By Ian C. Brackman

Picture this.

R.A. Dickey is standing on the top step of the home dugout watching Noah Syndergaard, the top prospect he was traded for, pitch to Jose Reyes.

The first pitch is a ball in the dirt, deftly blocked by Travis D’Arnaud, the former Blue Jay uber-prospect and the other piece of the Dickey deal.

The 6’6 Syndergaard comes set, delivers. Reyes swings and hits a line shot to third base. David Wright, the Mets captain manning the hot corner, sprawls to his left knocks the ball down and fires to first, robbing his former teammate of a hit.

Did I mention this was all happening at the Stade Olympique in Montreal?

Gary Carter’s old number 8 hangs in the rafters. Pedro Martinez, Larry Walker, Moises Alou, John Wetteland, Cliff Floyd, Marquis Grissom and other members of the 1994 Montreal Expos are looking on.

Whispers of an Expos return hum through Olympic Stadium.

Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos got his first baseball gig with the Expos. Now, criticisms of the GM for not signing Ervin Santana, Ubaldo Jimenez, or Matt Garza buzz through the bleachers and the twitter sphere.

A “Let’s Go Expos” chant choruses through the stadium. Noah Syndergaard strikes out Colby Rasmus.

Yes, the Blue Jays and Mets exhibition series in Montreal on March 28, 29 will be an intriguing one for all Canadian baseball fans. The crossover between the three teams in question is abundant with story lines galore.

The Gary Carter – David Wright connection might be the coolest. Gary Carter is the first player ever inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame wearing an Expos hat. Carter, of course, went on to lead the Mets to a World Series victory in 1986. The late Carter is also one of only four players ever to be named Mets captain along with Keith Hernandez, John Franco, and current third baseman, David Wright.

On the 28th a tribute for Carter will be held prior to the game.

The next night is dedicated to the 1994 World Series Champion Montreal Expos. OK, they didn’t actually win it, but they would have had the season not been cut short due to a strike. The Expos carried a record of 74-40 that year and were the best team in all of baseball. It’s one of the great tragedies of baseball that they didn’t get a chance to play that season out.

The Olympic Stadium games will be a chance to reflect on the golden years of baseball in Canada. The early 90’s, with the Blue Jays magical back to back Championships in 1992 and 1993, and then the torrid Expos of 1994. It’s hard to believe that was 20 years ago, eh?

The Jays haven’t been in the playoffs since, the Expos are now in Washington, so enjoy the games Canadian baseball fans. Enjoy watching players being trod out on the Big O turf again and a possible Youppi appearance.

Enjoy all the weirdness watching teams that aren’t the Expos play at Olympic Stadium. Try to remember the good times and good teams who took to the turf over the years. Because this series could be as good as it gets for Expos and Jays fans this year.

Ah, the Big O. You gotta love it.

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