-year-old Milwaukee Brewers prospects, really stepped to the forefront.

Outfielders Stern, Rene Tosoni of Coquitlam, B.C., and the Minnesota Twins, Tim Smith of Toronto and the Kansas City Royals, and Adam Loewen of Surrey, B.C., and the Toronto Blue Jays, plus third baseman Shawn Bowman of Port Moody, B.C., and the New York Mets were all forces at the plate throughout the tournament.

Blue Jays prospect Trystan Magnusson of Vancouver led all relievers with three wins, while Jim Henderson of Calgary and the Brewers won two games and saved another. Right-handed starters Matt Kniginyzky of Oakville, Ont., and the Kansas City Royals and Brooks McNiven of Vernon, B.C., each won a pair of games, while Bucci, a senior team rookie, threw 14 1-3 scoreless innings.

"Going out there people expected me to be nervous and intimidated," said Bucci. "But my intensity took over and I believe I can compete with anybody. And I can't say enough about our defence, pitching and hitting. We set the tone early and kept it going."

The Canadians went 12-3 overall, including a 6-2 win over Puerto Rico for the bronze. They opened the second round with an 8-0 loss to the United States and a 5-3 setback to Australia, and things could have snowballed the wrong way. Back-to-back wins over Mexico and Japan steadied the ship, and started a run of eight straight victories that left them playing for third.

"We've always seemed to come out on the short end of the stick, especially since Sternie and I joined the team in '03," said veteran starter Chris Begg of Uxbridge, Ont. "This time we went on a fabulous run.

"Nick Bucci was unreal. Our bullpen was phenomenal, absolutely ridiculous. When those guys came in the game, the guys felt like we were going to win and we always ended up getting the big hit."

The strong performance of the team's young players bodes well for the future, particularly because there were so many new pieces in this group. Stubby Clapp, for years the team's heart and soul, was absent for the first time in a decade, creating a leadership void that was filled by Stern and Begg.

"We're going to get on Stubby and tell him he's going from Canadian baseball icon to curse," joked Begg. "Stern took that role over, he's loud and outspoken, and has the experience to back it up."

Said Stern: "There was a different feel without Stubby here. By process of elimination I ended up stepping in. I accept that role but it's a bit weird being the older guy after being on the other side of. But these guys were great."

The bronze is also important for Baseball Canada's bottom line, as the government funding formula is partially based on international results.

[LouisEly]

Hopefully Welch has figured out whatever it was in the beginning of the season that caused his poor performance and can be counted on to be adequate depth at AAA next year. Post All-Star game he was 4-1 with a 2.15 ERA and 1.06 WHIP; in June he had a 2.51 ERA, in July a 3.57 ERA, and in August a 2.32 ERA, all very good numbers for AA, and it looks like he carried that over into the World Cup. Here's to him carrying that over into 2010 and beyond.