Canadians find character in 15-13 slugfest

(Memorial Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - This is where you're supposed to write a story breaking down how the Vancouver Canadians scored each and every run and how pitcher A, B and C did against the Aquasox and so on. That's 'usually' the deal and what keeps this website moving forward.
But Tuesday night's 15-13 Vancouver Canadians victory was anything but 'usual' and had more big moment performances than perhaps the C's previous twelve games combined. So, here are five things that Canadians fans can take away from Tuesday's three hour and forty-one minute slobberknocker out at Memorial Stadium;
#5: The Canadians are balanced
The Canadians are 9-4 (.692) and trail North Division leading Tri-City by one game. Only once have the Canadians lost back-to-back games this season and heading into Wednesday's rubber-match with Everett, have yet to drop a series at home or on the road.  
Vancouver is hitting .258 (115-for-446) which ranks them fourth of the eight teams in the Northwest League. Nothing to write home about, until you put those numbers up against the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Vancouver Canadians who hit .243 (8th), .236 (8th) and .255 (3rd) respectively. All three of those teams won Championships, and all had a lower average than our current roster.  
From the mound, Vancouver's ERA took a hit on Tuesday, yet at 4.11 still puts them in the top half of the NWL through 13 games. To use the same measuring stick, the Canadians went 4.15 (2011); 3.54 (2012) and 3.23 (2013) during the Championship years and despite being on the upper end of that comparison, is comparible. Remember, in 2011, the Canadians had Noah Syndergaard (Mets), Justin Nicolino (Marlins), David Rollins (Mariners) and Aaron Sanchez (Blue Jays) and still had an ERA above four.  
#4: Don't give Vancouver a reason to turn it up
On Tuesday night, the Aquasox who were down by seven at one point, surged in the 8th inning scoring six times including a go-ahead home run off the bat Everett LF Greifer Andrade giving them a 13-11 lead. Andrade celebrated from second base onward giving his manager a high-five followed by a series of celebratory gestures toward the seating area which was followed by a mild mob scene as he head back to the third base dugout.
It was the bottom of the 8th inning.
As many watched the jovial rounding of the bases, some watched as the Canadians took it all in. Frustrated, embarrassed, yet poised - Vancouver knew they still had three outs left and ended up using every one of them to re-gain the lead in the top of the 9th which featured 1B Kacy Clemens 1st professional home run over the right centre field fence. It was crushed, and shortly after regaining a two-run lead, never looked back as Orlando Pascual came in to slam the door and complete the marathon game.
Although few will say anything, there is no doubt that celebration stuck with the Canadians like any good bulletin board fodder and Vancouver showed it had some spine when the chips were on the table.
#3: Damned if you do, damned if you don't
This Vancouver Canadians team is littered with prospects as it's clear within a week of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft that Toronto Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins and Co. knew what they were doing. College heavy, the picks that Vancouver received a few days into the season have all shown to be advanced at the Short-Season level and with that comes the peril of having these bright, young players moved at some point in the season.
That is the proverbial "Circle of Life" in Minor League Baseball which is why you try not to fall in love with any one player as the transactions within the Toronto Blue Jays ladder changes almost daily.
There is no doubt that some of this team's current roster will be on the move, the only question is when?
Right now, the Canadians are in a two-team dog fight with the Tri-City Dust Devils who are one game better than the Canadians with 25 games remaining, the equivalent of three and a half weeks. Between then and now, there are 13 home games and 12 road games before the season resets and the eight-team league does it all over again. Do the Blue Jays leave them in Vancouver through the first half?
Damned if you do because the sooner you can showcase your new bright lights, the sooner they become "of value" to those looking at helping up the food chain.  Damned if you don't because right now Vancouver's chemistry and environment is a pretty good starter kit for life in the Minor Leagues, and winning baseball games, which the Canadians are doing alot of breeds well-rounded prospects.
#2: The Canadians are in good hands
When the Toronto Blue Jays assigned Rich Miller, Jim Czajkowski and Dave Pano to the Vancouver Canadians ahead of the 2017 season, some thought they might arrive in a DeLorean driven by Michael J. Fox as it was Back to the Future with the car's settings dialed in to the summer of 2011. That's the last time these three got together to work at the Short-Season level.  
Miller led the Canadians over the final 23 games of the 2011 season leading them to the franchise's first-ever Northwest League Championship. Czajkowski has worked with everyone from Marcus Stroman and Roberto Osuna to Aaron Sanchez and any number of pitchers that are closing in on the Major Leagues. He is as good a pitching coach as the Blue Jays have in their organization and to have him back in Vancouver working with the arms is considered by some, a real 'X' factor as this season moves forward.  
Dave Pano is quietly one of the most underrated hitting assessors in baseball, and gets what the Blue Jays are trying to develop in their prospects. His tenure in Vancouver now stands at seven years, and that ability to blend together the "Blue Jay Way" with the quirkiness of the Northwest League is invaluable. He beats any player onto the field during workouts and never leaves until the final player has head home.
Between the three, there is a synergy that has this Vancouver Canadians team rolling. The team works hard, conducts themselves like men and are absorbing everything thrown at them which I think speaks to the fast start out of the gates.
#1: Sellouts, Housing Families and Winning, oh my!
Tuesday's victory was impressive in a number of ways and tragic in others as no one wants to blow a seven-run lead and have to fight in the top of the 9th to try and pull the game out of the dumpster fire. But, win or lose, the Canadians fanbase travelled down the interstate to watch and help spur on Canada's only affiliated MiLB team. Players took notice and even acknowledged the cheering and support. After today's game set for 7:05pm, it's back to Scotiabank Field for more games packed to the upper row and a vibe rarely found at any level.
Players get the golden treatment in Vancouver, and you are always reminded of that when you head out on the road - there is something special about Vancouver - and now we see that both off and on the field. Vancouver is 4-3 heading into Wednesday's rubber match at Everett with second-year Canadians pitcher Dalton Rodriguez getting the ball. At home, the Canadians are 5-1 (.833) and will be back for five dates starting Thursday against a team that has a trophy we're ready to welcome home.  
That trophy seems a little bit closer after Tuesday night's battle down the I-5.
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