Reality Check

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - June 19 to 25, 2023

A rough Week 6 saw the Leafs drop two in a row to a couple of the league's top contenders.

Wilgenis Alvarado: the Venezuelan's ERA keeps going down as his innings count goes up.  He pitched his strongest outing of the year on Sunday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs opened the 2023 IBL season with lots of bigtime scoring, pitching, fielding and wins.  

Oh how they racked up the wins.  We on the hillsides had not seen this incredible display of power for some time.  Each dominant win left us roaring with laughter.

Hahahah! we roared.  Hahah!

But after a dominant May -- a month the Leafs closed out with a battle for first place -- the scoring slowed, the pitching sagged, the fielding lost some of its crispness.  The laughter stopped.

Hah, we forced out through clenched teeth.  Hah.  It didn't feel the same.

A month after battling for the league lead, the Leafs have slipped to fourth place.  They are still having a hell of a season, and lots of Leaf players are having fantastic individual seasons.  But it's a team game, and this year there are a lot of teams to contend with.  

Pre-pandemic, the IBL was ruled by two dynasties spanning a dozen years.  Post-pandemic, the top ranks were reshuffled as the dynasties declined and new contenders stepped up.  2023 is looking to be one of the most competitive seasons in a long time.  Five clubs enjoy winning records, and any one of them could make a run for the pennant before August draws to a close.  The Leafs are still in the thick of things.  Maybe this week's reality check will be just what they need to get back on track.

And now here's the recap of Week 6 in Toronto Maple Leafs baseball.

Thursday, June 22, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats

Justin Marra blasts a first inning home run to put the Leafs on the board in Barrie. It was all downhill from there. (image: Barrie Baycats TV)

The Baycats are back.

They may not be the dynastic terrors who ruled the IBL for six straight championship seasons, but the club's latest iteration is good enough to put some scares into the league this year. 

Twice already, the Toronto Maple Leafs have ventured up to the dark wilderness of northern Canada, and twice they have returned defeated.

This week's trip was a disaster.  The Leafs played an error-riddled game (five errors!) and managed to score just three runs.  Barrie batters literally battered Leafs pitching for 15 hits and 15 runs.  

Starter Julian Valdez suffered most of the damage, giving up seven runs off eight hits while striking out two.

Relievers Zach Sloan, Julian Tymochko, Ryan Wells, James Wilson and Adam Marra combined to surrender another eight runs on a forgettable night for the visitors.

The Leafs might have had a chance if they fielded nine Justin Marras.  The MVP catcher was a one-man RBI machine this night.  He drove in all three Toronto runs, including two solo homers.

Toronto 3 8 5

Barrie 15 15 2

W - Nunez (2-1, 3.42)

L - Valdez (1-2, 7.42)

BOXSCORE 

Saturday, June 24, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox - RAINED OUT

 (image: @IBLRedSox)

The Saturday night affair between Toronto and Brantford was rained out.  No makeup date has been announced.

Sunday, June 25, 2023 - Welland Jackfish at Toronto Maple Leafs

A familiar scene on Sunday, as another Jackfish crosses home plate and the Leafs look for answers.

The supercomputer that creates the annual IBL schedule spat out a good one for the finale of Week 6.

On Sunday at Christie Pits, the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the league-leading Welland Jackfish.

Both clubs have been off to great starts this season, but both were coming off embarrassing losses to the Barrie Baycats, the latest hot streaking team of 2023.  Which side would bounce back right away?

Well it was not Toronto.

From the start of the game, Starter Daniel Procopio was swarmed by a school of 'Fish.  Leadoff man Gianfranco Morello opened the game with a triple and his side were on their way.  Over the first three innings, they tagged Procopio for six runs off eight hits and they struck out only twice.

Wilgenis Alvarado took over on the mound starting in the fourth inning and he cooled the Welland bats.  Over four innings, the Venezuelan import would strike out seven and give up a pair of runs.

The Leafs got on the board in the bottom of the fifth.  Welland second baseman Matteo Porcelatto commited a pair of fielding errors to put two Toronto runners on base to start the inning.  Welland starter Adam Jafine then walked the bases loaded.  A single by second baseman Dan Marra brought in a couple of runs, and a single by Garrett Takamatsu brought in two more.  The Jackfish led 6-4 through five.

