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Blue Jays settle on shuffling off to Buffalo for 2020 home games – Toronto Sun

Published

4 years ago

July 25, 2020

Rare would be the Major League Baseball player who makes it to The Show, as the sport’s grandest stage is known, who ever wants to return to a minor-league stadium.

But with the Blue Jays finally settling on a home at Buffalo’s Sahlen Field on Friday, the team’s young core of star players not far removed from those lesser lights will try to manufacture a unique home-field advantage.

After being turfed from Toronto and the Rogers Centre by the federal government six days earlier and evicted from a possible tenure at PNC Park in Pittsburgh earlier this week by the Pennsylvania legislature, the Jays were finally running out of options.

And with Canada’s only MLB team opening its season Friday night in St. Petersburg, Fla., it was time to settle on a minor-league venue.

“I’ve always thought that one of the greatest things I’ve expressed is wherever you are, it’s your major league,” Jays president Mark Shapiro said on a conference call to announce the details of the home away from home.

“The (team’s) consistent messaging is that we will make any environment an advantage for us. The mentality is that they are going to walk into Buffalo and the day they walk in there it’s going to be a competitive advantage for us, that we are excited to be there and we are resilient and strong.”
While that sounds well and good, it may be a different story once the Jays settle in to the home of their triple-A affiliate Bisons.

Most of the team’s young stars — Vlad Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio and Rowdy Tellez — have all played at Sahlen Field in the past two seasons, but the amenities are not what they are like at, say, Yankee Stadium.
But could that turn into an advantage? The hungry young Jays are trying to convince themselves that it just might.

“We’re going to take advantage of this as much as we can,” Biggio told Sportsnet 590. “Having the New York Yankees come to a minor-league ballpark … I know they’re not going to be happy about that.”

To be truthful, neither are the Blue Jays. Buffalo always existed as a fallback for the Jays and, indeed, staff has been on site for a week getting a lay of the land for what work needs to be done.
When what looked like a sure-fire deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates fell apart, Baltimore’s Camden Yards seemed to be the next possibility. Ultimately, that ended with a swing and a miss as well, the terms of which Shapiro was reluctant to discuss.

With time and options running out, the team shuffled back to Buffalo and set off a scramble to get the stadium upgraded as much and as swiftly as possible. Because of the timing, the Jays will give up two and possibly four home dates, remaining in Washington to play the back end of what would have been a “home-and-home” series July 29-30.

The Jays are scheduled to play host to the Phillies for a three-game series starting on July 31. If Sahlen Field isn’t ready, those games will take place in Philadelphia, setting up a Buffalo home opener on Aug. 11, a scenario that would appear to be the likeliest.

In the meantime, attempts will increase to get lighting up to MLB standards, and clubhouse and weight room spacing arranged to meet the league’s return-to-play protocols. Some of the facilities will be built from scratch, others renovated, and all done with the mind of recreating the big-league experience as best as possible.

“It is helpful (for) the players who have come there and have played there and know where they are going,” Shapiro said. “There’s going to be an understanding of navigating their way, not just in the ballpark, but in the city, that is both a positive and a source of comfort for us.”
Of course, the biggest source of comfort may well be that the Jays will finally have a place to unpack their bags and a semblance of a home in what promises to be a crazy 2020 season.

Guerrero, who played parts of the past two seasons with the Bisons, believes the expansive outfield favours pitchers.

“I think it could actually be an advantage for our pitching,” Guerrero said through translator Hector LeBron. “It’s a big field, bigger than the one in Toronto, so I think that’s going to be the difference.”
The field itself has been idle since late last summer and will need some work. And as has been the case in MLB parks across the league, coronavirus accommodations have been made.

It may not be home sweet home, but at least the Jays don’t have to add a 60-game road trip to a season already full of unprecedented inconveniences.

“I’m excited we finally have a place to go play and we’re done with that,” Montoyo said on a Zoom call. “Let’s focus on the Rays. Let’s focus on the schedule. Now we know.”
Amen to that.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

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AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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