Out of the Abyss: The 2024 Toronto Maple Leafs Preview

Johnathan Solazzo serves up some pre-season BP at Christie Pits on May 5th.  The Toronto Maple Leafs new season starts this Sunday.

Generally abysmal is the state of organized sport in Toronto in 2024.

Six weeks into the season, the Major League Blue Jays are in last place with a losing record.  Dismayed fans are calling for the roster to be dispersed and front office to be dismissed.

In the NBA, where it is virtually impossible to miss the playoffs, the Raptors missed the playoffs.

TFC are coming off a dead-last finish in the MLS.

The CFL Argonauts situation seems deadlocked.  They could go winless and still draw 10,000 fans.  They could also go undefeated, win the Grey Cup, and still draw 10,000 fans.

The lacrosse team left town.

Enough ink, beer and blood has been spilt agonizing over the NHL Maple Leafs, who seem trapped in an endless spiral of mortification.

Enter the baseball Leafs.  Here comes the sun.

Shove the other sporting disappointments aside and check out all the shiny new things there are to see at Christie Pits this year.

It Starts at the Top

Over the winter, the Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club was sold by the estate of Jack Dominico to a multi-partner ownership group.  A final sale price was not disclosed but according to chatter it may have ticked over the 7-figure mark.

Regardless of the final price, the new regime brings an infusion of fresh spending and new partnerships that will be evident at the Pits this summer.

The ballpark's crackly old sound system is being replaced with a new $30,000 kit.

Corporate partners will enhance the gameday experience.  Innovative Fitness will lead a revived 7th inning stretch, and Left Field Brewery will provide food and drink.

The announcer's booth and concession stand have both been repainted.

Home Sweet Home

Speaking of the concession stand, a family was discovered living in the rear of the building, having camped out there since last August.  

Mitch Stridor, his wife Weezie and their children Jason and Valentina all suffer a respiratory condition that leaves them easily-winded.  One evening last summer, the family strolled down to field level to watch a Leafs game close-up.  Afterwards, they found themselves unable to leave the park.  They were so easily-winded, none of them could scale the Christie hillside back to street level.  Finding themselves alone at night, they sought refuge inside the concession stand and stayed the winter.

The Stridor family was discovered by team volunteers during the recent repainting project.  Being clean and humble, they had subsisted on chips and drinks from storage but they had also taken good care of the place, leaving no trash or damage.  There being no harm done, a short negotiation took place with the DIY Skatepark Team.  

The easily-winded Stridors have now taken up residence inside one of the cinderblock structures at the Christie Pits Skatepark.  They are breathing well and we wish them all the best.

A Monstrous Arrival

Speaking of taking up residence at Christie Pits, another unexpected presence is a massive new extension to the outfield fence.

From centerfield to the right field corner, the extension has doubled the size of the fence, instantly earning a nickname among Leaf fans: The Caged Monster.

Thing is, no one can explain why it's there.  The ballclub did not request it.  The league did not require it.  Locals have no clue who or what caused it to be installed.  It seems the Municipal Government -- totalitarian in deed if not word -- mandated the towering structure.  Beyond this outfield extension and out past the ballpark's dimensions, the city has declared a Forbidden Zone.  No entry, no lights, no children.

Determined to find some answers, I contacted the Department of Parks and Public Containment.  When I finally got through to a staffer, I put the question bluntly: who asked for this new fencing?  The response was 30 seconds of quiet breathing, followed by the sound of the call being disconnected.

Adios Tak and Tamane

Speaking of disconnecting, the Maple Leafs bade farewell to a couple of celebrated players over the winter.  

Grant Tamane is now coaching the baseball team at Wilfrid Laurier University.  Tamane will be remembered for hitting one of the most memorable home runs in Leafs history.  His two-run bomb off the light tower in Labatt Park carried the Leafs to a Game 7 victory over the London Majors and sent them to the 2016 IBL Championship Series.

Garrett Takamatsu has signed with the Guelph Royals.  This brings an end to a rollicking career with the Leafs that he launched in 2018 as a rookie-of-the-year sensation, on to an MVP season in 2021 and a stunning debut as the Leafs manager in 2022.

Tak explained the move: since he's no longer playing baseball full time and actually having to work, the commute to Toronto didn't make sense anymore.  He played with or against a lot of the players on the Royals roster, and Guelph is a way easier drive.  (No kidding, with the Gardiner lane closures about to make hell for anyone travelling in or out of the city.) 

On the Christie Hillside says thanks for the memories, Tak and Tamane!

The Lounsbury Masterplan

Speaking of memories, Jeff Lounsbury has been given the opportunity to make more of them at the Pits.  The Leafs general manager was invited back by the new owners, and he continues his project of bringing a championship back to Christie Pits.

