Members of the Canadian team that finished with a 6-1 record at the Olympic Qualifying baseball tournament in Taiwan last March, both Mississauga pitchers were left off the final squad that will compete in Beijing next month.
In fact, only five of the 11 pitchers named to the Olympic team earlier this month competed for Canada last March, with former Major Leaguers Chris Reitsma, Rheal Cormier and Mike Johnson among the hurlers making the trip in their place.
Reached in Dunedin where he is pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays organization in the Florida State League, Wideman expressed his clear disappointment.
“We all anticipated a few changes here and there, but we didn’t anticipate changes to half the team,” said the 22-year-old left-hander. “But it’s a tough job picking and choosing who goes and I have to trust they chose the team that will put them in the best situation to win.”
Should Canada win a medal in Beijing, Wideman and Richmond will at least be able to say they had a part in the team’s success.
Wideman adds he still has those memories from Taiwan.
“Oh yeah, it’s been awesome. I was happy to do my part and get a chance to go overseas before spring training. It was a good opportunity. It was a lot of fun.”
“Fun,” would hardly describe what awaited Wideman with the Blue Jays’ Double-A team in New Hampshire upon his return.
“It was a big learning curve starting the year in Double-A,” he said. “I was the youngest guy on the team and it was a big learning curve.
“I learned to take a more mature approach to hitters. When you miss a pitch (at that level), you get punished. They don’t miss as often as the younger guys.
“At that level, you start to see the cream of the crop filter through.”
Wideman posted a 3-8 record at New Hampshire with a 6.39 earned run average, before he was returned to high Single-A Dunedin, where after allowing only two earned runs over his last 16 innings of work, he has lowered his ERA to 4.89.
“I’m excited my season is back on track now. Finishing strong is all I can do.”
dwiner@mississauga.net