With the Bushmen chanting "No Lead Is Safe" from their bushy hillside perch, the Leafs made it a one-run game in the sixth.  Centerfielder Connor Lewis hit a single, then moved to third on a double by DH David Alvarez.  Left fielder Yoichi Ishihara was up next.  Jafine uncorked a wild pitch, Lewis steamed for home and slid across the plate in a cloud of dust.  Lewis was called out, sparking some unrest among Toronto players and fans.  Alvarez, who had moved to third, scored on another wild pitch by Jafine.  That made it a 6-5 game through six.

That would be as close at the Leafs got.  Welland scored three more runs late in the game, two off Alvarado and one off reliever Ryan Wells.  The 'Fish swam away with a 9-5 win and Toronto's crummy week came to an end.

Huge shoutout to the tribe over at the Christie Pits Skateboard Park.  They hosted a BBQ fundraiser at the same time as the Leafs game, featuring live metal.  LIVE METAL.  This needs to be a regular feature at Toronto Maple Leafs games and Toronto's next mayor needs to make this happen!

Welland 9 13 2

Toronto 5 10 2

W - Jafine (2-0, 5.01)

L - Procopio (2-1, 8.14)

S - Mendez (6)

BOXSCORE

After Week 6 of this IBL season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are 10-7 and tied for 4th place in the standings with the Kitchener Panthers, whom they battled for first place just a month ago.

The week ahead:

Wednesday, June 28 - Barrie Baycats vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits

Saturday, July 1 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Guelph Royals, 1:00 pm at Hastings Stadium

Sunday, July 2 - London Majors vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits

SCHEDULE UPDATE: June 14th's rained-out Wednesday nighter against the Barrie Baycats has been rescheduled to Wednesday, August 2, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits.

A Short and Sweet Week

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - June 12 to 18, 2023

The Toronto Maple Leafs added a pair of wins to their record and kept the good times rolling in Week 5.

Big smiling Jose Vinicio receives a big smiling welcome from his teammates after bopping his first home run of the season on Sunday at Christie Pits. (photo: Craig Aikin)

Terrifying scenes at Christie Pits this week, as an Atlantic Tsunami touched down on the infield and postponed the scheduled Wednesday Nighter.

Debate erupted, as it is wont to do, on social media.  Some questioned the veracity of the tsunami report, others defended it.  Photographic evidence was hotly disputed.  Ultimately, the field was declared unsalvageable and the contest will be played another night.

As lines of bucket-wielding volunteers worked all week to drain Dominico Field, the Toronto Maple Leafs - sensational, irresistible! - played the remaining two games on their Week 5 schedule.  

They won both games.  On Friday night, they rolled down to London.  There, they continued to wreak terrible revenge on the defending IBL champions, beating the Majors for the third time this season.

By the time Sunday rolled around, the Pits had been restored to their timeless glory, and the Leafs crushed Brantford.

And now here's the recap of Week 5 in Toronto Maple Leafs baseball.

Wednesday, June 14, 2023 - Barrie Baycats at Toronto Maple Leafs - RAINED OUT

Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! etc etc.

This week's Wednesday Nighter was rained out and will be played at a later date.

Friday, June 16 - Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors

The marvelous Mapes slap hands after beating the London Majors on Friday night. (image: London Majors YouTube)

This was truly a tale of two games.  A diamond of mirrors.  A boxscore palindrome.  I don't know where this was supposed to be going.

Friday night at Labatt Memorial Park, the Toronto Maple Leafs resumed their revenge tour against the London Majors.  Over the first four and one-half innings of this game, they ran up a 7-0 score over the home side.

Sam Greene pitched five beautiful innings, surrendering just two hits and one run while striking out six.

RBIs were notched by centerfielder J.J. Dutton (2), third baseman Johnathan Solazzo (1) right fielder David Alvarez (1) and left fielder Yoichi Ishihara (1).

Over the last four and one-half innings of this game, the Leafs and their nation of followers white knuckled it.  London clawed back run after run from the relief tandem of newcomer Julian Tymochko and Julian Valdez.  The hurlers gave up four runs over three innings and the Majors made it a 7-5 game after eight.

Wilgenis Alvarado continues to round into form.  The Leafs' new closer pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out three in a row to earn his first save of the season and give Greene his third win.

Toronto 7 8 1

London 5 7 0

W - Greene (3-1, 4.84)

L - Benitez (0-1, 20.25)

S - Alvarado (1)

BOXSCORE

Saturday, June 18 - Brantford Red Sox at Toronto Maple Leafs

Daniel Procopio earned his second win of the season with a dominant performance over the Brantford Red Sox. (photo: Craig Aikin)

Jeff Lounsbury you magnificent bastard.