The Lounsbury Masterplan is three-pronged and sensible:

1) Sign the core for one more.  Other than Takamatsu and Tamane, virtually the entire Leafs roster from 2023 is back for another run.  Castaldo, Marra, Marra, Marra, Vinicio, Solazzo, Hodges, Lewis, Carrington, Santos, Knecht, Alvarado, Greene, Procopio, Deska, Nagorski, Richardson, Tymochko, Valdez and Sekulovich are all back.  A handful of others have been placed on the inactive list, and could potentially return: Dutton, Elliott, Lepard, McAskie and Sloan.

2) Sign Toronto talent.  With a core of long-serving veterans, Toronto-born or based players have had to find spots on other clubs in order to play regularly.  Lounsbury wants to turn this around and make sure that the Leafs provide a home for more local players.  Among Lounsbury's new signings are local boys Dionysius Chialtas and Charlie Towers.

3) Sign guys who sound like cowboys.  In this lane, Lounsbury has inked Cole Murchison and Justice Magee.  They sound like winners and valuable additions already.

And there you have it.  Everything is in place from ownership to roster, with Rob Butler managing the show on the diamond.  Toronto Maple Leafs gamedays promise a new and thrilling experience at Christie Pits, starting this Sunday, May 12 at 2:00 pm.

Flight of the Cardiac Leafs

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - August 7 to 13, 2023

Heart-stopping comebacks and massive blowouts made the Toronto Maple Leafs the cardiac kids of Week 13 in the IBL season.

The most audacious deal Jack Dominico ever pulled off was buying a team airplane for his Toronto Maple Leafs.

It was the 1980s, a dominant decade for the Leafs.  They won three IBL championships and Jack was flying high as the league's most successful owner.

He never said whether he liked the comparison or not, but some likened Jack to New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, a man who loved winning, who loved to boast about winning, and who wanted only the best for his baseball franchise.

For Jack, "only the best" meant providing his team with more than gas money or a team bus, it meant a charter airplane.  When the opportunity presented itself in the form of a bankruptcy auction for Nelson Skalbania, Jack submitted a surprise bid and came away the owner of a cherry-red Gulfstream jet.

Jack called a news conference at Toronto Island Airport and unveiled his new aquisition.  The sporting press quickly dubbed the jet The Flying Rage, perhaps because of its cherry-red paint job, perhaps in reference to its new owner's legendary temper.

That first summer, the Leafs flew around the province like major leaguers.  Jack issued media advisories announcing flight departures and arrivals, encouraging fans around the IBL to flock to their local airstrip to witness his club's opulence.  The club's publications contained as many photos of the plane as it did of its players.

It didn't last.

Fuel costs were substantial but not prohibitive.  However, Jack started skimping on maintenance and crew.  The way he saw it, some ballsy juco kid who was good at handling tools and forging credentials could keep the plane airborne and keep a spot on the roster.  Win-win.  Most years it worked out, but as the years passed, The Flying Rage flew less and less often.  

Eventually, it was parked at the island airport and forgotten.

Following Jack's passing in 2022, his holdings were opened up for review.  The executors of the Dominico estate were surprised to discover The Flying Rage among them.  In an effort to showcase the club to prospective new owners, the plane was given a thorough cleaning.  The tarps came off, the workings were oiled, and dozens of old McDonald's styrofoam containers were tossed out.

This summer, Jack's old plane has been transporting the Toronto Maple Leafs to all of their road games.  The Leafs might be having their usual .500 regular season, but no one can deny that they are once again kings of the skies.

This week, the plane racked up considerable mileage.  The Leafs' schedule included a gruelling four-city road trip, with The Flying Rage slated to touch down in Brantford, Kitchener, Hamilton and Welland before bringing the boys back home for Sunday's matinée at Christie Pits.

The first game was rained out, but the two that followed were heart-stoppers that featured huge late-inning comebacks.  Cardiac Leafs!  The Leafs ended up on the losing side, then the winning side.  The final two games of the week were massive blowouts.  Once again, the Leafs lost one and won one in classic Leafs fashion. 

And now here's the recap of Week 13 in Toronto Maple Leafs baseball.

Sunday, August 7, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox - RAINED OUT

No sooner had The Flying Rage touched down at Brantford Municipal Airport than this makeup game against the Red Sox was postponed.  The rainy and turbulent flight that had some players dashing to the restroom should have been the clearest sign.

The game is now scheduled as the Leafs' regular season finale, to take place on Monday, August 21 at 8:00 pm.

Thursday, August 10, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Kitchener Panthers

Yoichi Ishihara belts a three-run homer as part of the Leafs' late-innings comeback attempt in Kitchener. (image: Panthers Baseball Online)

A colossal comeback in Kitchener fell short by a run.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were blanked over the first six innings at Jack Couch Park, then stormed back against the Panthers to tie the game at seven and send it to extras.

