Blue Jays kick off series in Minnesota with 3-1 win

Sure is nice to have a break from the AL East.
Bo Bichette and Kevin Kiermaier homered in the third inning, and Kevin Gausman and the bullpen got the job done collectively as the Blue Jays defeated the Twins in the first game of the weekend series 3-1.
The Jays were 1-for-7 with RISP, but the Twins were almost equally as bad going 1-for-9 themselves. Gausman didn’t have his best start, but even his OK starts are valuable enough to contribute to a win.
Blue Jays Nation’s Player of the Game: Bo Bichette
The MLB leader in hits added two more on to his total tonight, going 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a single. Bichette is the first Blue Jay to reach 10 home runs, and he was the only Blue Jay tonight to have a hit with a runner in scoring position.
Things worth mentioning
Winning is a good feeling and I don’t want to stray away from the team’s success tonight, but there were a couple of costly base running mistakes that, thankfully, did not bite them in the behind tonight. One of them came right off the bat. George Springer hit a leadoff double in the opening frame, and was moved over to third on a Bichette flyout. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded a ba …

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Author: Evan Stack / Blue Jays Nation

Blue Jays break out of losing streak with historic 20-1 win over the Rays at the Trop

There are many different ways to break out of a slump. You could beat up on an inferior team, scratch and claw for a tough road win against a division leader, or you could simply obliterate the Rays 20-1 on their home turf. That’s right, the MLB-leading Tampa Bay Rays.

Toronto chose the third option behind a quality start from Jose Berrios and a welcome offensive outburst, something that fans have been yearning for over the past couple of weeks. All nine starting batters recorded a hit and six of them had multi-hit games. This is what Toronto’s offence is capable of.
It’s the first time they’ve scored 10+ runs at Tropicana Field since August 31, 2010, when they won 13-5 (Ricky Romero was the winning pitcher of record and Jose Bautista hit home run #43 during this game). Furthermore, it’s the most runs scored at Tropicana Field since June 25, 2002, a 20-11 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Interestingly enough, that game was a matter of weeks after Buck Martinez was fired as manager of the Blue Jays, and Pete Walker was the winning pitcher in that game.

#BlueJays win, 20-1.
• 4th-most runs in club history• 2nd-most hits (27) in club history
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) May 24, 2023

Blue Jays Nation’s Player of the Game: George Springer
As one of the older guys on the roster and the lineup’s leadoff hitter, Springer sets the tone …

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Author: Evan Stack / Blue Jays Nation

Historical figures give us insight into the Leafs

The All-Star break gives us a lot of time to take on some of our interests outside of hockey. As a history major (that has never once thought of using that education) I decided why not take the break from hockey to reach out to some of history’s greatest minds through the Historical Figures Chat app. Imagine what some of the greatest minds in history (and Richard Nixon) would have to say about the Maple Leafs. Here are some of the transcripts of those chats.
I decided to ease into it by reaching out to some hockey folks…

Now that sounds like a hockey player answer. We’re off to a good start. Some nice platitudes from Gordie have us off and running. Now let’s see what one of the greatest player/coaches in cinematic history has to say about the Leafs…

I would have expected something a little saltier from Reggie Dunlop and certainly would have demanded the Leafs to be a little tougher, but that does sound like a hockey answer still. Maybe we need to step away from hockey people and get some sage-like advice elsewhere. We’ll start with one of the greatest Dad’s in TV history…

I just want to give Uncle Phil a great big hug. I don’t know if this will fix the Leafs but it will certainly fix me.
Heading in a completely different direction when it comes to advice for the Leafs, I thought who could give the Leafs advice on how to cheat to get ahead. One name came to mind and while he was reluctant to help at first, he eventually caved…

I hate to say that I agree with Richard Nixon, but I kinda agree with Richard Nixon. If there aren’t some of MLSE’s brightest minds locked in dark rooms studying the hell out of the Bruins and Lightning by now, the Leafs might as well pack it in.
Now tactics are fun, but I want to know what the future holds in store for the Leafs and for that I reached out to history’s greatest predictor who wasn’t particularly forthcoming…

