MIKE STACKHOUSE’S 10 THOUGHTS

1 – STARS ALIGNING FOR RIDERS – When the Saskatchewan Roughriders won the Grey Cup in 2007 and Kerry Joseph was named the league’s Most Outstanding Player, many fans suggested it was a perfect storm for both the Riders and Joseph.  There were a lot of injuries to marquee players that year and the Riders just, sort of, came up the middle and won everything. Could 2019 be a similar year? Mike Reilly’s BC Lions are a disaster. Bo Levi Mitchell and Jeremiah Masoli are hurt.  Trevor Harris is good and the Eskimos are decent, but they are very beatable. Winnipeg….well they are Winnipeg.

2 – PUMPING TIRES ON FAJARDO – It’s early but Cody Fajardo has to be in the mix for the MOP of 2019.  He’s second in the league in passing yards (despite being sixth in attempts), first in efficiency, first in QB rating, first in rushing touchdowns amongst QBs, and first amongst QBs in rushing yards.  He’s also led the Riders to a 4-and-2 record and they are in contention for first in the West Division. In fact, over the last six weeks I’d suggest Saskatchewan looks like the best team in the West. My only issue with them is penalties.

3 – WON’T EVER BUY THE BOMBERS – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers should be the class of the league but they can’t be taken seriously after their loss to Toronto last week.  Taking on the hapless Argos after a loss, they should have blown them out. Instead, they coughed up a big lead and allowed Corey Chamblin’s bunch to win their first game of the year.  I won’t believe in the Bombers until they actually win a Grey Cup. They haven’t won since 1990 and they look like the old Riders. You know the team that would take your fan heart and then gut it like a fish by missing 19 yard field goals or putting too many men on the field at the end of Grey Cups.  (Riders have other epic losses, but no point in going over them all).  

4 – NEW POWER RANKINGS – CFL:  Saskatchewan, Calgary, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal, BC, Toronto.  MLB: Houston, NY Yankees, LA Dodgers, Atlanta, Cleveland, Chi Cubs, Washington, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Oakland.

5 – TIME TO PENALIZE LOSERS – What the Toronto Blue Jays did at the trade deadline this year is an affront to the fans and to the purpose of professional sports.  They liquidated their roster and it doesn’t much matter to them what is left as they are not the least bit interested in trying to compete anytime in the near future.  I really think a systemic overhaul is needed so that losing is not incentivized and it should be applied right across the board in every sport. Do away with this nonsense of giving the worst team the top draft pick.  Why should you (I’m looking at you Edmonton Oilers) be rewarded for being terrible? I’ve always advocated for the top non-playoff team to get the first draft pick in every league as it shows a commitment to trying to win but prevents the rich from getting richer.  In baseball, I’d also take any team that loses more than 100 games and make them forfeit their first round draft pick. I bet those two measures would change as far as the way business is conducted.

6 – JAYS FUTURE SHAPING UP – You can see the Blue Jays have the majority of their offensive roster in place for what they feel can be a contender in 2021.  They do need to find a first baseman, but you’ve got Cavan Biggio at second, Bo Bichette at short, Vladimir Guerrero at third, an outfield of Derek Fisher, Randall Grichuk, and Lourdes Gurriel.  Danny Jansen is the main catcher and there’s an opening at DH as well. The pitching staff is a disaster and will have to be built by trade except for Nate Pearson, who figures to be a top of the rotation guy eventually.  You make the call. Is this team in the playoffs in two years?

7 – NO HITTER YAWN – Aaron Sanchez’s first start with the Houston Astros was a no hitter.  Big deal. He was pulled after six innings and he combined with three other relievers to get the job done.  New school baseball has all but assured us we won’t see a pitcher go the distance and throw a no no because there is a fear of season ending surgery for any hurler who goes nine innings.  It’s ridiculous.

8  – HOT TEMPER – Trevor Bauer’s last start for Cleveland ended with him losing his temper and firing a baseball over the centre field fence out of frustration.  Bauer has been, uniformly, criticized for his childish behaviour but I’d rather have a guy like Bauer than a guy like Manny Machado, who doesn’t see the point in running out ground balls and admits to being someone who doesn’t hustle.  Give me Bauer any day. A few days after Bauer’s outburst, Rick Porcello pitched one of his regular poor games and when he was taken out, he slammed his hands overhead, destroying two televisions in the dugout. Not a word was said. Yet, Bauer didn’t destroy or hurt anything.

9 – RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS – Word is Brock Boeser and the Vancouver Canucks are $1-million per season apart on a new contract with Boeser asking for $7-million per year.  For me, this is good news for the Winnipeg Jets as they try to get Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine under contract as I’d rank both very close to Boeser in overall value. Take into account Timo Meier has already signed for $6-million a year with San Jose and his numbers are almost identical to Connor, the market has been set.

10 – CJFL SEASON BEGINS – A number of Yorkton football players are suiting up with the Okanagan Sun, coached by former Riders punter Jamie Boreham, and they played their first game of the season on Saturday night in Kamloops, defeating the Broncos 26-3.  Former Saskatoon Hilltop pivot Ethan Newman split time at quarterback with Alex Douglas (Toronto). The Sun could have racked up more points but they had some difficulty on special teams, going just 1-for-5 on field goals despite their kicker being ranked 48th in the country amongst the top 50 players.

(Mike Stackhouse is a freelance writer/broadcaster. Follow him on Twitter at @Stack1975)