Off the Chain or More of the Same?

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - July 15 to 21, 2024

The Leafs went one step forward, two steps back in a week that appeared to be the norm and no longer an exception in this 2024 season.

Toronto Maple Leafs pitcher Wilgenis Alvarado's face betrays some of the exasperation that's becoming the norm at Christie Pits this season. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs' new ownership group have fulfilled their promise of more fun and more excitement at Christie Pits this summer.  Increased food and drink options, more fan engagement, souvenirs galore, and the electrifying return of Al Ross the raffle ticket icon have put smiles on faces all around the ballpark.

Smiles everywhere except on the field of play.

It was another win-one, lose-two week for the boys in blue.  This 2024 team is hurtling down the road towards a critical junction.  Will the rest of the season be more of the same?  Or will the Leafs finally go off the chain?

This past week of baseball action provided mixed results.  A wild romping victory in Kitchener was bookended by a pair of lifeless defeats at home.  Will the real Maple Leafs please stand up?

Here now is a recap of Week 10 in Maple Leafs baseball.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 - Barrie Baycats vs Toronto Maple Leafs

A quiet evening at Christie Pits saw the Leafs drop another to the Barrie Baycats.

More of the same.

New signing Landon Leach took to the mound for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they hosted their rivals the Barrie Baycats.

Leach, a 25-year-old Toronto native and former Minnesota Twins farmhand, made his debut on this Wednesday Nighter.  The Baycats welcomed him to the IBL and proceeded to do Baycat things.

A run in the first inning, a run in the second.  In the top of the third, Wilgenis Alvarado took over from Leach and gave up two more.  Just like that, the visitors were off to a 4-0 lead.  

Frank Garces stymied Leaf bats all night.  He pitched seven innings of shutout baseball, scattering six hits while striking out five.

Toronto's offence finally got a run across the plate in the bottom of the eighth.  Facing reliever Brad Grieveson, first baseman Jordan Castaldo doubled and scored to break up the shutout and make it a 6-1 ballgame.  However that would be the Leafs' lone scoring output on the night.

Barrie 6 10 3

Toronto 1 7 1

W - Garces (5-1, 2.14)

L - Leach (0-1, 6.00)

BOXSCORE

  

Thursday, July 18, 2024 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Kitchener Panthers

With a football score on the board, Julian Valdez prepares to wrap things up for his second save of the season. (image: Panthers Baseball Online)

Off the chain!

Not 24 hours after a listless one-run performance at home, the Toronto Maple Leafs barged into Jack Couch Park and lit up the scoreboard with 19 runs.

The scoring assault was almost matched by the host Kitchener Panthers, who put up 17 in an occasionally tense battle.

Pitchers Yadian Martinez and Angel Castro absorbed most of the body blows over the first six innings.  Martinez was tagged for seven earned runs off eight hits while striking out five.  Castro surrendered nine runs off eleven hits while striking out six.  He departed the game after hitting a batter with a pitch.  Some jawing ensued as Castro left the field, and both clubs were issued warnings.

Through six innings, the Panthers clung to a 9-8 lead.  Then the Leafs exploded.  In the top of the seventh, they put seven runs on the board for the second consecutive inning to take a 15-9 lead.

Bats on both sides continued to pummel every relief pitcher who dared venture to the mound.  Castro continued his disruptor role from the Leafs bench, eventually getting tossed from the game in the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth, Julian Valdez pitched the game's first scoreless inning since the fifth, locking down a 19-17 FINAL score.  Greg Carrington got the win for Toronto and Valdez earned himself a save.

At the plate for Toronto, centerfielder Charlie Towers led the way with three hits and four RBIs.  Shortstop Jose Vinicio, right fielder Marcus Knecht and second baseman Dan Marra also notched three hits apiece.  Virtually everyone else in the Leafs lineup either scored a run or drove one in.  Towers, Vinicio and pinch hitter Michael Cecchetto each hit a home run.

Kitchener's scoreboard operator is said to be recovering from severe nerve and tendon damage in both hands.

Toronto 19 19 1

Kitchener 17 18 2

W - Carrington (1-1, 8.18)

L - Laird (1-1, 12.46)

S - Valdez (2)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, July 21, 2024 - Chatham-Kent Barnstormers vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Sunday at Christie Pits, the Leafs mascot engaged the help of some superfriends to try and find the key to turning this season around.

More of the same.

The Toronto Maple Leafs appeared to have spent their entire week's worth of runs all in Kitchener.