Less learned. If you want predictions you have to call a 900 number, you won’t get them for free through an app.
Maybe an outright prediction was too much ask for. Maybe reaching out to one of history’s greatest philosophers (that didn’t require additional credits to unlock) could inform us of what we can expect from the Leafs at the trade deadline…

This is truly inspiring and once again I am forced to agree with what I’m sure is a very accurate representation of Ioscrates feelings on ie hockey. It is important that the Leafs improve but not takeaway from who they are and what has been working for them. Introducing radical new elements into their lineup and creating potential weaknesses where they didn’t exist before is something that the Leafs need to consider at the trade deadline. Copy and paste this image into K …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

Leafs fall 5-2 to the Bruins. Boston snaps three game losing streak: Game Highlights

Leafs fall 5-2 to the Bruins. Boston snaps three game losing streak: Game Highlights

The Leafs head into the all-star break with 5-2 loss to the Bruins on Wednesday night. It was spirited battle between two for the league’s top teams but ultimately the Bruins ended their three game skid and beat the Leafs for the second straight time. Below are the highlights from the game.
Ilya Samsonov kept the game scoreless early stopping Connor Clifton on the breakaway…

SAMMY 🗣SAMMY 🗣SAMMY 🗣 pic.twitter.com/Lh51XV3Ssx
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 2, 2023

Midway through the first Rasmus Sandin had a chance to put the Leafs up one but Linus Ullmark shut the door…

at that moment, Sandin’s eyes became dinner plates
good save by Ullmark pic.twitter.com/2f4Sxfd9gW
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 2, 2023

Late in the period David Pastrnak chipped the puck past Morgan Reilly to create a scoring chance. Samsonov continued his stellar play with a sprawling pad save…

his name is Ilya Samsonov pic.twitter.com/ruL9E7p3LU
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 2, 2023

The Leafs got their first powerplay early in the second but it was the Bruins who struck first. Charlie Coyle found Derek Forbort all alone and he buried the shorty to make it 1-0…

SHORTY ALERT. 🚨
Derek Forbort breaks the ice in the second period with this short-handed beauty. pic.twitter.com/pV86NgNaL8
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 2, 2023

Toronto redeemed themselves on the powerplay a few minutes later. Samsonov made a heads up pass to Mitch Marner, catching the Bruins on a line change. Marner walked in and sniped it blocker side to make it 1-1…

Sammy serving, again 🍽 pic.twitter.com/bK501pSrs0
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 2, 2023

The game wouldn’t stay tied for long as Brandon Carlo flipped one past Samsonov with 7:27 to go in the second frame…

Brando brought it 💯 pic.twitter.com/65WeVSDE6U
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 2, 2023

AJ Greer doubled the lead for Boston a couple minutes into the third. He fought off the David Kampf backcheck and wired a wrister top shelf to make it 3-1…

A top shelf tally by @ajgreer_10 extends the @NHLBruins lead. 🔝
📺: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/uEVY6yXLpz #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/TPkb4iuaDH
— NHL (@NHL) February 2, 2023

On the ensuing faceoff Wayne Simmonds tried to spark the boys by dropping the gloves with Greer. Simmonds absolutely teed off, land …

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Author: Scott Ony / The Leafs Nation

Toronto Raptors 2022-23 season preview: PF Chris Boucher

Toronto Raptors 2022-23 season preview: PF Chris Boucher

The Toronto Raptors had the opportunity to cleanly break with Chris Boucher after he hit unrestricted free agency. With Thad Young having been interested in returning, the swap seemed like it was inevitable. Boucher managed to surprise Raptors fans when he decided to return to Toronto along with Young. Boucher signed a three-year, $35 million […]
Toronto Raptors 2022-23 season preview: PF Chris Boucher – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Fortnight on the Farm, Vol. 7

At the All-star break (throughout the full season leagues) is not really “halfway home” – we did that two weeks ago – but because it’s unusually late in the month, you can look at performance in July as a decent sample and maybe jumping off to a larger one, but of course, in a few cases observations are sullied by having changed teams or been injured.

