Score, Score, Then Score Some More

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - May 22 to 28, 2023

The Leafs piled on the runs and took two of three to stay atop the standings.

A familiar scene from Week Two as the Leafs scored early and often all week long.

We begin with a public service announcement.

Spring is well underway, and the animals at Christie Pits have been mating like animals.  Baby critters will soon appear on the Christie hillsides, and that includes skunks.

Skunks are nocturnal creatures.  With the first Wednesday nighter of the Toronto Maple Leafs' season upon us this week, we offer the following tips courtesy of the Toronto Wildlife Centre.

What should you do if you encounter a skunk at close proximity?  First, smile and take in the wonder of life's rich pageant.  Second, back away slowly.  

Skunks never hurt nobody, unless they got it coming.  Skunks are reluctant to spray, and will only do so when startled or as a last resort.  Skunks usually give warning signs before they spray: stamping their feet, standing on their front legs, raising their tail in the air. If you see a skunk doing any of these things, back away slowly.  As soon as the skunk feels you’re at a safe distance, it should move off on its own accord. 

Dogs and skunks?  Good luck.

And now here's the recap of Week 2 in Toronto Maple Leafs baseball.

Thursday, May 25, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Kitchener Panthers

Johnathan Solazzo tattoos a pitch from Kitchener Panthers starter Jacob Douglas.  When the ball landed, it set off car alarms.  In Cambridge.

Thursday night at Jack Couch Park, two of the IBL's highest-octane offences went at it and did not disappoint. 

Batsmen on both sides could not wait to get to the plate, perhaps none more impatient than Toronto Maple Leafs third baseman Johnathan Solazzo.  In the top of the first inning, Solazzo crushed a 3-run home run off Jacob Douglas to open the scoring. 

In the bottom of the first, Andy Leader bopped a solo home run off starter Julian Valdez to make it a 3-1 ballgame.

Kitchener roared ahead in the bottom of the second, tagging Valdez for four runs off three hits, including a two-run blast by Elliott Curtis.  It was 5-3 Panthers after two.

The Leafs returned to the plate in the third and Douglas walked three batters in a row to set the stage for his early demise.  Second baseman Yoichi Ishihara singled in a run, and then Douglas walked in three more.  Douglas was put out of his misery as Nathan Laird relieved him on the mound.  Laird walked in another run, and then uncorked a wild pitch that brought a sixth Leaf run across the plate.  When the Panthers finally got out of the inning, seven walks and just one hit had turned the score 9-5 in Toronto's favour.

Kitchener clawed back to within a run in the bottom of the fifth, making it 9-8, but the Leafs would not be denied this night.

Pinch hitter Justin Murray drove in a run in the sixth to make it 10-8.

The Leafs piled four more runs on the board to bury the Panthers in the seventh.  A late run made it a 14-9 game but that was the final score as Adam Marra got the win in relief.

Solazzo led the way with three RBIs.  Centerfielder Ryan Santos notched two.  Ishihara, Murray, shortstop Jose Vinicio, first baseman Jordan Castaldo, right fielder Gregory Carrington, left fielder Robin Fox-Pappas and DH David Alvarez each recorded one. 

Toronto 14 11 3

Kitchener 9 12 3

W - A. Marra (1-1, 13.50)

L - Douglas (0-1, 40.50)

BOXSCORE

Saturday, May 27, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox

The Leafs gather for some high fiving after demolishing the Red Sox on Saturday night. (image: Brantford Red Sox YouTube)

It's looking like another rough summer for baseball fans in Brantford.  

In 2022, the Red Sox went 2-39 and recorded a season-long run differential of minus-358.

Two weeks into the new season, the Sox are 0-5 and already minus-51 in run differential.  They are getting shellacked routinely.

Saturday night was no exception as the Toronto Maple Leaf scoring machine rolled into town.  No boxscore has been posted from this one.  Life is too short to watch a 4-hour recording of the game on YouTube, so let's just say there was another shellacking, with the expected outcome.

Toronto 16

Brantford 5

Winning pitcher was Marek Deska.

