Radim Zohorna makes first impression, Toronto continues strong push: Marlies Weekly

It was a losing week for the Marlies, but they did get an exciting addition, who could provide some needed size to the forward group.
Toronto began the week with a school day game against Rockford, hoping to extend their lead in the North Division. And well, they did just that.
Max Ellis scored two big goals for the Marlies, in the second and third periods, to help them push past the IceHogs 5-3. Pontus Holmberg also found the back of the net, with an assist going to Tommy Miller, who had two in the game.
Erik Kallgren stopped 21 of the 24 shots he faced and at the end of the game had an 8-5-2 record with an .885 save percentage.
Those school day games are loud and likely helped give Toronto a push in the right direction. However, you couldn’t say the same about Friday’s game in Hershey.
The Marlies started off very slow only tallying 11 shots through the first two periods while the Bears put up double that. Hershey was able to find the back of the net three times in the second period, and honestly, it didn’t look like Toronto had it in them to come back.
But they pushed.
Marc Johnstone started the scoring, finding the back of the net for his …

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Author: Nick Barden / The Leafs Nation

Nate Pearson has a good outing, Kevin Kiermaier makes baseball fun, and more, as the Blue Jays tie the Pittsburgh Pirates

Will the Blue Jays rue the day where they had the bases loaded, no outs, and a 3-2 count, only for the game to end in a tie?

No, because it’s just spring training, and game results don’t really matter.
That said, it is a bit disappointing, as even a win in spring training makes the fanbase happy.
Let’s look at the player of the game, as well as other notes worth mentioning.
Blue Jays Nation’s player of the game:
Today’s player of the game belongs to the train himself, Nate Pearson.
Did he walk in a run when he came into the game with the bases loaded and two outs? Sure. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t have quite an impressive outing. It’s also worth mentioning that the walk came on eight pitches; at that point, you just tip your cap to the batter.
His second inning of work was fantastic. Pearson blew a 101 mph fastball by the poor Pirate hitter and his secondary stuff was absolutely nasty. His knuckle-curve sits in the low 80’s and has a sharp, late break. His slider also generated two whiffs as well.

In this outing, Nate Pearson showed why he’s more than just a flame throwing pitcher.
Yes, he hit 101 mph to get his only strikeout, but look at the knuckle curve (second clip), or even his two sliders for whiffs.
If he can stay healthy, he’ll be fantastic.#BlueJays pic.twitter.com/Qr30NGgm8j
— Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) March 2, 2023

Moreover, Pearson threw 15 strikes of his 28 pitches, which is …

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Author: Brennan Delaney / Blue Jays Nation

Raptors: OG Anunoby injury comes at worst possible time

Raptors: OG Anunoby injury comes at worst possible time

The Toronto Raptors are fighting as hard as they can to make sure that they can stay alive in the Eastern Conference. Despite going into their matchup against the Golden State Warriors relatively healthy, the latest OG Anunoby injury update sandblasted all of their positive vibes away. Anunoby was fouled hard while going up for […]
Raptors: OG Anunoby injury comes at worst possible time – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Raptors rumors: Chris Boucher could be traded to make salaries match

Raptors rumors: Chris Boucher could be traded to make salaries match

The Toronto Raptors are in a very difficult situation, as they need to decide which players from this roster should be around for the long haul and which names should be sent away in order to get some more productive players in town. Chris Boucher has found himself squarely in the crosshairs.  Boucher started the […]
Raptors rumors: Chris Boucher could be traded to make salaries match – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

B/R’s strange Raptors/Lakers trade is laughably lopsided

B/R’s strange Raptors/Lakers trade is laughably lopsided

The Toronto Raptors are trying to show that they are a team that shouldn’t be trifled with in the Eastern Conference, but their 15-18 record means that they could be selling when the trade deadline turns around. Names like Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. will assuredly get asked about.  The Los Angeles Lakers might […]
B/R’s strange Raptors/Lakers trade is laughably lopsided – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Conor Timmins is “ready” whenever the Maple Leafs call his name, and tonight might be the night