Buffalo Bisons
There’s hardly anything worth reporting about the Bisons pitching staff except that the guys you’ve seen in the majors – Thornton, Gage, Saucedo, Lawrence – are generally doing fine here if they are healthy. Even Thomas Hatch has had a couple of perfectly fine starts since that disaster against Tampa which, to be honest, doesn’t reflect his abilities.
Offensively the big story now, with due respect to more highly ranked prospects, is 1B Spencer Horwitz. In 11 games since his promotion, he has a .869 OPS. Gabby Moreno just got back, no sample to speak of. Samad Taylor came off the IL for one game this month and went right back on it. Otto Lopez and Jordan Groshans remain deeply unproductive.
New Hampshire  Fisher Cats
The rotation is where the names will catch your eye on this team. Yosver Zulueta, whom you’ll recall stumbled in his first AA outing, bounced back in an impressive outing this month, throwing 4 innings of 2 hit, 1 run ball, and striking out 8. He might well …

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Author: Tammy Rainey / Blue Jays Nation

The Blue Jays wrap up the first half with late heroics against the Royals

Well, the movie has now reached the All-Star break scene. The Blue Jays finished the first half of the season with a 3-1 series win over the Kansas City Royals, with the final two wins coming in dramatic fashion.

Max Castillo got the nod on Saturday. He gave up three runs in three innings, but with the break approaching, John Schneider was able to unload the bullpen. Vinnie Pasquantino’s home run off of newly-named All-Star Jordan Romano in the 10th inning gave the Royals a 5-3 lead, but the Jays had answers. A double by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a single by Raimel Tapia tied the game, allowing Teoscar Hernandez to single in the winning run.
The Jays bullpen went seven innings and only allowed one earned run (nice!). Whether Castillo earned another start or not becomes the question (or they could simply ~acquire another arm by trade~), but he still owns a 3.38 ERA during his time in the majors, which isn’t terrible.
Jays fans who also happened to be Peacock subscribers were in luck on Sunday as the Jays completed the series win. Alejandro Kirk hit a two-run home run in the 8th inning off of Wyatt Mills to give Toronto a 4-2 lead, allowing Romano to come in and slam the door …

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Author: Evan Stack / Blue Jays Nation

The Blue Jays wrap up the first half with late heroics against Royals

Well, the movie has now reached the All-Star break scene. The Blue Jays finished the first half of the season with a 3-1 series win over the Kansas City Royals, with the final two wins coming in dramatic fashion.

Max Castillo got the nod on Saturday. He gave up three runs in three innings, but with the break approaching, John Schneider was able to unload the bullpen. Vinnie Pasquantino’s home run off of newly-named All-Star Jordan Romano in the 10th inning gave the Royals a 5-3 lead, but the Jays had answers. A double by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a single by Raimel Tapia tied the game, allowing Teoscar Hernandez to single in the winning run.
The Jays bullpen went seven innings and only allowed one earned run (nice!). Whether Castillo earned another start or not becomes the question (or they could simply ~acquire another arm by trade~), but he still owns a 3.38 ERA during his time in the majors, which isn’t terrible.
Jays fans who also happened to be Peacock subscribers were in luck on Sunday as the Jays completed the series win. Alejandro Kirk hit a two-run home run in the 8th inning off of Wyatt Mills to give Toronto a 4-2 lead, allowing Romano to come in and slam the door …

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Author: Evan Stack / Blue Jays Nation

BJN Radio – Ep. 94: Winless in Seattle

The All-Star break can’t come soon enough.

The Blue Jays rolled into Seattle after a disappointing series in Oakland and things got even worse, as the Mariners pulled off a four-game sweep. Toronto is now tied with Seattle for the final Wild Card spot in the American League while the Baltimore Orioles are suddenly right on the heels thanks to an eight-game winning streak.
We talked about the mess that was the Seattle series, how the Blue Jays can pull themselves out of this funk, and whether or not firing Charlie Montoyo is the solution.
You can listen to the episode here…
POINTSBET IS LIVE IN ONTARIO

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation