Bluejayshome.com | Toronto Blue Jays News, blue jays Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>To varying degrees, there was disappointment in the performances of the Olympic team, the national junior squad and the Toronto Blue Jays for Canadian Baseball fans in 2008. </div>Five one-run losses at the Summer Games left a Canadian team built around offence a stunning 2-5 and nowhere near the podium in Beijing; a 2-1 upset quarter-final loss to Australia forced the juniors to settle for sixth at a world championship played in Edmonton; arguably the best pitching staff in the majors was wasted by an inept lineup as the Blue Jays' lengthy post-season drought continued. It was only fantastic individual seasons put up by players like Justin Morneau and Ryan Dempster, and that offers some hope for better things in 2009. A big highlight of the coming year for Baseball fans should come in March with the second World Baseball Classic and Toronto set to host one of the four opening-round groups. The inaugural edition in 2006 was a great success with fans and players alike, as both were taken by the passion and zeal of tournament's games. "In international Baseball, you've got to play like it's the seventh game of the World Series," said Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada's director of national teams. The Classic featured many of Baseball's top stars representing their countries in the sport's first best-on-best style event, and Canada left its mark by upsetting the United States 8-6. Canada, the U.S., and Mexico each finished the first round at 2-1 but a tiebreaker left the frustrated and bewildered Canadians on the outside looking in. The format has wisely been changed to a double-elimination for the '09 tournament. "Now it doesn't matter if you win by one run or 10 runs, where before it did," said manager Ernie Whitt. Morneau is the first player officially named to the team, but several others have already been granted approvals: catcher Russell Martin; first baseman/outfielder Joey Votto; middle infielders Stubby Clapp, Peter Orr and Chris Barnwell; third baseman/outfielder Mark Teahen; and outfielders Jason Bay, Matt Stairs, Adam Stern and Mike Saunders (pending health clearance). On the mound, Jeff Francis, Scott Richmond and Jesse Crain are on board while Ryan Dempster, Rich Harden and Eric Gagne are all very interested. The 28-man roster must be finalized by Feb. 22, with Canada opening training camp at the Blue Jays' minor-league facility March 1 in Dunedin, Fla. The team will work out March 2 and then play exhibition games versus the Blue Jays (March 3), at Clearwater against the Philadelphia Phillies (March 4) and at Tampa with the New York Yankees (March 5). Canada, the U.S., Venezuela and Italy, the other teams in the group, will work out at Toronto's Rogers Centre on March 6 before play begins March 7 with a Canada-U.S. rematch. As excitement builds for the Classic, concern over the fate of the Blue Jays in 2009 continues to grow. Coming off a 86-76 season only good enough for fourth in the AL East, the Blue Jays appear to have fallen even further behind their divisional rivals so far this winter. Company-wide belt-tightening around owner Rogers Communications trickled down to the club, leading to a reduction in payroll spending. That kept the team from making an all-out effort to re-sign starter A.J. Burnett -- who opted out after an 18-10 season and received $82US.5 million for five years from the Yankees -- and from pursuing a comparable replacement. Combined with injuries that will sideline Shaun Marcum all season and Dustin McGowan until May at the earliest, a starting rotation that was once the team's strength is now very thin. The pitching staff had an impressive ERA of 3.49 last year and it was on its back that the team stayed on the fringes of contention into September. An inept offence held the team back and that hasn't been improved so far, either. At least ace Roy Halladay remains, and a typical all-star season from the workhouse righty may be the club's only hope of avoiding a total train-wreck season. If he gets injured or struggles for some reason, things could get very ugly for the Blue Jays. As of now, he's joined in the starting rotation by Jesse Litsch and David Purcey and a couple of question marks. Relievers Scott Downs and Casey Janssen, coming off shoulder surgery, may provide temporary answers until McGowan and some top prospects are ready. Reclamation project Matt Clement is the off-season's only notable addition thus far. Unless the Blue Jays surprise, it could be a long summer for Canadian Baseball fans after what should be an exciting spring provided by the national team.