In February you signed on as the Toronto Maple Leafs new general manager and pledged to restore most of the core that went to two consecutive IBL finals. 

You restored the core.  Then you brought back some more.  And now you have practically put the entire band back together.

For those who don't feverishly refresh the IBL website's transactions page minute to minute, here is the latest news.  Over the past few weeks the Maple Leafs have re-signed Connor Lewis, Grant Tamane and Garrett Takamatsu.  Once again, all three are wearing the most celebrated V-neck in baseball.

Prior to Sunday, Lewis and Tamane had already seen playing time.  On Father's Day, it was Takamatsu's turn and he picked up right where he left off, going two-for-three at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored.

It's almost discourteous to describe another beatdown of the Brantford Red Sox here.  The struggling franchise came to Christie Pits with a 2-12 record, and they lost 12-2.

Daniel Procopio pitched five and two-thirds of an inning en route to his second win of the seaosn.  He gave up three hits and one earned run while striking out five.  Adam Marra, James Wilson and Ryan Wells put the Sox away over the remaining three and one-third.

Eight out of nine Leaf batters recorded at least one RBI.  Johnathan Solazzo led the way with his seventh home run and three ribbies, giving him 25 on the season.  The Leafs' third baseman is tied atop the league leaderboard in both categories with players from Kitchener.

Each of the following drove in one run for Toronto: second baseman Takamatsu, first baseman Jordan Castaldo, catcher Justin Marra, left fielder Yoichi Ishihara, centerfielder J.J. Dutton, right fielder Gregory Carrington, and shortstop Jose Vinicio who hit his first home run of the season to the delight of all present.

Brantford 2 7 2

Toronto 12 16 1

W - Procopio (2-0, 6.50)

L - Sucre (1-4, 7.00)

BOXSCORE

Five weeks into the season, the Maple Leafs enjoy a 10-5 record and they remain two games back of the Welland Jackfish in the IBL standings.

The week ahead:

Thursday, June 22 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats, 7:35 pm at Vintage Throne Stadium

Saturday, June 24 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox, 8:00 pm at Arnold Anderson Stadium

Sunday, June 25 - Welland Jackfish vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits

Rough Roads

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - June 5 to 11, 2023

The Leafs dropped a pair on the road but bounced back at the Pits to continue their hot start to the season. 

Johnathan Solazzo hits another widowmaker into the skate park at Christie Pits on Sunday.  Solazzo's home run and RBI numbers lead the Leafs and place him among the league's leaders.

One month into the 2023 IBL season, the Welland Jackfish are the hottest team in the league.

Since dropping their first two games, the Fish are on a nine-game winning streak and they have outscored their opponents by 42 runs.

Right behind them are the Toronto Maple Leafs with their twin weapons of lumber and charisma.  The Leafs have scored more runs than any other club and they sit two games back of Welland in the standings.

After wrapping up their week-long series with the Hamilton Cardinals with a loss in the Hammer, the Leafs rolled into Welland for another bigtime matchup.  And they got smoked.  Welland slapped them around the pond and established themselves as The Team To Beat.

The Leafs returned to Christie Pits and took their frustrations out on the Guelph Royals, who have not enjoyed the best of starts to the year.  All told, the Leafs continue to ride high in the standings.  The offence is there, the defence is there.  If the pitching gets there, they could become The Team To Beat by the end of 2023. 

And now here's the recap of Week 4 in Toronto Maple Leafs baseball.

Friday, June 9, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Hamilton Cardinals

Colby Ring, big Leafs fan.  The Hamilton Cardinals ace won two consecutive Friday starts at home against Toronto, giving up five runs over eleven innings of work.

Toronto Maple Leafs baseball.  Sensational, irresistible!

After another long week in the saddle I was jonesing to see those marvelous Mapes back in action.  Friday night in Hamilton, they played their first game since Sunday, in the rubber match of three in a row versus the Cardinals.

It was a classic see-saw battle with multiple lead changes.  In the end, the Cards bullpen held firm while Toronto's did not, and the Leafs dropped a closer-than-it-looks 14-5 decision.

In the first inning, the visitors took the lead thanks to a two-run home run by left fielder Ryan Burnside.  The former Card's effort was greeted with loud cheers from some boisterous locals.  Bernie Arbour's place is a friendly ballpark.

The Leafs' lead was short-lived.  Starter Julian Valdez coughed up four runs, including a two-run homer by Clayton Keyes, and the Cards led 4-2 after one inning of play.