Sunday, May 28, 2023 - Welland Jackfish at Toronto Maple Leafs

An amped Gregory Carrington works his way through a sea of high fives after hitting a grand slam on Sunday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs' four-game win streak came to an end on a sunny Sunday at Christie Pits. 

After six innings, they held a 9-5 lead over the Welland Jackfish, but the fish slipped the hook and escaped with an 11-9 win.

Sam Greene made another strong start on the mound, giving up three runs (two earned) over five innings while striking out five.  Greene briefly hit the deck after taking a comebacker to the leg but gutted it out and stayed in the game.  Warrior!

Bottom of the fourth, stop me if you've heard this one before.  Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo put the Leafs on the board with a three-run bomb.  It was his fourth straight game with a homer and gave him 15 RBIs on this early season.  If he is not named the player of the month, I will riot outside IBL Headquarters.

The Leafs 3-2 lead was short-lived.  Welland scored a run to tie it 3-3 in the top of the fifth.

Midway through the sixth, Welland pulled ahead 5-3.

Toronto appeared to seize the game by the throat in the bottom of the sixth, courtesy of the classic One Big Inning.  Eleven men came to the plate and they scored six runs.  Four of them came off the bat of right fielder Gregory Carrington.  The grand salami was Carrington's second home run of the season.  Catcher Justin Marra and first baseman Jordan Castaldo each drove in a run to give the Leafs a 9-5 lead.

But as they say, no lead is safe at Christie Pits.  This time it was the home side that suffered.

James Wilson took the mound for the Mapes to start the eighth and had a rough go of it.  A walk, a hit by pitch, another walk, and another hit by pitch and the Jackfish had themselves a run.  Wilson was relieved by Venezuelan Wilgenis Alvarado.  Three walks and a sacrifice fly tied the game at 9-9 through eight.

Alvarado remained in the game and gave up a two-run double to give the Wellanders an 11-9 lead with the Leafs down to their last three strikes.

There would be no walkoff drama as the boys went down in order for their second loss of the season.  Alvarado took the loss.

If there is one consolation to be had, the outcome of the game sets up what already feels like a titanic Wednesday nighter at the Pits this week.  The Leafs will host the Kitchener Panthers in a battle for first place.

Welland 11 5 2

Toronto 9 12 3

W - Mendez (1-0, 0.00)

L - Alvarado (0-1, 13.50)

BOXSCORE

At 5-2, the Leafs own a share of first place with the 4-1 Panthers.

The week ahead:

Wednesday, May 31 - Kitchener Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits

Friday, June 2 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Hamilton Cardinals, 7:35 pm at Bernie Arbour Stadium

Sunday, June 4 - Hamilton Cardinals vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits

Opening Statements

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - May 14 to 21, 2023

The 2023 IBL season kicks off and the Leafs handle a tough early schedule to start 3-1.

On Sunday afternoon, Justin Marra and manager Rob Butler got creative for Marra's second home run celebration in as many days.

Year Two of the post-Dominico era of Toronto Maple Leafs baseball got under way this past week.

With a new general manager (Jeff Lounsbury) and new manager on the field (Rob Butler), the Leafs unveiled a balanced roster of core players who made it to the IBL championship series two years in a row, and a slate of newcomers to add depth for another title run.

The 2023 Leafs faced a challenging first week schedule, facing the IBL champion London Majors twice, longtime rivals the Barrie Baycats on the road, and 2022 pennant runners-up the Guelph Royals.

Fans accustomed to a sleepy start to the season were treated to a sweep of London, a near-miss barnburner in Barrie, and a victorious blowout against the Royals.  With these opening statements, this new era is off to a brisk start.

Sunday, May 14, 2023 - London Majors at Toronto Maple Leafs

Ryan Santos, one of Toronto's opening day heroes. (Photo: Craig Aikin)

On Mother's Day, the pomp and ceremony of baseball's home opener returned to Christie Pits for the 54th time.

Toronto's legendary sunken ballpark exploded with sound and colour.  Pipes and drums in the outfield, celebrity first pitches, RCAF flyover.  I wasn't there but can only imagine.

