On Page 3 of the Strib sports section this morning, Corey Koskie has an ad thanking Minnesotans for his time here. Read the whole thing to yourself in a Canadian accent.

Thank You, Minnesota!!

I would like to take this time to thank all the Minnesota Twins fans for their cheers and support for myself and my family over the past six years. The decision to leave the comfort of a community that we love and cherish so much and an organization that we have been a part of for 11 years was the hardest decision our family has ever had to make. Sometimes God closes windows to open doors. I am excited about the opportunity to play for a team I grew up watching.

I would also like to thank Carl Pohlad, the Pohlad family, Terry Ryan, and the whole Twins organization for giving me the opportunity to play the game that I love and to be part of something very special.

To all the Minnesota Twins employees (full-time and part-time), I have seen the long hours you put in day in and day out during the seasons and off-seasons. Your tireless effort has not gone unnoticed. Thank you for all the help you have given me.

And finally I would like to say thank you to my managers (TK and Gardy), coaches, medical staff, training staff and teammates. You have been very helpful and supportive of me throughout my career in Minnesota and for that I am forever grateful.

Remember Twins fans, you put the Minnesota Twins back on the baseball map! This is a great organization so keep cheering and waving that homer hanky.

I hope you have a blessed and prosperous New Year. I’m going to miss you all.

God Bless,

Corey Koskie

(Thanks to Batling Jane for typing this out when Batgirl was too lazy to do it.)

Honestly, though, Batgirl finds herself still a little angry about the whole business. I mean, making money RULES, and 17 million dollars rules a lot (so I've heard.) But, come on, the Blue Jays? Batgirl can see leaving for a team with more money and an equal shot at glory, but Corey Koskie's body parts will have rusted away before the Blue Jays win the AL East. There was something more about these negotiations than we know--Batgirl still isn't sure what the sticking point was, but she's still wearing her grumpy-pants about the whole thing.

On another note, Batling Infield has drawn Batgirl's attention to these cool baseball-stitch bracelets:

The bracelets are sold by the Tug McGraw Foundation to raise money for people with brain cancer. McGraw died a year ago from a brain tumor at 59, and the foundation he set up is devoted to providing funds for research, as well as support for brain cancer survivors and the families of those afflicted.

(Please note: Batgirl's endorsement of the bracelets in no way implies an endorsement of honorary chair Tim McGraw's music, or of New Country in general. She prefers Xzibit.)