Tim Raines a steal for Blue Jays
By BOB ELLIOTT, QMI Agency
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  Former Expos great Tim Raines is now an instructor with the Blue Jays. (QMI Agency)
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DUNEDIN, FLA. - Tim Raines was hired by the Blue Jays this off-season as a minor-league outfield/base running instructor.
Yet, after a 23-year career, in which he collected 2,605 hits, he recognizes a hitter when he sees ones.
“I’ll tell you a guy who has impressed ... Marcus Knecht,” said Raines watching two games at once at the Bobby Mattick Complex Monday afternoon.
“Marcus reminds me of a young Jason Bay when he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates — except he’s stronger.”
North York’s Knecht, 22, hit ,210 with 13 homers and 59 RBIs last season at class-A Dunedin.
Raines heads to Montreal this summer where he played 13 seasons with the Expos for the Jays summer camps.
“Do you think Montreal will ever get a team again?” he asks wistfully, hopefully.