As for the Maple Leafs, they emerged from the clubhouse like bears out of hibernation.  Slowly shuffling as if still half-asleep.  Over the first seven innings, the visiting London Majors put four runs on the board.  The Leafs posted three errors.  

Manager Rob Butler sent four different men to the mound over the first seven.  Julian Valdez, Sam Greene, Marek Deska and Chris Nagorski each gave up one run (Nagorski's the only one that was unearned).

The defending IBL champions seemed to be cruising to victory until both sides experienced a reversal of fortune in a fateful eighth.

Dan Procopio pitched a scoreless top of the eighth.  In the home half, Pedro De Los Santos took to the mound for a third inning in relief of starter Owen Boon.  After making two outs, the Leafs finally awakened.  Third baseman Julian Russell reached on a fielder's choice and right fielder Justin Murray drew a walk.  DH Yoichi Ishihara doubled to score Russell and spoil London's shutout bid.  Braeden Ferrington replaced De Los Santos on the mound, but a wildfire erupted.  Second baseman Dan Marra singled in a run.  Left fielder James Dutton doubled in two runs to tie the game.  Centerfielder Ryan Santos singled next, and Dutton roared around third to score the fifth run of the inning.  The Leafs seized a 5-4 lead through eight.

Curiously, neither team homered on the day.

In the ninth, Adam Marra was the goat in the 21st century sense of the word.  He made quick work of the Majors to earn his first save of the season, and secure an Opening Day come-from-behind win for the Leafs.

London 4 7 2

Toronto 5 7 3

W - Procopio (1-0, 0.00)

L - Ferrington (0-1, 54.05)

S - A. Marra (1)

BOXSCORE

Thursday, May 18, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats

Ryan Rijo celebrates his game-winning hit as the Baycats win a wild walk off in Barrie.  (image: Barrie Baycats TV)

Thursday evening, the Maple Leafs travelled to Barrie for their first road game of the season.  The last time these two clubs faced off was in the 2022 postseason and the Leafs celebrated a walk off series win.

Having shaken off the cobwebs late against London in their season opener, the Leafs picked up right where they left off.  In the first inning, first baseman Jordan Castaldo, centerfielder Gregory Carrington and right fielder James Dutton notched hits off Baycats starter Emilis Guerrero.  Carrington's triple scored two runs and got the Leafs rolling to a big lead.  All told, those three batsmen would rack up seven hits and six RBIs on the night.

All told, the Leafs racked up 10 runs in the first five innings.  

Zach Sloan and Julian Valdez combined to give up four runs over seven innings while the Leafs' bats did the rest.  RBIs were recorded by Castaldo (3), Carrington (2), and one each by Dutton, catcher Justin Marra, third baseman Johnathan Solazzo and DH David Alvarez.

In the bottom of the eighth, Julian Russell relieved Valdez on the mound.  He gave up two runs off three hits and the Baycats made it a 10-6 game through eight.

In the ninth, Adam Marra was the goat in the 20th century sense of the word.  He gave up four hits, a couple of walks and hit a batter.  Baseball is a cruel game.  The Baycats got some walk off revenge when Ryan Rijo singled in the winning run.  The final score was 11-10 as the Leafs lost a stunner.

Toronto 10 14 3

Barrie 11 14 4

W - Hillier (1-0, 0.00)

L - A. Marra (0-1, 33.76)

BOXSCORE

Saturday, May 20, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors

Saturday afternoon in London, Ryan Burnside stymied the Majors over six innings and won his mound debut with the Leafs. (image: London Majors YouTube)

It's a long drive to London.  The seemingly endless kilometres of straight highway and bland scenery would have provided plenty of time for the Maple Leafs to brood over the outcome of their previous game in Barrie.

By the time the team got off the 401 and made their way to Labatt Park, they fully intended to be the skunks at the Majors' home opener party.

In the top of the second inning, left fielder Gregory Carrington singled in a run, second baseman Yoichi Ishihara doubled in a run, and shortstop Jose Vinicio tripled in two more.  The Mapes were on their way with four runs on the board.