In the top of the fourth, third baseman Johnathan Solazzo hit his fifth bomb of the year, a solo shot that made it 4-3.

Top of the fifth, the Leafs retook the lead thanks to Jordan Castaldo.  The first baseman drove in two baserunners to make it a 5-4 Leafs lead.

Valdez could not hold the lead.  In the bottom of the fifth he was tagged for four more runs including a solo homer by Laine Renaud.  8-5 Redbirds through five.

Matters were not helped by the third team on the field.  In addition to the many great improvements at Bernie Arbour, including food, booze, in-game entertainment and merch, a troupe of comedy clowns was brought out in umpires uniforms and subbed in.  They made some hilariously bad calls throughout the night, usually at the expense of the visitors.  It was quite a clown show.  Each blown call prompted disbelief, jeering, and umps turning tail in embarrassment.

Ultimately, the Leafs bullpen could not get it done.  Hamilton racked up six runs over the final three innings off relievers James Wilson (two runs), Ryan Wells and Chris Nagorski (four runs).  The final score was 14-5 and Valdez took his first loss of the season.

Toronto 5 8 2

Hamilton 14 15 1

W - Ring (2-1, 3.37)

L - Valdez (1-1, 5.75)

BOXSCORE

Saturday, June 10, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Welland Jackfish

Sam Cawker crushes one towards his scoreboard likeness at Welland Stadium, part of a sixteen-run assault endured by the Maple Leafs on Saturday night. (image: Welland Jackfish YouTube)

On Saturday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs exploded for seven runs in the final two innings at Welland Stadium.

That brought them to within eight runs of the unassailable lead that the Jackfish had built up prior to that.  Woof!

Sam Greene and Zach Sloan each pitched three innings for the visitors.  Greene was tattooed for eight earned runs and Sloan gave up seven.  Adam Marra pitched the final two innings and he too gave up an earned run.  Not a pretty night on the mound for the Mapes.

At the plate, left fielder Ryan Burnside led the way with three RBIs for Toronto.  Centerfielder Yoichi Ishihara drove in a pair.  Second baseman Dan Marra, pinch hitter Brandon Sekulovich and right fielder David Alvarez each drove in one.

Toronto 8 11 1

Welland 16 19 2

W - Harford (2-1, 3.60)

L - Greene (2-1, 5.57)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, June 11, 2023 - Guelph Royals at Toronto Maple Leafs

On Sunday at Christie Pits, Ryan Wells scooped up his first win of the season in relief of Dan Procopio.

Slugaroo!  Slugarama!  Slugpocalypse!

The bats were out in force yesterday, as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Guelph Royals went at it to the tune of 36 hits and 24 runs scored.

The hometown boys took advantage of two six-run innings to lock in a 14-10 victory.

Starters Dan Procopio for the Leafs and Kyle Thomas for the Royals were evenly matched to start the game.  In the first two innings, Procopio gave up three runs and Thomas gave up two.

In the bottom of the first, a sac fly by first baseman Jordan Castaldo put the Leafs on the board, and a solo home run by third baseman Johnathan Solazzo made it a 2-2 ballgame.

The Leafs put together a fantastic rally in the bottom of the third to ruin Thomas's day.  Seven straight hits put six runs on the board and the Leafs were on their way in front of a lively Christie Pits crowd.  They enjoyed an 8-3 lead through three.

Procopio gave up two more runs in the fourth inning, and got tagged for two more in the fifth as the visitors crept to within a run of the Leafs.  Ryan Wells relieved Procopio and got out of the inning with the Leafs holding an 8-7 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Leafs launched another six-run barrage to pull away for good.  DH Justin Marra and left fielder Jesse Hodges each homered. Toronto recorded eight hits in the inning, including another string of seven in a row to frustrate the Royals.  After six it was 14-7.

The seventh inning belonged to Toronto reliever James Wilson.  Guelph scraped him for three runs off three walks and a hit, but that would be all the scoring on this day.

Wilgenis Alvarado pitched scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth to seal a 14-10 win for the Leafs and end their brief two-game losing streak.

Guelph 10 16 0

Toronto 14 20 0

W - Wells (1-0, 4.50)

L - Thomas (0-3, 10.56)

BOXSCORE

At the end of week four, the Maple Leafs have an 8-5 record and they hold second place in the IBL standings, two games behind those red hot Welland Jackfish.

The week ahead:

Wednesday, June 14 - Barrie Baycats vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits

Friday, June 16 - Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors, 7:35 pm at Labatt Memorial Park

Sunday, June 18 - Brantford Red Sox vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits