Mlb is back in Montrealfor the first time since 2004 as the Blue Jays play exhibition games against the Mets

ByThis Day in Baseball

Major league baseball is back in Montreal, QC for the first time since 2004 as the Blue Jays play the first of two exhibition games against the Mets. More than 46,000 fans, most sporting the colors of the defunct Montreal Expos, pack Stade Olympique to pay tribute to Hall of Famer Gary Carter and to their beloved former team. The Jays win, 5 – 4, on minor league veteran Ricardo Nanita’s run-scoring single with two outs in the 9th. Tomorrow, over 50,000 fans will be at the game in what will become an annual tradition to close out the Jays’ schedule of pre-season exhibition games.

Major League Baseball and the Players Association agree to a number of changes that toughen the major leagues’ PED policy. The penalty for a first offense goes from 50 to 80 games, suspended players will no longer be eligible for the postseason or for full a postseason share, while the number of random tests will be significantly increased.

ByTom

Major League Baseball and the Players Association agree to a number of changes that toughen the major leagues’ PED policy. The penalty for a first offense goes from 50 to 80 games, suspended players will no longer be eligible for the postseason or for full a postseason share, while the number of random tests will be significantly increased.

MLB regular season begins in Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Australia

ByTom

Major League Baseball’s regular season begins with the first of two games played at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Australia. The Dodgers defeat the Diamondbacks, 3 – 1, behind a vintage performance from defending Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, and a pair of extra-base hits by OF Scott Van Slyke, including the first homer to be hit in the southern hemisphere. Ironically, Van Slyke is only in the starting line-up because OFs Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp have failed to make the trip. It is the first time a regular season game has been played in Australia.

Angels send 1B Matt Scioscia to the Cubs for OF Trevor Gretzky

ByTom

2014 – In a trade of minor leaguers with excellent bloodlines, the Angels send 1B Matt Scioscia, son of manager Mike Scioscia, to the Cubs in return for OF Trevor Gretzky, son of all-time hockey great Wayne Gretzky. In spite of their athletic lineage, neither player is considered to be much of a prospect, however.

Aroldis Chapman is struck in the face by a line drive off the bat of Salvador Perez

ByTom

2014 – A Cactus League game between the Reds and Royals is abruptly stopped in the 6th inning when Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is struck in the face by a line drive off the bat of Salvador Perez. Chapman is taken off the field on a stretcher, with fractures above his eye and in his nose, as well as multiple lacerations. The two managers then elect not to continue play, with the blessing of home plate umpire Chris Guccione.

Fernando Valenzuela wins Recinto de la Fama

ByTom

The 2014 Recinto de la Fama balloting‎ results are announced. Fernando Valenzuela, the 1981 National League Cy Young Award winner, leads the voting by a significant margin. Joining him in winning induction are Daniel Fernández (the Mexican League career leader with 1,837 runs), Ricardo Sáenz (the Mexican League double leader with 496 for his career) and Cuauhtémoc Rodríguez (an executive whose teams won eight titles).

Jose Quintana of the White Sox is glad that Cactus League stats do not count after a truly dreadful start against the Athletics: all nine batters he faces reach base, and they all eventually come in to score, before he gets removed, having allowed 7 hits and 2 walks, retiring none. The hits include a long homer by Jed Lowrie and a triple by Sam Fuld. No starter has ever allowed 9 runs without retiring a batter in a major league game, although Hank Borowy managed the dubious feat in a relief outing with the Tigers in 1951.

ByTom

Jose Quintana of the White Sox is glad that Cactus League stats do not count after a truly dreadful start against the Athletics: all nine batters he faces reach base, and they all eventually come in to score, before he gets removed, having allowed 7 hits and 2 walks, retiring none. The hits include a long homer by Jed Lowrie and a triple by Sam Fuld. No starter has ever allowed 9 runs without retiring a batter in a major league game, although Hank Borowy managed the dubious feat in a relief outing with the Tigers in 1951.