They returned to Christie Pits and to their listless ways with a three-hit, two-run performance against the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers.

Just as in the Leafs' previous home game against Barrie, the Barnstormers scored in small bunches.  A run here, a couple there, enough to amass a 7-0 lead after eight innings.

Sam Greene made the start on the mound for the Leafs, going five innings and giving up five runs on seven hits.  He struck out five.  

Wilgenis Alvarado pitched the next three innings, giving up a pair of runs on three hits while striking out three.  Chris Nagorski wrapped things up with a scoreless ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth the Leafs' offence showed a flicker of life.  Chatham reliever Connor King loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single.  Two of those runners would score courtesy of another walk and a fielder's choice.  The Leafs broke up the shutout but the game ended with a 7-2 FINAL score.  Greene took the loss while Chatham starter Brock Whitson got the win.

Midway through the game, the Leafs mascot teamed up with some superfriends to perform a lively dance number on the infield grass.  A snarkier writer might have said it was the most energy seen on the diamond all day.  A snarkier writer just might.

Chatham-Kent 7 11 1

Toronto 2 3 0

W - Whitson (3-0, 3.10)

L - Greene (1-2, 5.52)

BOXSCORE

Ten weeks and 30 games into the season the Leafs still reside in the IBL cellar.  Their 9-21 record leaves them 13 games behind the Welland Jackfish and half a game behind the Brantford Red Sox in their pursuit of a postseason spot.

The week ahead:

Friday, July 26 - Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors, 7:35 PM at Labatt Memorial Park

Saturday, July 27 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox, 2:00 PM at Arnold Anderson Stadium

Sunday July 28 - London Majors vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 PM at Christie Pits 

Leaf All-Stars Rep the Six

IBL All Star Showdown Recap - July 20, 2024

Welland Stadium hosted this year's IBL All-Star festivities, and three Toronto Maple Leafs joined the fun.

Saturday afternoon in Welland, Johnathan Solazzo and Ryan Dos Santos teamed up for the Home Run Derby. (image: @mapleleafsbaseball Instagram)

It doesn't happen every season, but when it does it's a blast.

On a sunny Saturday, the Welland Jackfish hosted All-Star festivities at Welland Stadium.  A home run derby preceded a ballgame featuring heroes from all nine IBL clubs.

Two sides were arranged into "North" and "South" alignments.  The north was comprised of players from Barrie, Guelph, Hamilton, Kitchener and Toronto.  The host south included players from Brantford, Chatham-Kent, London and Welland.

Repping the Six was a trio of Leafs: infielders Jordan Castaldo and Johnathan Solazzo and outfielder Ryan Dos Santos.

Solazzo and Dos Santos teamed up for the Home Run Derby.  Dos Santos delivered to his teammate from the mound as Solazzo put his pythons to work at the plate.

In a close opening round matchup, Solazzo was bested by the London Majors' Starling Joseph, 10 bombs to nine.

After the derby, which was won by the Hamilton Cardinals' Tyler Duncan, Solazzo and Castaldo took to the field as All-Star game starters.  

Solazzo played most of the game at third base, and a couple of innings at short.  The Conductor went 1-for-3 with an RBI.  Castaldo played first base for the first half of the game, singling twice and scoring a run.  Dos Santos played right field for the second half of the game.

Team "South" won the game 13-6.

Social media was filled with images of all three players smiling, interacting with fellow All-Stars, and having a great time.

The IBL should make the All-Star Showdown an annual, rotating event.

2024 Toronto Maple Leafs All-Stars Johnathan Solazzo, Jordan Castaldo and Ryan Dos Santos (image: @mapleleafsbaseball Instagram) 

Up and Down

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - July 9 to 14, 2024

It was a short week for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they dropped one and won one, but remained at the bottom of the IBL standings. 

The Leafs took a precious win against the Brantford Red Sox on Sunday at Christie Pits. (file photo)

Where's the runs at?

The runs.  The Toronto Maple Leafs aren't scoring any runs.

In a short week with just two games on the schedule, the Leafs scored a single run against the Guelph Royals on Saturday.  The following day, a four-run inning and a couple more later on carried them to victory against the Brantford Red Sox, but such innings have been far and few between in the summer of 2024.

Nine weeks into the season, the Leafs have given up the most runs, and only the Royals have scored fewer.  It all amounts to a league-low run differential of minus-74.  The next-worst club is the Kitchener Panthers at minus-52.  Most other clubs are way away better.