One run in the first, three runs in the third, two in the fifth and one more in the sixth, all added up to a big lead for the Panthers.  The runs came at the expense of starter Sam Greene, who pitched into the sixth before a solo home run made it 7-0 and ended his evening.

The Leafs erupted for seven runs over the final three innings.

In the top of the seventh, catcher Justin Marra and first baseman Jordan Castaldo both hit RBI singles to put the Leafs on the board, down 7-2.

In the top of the eighth, pinch hitter Yoishi Ishihara - the pride of Okayama Prefecture - hit a three-run home run.  Ishihara's round trip was his first of the season and made it a 7-5 ballgame.

In the top of the ninth, the Leafs got a helping hand, or rather a lack of one in the Panthers outfield.  DH Garrett Takamatsu and Ishihara both hit routine pop flies with men aboard, and both times the ball was dropped in right field.  Both errors resulted in a run crossing the plate, and the Leafs made it all the way back to make it a 7-7 ballgame through nine.  Kolossal!

Relievers Chris Nagorski, Adam Marra and Marek Deska held the Panthers scoreless from the sixth through the ninth innings.

After the Leafs failed to score in the top of the tenth, Deska returned to the mound.

The Panthers played the tenth inning ghost runner to perfection, using a couple of sacrifice hits to advance Raul Gonzalez from second to third, and from third to home with the winning run.  After giving up seven unanswered runs, they walked off with a win.  Deska took the loss, and the Leafs boarded The Flying Rage for Hamilton's John C. Munro International Airport.

Toronto 7 9 1

Kitchener 8 12 4

W - Bahnuk (1-0, 1.84)

L - Deska (1-2, 5.62)

BOXSCORE

Friday, August 11, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Hamilton Cardinals

Adam Marra slammed the door on disaster Friday night in Hamilton, earning his third save of the season in the process.

On Friday night in the Hammer, what began as a pitchers' duel ended as a demolition derby.

Wilgenis Alvarado toed the rubber for Toronto against Jayson Wilbur for the Cardinals.

The home side got on the scoreboard first.  A double by Jacob Underwood scored two runs to give Hamilton a 2-0 lead after two innings.

The visitors scored right back in the top of the third.  All nine men came to the plate, and three RBI singles in a row by DH Garrett Takamatsu, third baseman Johnathan Solazzo and left fielder Yoichi Ishihara put the Leafs ahead 3-2.  These runs turned out to be crucial.

Alvarado sailed through the sixth inning with no further damage done.

In the top of the seventh inning, Toronto erupted for seven runs.  Twelve men came to the plate and went to town on Cardinals relief pitching.  Ishihara drew a leadoff walk to start the procession.  He scored when right fielder J.J. Dutton hit into a fielder's choice and reached first base. Shortstop Jose Vinicio singled in the second run of the inning.  Dutton came around to score on a wild pitch by reliever Brett Lawson, who ended up walking the bases loaded.  And then: GOLAZZO!  GOL GOL GOL GOL!  A grand slam deep into the night beyond Bernie Arbour Stadium.  Solazzo's swat put four more on the board and made it a 10-2 ballgame.  These runs turned out to be crucial.

Julian Tymochko took over on the mound for Toronto.  He gave up a solo home run to make it 10-3 through seven.

In the top of the eighth, Dutton led off with a single, moved to second on a fielder's choice by Vinicio, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by catcher Justin Marra.  This put the Leafs ahead 11-3.  This run turned out to be crucial.

The cruciality of all this Toronto scoring was proven during bottom of the eighth, when a near-disaster unfolded.

Evan Elliott started the inning on the mound.  He struggled.  After hitting a batter and walking another, he induced a double play and things looked alright for a moment, but the third out proved elusive.  Elliott unleashed a volley of wild pitches that resulted in three more walks and two runs crossing the plate.  Manager Rob Butler called for Zach Sloan from the bullpen.  Sloan faced four batters and they all singled.  Five more runs crossed the plate.  Butler signaled to the pen, and Adam Marra came to the rescue.  Marra threw one pitch and got Dennis Dei Baning to pop out.  The inning was finally over, and the Leafs clung to an 11-10 lead.

Marra returned to the mound to close it out in the ninth.  A couple of runners got on base, but Marra got the Cards to fly out three times before they could score.  

Final.  11-10.  Another cardiac finish.  Alvarado got the win, Marra got the save, the Leafs grabbed their gear and The Flying Rage took off for Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport.

Toronto 11 14 2

Hamilton 10 12 0

W - Alvarado (2-1, 2.47)

L - Wilbur (0-5, 6.83)

S - A. Marra (3)

BOXSCORE

Saturday, August 12, 2023 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Welland Jackfish

The meme says it all. (image: mapleleafsbaseball on Instagram)

This game was brutal, just brutal.