Ex-Hamilton Cardinal Ryan Burnside made the start on the mound and kept the Majors scoreless until the bottom of the sixth.  They scored two runs to make it a 4-2 game but Toronto scored them right back.

In the top of the seventh, centerfielder Ryan Santos drew a bases-loaded walk, and Vinicio followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 6-2 for the visitors.

Catcher Justin Marra put an exclamation point on this one with a three-run homer in the ninth inning.  Burnside got the win, London starter Abdiel Velasquez took the loss and the Leafs cruised back home with a 9-3 victory.

Toronto 9 11 0

London 3 7 0

W - Burnside (1-0, 3.00)

L - Velasquez (0-1, 9.81)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, May 21, 2023 - Guelph Royals at Toronto Maple Leafs

Johnathan Solazzo launches a missile, and also possibly takes out a Russian jet, with one swing of the bat on Sunday.

The Maple Leafs continued their solid start to the season by demolishing the Guelph Royals 12-2 at Christie Pits.

Jose Vinicio, firestarter.  The Leafs' shortstop led off the game with a single, moved to second on a walk, swiped third, and dashed home on first baseman Jordan Castaldo's sacrifice fly.  1-0 for the local heroes after one inning of play.

The Leafs extended their lead in the bottom of the third.  Jose Vinicio, pyromaniac.  Leading off the inning, he raced to first on a dropped third strike, moved to second on a Castaldo single, swiped third, and scored on a sac fly off the bat of left fielder Jesse Hodges.  Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo drove in Castaldo with a single and the Leafs led 3-0 through three.

In the bottom of the fifth, Guelph starter Yomar Concepcion was relieved by Nelson Mercado and the Leafs blew the game open with four more runs.  Catcher Justin Marra led off with his second home run in as many days.  It was the first round trip hit at the Pits this season.  Après Marra, le deluge.  Right fielder Gregory Carrington hit a three-run bomb to give the Leafs a 7-0 lead through five.

While the Leafs were pelting the Royals, home starter Sam Greene pitched five crisp, hitless innings before turning the game over to Dan Procopio.

The Royals managed to get one run off Procopio, who pitched three innings of relief.

Midway through the game, Yoichi Ishihara replaced Hodges in left.  In the bottom of the sixth, he drew a walk, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and came home on an RBI single by Solazzo.  After six innings it was 8-1 for the Leafs.

Solazzo was not finished yet.  In the bottom of the eighth, Justin Marra walked, moved to second on another walk, then came all the way around to score on an error.  With two men on, Solazzo launched a screaming missile into the sky over left field.  It cleared the fence easily and continued out of sight.  Russian authorities later issued a statement denying that one of their jets had been shot down by a mysterious projectile.  The sizeable Sunday crowd at the Pits basked in the warm weather and a beatdown by the Leafs.

Julian Russell came on to pitch the ninth.  He gave up one run before putting the Royals out of their misery.  Greene got the win in a 12-2 final.

Guelph 2 3 4

Toronto 12 8 0

W - Greene (1-0, 1.28)

L - Concepcion (0-1 2.25)

BOXSCORE

With four games in the books, the Maple Leafs record is 3-1 and they hold a share of first place with the Barrie Baycats and Kitchener Panthers.

The week ahead:

Thursday, May 25 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Kitchener Panthers, 7:30 pm at Jack Couch Park

Saturday, May 27 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox, 8:00 pm at Arnold Anderson Stadium

Sunday, May 28 - Welland Jackfish vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits

Maple Leafs Baseball Explodes Into the Slumbering City's Consciousness

Before we begin, here are some updates from an eventful off-season for the Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club.

Topolie Ends Monopoly

After 28 seasons as a player, coach, scout, field manager, general manager, team vice president and occasional groundskeeper, Damon Topolie has hung up all his hats.  On December 20th, he announced his departure from the Leafs via Twitter.  After dropping off the keys to the clubhouse, the long-time face of the franchise ascended into a gigantic blue pickup truck and peeled out of the Christie Pits executive parking lot for the last time.