It's been a frustrating season so far.  The high-octane offense of recent years has sputtered, and with it the Leafs position in the standings.  Midway through July they remain in last place, out of the postseason picture, something that would have driven Jack Dominico out of his skull.

The good news is that lots of baseball remains to be played.  Luck cannot continue to go against this club as it has so far.  At least that's the hope.  Keep hope alive!

Here now is a recap of Week 9 in Maple Leafs baseball.

Saturday, July 13, 2024 - Toronto Maple Leafs @ Guelph Royals

Saturday night in the Royal City was a case in point of the Leafs' scoring problems this season.

Three hits, one run, and a defeat at the hands of the Guelph Royals.

A second inning sacrifice fly by second baseman Dan Marra was the only offensive output by the Leafs this night.  

Guelph ace Jacob Kush went seven innings, giving up just two hits along the way.  Angel Castro pitched into the fourth and was tagged for all five of Guelph's runs in a 5-1 FINAL.

Toronto 1 3 1 

Guelph 5 9 1

W - Kush (3-1, 1.71)

L - Castro (1-4, 7.59)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, July 14, 2024 - Brantford Red Sox vs Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs won just their fifth home game on Sunday, beating the Brantford Red Sox 6-4.

A welcome rally in the bottom of the first saw the Leafs score four runs on four hits to take a lead that held through the afternoon.  First baseman Jordan Castaldo, left fielder Ryan Dos Santos and right fielder Marcus Knecht all racked up RBIs to start the game.

Neither starting pitcher went far on the day.  Brantford's Jeremias Sucre faced five batters before being relieved by Josh Laukkanen.  Julian Valdez pitched one inning before Sam Greene took over for the Leafs.

Greene went five innings on the day and gave up two runs en route to his first win of the season.

Brantford 4 10 1

Toronto 6 9 1

W - Greene (1-1, 4.80)

L - Sucre (4-2, 4.88)

BOXSCORE

Nine weeks into the season, the Leafs sit in ninth place, 13 games behind the Welland Jackfish and a game-and-a-half behind Brantford for the final postseason spot.

The week ahead:

Wednesday, July 17 - Barrie Baycats vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 PM at Christie Pits

Thursday, July 18 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Kitchener Panthers, 7:30 PM at Jack Couch Park

Sunday July 21 - Chatham-Kent Barnstormers vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 PM at Christie Pits 

Lowest of the Low

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - July 2 to 8, 2024

The Toronto Maple Leafs open the second half of the 2024 season sitting dead last in the IBL standings. 

Fans and players alike are struggling to comprehend what's gone wrong with this Maple Leafs season.  Jordan Castaldo is all of us.

Item: Left Field Brewery reports record sales at Christie Pits.  Both the concession stand and the roaming beer guy are being besieged by Toronto Maple Leafs fans looking to drown their sorrows.

Item: Eight weeks into the season, the Leafs are sitting dead last in the IBL standings.  Dead last, what even is this?  The only thing enjoying a heyday at the Pits these days is alcoholism.

Item: Ontario is not entirely gripped by the LCBO strike that erupted last week, as booze buying options abound.  For all your Leafs Lager needs, Left Field Brewery has locations in Leslieville and Liberty Village both open seven days a week, and home delivery options are also available.

How did we get here?  I mean last place, not the strike.

Having asked around, there seems to be no answer.  It is a mystery!  (C'est un mystère!)

The roster is dealing with some nagging injuries, but it seems that bad breaks and underperformance are at the root of this poor season.  When the pitching is on, the bats have gone cold.  When the bats warm up, the pitching goes south.  If the two could get together, the Leafs will finally battle of the hole in which they find themselves.  The clubhouse is staying positive and doing whatever it can to change things up.  Hopefully the turnaround happens soon.

Item: On Monday, July 8, the Leafs announced the release of pitcher Dean Christidis and the signing of pitcher Landon Leach, a native of Toronto and former draft pick of the Minnesota Twins.

Here now is a recap of Week 8 in Maple Leafs baseball.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - Kitchener Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Another rough start for Wilgenis Alvarado saw the ace of the 2023 season drop to 0-5 in starts this year.

Back in late May, the Toronto Maple Leafs faced the Kitchener Panthers in a contest of last-place clubs.  That night, the Leafs won "The Martini-Wong Game" and seemed poised to start climbing the standings.

