Majorly Pissed

Game 3: London Majors at Toronto Maple Leafs - May 17, 2015

Majors win 9-7

Copious amounts of lime-flavoured long weekend beer help compensate for a frustrating day at Christie Pits.

It was one of those days where anything the Toronto Maple Leafs did, the London Majors did just a bit more.

The Leafs hit two homers.  The Majors did too.

The Leafs rang up 10 hits.  The Majors rang up 12.

The Leafs had a big 4-run inning and scattered three more runs.  The Majors had a big 4-run inning and scattered three more runs, but also scored two more than Toronto.

Toronto starter Brett Van Pelt went 4.2 innings for the loss.  London starter Oscar Perez went 6.0 innings for the win.

Anything the Leafs could do, the Majors could do better.

The umpires got into the act too.  For one bad call at the plate, there was another out in the field.  Manger Perry Mader was not amused, neither were some of the players.

It's early days.  The Leafs showed some great fight-back, responding to a big London inning with one of their own.  Tyler Mitchell led the way with three hits, and Jon Waltenbury and Sean Mattson each drove in a pair of runs.  It wasn't enough for the home nine to prevail on this day, but the bats are coming around, the pitching is there, and if it all comes together, there should be good things to come from this squad.


Game Recap:

The Maple Leafs jumped to an early lead in the bottom of the 1st inning.  Centerfielder Tyler Mitchell hit a leadoff double off London starter Oscar Perez, and advanced and scored on groundouts by second baseman Dan Marra and rightfielder Jon Waltenbury.  1-0 Leafs.

Waltenbury added to the home lead with a solo home run that made it 2-0 Leafs after 4 innings.

Toronto starter Brett Van Pelt cruised through the first four innings, giving up just 2 hits.  The Majors got to him in the top of the 5th, stroking four hits for four runs.  Van Pelt also gave up a walk and a wild pitch.  When the dust settled it was 4-2 Majors after the 5th inning.

The Majors scored two more runs in the 6th inning.  DH Michael Ambrose doubled, then came home on a single by shortstop Paul Lytwynec, who advanced to second on the play.  A single by leftfielder Julio Guzman drove home Lytwynec to make it 6-2 Majors after six.

Rightfielder Argenis Vargas hit a solo home run off reliever Adam Garner that made it 7-2 Majors midway through the 7th inning.

Majors starter Perez pitched into the 7th, when the Leafs finally got to him.  First baseman Will Richards led off with a single, and Sean Mattson, who came on to play third, followed with a home run.  Shortstop Connor Lewis singled next, as did Mitchell, and Perez got the hook after giving up four straight hits.  Mitch Lumley came on to pitch for London, but he gave up a walk and two more hits before getting out of the inning.  7-6 Majors after seven.

Justin Cicatello pitched the 8th inning for Toronto.  He gave up a leadoff double to Guzman, who advanced to second on a putout, then scored on a sac fly by second baseman and former Maple Leaf Cody Mombourquette.  8-6 Majors after the 8th inning.

Cicatello gave up a solo home run to third baseman Alex Martinez that gave the Majors a 9-6 lead going into the bottom of the 9th inning.

The Leafs manufactured one more run, as Mitchell walked and stole second, advanced to third on an error by catcher Larry Gonzalez, then scored on a fielder's choice.  But that was all the home side could muster as the game ended with a 9-7 final score.


London 9-12-2
Toronto 7-10-0

W- Perez (2-0, 4.09)
L- Van Pelt (0-1, 3.72)
S- Lumley (1)

BOXSCORE

The Leafs are now 1-2 and 2 games behind these same Majors.  They hit the road for their next game on Saturday, May 23, in Burlington against the winless Bandits.

Panthers Feast at the Pits

Game 2: Kitchener Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs - May 10, 2015

Panthers win 8-2

The badass Kitchener Panthers stalked into town and feasted on the local nine this afternoon at Christie Pits.  The black cats pounced on Toronto Maple Leafs pitchers for 13 hits and 9 runs en route to a 9-4 win on Mothers' Day.

A light rain fell during BP, but by game time the clouds began clearing and steamy temperatures pressed down on the old quarry.

Dan Zlotnick was the starting pitcher for the Maple Leafs and he suffered the worst mauling of the day, giving up nine hits and a walk over just 2.1 innings.  He surrendered eight runs, six of them earned.

It seems no visit to the Pits is complete for Panthers Sean Reilly (above) and Bryon Bell until they each slug a homer, and each did so today.  Reilly's came in the second inning off of Zlotnick.  The quiet strongman lifted a pitch into centerfield and he followed it with an f-bomb, thinking he'd hit a harmless flyball.  It turned out to be a 356-foot flyball that cleared the fence.  Bell's solo homer came in the 9th inning, as did a two-run home run by Toronto's silent slugger Sean Mattson.
 
