This Raptors-Magic trade could be a win-win for both sides

This Raptors-Magic trade could be a win-win for both sides

The Toronto Raptors are currently outside the postseason picture, making it more likely that they will be sellers at the trade deadline. Fred VanVleet is a club icon, but the idea of trading him away and retooling the roster has gained steam in recent weeks due to his contract. VanVleet, who is making just 38% […]
This Raptors-Magic trade could be a win-win for both sides – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Dalano Banton has proven he is Raptors’ best backup PG option

Dalano Banton has proven he is Raptors’ best backup PG option

One of the many position battles currently being conducted on this Toronto Raptors team is at the critical position of backup point guard. Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam will likely man that role in the regular season, but Dalano Banton and Malachi Flynn will both be given a chance. With Flynn out for Toronto’s preseason […]
Dalano Banton has proven he is Raptors’ best backup PG option – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Blue Jays continue success at Fenway Park in 9-3 rout of Red Sox

In an AL East that is currently clogged by the New York Yankees, the Tampa Bay Rays, and now the competitive Baltimore Orioles, it feels good to have a team in the division to beat down on. The Blue Jays have found the Boston Red Sox to be this team, especially when it comes to playing at Fenway Park. An 8-run third inning set the tone for the series as Toronto blew out Boston 9-3 in the first of a three game set on Tuesday night.
Boston struck first as they took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning off of Blue Jays starter Ross Stripling; Kike Hernandez’ RBI single would cash in a lead off double from Christian Arroyo. However, from there, Stripling would not allow much more trouble, as he added another quality start to a fabulous season. In all, Stripling would go six innings, giving up six hits, one run, one walk, and striking out six. It was only Stripling’s second start since coming off of the injured list, and maybe reaching 86 pitches tonight helps him feel stretched out for longer outings in the near future.
The big story of the night was the top of the 3rd inning, in which the B …

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Author: Evan Stack / Blue Jays Nation

TLN Prospect #4: Roni Hirvonen makes life difficult for his opponents

Roni Hirvonen is just 20 years old, he’s currently starring for Team Finland at the World Juniors, and yet he already has three seasons of professional hockey under his belt. Maturity has been the name of the game for Hirvonen since his draft year and is a major reason why he became a Liiga regular at just 17 years old.
Coming into the 2021-22 season, Hirvonen was looking to take the next step as a player. While he showed flashes in his DY+1 campaign, particularly at the 2021 World Juniors, he failed to take a notable step offensively and had somewhat stagnated in the Ässät system.
A move to HIFK and a full-time shift to the left wing was just what Roni Hirvonen needed to spark that uptick in performance, bumping him up two spots on the TLN Prospect Rankings and reinforcing the middle-six potential that made him a second-round pick in 2020.
Roni Hirvonen
LW | HIFK (Liiga) | Age: 20 | 5-foot-9 | 172 lbs | Shoots: LAcquired: 2020 Draft, 59th Overall | 2021 Ranking: #6
While beginning his Liiga career with Ässät was a benefit given the ice-time and opportunity to play at the professional level, it showed its negatives in Roni Hirvonen’s DY+1 season. Playing on a team that finished fourth from the bottom of the Liiga standing …

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Author: Kyle Cushman / The Leafs Nation

Max Castillo deserves extended opportunity in Blue Jays’ starting rotation

The Toronto Blue Jays are currently enduring their worst stretch of the 2022 season as they’ve lost nine of their previous 10 games, dropping into a tie with the Seattle Mariners for the final wild-card seed.
Things certainly aren’t going their way as of late.
Amid this miserable stretch, there’s been one constant theme: poor starting pitching. Unlike earlier this season, the current state of the club’s starting rotation is in shambles due to Kevin Gausman’s ankle injury and Yusei Kikuchi underperforming and requiring some time off to manage a quote-unquote neck strain.
That’s left two massive voids to fill within Toronto’s pitching staff. Since there isn’t much immediate depth in the minors, the team has been forced to call upon Thomas Hatch and Casey Lawrence to make emergency starts, however, neither pitcher has been effective thus far.
Max Castillo is another hurler that’s received an opportunity in the majors, but surprisingly, he’s displayed some very encouraging signs recently. Granted, the 23-year-old was roughed up in his MLB debut as he allowed a pair of home runs in one inning against the New York Yankees – who nearly signed him out of Venezuela in 2015 before an issue involving his physical blew up the deal.
The right-hander, who ultimate …

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Author: Thomas Hall / Blue Jays Nation