Six weeks later, the Panthers returned to Christie Pits for, outrageously, another contest of last-place clubs.  Neither side has enjoyed a good start to the season and here they were, battling to stay out of the basement.  

In 2024, the 9th place team in the IBL will miss the postseason.  So the stakes were unexpectedly high (or should that be low?) on Wednesday night.

Kitchener stepped up, Toronto did not.

The Leafs grabbed a couple of runs in the early innings, but were shut out the rest of the way as the Black Cats cruised to a 10-2 win.

On the mound it was the ghost of Leafs past, Pedro De Los Santos for Kitchener, against the ghost of Leafs present, Wilgenis Alvarado.

In the bottom of the first, left fielder Ryan Dos Santos hit an RBI single to give the Leafs a 1-0 lead.

The Panthers pounced immediately.  In the top of the second, they raked Alvarado for five runs off five hits.

Toronto got a run back in the bottom of the second when a sac fly by shortstop Jose Vinicio made it a 5-2 ballgame.

From that point on, the Panthers kept pulling further away.  Three more runs in the third.  Another in the fifth and one more in the ninth to finish things off.  Alvarado took his fifth loss of the season and De Los Santos got the win.

Kitchener 10 12 4

Toronto 2 7 0

W - De Los Santos (2-3, 3.72)

L - Alvarado (0-5, 8.55)

BOXSCORE

Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats

Greg Carrington surrendered the winning run as the Barrie Baycats won a squeaker on Thursday night.  (Image: Barrie Baycats TV)

The Toronto Maple Leafs cannot catch a break.

On a night where their pitching corps held the Barrie Baycats to just two runs, those runs proved to be enough in a 2-1 victory at Vintage Throne Stadium.

Frank Garces and Sam Greene squared off on the mound and each man pitched three scoreless innings to start the game.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Leafs grabbed a run.  With two out and centerfielder Lucas Alberti on third, a pair of singles cashed him in courtesy of third baseman Cole Murchison and catcher Dionysius Chialtas.

Julian Valdez relieved Greene to start the fifth, and he pitched a scoreless inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Baycats tied the game thanks to a solo home run hit by Adam Odd.

Barrie took the lead in the bottom of the seventh.  Greg Carrington took the ball from Valdez and hit the first batter he faced, Noel McGarry-Doyle.  A wild pitch and single moved McGarry-Doyle to third, and he scored when the Baycats hit into a double-play.  That moved the home side ahead for good.

The Leafs were unable to respond in the eight or ninth innings and they went down in a 2-1 FINAL.

Toronto 1 8 1

Barrie 2 7 0

W - Hillier (1-1, 6.75)

L - Carrington (0-1, 6.00)

S - Grieveson (2)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, July 7, 2024 - Hamilton Cardinals vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Yes, the Leafs are trying everything to change things up and turn things around.  This is the way.

Sunday at Christie Pits was sweltering but there were great vibes at the start.  

It was Alumni Day and the Butler brothers were in the house.  Rob and Rich, both former Toronto Blue Jays and members of the 2002 IBL Champion Toronto Maple Leafs, threw ceremonial opening pitches.

The afternoon descended from there.

Angel Castro was on the mound for the home side to face the Hamilton Cardinals.  With two outs, the Cards parlayed a walk to Luis Bernardo into a run, thanks to a walk, a single and an error in right.  1-0 visitors after one inning.

The Leafs rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fourth.  It began with a solo bomb hit by the club's home run leader, third baseman Johnathan Solazzo.  Left fielder Ryan Dos Santos singled, advanced on a single by second baseman Dan Marra and a fielder's choice, then slid home on a wild pitch.  Shortstop Charlie Towers brought in another run with an RBI single and the Leafs went ahead 3-1.

Castro pitched into the sixth inning when the wheels fell off.  Six Hamilton runs crossed the plate off of seven hits.  Adam Marra finished the inning but the damage was done.

The Leafs grabbed a couple of runs back in the bottom of the sixth, but the Redbirds added three more to end the game with a 10-5 FINAL score.

Hamilton 10 16 1

Toronto 5 10 2

W - Kozak (1-0, 5.40)

L - Castro (1-3, 6.90)

BOXSCORE

Eight weeks into the season, the Maple Leafs are in ninth place, 12 1/2 games behind the Welland Jackfish, and two games deep into the cellar.

The week ahead:

Saturday, July 13 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Guelph Royals, 7:30 PM at Hastings Stadium

Sunday, July 14 - Brantford Red Sox vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 PM at Christie Pits