At the urging of manager Perry Mader, the Leafs focused on chipping away at their early deficit.  They were more disciplined at the plate and managed to get four runs across, but it wasn't enough as they got handed their first loss of the young season.

On the plus side for the Leafs, four relievers combined over the final 6.2 innings to hold the Panthers to just four hits and one run.  Kitchener's aggressive approach at the plate got them the early lead and eventually the win, but they also struck out 14 times.

Also on the plus side, I think I avoided getting a brutal sunburn, but I've been avoiding mirrors since the game ended.  We'll see.


Game Recap:

The Kitchener Panthers wasted no time in getting to Toronto Maple Leafs starter Dan Zlotnick in the 1st inning.  Two singles and a walk loaded the bases right away.  Zlotnick struck out the next batter, but then gave up a pair of singles that brought four runs around to score.

The Leafs began chipping away in the bottom of the inning.  Centerfielder Tyler Mitchell led off with a double, then moved to third on a wild pitch by Kitchener starter Mitch Clarke.  Mitchell scored on a groundout by shortstop Connor Lewis and it was 4-1 Kitchener after the 1st inning.

In the 2nd inning, the Panthers extended their lead to 6-1 on a 2-run home run to centerfield by DH Sean Reilly.

The Panthers added two more runs in the 3rd inning, and knocked Zlotnick out of the game.  Two singles to start the inning were followed by a third one by leftfielder Darnell Duckett that drove in a run.  Rightfielder Jonathan Brouse singled off reliever Oscar Gonzalez to cash in one more run to make it 8-1.

The Leafs kept at it and got one back in the bottom of the 3rd.  Mitchell singled and moved to second on a putout by Lewis.  First baseman Jon Waltenbury then drove him home with a double off Clarke.  8-2 after 3 innings.

The following five innings went scoreless, as both teams used a combination of relievers to get to the final inning.

In the top of the 9th, Justin Cicatello came on to pitch for the Leafs, and served up a solo home run to pinch hitter Bryon Bell.  That made the score 9-2.

In the bottom of the 9th, Adam Echlin came on to pitch for the Panthers, and served up a two-run home run to second baseman Sean Mattson.  But that was all she wrote as the Panthers locked down the 9-4 FINAL.


Kitchener 9-13-0
Toronto 4-9-1

W - McGovern (1-0)
L - Zlotnick (0-1)

BOXSCORE


The Leafs are now 1-1 and they will continue their homestand when they host the London Majors at Christie Pits next Sunday, May 17.

Hammer and Tongs on Opening Day

Game 1: Hamilton Cardinals at Toronto Maple Leafs - May 3, 2015

Leafs Win 13-1

The Toronto Maple Leafs launched their 47th IBL season this afternoon at Christie Pits with a 16-hit, 13-run demolition job on the Hamilton Cardinals.

Second baseman Dan Marra (above) led the assault with 3 hits and 4 RBIs to earn the Player of the Game honours.

The visiting Hamiltonians were in a giving mood as they made three errors in the field, and their pitchers conspired to uncork five wild pitches.  The Cards' miscues kept the Leafs moving around the bases all afternoon, on the rare occasions when the home nine weren't practicing the art of "hit em where they ain't".

While the Leafs' hitters went at it hammer and tongs all afternoon, their pitchers were virtually untouchable.  Five of them combined to hurl 12 strikeouts, and the Cards managed to scrape out one measly hit and one measly walk all afternoon.

It may be an early season case of heatstroke talking, but this Maple Leafs team looks huge.  Massive.  Unstoppable.  Heatstroke.

Several new faces give a fresh look to this team, including pitchers Brett Van Pelt and Dan Zlotnick (both lethal today), infielders Johnathan Solazzo (lethal), Will Richards (lethal) and Connor Lewis (lethal), as well as catcher Brendan Keys (also lethal).

It was a brilliant opener.  Perfect weather, mostly sunny and in the mid-20s.  The usual pregame hooplah featured ceremonial tosses by Ferguson Jenkins, Bill "Spaceman" Lee, Steve Rogers and Bret Saberhagen.  Loads of fans sprawled all over the slopes of Christie Pits, and the Christie Crazies packed the seating area that hugs the infield.

The new season is off to a good start.  The badass Kitchener Panthers roll into town next week for a good early test.  For now, it's time to lie down and take in plenty of fluids.


Game Recap:

Former Cardinal Brett Van Pelt got the start for Toronto, and he pitched three perfect innings before turning the ball over to Marek Deska, who gave up the only Hamilton hit of the day in the top of the 5th.

By then, the game was en route to a blowout.

The Leafs got things started in the 1st, as starting rightfielder Jon Waltenbury scored on a combination of walk-wild pitch-error-RBI single by leftfielder Raul Borjas.  Combinations like these were the norm today. 1-0 Leafs after the 1st.

