It’s time to move Bo Bichette to Second Base

When asked about how I would like to exit this world, I often say surrounded by friends and family, or Blue Jay fans.

Today is the day that I may be eliminated from this early for saying that Bo Bichette needs to be moved from shortstop.
Before you get mad at me, this article is not saying Bo Bichette is a bad player, much to the contrary, actually. His bat will get him all-star votes and he’s still only 24-years-old, meaning that defence could come with experience.
Let’s briefly go back in time:
A few years before my birth, there was a baseball player you may have heard of. His name is Derek Jeter.
Drafted in the first round in the 1992 draft by the Yankees, Jeter went on to have an illustrious career being on a team that won 5 titles. The shortstop was a big part of those teams, as his hitting ability and clutch performance took the Pinstripes over the top.
When it came to Hall of Fame voting, he got in (as he should have), but there was only one vote out of 397 that said no to the “shortstop”. Had this one voter said yes to Jeter, he would have been only the second player ever to be voted in unanimously.
While Jeter should have absolutely been voted into the Hall of Fame, there was one big glaring hole in his game – his defence.
Total Zone is a predecessor to Defensive Runs Saved (which was first tracked in 2002). From 1995-2001, Derek Jeter had a Total Zone …

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Author: Brennan Delaney / Blue Jays Nation

When it comes to Mitch Marner it’s always complicated

When it comes to Mitch Marner it’s always complicated

After the first round playoff exit last spring it seemed all but certain that there were going to be some high expectations attached to Mitch Marner and a demand for him answering his critics. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened and instead Mitch Marner has put up just one assist in the first four games, while averaging 22 minutes a night. Supporters of Mitch will point to the fact that the first three games were played without Auston Matthews. Critics of Marner will point to the fact that he was still playing with John Tavares, and as an $11M winger, it’s not an absurd expectation that he produce some offense himself.
When it comes to offence, Marner’s one point in the first four games is already up there with his biggest regular season slumps. Last year the longest stretch Marner went without a point was two games, he’s already at a three game pointless streak. You would have to go back to February of 2019 to see the last time Mitch Marner went three games without a point, which points to the fact that he’s struggling now, but should also serve as a reminder that once he snaps out …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

Toronto Raptors offseason preview: Serge Ibaka

We continue our exit interview by taking a look at Serge Ibaka. How did he perform last season? What can he improve on? What will his role with the Toronto Raptors be next year? NBA Champion Serge Ibaka of the Toronto Raptors. Doesn’t that sound just right? The 10-year veteran has had quite the bumping […]
Toronto Raptors offseason preview: Serge Ibaka – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Koby Palimaka / Raptors HQ

Sheldon Keefe’s Future Is Up To Him – And How Far His Marlies Can Go

The Leafs’ less-than-graceful exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 23rd has now been well-documented, and enough has been said about the future of current head coach Mike Babcock that all we can do now is wait and see if anything comes of it. On the Babcock front, at least.
If we’re looking for more noise on the coaching front, look no further than the Toronto Marlies, now one game away from sweeping their second-round series against the Cleveland Monsters. The AHL club is now well into a second consecutive playoff run, and appear poised to challenge for back-to-back Calder Cup championships.
And that’s where things get interesting.
Marlies bench boss Sheldon Keefe’s name has been thrown around for weeks now as a potential suitor for a National Hockey League coaching job – particularly since it was reported that Keefe was ironing out a historic deal to stay in Toronto; a rich deal indicative not just of Keefe’s elevated paygrade, but also of his potential, in the Leafs’ system and beyond.
The deal has been reported as having an out-clause should Keefe land an NHL position, and as the Marlies continue to tear through the American …

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Author: ThatsKappy / The Leafs Nation