Elliott: Burrows' dream BC team led by Morneau, Dempster, Francis
1B Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) heads Walt Burrows’ all-time BC Premier League team.
August 25, 2020
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
Give a scout some time to himself ... like a rain out, a flight delay or being kept indoors by COVID-19 and once his player reports and expense reports are filed, he’ll come up with a list.
It might be which organization which has most possible No. 1s under 25 in the minors (that gem from a slow winter meetings day showed the Blue Jays on top with ... as the only team with three: Roy Halladay, Chris Carpenter and Kelvin Escobar).
Another scout showed me a list where Georgia knocked off -- not one but all three of the big three talent-rich states: California, Florida and Texas.
When Walt Burrows was bored he came up with his all-time British Columbia Premier League team, showing once again that BC stands for “Best in Canada.”
Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC) was one part bored, one part reminiscing and one part proud of what happens in his province when he sat down to compile his all-time Premier League 28 man roster, the size of major-league rosters on opening day this season.
Burrows was tough on the criteria: National League MVP Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC) played before the Premier League was formed and Rookie of the Year Jason Bay was from from Trail, BC and Trail wasn’t in the league, so Trail players aren’t on the list.
Burrows is the former head of scouting for the Canadian wing of the Major League Scouting Bureau. He now works for the Minnesota Twins covering the country.
Only Blue Jays west coast scout Don Cowan (Delta, BC) saw more BC Premier League games than Burrows.
It’s a pretty good lineup to say the least. By Burrows’ count 20 of the 28 played in the majors.
Starters:
RHP Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) North Shore Twins
Selected in third round of 1995 MLB draft from a Gibsons, HS by the Texas Rangers and signed by scout Tim Halgren.
In 579 games, starting and closing, he was 132-133 with 87 saves and a 4.35 ERA in the majors, making 351 starts, pitching 2,387 innings striking out 2075.
Pitched 16 years for the Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, Cincinnati Red, Boston Red Sox and the Rangers.
LHP James Paxton (Ladner, BC) North Delta Blue Jays
Selected in the fourth round by the Seattle Mariners in 2010 from the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the Independent American Association, by scouts Brian Williams, Jesse Kapellusch Ken Madaja and Wayne Norton (Port Moody, BC)
In 136 major league starts, he is 57-33 with a 3.58 ERA working 753 1/3 innings, striking 829 out men.
Has pitched eight years for the New York Yankees and the Mariners.
RHP Rich Harden (Victoria, BC) Victoria Mariners
Drafted in the 17th round in 2000 draft from the Central Arizona College Vaqueros by the Oakland A’s.
In 170 major league games, he was 59-38 with a 3.76 ERA -- making 160 starts as he pitched 928 1/3 innings, striking out 949.
Pitched nine seasons for the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and the A’s. He was one of six pitchers to start a game with an immaculate inning: nine pitches, nine strikes and three strikeouts. Harden was the last American League pitcher to do so. The others: Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez. The three NL pitchers to do so were Sandy Koufax, Shane Reynolds and Rick Helling. Harden was in good company and a reason A’s GM Billy Beane saw a Cy Young award in Harden’s future.
LHP Jeff Francis (North Delta, BC) North Delta Blue Jays.
Selected in the first round (ninth overall) in 2002 draft from University of British Columbia by the Colorado Rockies. He was signed by scouts Greg Hopkins and Bill Schmidt
In 254 games, making 217 starts, he was 72-82 with a 4.97 ERA and one save. He pitched 1,291 innings and fanned 869.
Pitched 11 seasons for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland A’s, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Rockies.
LHP Adam Loewen (Surrey, BC) Whalley Chiefs.
Selected in the first round (fourth overall) in the 2002 draft by the Baltimore Orioles. Signed hours before the close period 50 weeks later.
On the mound was 10-8 with a 5.85 ERA in 63 games, making 29 starts. He pitched 189 1/3 innings striking out 159.
At the plate -- when he made it back as an outfielder -- he hit .189 in 40 games with a double, a homer, four RBIs and a ,583 OPS.