Conor Timmins is “ready” whenever the Maple Leafs call his name, and tonight might be the night

“Whenever they put me in, I’m ready.”
Conor Timmins joined the Maple Leafs on Thursday in Minnesota, practicing with the team before they took on the Wild Friday afternoon. Although he didn’t play on the day after American Thanksgiving, it wasn’t because lack of readiness.
The 24-year-old just finished up a conditioning stint with the Tucson Roadrunners, Arizona’s AHL affiliate. He’s played six games since November 11th with the AHL club, and when he joined the Maple Leafs on Thursday, he noted he was “ready.”
However, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe had other plans.
“Our approach with him is to get him in, get him comfortable.” Keefe said in Minnesota on Thursday. “Obviously we have a great need and there’s great opportunity on our defence right now with the injuries that we’re going through. Yet, we want to make sure we put him in a good spot to succeed.
“Both in coming into a new team and the fact that he hasn’t skated, we give him today (in Minnesota) and get another skate (Friday)… But we’ll take it a day at a time from there.”
Saturday night will likely be Timmins’ first game in a Maple Leafs uniform. The team is coming off playing a game the day before and could use a body without many kilometr …

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Author: Nick Barden / The Leafs Nation

Raptors confidence meter: How will new-look bench perform?

Raptors confidence meter: How will new-look bench perform?

The Toronto Raptors knew that they couldn’t go into the 2022 season with the same subpar bench from last year and convince their fanbase that they were trying to take a step forward. Bringing back Thad Young and Chris Boucher was a solid decision, but Toronto needed one more X-factor in their lineup. Just a […]
Raptors confidence meter: How will new-look bench perform? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Alek Manoah dominates the Pirates as Toronto starts series with 4-0 win

For those who observe Alek Manoah Day, they were able to celebrate for good reason.

The Blue Jays took the first of a three-game series from the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 behind a dominant performance from The Big Man, Alek Manoah. Manoah threw seven and a third innings, allowing only five hits, no runs, one walk, and six strikeouts en route to his 13th win of the season and his 20th quality start. He pitched in front of his college baseball team, the West Virginia Mountaineers, as they made the quick trip up to PNC Park to watch their former teammate do his thing.
Johan Oviedo, who was acquired from the Cardinals at the trade deadline in the Jose Quintana trade, started for the Pirates tonight. Oviedo struck out the side in the first inning, all on his slider. The Blue Jays were able to generate five base runners between the second and third innings, but they did 2022 Blue Jays things with them and ~stranded them all~.
Fortunately for the Blue Jays, Oviedo was on a pitch count. Who knows if the Blue Jays would’ve had much success off of this guy had he not gotten to 75 pitches so soon.
Tyler Beede took over for Oviedo in the 4th, and he allowed a leadoff double t …

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Author: Evan Stack / Blue Jays Nation

NBA power forward tier list: Where is Raptors star Scottie Barnes?

NBA power forward tier list: Where is Raptors star Scottie Barnes?

The Toronto Raptors nailed it when they said no to all of the pre-draft predictors and drafted Scottie Barnes over Jalen Suggs. In an age where so many teams have elite power forwards, the Raptors may have stumbled upon their next big thing in the Florida State product. Averaging 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 […]
NBA power forward tier list: Where is Raptors star Scottie Barnes? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

3 teams who could beat Raptors’ best offer for Kevin Durant

3 teams who could beat Raptors’ best offer for Kevin Durant

The Toronto Raptors are still hanging around as they try to figure out a way to coax the Brooklyn Nets into parting ways with Kevin Durant. After KD reiterated his trade request to owner Joe Tsai, those who want to pilfer him away are coming back out of the woodwork. The Raptors have plenty of […]
3 teams who could beat Raptors’ best offer for Kevin Durant – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