Paxton, Votto head list of candidates for Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Tip O’Neill Award
Yes, James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) and Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) enjoyed strong seasons in 2018. But so, too, did outfielder Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, B.C.), who made his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals and socked nine home runs and had a .500 slugging percentage in 61 big league games. He also clubbed 26 home runs in triple-A. And Montreal-born Vladimir Guerrero Jr. cemented his status as baseball’s No. 1 prospect by leading the minor leagues in batting average, hitting a combined .381 and belting 20 home runs in 95 games in the Toronto Blue Jays’ system.
Meanwhile, Daphnée Gélinas was starring for the Canadian Women’s National Team. The Repentigny, Que., native went 9-for-22 (.409 batting average) – including two doubles, one triple and one home run – to help Canada’s national squad secure a bronze medal at the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup in August. For her efforts, she was named the Women’s National Team MVP.
Alors, avec une année remplie d’exploits de la sorte, comment choisir le Canadien s’étant le plus démarqué?
That’s the dilemma the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame faces, and they would like your input to determine Canada’s top performer as they prepare to chose their 2018 James “Tip” O’Neill Award winner. This honour is given out annually to the player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball’s highest ideals.
Le Temple vous encourage donc à voter pour les joueurs qui, selon vous, se sont le plus illustrés. Vous avez jusqu’à by noon E.T. on Wednesday, November 21Vous pouvez envoyer vos trois meilleurs choix par courriel (veuillez être clair sur vos première, deuxième et troisième sélections) à [email protected] ou vous pouvez voter sur le site web du Temple à www.baseballhalloffame.ca.
Le vote du public est l'un of the criteria the Hall will take into account when selecting the winner, which will be announced on December 4.
Here’s a summary of the prime contenders (and their 2018 accomplishments) in alphabetical order. (The Hall also welcomes write-in votes for players not on this list):
The 33-year-old first baseman enjoyed his longest tenure in the big leagues in 2018, batting .267 in 59 games for the Detroit Tigers. Among his 47 major league hits, 13 went for extra bases, including eight doubles, two triples and three home runs. He also hit .309 and socked seven home runs in 70 contests for the triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.
Andrew Albers (North Battleford, SK)
In his first year with the Orix Buffaloes of the Japan Pacific League, the 33-year-old southpaw excelled, posting a 9-2 record and a 3.08 ERA in 19 starts while striking out 83 in 114 innings. The 6-foot-1 lefty was first among Canucks in the independent or foreign ranks in wins, second in innings pitched, third in ERA and WHIP and fourth in strikeouts. For his efforts, he was named the Canadian Baseball Network’s pitcher of the year in the foreign and independent ranks.
Daphnée Gélinas (Repentigny, Que.)
Vladimir Guerrero fils (Montréal, QC)
Russell Martin (East York, Ont.)
In the fourth year of his five-year contract with the Blue Jays, the
This 23-year-old slugger made his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals and socked nine home runs and had a .500 slugging percentage in 61 big league games. He also batted .311 and clubbed 26 homers and collected 63 RBI in 64 triple-A contests. His nine home runs ranked third among Canadian big leaguers, while his 26 homers were the most by a Canuck in the affiliated minor league ranks.
The Seattle Mariners southpaw became the first Canadian pitcher to throw a major league no-hitter on Canadian soil when he held the Blue Jays hitless on May 8 at Rogers Centre. That performance came six days after he had set a Canadian record by striking out 16 batters on May 2 in a start against the Oakland A’s. In all, Paxton had eight starts in which he struck out at least 10 batters and went 11-6 with a 3.76 ERA and fanned 208 batters in 160 1/3 innings. His 208 strikeouts are the second-most by a Canadian left-hander in a major league season and he became one of only two pitchers in big league history to notch 200 strikeouts in a season in 161 or fewer innings. Among American League pitchers with at least 160 innings pitched, Paxton finished third in strikeouts per nine innings (11.68), fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.95), seventh in WHIP (1.10) and ninth in opponents’ batting average against (.224).
With his 43 regular season home runs for the SK Wyverns of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) in the 2018 regular season, the 33-year-old slugger became the first Canadian to sock 40 home runs in consecutive seasons at the professional level. He had a combined 42 home runs between the KBO and triple-A in 2017. Romak’s 2018 campaign was easily his best in the pro ranks. He not only set a career-high in home runs, but also in batting average (.316), runs (102), hits (167) and RBI (107). He also helped lead his club to a KBO championship. For his efforts, he was unanimously voted the Canadian Baseball Network’s top offensive hitter in foreign or independent ball for the second consecutive season.
After making a strong impression in his rookie season, the 6-foot-5 right-hander’s numbers improved across the board in his sophomore 2018 campaign. His 32 starts and 188 strikeouts for the Philadelphia Phillies were the eighth most by a National League pitcher. His 10.32 strikeouts per nine innings ranked fifth in the National League and he finished the season with a 7-14 record and a 4.77 ERA.
Scott Richmond (Vancouver, B.C.)
Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.)
After opening the season with a combined 1.76 ERA in six starts between the class-A and triple-A levels, the 6-foot-5 right-hander was
Joey Votto (Etobicoke, ON)
Following a strong showing with San Diego Padres’ double-A and triple-A affiliates that saw him register 14 saves, post a 2.67 ERA and strike out 64 batters in 54 innings, the hard-throwing right-hander was called up to make his big league debut on August 31. He tossed a scoreless ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies in his first taste of big league action. In all, in 10 apperances with the Padres, Wick toed for the rubber for 8 1/3 innings and struck out seven, while registering a 6.48 ERA.
John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.), Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) and Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) also appeared in the big leagues in 2018, while Scott Mathieson (Vancouver, B.C.) continued to serve as a reliable reliever for the Yomiuri Giants of the Japan Central League.
Le prix Tip O’Neill du Temple est dédié à James « Tip » O’Neill, de Woodstock (Ontario), qui a été l’une des premières vedettes des Ligues majeures. Avec les Browns de Saint-Louis de l’Association américaine en 1887, O’Neill a établi des records pour les coups sûrs, les doubles, le pourcentage de puissance et le total de buts, en plus de terminer la campagne avec une moyenne au bâton de ,492, un autre record. Les buts sur balles étaient comptabilisés comme des coups sûrs en 1887, mais si nous calculions sa moyenne selon les standards d’aujourd’hui, elle serait de ,435, bonne pour le deuxième rang de tous les temps derrière Hugh Duffy (,440 en 1894).
Gagnants précédents du trophée Tip O’Neill
1984 – Terry Puhl
1985 – Dave Shipanoff
1986 – Rob Ducey
1987 – Larry Walker
1988 – Kevin Reimer
1989 – Steve Wilson
1990 – Larry Walker
1991 – Daniel Brabant
1992 – Larry Walker
1993 – Rob Butler
1994 – Larry Walker
1995 – Larry Walker
1996 – Jason Dickson
1997 – Larry Walker
1998 – Larry Walker
1999 – Jeff Zimmerman
2000 – Ryan Dempster
2001 – Corey Koskie
2001 – Larry Walker
2002 – Eric Gagné
2002 – Larry Walker
2003 – Eric Gagné
2004 – Jason Bay
2005 – Jason Bay
2006 – Justin Morneau
2007 – Russell Martin
2008 – Justin Morneau
2009 – Jason Bay
2010 – Joey Votto
2011 – Joey Votto
2011 – John Axford
2012 – Joey Votto
2013 – Joey Votto
2014 – Justin Morneau
2015 – Joey Votto
2016 – Joey Votto
2017 – Joey Votto