The home side scored three more in the 2nd.  Starting catcher Brendan Keys walked, and moved to second on a single by shortstop Connor Lewis.  Both men moved up a base on a single by centerfielder Tyler Mitchell.  The bases cleared on a single by second baseman Dan Marra, that ended up being played for an error by the Hamilton centerfielder.  4-0 Leafs after the 2nd.

The game was blown open for good in the bottom of the 4th, as the Leafs sent 13 men to the plate and scored seven more runs.  Starting first baseman Will Richards walked and moved to second on a wild pitch.  Raul Borjas then singled and moved to second on a wild pitch.  Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo drove them both in with a single that knocked Hamilton starter Tomas Rincon out of the game with seven runs (six of them earned) hung around his neck.  Solazzo advanced to second on a wild pitch, then DH Damon Topolie walked.  Brendan Keys drove in Solazzo with a single.  Lewis singled to load the bases.  A single by Mitchell scored Topolie.  A single by Marra scored Keys and Lewis.  Mitchell scored on a putout by Richards and when the dust finally settled, the Leafs enjoyed an 11-0 lead.

Toronto tacked on one more in the bottom of the 5th.  Topolie walked, advanced on a wild pitch, and again on a ground out by Keys, then scored on a sac fly hit by Lewis.  12-0 Leafs after the 5th.

Three Toronto relievers - Dan Zlotnick, Adam Garner, and Justin Cicatello - rolled through the final four innings, holding the Cards to a single unearned run.  It came in the top of the 7th.  Garner walked Hamilton centerfielder Nick Jambrosic.  He then balked on a messed up throw to first and Jambrosic moved up a base.  Third baseman Josh Toporowski hit a grounder that shortstop Lewis misplayed for an error, and Jambrosic scored the only Hamilton run of the day.  12-1 after the 7th.

Solazzo scored the Leafs' final run of the day in the 8th.  He walked, moved to second on a single by Topolie, then scampered home on an outfield single by Keys.  And that was all she wrote.  13-1 FINAL.


Hamilton 1-1-3
Toronto 13-16-3

W - Deska (1-0)
L - Rincon (0-1)

BOXSCORE


The Maple Leafs are off to a winning start.  Their next game is home again at Christie Pits on May 10, against the Kitchener Panthers.

Leafs' Opening Day Roster Astounds and Impresses

 

The Toronto Maple Leafs kick off their 47th IBL season this Sunday.  In the absence of hard data, I contemplated starting a wild rumour about who might be on the roster.

Maybe... Ricky Romero on the mound?  Maybe... Pete Orr playing infield?  Maybe... Rob Ford working concessions?

Two things convinced me not to.  First, my shambolic career as a sports journalist couldn't sink much lower.  Second, the club provided a full roster.

And here's the reveal.


Borjas, Raul - Outfielder

Botnik, Christian - Pitcher

Cicatello, Justin - Pitcher

Deska, Marek - Pitcher

Freeman, Josh

Garner, Adam - Pitcher

Gonzalez, Oscar

Gray, Cameron - Pitcher

Keys, Brendan - Catcher

Kotchie, Kyle - Outfielder

Marra, Daniel - Infielder

Mattson, Sean - Infielder

Mitchell, Tyler - Infielder

Richards, Will - Infielder

Shergill, Jaspreet - Pitcher

Solazzo, Johnathan - Infielder / Pitcher

Stanley, Cooper

Tamane, Grant - Outfielder / Catcher

Taylor, Drew - Pitcher

Topolie, Damon - Catcher / Infielder

Waltenbury, Jonathan - Infielder

White, Ryan

Van Pelt, Brett - Pitcher

Zlotnick, Dan - Pitcher


Among the astounding and impressive new additions to the team are Johnathan Solazzo and Brett Van Pelt - two huge names that come over from the Hamilton Cardinals.  Brendan Keys arrives from last year's champion Barrie Baycats.  Former Leaf Will Richards escaped from Brantford and returns after spending a season there.

Johnathan Solazzo - Infielder / Pitcher / Jungle Cat

Brett Van Pelt - Pitcher / Stare Down Artiste

Brendan Keys - Catcher / Home Run Trotter

The Leafs' Season Opener is this Sunday, May 3 at Christie Pits.  First pitch is 2:00pm, with the usual pregame hooplah before that.  See you there, Christie Crazies.

Back to the Pits - 2015 Season Preview

 

Joined some seagulls in checking out the scene at Christie Pits this morning, one week before the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Hamilton Cardinals for the IBL Season Opener.
 
Major off-season renovation work is on display (yellow fenceguards!) and the field looks ready to go.
 
As for the comings and goings of the team roster, I got nothing.  The club operates under a cloak of silence.  Who's new, who's back, who's gone?  Guess we'll find out next week.