Following the 2023 Toronto Maple Leafs baseball season.


Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Leafs' Opening Day Roster Astounds and Impresses

 


The Toronto Maple Leafs kick off their 47th IBL season this Sunday.  In the absence of hard data, I contemplated starting a wild rumour about who might be on the roster.

Maybe... Ricky Romero on the mound?  Maybe... Pete Orr playing infield?  Maybe... Rob Ford working concessions?

Two things convinced me not to.  First, my shambolic career as a sports journalist couldn't sink much lower.  Second, the club provided a full roster.

And here's the reveal.


Borjas, Raul - Outfielder

Botnik, Christian - Pitcher

Cicatello, Justin - Pitcher

Deska, Marek - Pitcher

Freeman, Josh

Garner, Adam - Pitcher

Gonzalez, Oscar

Gray, Cameron - Pitcher

Keys, Brendan - Catcher

Kotchie, Kyle - Outfielder

Marra, Daniel - Infielder

Mattson, Sean - Infielder

Mitchell, Tyler - Infielder

Richards, Will - Infielder

Shergill, Jaspreet - Pitcher

Solazzo, Johnathan - Infielder / Pitcher

Stanley, Cooper

Tamane, Grant - Outfielder / Catcher

Taylor, Drew - Pitcher

Topolie, Damon - Catcher / Infielder

Waltenbury, Jonathan - Infielder

White, Ryan

Van Pelt, Brett - Pitcher

Zlotnick, Dan - Pitcher


Among the astounding and impressive new additions to the team are Johnathan Solazzo and Brett Van Pelt - two huge names that come over from the Hamilton Cardinals.  Brendan Keys arrives from last year's champion Barrie Baycats.  Former Leaf Will Richards escaped from Brantford and returns after spending a season there.


Johnathan Solazzo - Infielder / Pitcher / Jungle Cat

Brett Van Pelt - Pitcher / Stare Down Artiste

Brendan Keys - Catcher / Home Run Trotter


The Leafs' Season Opener is this Sunday, May 3 at Christie Pits.  First pitch is 2:00pm, with the usual pregame hooplah before that.  See you there, Christie Crazies.


Sunday, April 26, 2015

Back to the Pits - 2015 Season Preview

 


Joined some seagulls in checking out the scene at Christie Pits this morning, one week before the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Hamilton Cardinals for the IBL Season Opener.
 
Major off-season renovation work is on display (yellow fenceguards!) and the field looks ready to go.
 
As for the comings and goings of the team roster, I got nothing.  The club operates under a cloak of silence.  Who's new, who's back, who's gone?  Guess we'll find out next week.