He played parts of five seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Orioles.
Middle relief:
Chris Mears (Victoria, BC) North Shore Twins.
Chosen in the fifth round by the Seattle Mariners and signed by scout Ken Madaja in 1996 from Vancouver, BC HS.
Was 1-3 with a 5.44 ERA and five saves in 29 major league games. He pitched 41 1/3 innings, fanning 21.
Pitched one year with the Tigers. Was on the mound one spring with the Braves facing Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) who bounced to 2B Peter Orr (Newmarket, Ont). who threw to 1B Scott Thorman (Cambridge, Ont.) for the out.
So a Canadian faced a Canadian, who hit the ball to a Canadian, who threw to a Canadian at first.
Aaron Myette (Surrey, BC) Whalley Chiefs
Drafted in first round (43rd overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 1997 from the Central Arizona College Vaqueros.
Was 6-12 with a 8.16 ERA in 47 games. He pitched 154 1/3 innings striking out 134.
Pitched six seasons with the Texas Rangers, Cincinnati Red, Cleveland Indians and White Sox.
Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) Victoria Eagles
Drafted in the fourth round in 2013 draft from the New Mexico Junior College Thunderbirds by the Washington Nationals.
Has compiled a 19-30 won-loss record with a 5.50 ERA and one save in 92 games, making 71 starts. In 396 1/3 innings, he has struck out 421 batters.
He pitched parts of four seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies before being traded to the Boston Red Sox this week.
Scott Richmond (Aldergrove, BC) North Delta Blue Jays
Undrafted after pitching at Bossier Parish Community College, Missouri Valley College and Oklahoma State University, he headed to the Edmonton Cracker-Cats of the Northern League independent league in 2005. After the 2008 season, teammate Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) pushed for the Blue Jays to sign Richmond and they did.
Was 8-14 with a 5.27 ERA in 36 games, making 29 starts. In 160 innings he whiffed 139 for Toronto.
Richmond pitched parts four seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Kyle Lotzkar (Delta, BC) Langley Blaze
Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round (53rd overall) in 2007 from the Langley Blaze on the recommendation of scout Bill Byckowski (Geporgetown, Ont.).
Pitching in the minors he was 20-23 with a 4.70 ERA working in 147 games and making 73 starts. He pitched 419 2/3 innings striking out 471.
In his eight seasons, Lotzkar appeared in the uniforms of the Gulf Coast Reds, rookie-class Billings, class-A Dayton, class-A Bakersfield and double-A Pensacola in the Reds organization, as well he was with double-A Frisco in the Texas Rangers system, before moving on to the independent league Winnipeg Goldeyes.
Ethan Stewart (Campbell River, BC) Parksville Royals.
Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 47th round in 2010 from New Mexico Junior College Thunderbirds.
Working in the minors he pitched for the rookie-Class Gulf Coast Phillies, class-A Williamsport, class-A Lakewood, class-A Clearwater and double-A Reading.
During his five seasons in the minors he was 17-29 with a 4.58 ERA in 106 games, making 73 starts. He pitched 403 innings and recorded 297 strikeouts.
Closers:
Rowan Wick (North Vancouver Mounties
Chosen by the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth round in 2012 from Cypress College as an outfielder.
Is 2-1 with six saves in 50 games with a 3.24 ERA. In 50 innings he has struck out 51.
He’s pitched parts of three seasons with the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs.
At the plate with the Cards he had a 20-homer season at class-A Peoria and class-A State College in 2015. He also spent time with the rookie-class Gulf Coast Cardinals, rookie-class Johnson City and class-A Palm Beach as a hitter. Traded to the San Diego Padres, he pitched at double-A San Antonio and El Paso. Then, he was dealt to the Cubs where he pitched at triple-A Iowa before being promoted.
Scott Mathieson (Aldergrovem BC) Langley Blaze
Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and signed by scout Tim Kisner in the 17th round in 2002 from the Langley Blaze.
