Long Overdue Housekeeping

Before the new stuff, I have to take care of the old stuff.

After the last out of the last game of the 2024 Toronto Maple Leafs season, I lapsed into a state of denial.

It couldn't be over, not when it was getting good.

The Leafs wrapped up the regular season with a hot streak, clinched a postseason berth, and headed into the quarterfinals with a full head of steam.  I looked forward to documenting another spirited run for the Dominico Cup.  What better way to kick things off than a series against the rival Barrie Baycats.

It was over in three games.  Two lopsided losses in Barrie bookended the lone postseason game at Christie Pits, a Saturday night thriller that the Leafs dropped by a run.

And that was it.  No run, no cup, not even a second home game.

After posting the elimination game recap, I shut down.  I sent some messages around to the Leafs, compiled the players' MVP vote (result below), and barely followed the rest of the IBL postseason.  I stared out the window.  Sprawled.  Binged food and TV.  I even tried reading Proust (dear god).

One night in November, I hauled myself out of the cave to attend the Bush Gala, the annual end-of-year celebration of all things Maple Leaf.

Bush Gala 2024.

The venue was Another Bar on Bloor Street.  

It was an intimate but friendly gathering.  Some players, some fans and followers.  Folks commiserating over the season that was, in between mouthfuls of nachos.

The Gala highlight, as always, was the presentation of the Golden Bush Awards.  Four categories were up, and the Bushmen climbed atop some chairs to announce the winners and dole out the highly-prized golden bush statuettes.

Best Defensive Play went to outfielder Connor Lewis.  Absent from the event, his statuette was accepted by Chris Nagorski.

Best Pitching went to Greg Carrington, who transitioned from the outfield to the pitcher's mound in 2024.

Best Hit was the shock award of the night, as your humble narrator was given a statuette in appreciation of this little blog of mine.  "Weekly Hits" was how they described On the Christie Hillside, now an award-winning website.  Truly a shock and honour!

The big award of the night, BUSH-VP went to outfielder Ryan Dos Santos.  The winners gathered with the Bushmen for some group shots with their awards and some bonus swag.  

Dos Santos' BUSH-VP win was a validation of the players' MVP vote, which was conducted right after the Leafs were eliminated by Barrie.  

A secret ballot saw Dos Santos and third baseman Johnathan Solazzo tie for team MVP for the 2024 Leafs season.

I asked both for their reactions to being chosen Co-MVP.

"I’m honoured that my teammates and coaches would pick me as an MVP and I appreciate the culture and perspective this team has given me," Dos Santos said.  "Love the guys and couldn’t feel more honoured especially from these guys."

"It’s an honour putting on the Leafs uniform every season and playing in front of the best fans in the league, and I appreciate the votes from my teammates," Solazzo said.  "I put my all on the field to give my team the best chance to win every game. I couldn’t have won the co-MVP without my teammates."

The full results of the vote:

Ryan Dos Santos - 7 votes

Johnathan Solazzo - 7 votes

Jordan Castaldo - 3 votes

Justin Marra - 3 votes

Adam Marra - 2 votes

Angel Castro - 1 vote

And with that, let us put the 2024 Leafs season to rest.

Outfielder Ryan Dos Santos and third baseman Johnathan Solazzo, the 2024 Toronto Maple Leafs Co-MVPs.