So brutal that the Maple Leafs social media team went with self-deprecating memes to acknowledge the beating administered at Welland Stadium on Saturday night.  What else can you do?

Take a moment to appreciate Jose Vinicio, that's what.  The Leafs' fleet-footed shortstop got the game off on the right foot with a leadoff single.  His customary theft of second base followed, and he moved to third on a ground out.  Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo hit into a fielder's choice that allowed Vinicio to score and for one half-inning, the Leafs went ahead.

The Welland Jackfish took over from there.  Facing Toronto starter Julian Valdez, they scored three runs in the bottom of the first, four more in the second, and never looked back.  Valdez lasted five innings and of the seven runs he gave up, only two were earned.

On the other side of the mound, James Bradwell pitched into the seventh.  He held the Leafs to that first inning run until Vinicio struck again.  In the top of the seventh he tripled and scored on an error.  Fish seven, Vinny two.  Appreciate this man!

For daring to score again, the Leafs were rewarded with some more beatings from Welland bats.  In the bottom of the seventh, relievers Julian Tymochko and Chris Nagorski were each scored upon three times, and the Jackfish upped their lead to eleven runs.

The final score was 13-2.  Valdez took the loss and the stinging Leafs jetted home to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, their gruelling road trip finally at an end.

Toronto 2 8 4

Welland 13 16 2

W - Bradwell (4-0, 2.38)

L - Valdez (3-7, 7.38)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, August 13, 2023 - Brantford Red Sox at Toronto Maple Leafs

Everyone at Christie Pits watches the ball leave planet Earth as Johnathan Solazzo commences home run trot number 14 this season, tying him for the league lead with one week to go.

When nightfall comes to Brantford, and long-suffering Red Sox fans cry themselves to sleep crushing their "SIX-TIME IBL CHAMPIONS 2008-2013" t-shirts against their faces, it should cheer them to know that the current version of their ballclub is greatly improved from last year's disastrous campaign.

In 2022, the Red Sox won twice.  This summer they have won four times as many games.  Baby steps, remember that.

Baby steps, even though yesterday was not a day to remember.  The Toronto Maple Leafs destroyed the Red Sox 17-2 at Christie Pits.

After a pair of scoreless innings pitched by Daniel Procopio and Jeremias Sucre, the Leafs revved their bats.

They scored six runs in the third inning.  Jose Vinicio, Toronto's skinny shortstop with newfound home run power, opened the scoring by belting a three-run blast.  Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo hit an RBI double.  Left fielder Jesse Hodges drove in a run with a sac fly, and second baseman Dan Marra singled in another.  

Early on in the game, both sides questioned some ball and strike calls by the home plate umpire.  Things came to a head in the third when Brantford catcher Cris Ruiz got tossed for "dissent" to put it in genteel soccer terms.  The Red Sox had to rearrange their infield as their second baseman took over behind the plate.

Sucre lasted into the fourth inning but got no further.  An RBI single by first baseman Jordan Castaldo made it 7-0 Leafs.

Into the fifth, the Leafs juggernaut continued jugging.  Dan Marra doubled in a run.  A single by pinch hitter Grant Tamane brought home two more.  A single by pinch hitter Robin Fox-Pappas scored another run.  Solazzo capped off the inning by hitting a home run that literally left the planet Earth.  As the entire ballpark watched the sphere disappear, Solazzo commenced his 14th home run trot of the season like it was no big deal.  14-0 Leafs through five innings.

It was a bullpen day for manager Rob Butler's Leafs, and he put the pen into action starting in the third.  Marek Deska pitched three scoreless innings.  Sebastian Khan took over in the top of the sixth.  He went two innings and gave up a run.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Leafs scored three more runs.  A wild pitch, a ground out by pinch hitter Yoichi Ishihara, and another single by Tamane made it 17-1 for the home side.

Evan Elliott pitched the final two innings.  He gave up one run and struck out four.  The final score was 17-2.  Deska got the win in relief and the Leafs wrapped up the week with two wins and two losses, bringing them to the brink of clinching 4th place this season.

Brantford 2 5 3

Toronto 17 14 0

W - Deska (2-2, 4.73)

L - Sucre (1-6, 8.07)

BOXSCORE

After Week 13 the Maple Leafs are 19-18 and close to securing a lock on 4th place in this IBL season.  They are 9 games behind the Welland Jackfish, who clinched the 2023 pennant over the weekend.

One week remains in the regular season:

Tuesday, August 15 - Kitchener Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits

Thursday, August 17 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats, 7:35 pm at Vintage Throne Stadium

Saturday, August 19 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Guelph Royals, 7:30 pm at Hastings Stadium

Sunday, August 20 - Guelph Royals vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits

Monday, August 21 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox, 8:00 pm at Arnold Anderson Stadium