The Hats Have Been Passed

Topolie’s departure was followed by that of Vice President of Business Operations Roger Lajoie and Director of Communications and Game Day Operations Ryan Eakin.  The protectorate that oversees the Dominico Estate and with it the continued operation of the baseball franchise (his name is Ty Crawford) started filling the vacancies.  Jeff Lounsbury takes over as General Manager, John Raddi is Assistant GM, Jeremy Margles is Game Day Operations Manager, Adam Stevenson is Sales & Sponsorships Manager, and former Leaf great Rob Butler has been named the club’s new Manager on the field. 

Steady Trods the Camel

“I’m like a camel, the heat doesn’t bother me.  Give me a little water and I am good to go.”  With those words, hillsides legend Al Ross confirmed his return to ticket-selling duty for another season.  “A better idea might be to say I am only coming back because I am lazy and if I don’t do this, I will sit around doing Sudoku or watching TV,” he added.

New Seats, Same Bush

The City of Toronto surprised everyone by replacing the very old wood and metal infield seating at Christie Pits with very new metal seating, some kind of space age carbon-poly or titanium, or it may just be reinforced tin.  The proof will be in how the buttocks of fans respond to being parked there on 30-degree afternoons.  High above, the bushes adjacent to Christie Street remain unchanged, awaiting the return of their bush men, bush ladies, bush doggos and other villagers who make the place a Hogtown hotspot each summer.

Meanwhile, On the Field

Fans will recognize many familiar faces on the field this summer.  The core of the team that fell just short of the IBL championship the past two seasons is back for one more glorious run.

“Keeping the core together was paramount,” says GM Lounsbury.  “I had conversations with some of the core members to address their concerns that with Damon gone there would be changes with how the team would be run day to day, and they were happy with those conversations.”

The infield of Justin Marra, Jordan Castaldo, Dan Marra, Jose Vinicio and Johnathan Solazzo is back.  Outfielders Gregory Carrington, Ryan Dos Santos and Aiden McAskie return.  Marek Deska, Zach Sloan, Adam Marra, Sam Greene, Chris Nagorski and Ryan Wells are among the returning pitchers.

“These guys are very experienced,” Lounsbury continues.  “I’m just trying to complement them, to add depth to the core to make another run again.”

The Leafs’ 54th season will begin with some new arrivals taking the places of departed players.  A new group of import players will be landing in Toronto, along with signings from other ballclubs that Lounsbury has assembled for Opening Day.

In our conversation, Lounsbury returns to the word depth repeatedly.  Many a Leaf postseason run has been disrupted by lack of depth at key positions, leaving managers looking through their fingers when they reached for help from the bench or bullpen.

Incoming manager Butler should not have that problem, and the club is expected to rally around their new skipper.

Butler spent part of four seasons in the Major Leagues and is the only Canadian to win the World Series while playing for the Toronto Blue Jays.  In 2001, Butler joined the Maple Leafs and played five seasons at Christie Pits.

Rob Butler with brother Rich during their playing days at Christie Pits. (Getty Images)

Lounsbury described the thinking that went into the Butler hire.

“We wanted to be patient and not rush it,” he says.  “We wanted someone with IBL experience and some veteran experience because of our older team.  It can be tough for a young guy to coach 35-year-olds.  We reached out to Rob and it clicked really fast.  He checked all the boxes.  He has a great baseball mind, he’s calm and has a sense of humour.”

To fans, Butler is remembered from his playing days.  For many players there is already a more personal bond.  

“He played for the Leafs and a lot of the players know him,” Lounsbury adds.  After his playing days, Butler got into coaching and running baseball clinics.  A 15-year-old Zach Sloan was once one of his pupils.

And so the pieces are in place.  Front office, management, roster, camel, bush.  Warm weather is arriving at the right moment, and Maple Leafs baseball is poised to explode into the slumbering city’s consciousness this weekend.

The defending IBL champion London Majors will visit the Pits for the Season Opener this Sunday, with the hoopla getting under way at 2:00 pm.