To varying degrees, there was disappointment in the performances of the Olympic team, the national junior squad and the Toronto Blue Jays for Canadian Baseball fans in 2008.

Five one-run losses at the Summer Games left a Canadian team built around offence a stunning 2-5 and nowhere near the podium in Beijing; a 2-1 upset quarter-final loss to Australia forced the juniors to settle for sixth at a world championship played in Edmonton; arguably the best pitching staff in the majors was wasted by an inept lineup as the Blue Jays' lengthy post-season drought continued.

It was only fantastic individual seasons put up by players like Justin Morneau and Ryan Dempster, and that offers some hope for better things in 2009.

A big highlight of the coming year for Baseball fans should come in March with the second World Baseball Classic and Toronto set to host one of the four opening-round groups.

The inaugural edition in 2006 was a great success with fans and players alike, as both were taken by the passion and zeal of tournament's games.

"In international Baseball, you've got to play like it's the seventh game of the World Series," said Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada's director of national teams.

The Classic featured many of Baseball's top stars representing their countries in the sport's first best-on-best style event, and Canada left its mark by upsetting the United States 8-6. Canada, the U.S., and Mexico each finished the first round at 2-1 but a tiebreaker left the frustrated and bewildered Canadians on the outside looking in.

The format has wisely been changed to a double-elimination for the '09 tournament. "Now it doesn't matter if you win by one run or 10 runs, where before it did," said manager Ernie Whitt.

Morneau is the first player officially named to the team, but several others have already been granted approvals: catcher Russell Martin; first baseman/outfielder Joey Votto; middle infielders Stubby Clapp, Peter Orr and Chris Barnwell; third baseman/outfielder Mark Teahen; and outfielders Jason Bay, Matt Stairs, Adam Stern and Mike Saunders (pending health clearance).

On the mound, Jeff Francis, Scott Richmond and Jesse Crain are on board while Ryan Dempster, Rich Harden and Eric Gagne are all very interested.

The 28-man roster must be finalized by Feb. 22, with Canada opening training camp at the Blue Jays' minor-league facility March 1 in Dunedin, Fla.

The team will work out March 2 and then play exhibition games versus the Blue Jays (March 3), at Clearwater against the Philadelphia Phillies (March 4) and at Tampa with the New York Yankees (March 5).

Canada, the U.S., Venezuela and Italy, the other teams in the group, will work out at Toronto's Rogers Centre on March 6 before play begins March 7 with a Canada-U.S. rematch.

As excitement builds for the Classic, concern over the fate of the Blue Jays in 2009 continues to grow. Coming off a 86-76 season only good enough for fourth in the AL East, the Blue Jays appear to have fallen even further behind their divisional rivals so far this winter.

Company-wide belt-tightening around owner Rogers Communications trickled down to the club, leading to a reduction in payroll spending. That kept the team from making an all-out effort to re-sign starter A.J. Burnett -- who opted out after an 18-10 season and received $82US.5 million for five years from the Yankees -- and from pursuing a comparable replacement.

Combined with injuries that will sideline Shaun Marcum all season and Dustin McGowan until May at the earliest, a starting rotation that was once the team's strength is now very thin.

The pitching staff had an impressive ERA of 3.49 last year and it was on its back that the team stayed on the fringes of contention into September.

An inept offence held the team back and that hasn't been improved so far, either. At least ace Roy Halladay remains, and a typical all-star season from the workhouse righty may be the club's only hope of avoiding a total train-wreck season. If he gets injured or struggles for some reason, things could get very ugly for the Blue Jays.

As of now, he's joined in the starting rotation by Jesse Litsch and David Purcey and a couple of question marks. Relievers Scott Downs and Casey Janssen, coming off shoulder surgery, may provide temporary answers until McGowan and some top prospects are ready.

Reclamation project Matt Clement is the off-season's only notable addition thus far.

Unless the Blue Jays surprise, it could be a long summer for Canadian Baseball fans after what should be an exciting spring provided by the national team.