Was 1-4 with a 6.75 ERA in 15 games, making eight starts. He worked 44 innings striking out 34.
After that, he headed to the Far East to pitch for the Yomiuri Giants where he was 28-30 with a 2.54 ERA and 54 saves. He pitched 450 1/3 innings, striking out 513.
In all, he pitched three seasons with the Phillies in the majors and eight in the minors.
Catcher:
Kellin Deglan (Langleu, BC) Langley
Was selected by the Texas Rangers in the first round (22nd overall) in the 2010 draft from Langley, BC HS.
He played 676 games in the minors, hitting .229 with 113 doubles, 11 triples, 80 home runs, 321 RBIs and a .706 OPS.
He was with the rookie-class Arizona League Rangers, class-A Spokane, class-A Hickory, class-A Myrtle Beach. class-A High Point, double-A Frisco and class-A High Desert in the Rangers system. Then, he spent time at class-A Tampa, double-A Trenton, class-A Charleston and triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the New York Yankees system.
Cole Armstrong (Surreym BC) Whalley Chiefs.
Selected in the 16th round by the Atlanta Braves in 2003 from Chipola College.
Played 685 games in 10 minor-league seasons hitting .259, with 156 doubles, one triple, 80 homers, 393 RBIs and a .732 OPS.
He played for the rookie-class Gulf Coast Braves, rookie-class Danville and class-A Rome. Moving on to the the Chicago White Sox he was with class-A Winston-Salem, class-A Carolina, double-A Birmingham and triple-A Charlotte. Next was triple-A Salt Lake of the Los Angeles Angels, New Orleans of the Miami Marlins and Wichita of the independent American Association.
First baseman
Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) North Delta Blue Jays.
Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the third round in 1999 by scout Howie Norsetter from New Westminster, BC HS.
Played in 1,545 games on his way to winning 2006 American League MVP honours and being named to four all-star teams. He had 349 doubles, 23 triples, 247 homers, 985 RBIs and and OPS of .828.
In 14 seasons he played with the Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox and the Twins,
Second base
Taylor Green (Comox, BC) Parksville Royals.
Selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 25th round of the 2005 draft from Cypress College.
He hit .207 with 10 doubles, three homers, 10 RBIs and a .609 OPS. Green played parts of two seasons with the Brewers and now works in Milwaukee’s scouting department.
Third basemen
Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) Langley Blaze
Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers and scout Marty Lehn (White Rock, BC) in the first round (16th overall) in 2008 from Langley HS.
Batted .261 in 2,417 games with 112 doubles, 13 triples, 71 homers, 253 RBIs and a .734 OPS.
He played six seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago White Sox.
Shawn Bowman (Port Moody, BC) Coquitlam Reds.
Drafted by the New York Mets and scout Claude Pelletier (Ste-Lezare, Que.) in the 12th round of the 2002 MLB draft from Coquitlam, BC HS.
In 732 minor-league games he batted .255 with 138 doubles, 10 triples, 95 homers, 364 RBIs and a .734 OPS.
Bowman played with class-A Brooklyn. rookie-class Kingsport, class-A Capital City, class-A St. Lucie and double-A Binghamton in the New York Mets system. Next were stops at class-A Dunedin and double-A New Hampshire. He was with the rookie-class Gulf Coast Braves, double-A Mississippi and triple-A Gwinnett. He also spent time with double-A Jacksonville and triple-A New Orleans.
Shortstop
Kevin Nicholson (Surrey, BC) Whalley Chiefs
Selected by the the San Diego Padres in the first round (27th overall) in 1997 from the Stetson University Hatters.
Played 37 games in the majors with six doubles, a triple, a home run and eight RBIs with a .585 OPS.
He played one year with the San Diego Padres making 21 starts more than any other Canadian in the draft era.
Left field
Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) Langley Blaze.
Chosen by the Seattle Mariners and scout Wayne Norton (Port Moody, BC) in the third round in 2013 draft from Maple Ridge, BC HS.
In 136 games he hit .241 with 13 doubles, 17 homers, 45 RBIs and a .749 OPS.
Has played three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Centre field:
Michael Saunders (Victoria, BC) Victoria Mariners
Chosen in the 11th round in 2004 from Victoria, BC by Seattle Mariners scout Wayne Norton (Port Moody, BC) from Victoria HS.
Played in 775 games hitting 123 doubles, 19 triples, 81 homers, 263 RBIs and a .701 OPS.
In nine seasons played for the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies.
Nyjer Morgan (San Francisco, Calif.) Kelowna Cubs.
The Colorado Rockies chose him in the 42nd round of the 1998 draft from Nelson, BC HS by scout Bill McKenzie (Ottawa, Ont.).
Morgan was a character with the Milwaukee Brewers referring to himself as “Tony Plush.” In 598 games, he hit .282 with 72 doubles, 27 triples, 12 homers, 136 RBIs and .708 OPS.
In seven years he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals, Cleveland Indians and the Brewers.
Right field
Rene Tosoni (Port Coquitlam, BC) Coquitlam Reds.
Selected by the Minnesota Twins and scout Jim Ridley (Burlingtom, Ont.) in the 36th round in 2005 from Chipola College.
He batted .203 with seven doubles, a triple, five home runs, 22 RBIs with a .618 OPS.
Played one year with the Twins appearing in 60 games and was the Future Games MVP with the game-winning hit.
Michael Crouse (Coquitlam, BC) North Shore Twins.
Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays and Canadian scouting director Kevin Briand (Montreal, Que.) and Don Cowan (Delta, BC) in the 16th round in 2008 from Coquitlam, BC HS.
He played for the rookie-class Gulf Coast Blue Jays, class-A Lansing, class-A Dunedin and double-A New Hampshire in the Blue Jays system. He played independent ball for the Lancaster Barnstormers, New Britain Bees, Somerset and the Chicago Fire. He also played in Venezuela and Mexico for Caribes Anzoategui, Pericos de Puebla, Algodoneros de Union Laguna
In 12 seasons, he played 1,146 minor-league foreign and independent league games he hit .256 with 194 doubles, 51 triples, 146 homers, 575 RBIs and a .782 OPS.
DH:
Bobby Lee Cripps (Powell River, BC) Parksville Royals.
Selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers and scout Jim Chapman (Victoria, BC) in the 40th round in 1995 from Powell River HS.
Played five seasons with rookie-class Great Falls in the Dodgers system, class-A St. Catharines, class-A Hagerstown, class-A Dunedin and double-A Knoxville with the Toronto Blue Jays organization and class-A Clinton and double-A Chattanooga in the Cincinnati Reds system.
Batted .253 with 44 doubles, 12 triples, 54 home runs, 214 RBIs and a .752 OPS.
Utility man
Wes Darvill (Langley, BC) Langley Blaze
Selected in the fifth round of the 2009 draft by the Chicago Cubs and former Blue Jays scouting director Tim Wilken from Langley, BC HS
Played 12 seasons with rookie-class Arizona League Cubs, class-A Boise, class-A Daytona, class-A Kane County, class-A Myrtle Beach and double-A Tennessee with the Chicago Cubs. As well he made stops at double-A Tulsa and triple-A Oklahoma City in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Then he played Indy ball with the Winnipeg Goldeyes,
In 967 games he hit .255 with 145 doubles, 30 triples, 34 homers, 365 RBIs and a .669 OPS.
Roster breakdown
Langley 7, North Delta 4, Whalley 4, North Shore 3, Parksville 3, Coquitlam 2, Victoria Mariners 2, Kelowna 1, Vancouver 1, Victoria Eagles 1.
Burrow ideal staff
GM: Doug Mathieson – Langley
Manager: Ari Mellios – North Delta
Bench coach: Bill Green - Coquitlam
Hitting coach: John Haar – North Shore
Infield coach: Dennis Springinatic – Whalley
Pitching Coach: Dave Empey – North Shore