And yet he has a losing record.
- the_eye

Run support.

3.96 RS for Richardey
6.28 RS for Happ
5.08 RS for Stroman
4.96 RS for Sanchez
4.09 RS for Estrada

Jen @NHLhistorygirl
On this date in 2003, #Leafs hired John Ferguson, Jr. as GM.
- Fruitcakenipple

Bring back JFJr

Nice blog Lucas...as usual.

To tell the truth, I think Reimer was OK. Goaltending is almost as much about the team in front of you as it is the goalie's skills. That said, I don't see Anderson as any worse.....or any better really. Either could do OK witha good team defence in front of them. I would say both rank as about average of the leagues starters. Neither a Top 5 guy like Price, Holtby or Crawford....and neither a total dud.

The biggest gain for the Leafs may be mental. A clean start. New young guys in the fold...a new goalie situation....new management leading the way. I just think it is a clearing of the minds of the fans and the players alike.

Leafs should be improved. I see them staying close to the Top 8 this year, and maybe ending up 10th or so in the East. Should be a fun year. Very interested in seeing how Marner, Matthews, etc do should they stick for the year!


- hawk35

New management and a little luck with the top pick will certainly help the Leafs. Their situation is not much different than Chicago's was. For many years Chicago was spinning their wheels under "Dollar Bill" Wirtz. When his son Rocky took over and hired Bowman - plus being fortunate to draft Kane and Toews - things changed dramatically.

Reimer got hurt as did JVR and Bozak and Komarov, without all those injuries there would be no Mathews.
Don't expect a top 5 pick this year.
- the_eye

It was the Shanaplan. Hard working first half ...strip them of talent ...sink to the bottom. It worked.

Run support.

3.96 RS for Richardey
6.28 RS for Happ
5.08 RS for Stroman
4.96 RS for Sanchez
4.09 RS for Estrada
- daeth

I realize that is why, think it'll change in the playoffs?
If they make it

Who needs to watch games when you can learn all you need to know from advanced stats
- RickJames77

I just hear this poop on post game Jays talk all the time. Tiresome. Very few teams in the league have #4 or #5 starters that are any better than Richardey. Texas doesn't. Boston doesn't. Richardey is fine. If they have to play him in the postseason it won't kill them. He did well vs Texas last year.

Same with the Thole hate. You take the average backup catcher and compare their stats vs Thole and you might get what, a run or two more per season with them? Lol, just a bunch of people that only started watching yesterday.

I realize that is why, think it'll change in the playoffs?
If they make it
- the_eye

Will likely be used like he was last year if I were to guess. Hopefully they make the playoffs.

I just hear this poop on post game Jays talk all the time. Tiresome. Very few teams in the league have #4 or #5 starters that are any better than Richardey. Texas doesn't. Boston doesn't. Richardey is fine. If they have to play him in the postseason it won't kill them. He did well vs Texas last year.

Same with the Thole hate. You take the average backup catcher and compare their stats vs Thole and you might get what, a run or two more per season with them? Lol, just a bunch of people that only started watching yesterday.
- daeth

That's your opinion, cause other people have different opinions doesn't make them wrong. Oh and i've been watching since day one of the Blue Jays.
ANd Navarro helps the team more than average Joe Thole.

It was the Shanaplan. Hard working first half ...strip them of talent ...sink to the bottom. It worked.
- The Law

Shanahan just received the International Aquatic Alliance's Man of the Year award for taking the Leafs' 2015-16 season and creating an artificial reef, to promote new habitats for sea life and biodiversity.

Will likely be used like he was last year if I were to guess. Hopefully they make the playoffs.
- daeth

If they come home from this road trip with a winning record I think it might be a guarantee.

Good read. I think you are right, the Leafs could finish anywhere between 14th and 29th(sorry Vancouver, you guys get 30th) but are more likely to finish somewhere in the middle. 20th-22nd.

I think our goalie situation is so much better. Andersen is a big goalie who seems to play a poised, positional style. He looks calm in the net, he's not Hasek-ing it up all over the place to make saves.

Enroth has had a couple good seasons in a row and at this point, I would not say that Bernier is better than Enroth, in fact I would not say that Bernier is better then the goalie on my nieces 9 year old girls hockey team.(she falls a lot for no reason, even when the play is at the other end of the rink)

That's your opinion, cause other people have different opinions doesn't make them wrong. Oh and i've been watching since day one of the Blue Jays.
ANd Navarro helps the team more than average Joe Thole.
- the_eye

That's your opinion, cause other people have different opinions doesn't make them wrong. Oh and i've been watching since day one of the Blue Jays.
ANd Navarro helps the team more than average Joe Thole.
- the_eye

Navarro was solid in Toronto, he's definitely better than Thole. Won't likely catch much but he can pinch hit (switch hitter) or even DH unlike Thole. I like the addition.

- RickJames77

My opinion is best opinion.

Navarro was solid in Toronto, he's definitely better than Thole. Won't likely catch much but he can pinch hit (switch hitter) or even DH unlike Thole. I like the addition.
- daeth

Win this road trip and they win the division.

New management and a little luck with the top pick will certainly help the Leafs. Their situation is not much different than Chicago's was. For many years Chicago was spinning their wheels under "Dollar Bill" Wirtz. When his son Rocky took over and hired Bowman - plus being fortunate to draft Kane and Toews - things changed dramatically.
- winsix

I might be wrong... The Pittsburgh situation happened before the salary cap era, and I think the Chicago situation happened both before and near the beginning of the salary cap era. Both those teams were either broke or pretending to be broke and that is why they sucked for so long.

Leafs situation is much much different.

Win this road trip and they win the division.
- the_eye

Still 6 more games vs Boston even after this road trip is done. The division might not be won until game 162.

I just hear this poop on post game Jays talk all the time. Tiresome. Very few teams in the league have #4 or #5 starters that are any better than Richardey. Texas doesn't. Boston doesn't. Richardey is fine. If they have to play him in the postseason it won't kill them. He did well vs Texas last year.

Same with the Thole hate. You take the average backup catcher and compare their stats vs Thole and you might get what, a run or two more per season with them? Lol, just a bunch of people that only started watching yesterday.
- daeth

Thank you for this. People just need to hate things, I guess?

But, barring injuries and assuming they make it, Richardey won't be on the post season roster. That's why they brought Dinner Navarro back - they won't need Thole in the postseason, so they'll have a much better back up catcher, and a switch hitting pinch hit threat off the bench.

My opinion is best opinion.
- daeth

OH... Go on.

That's your opinion, cause other people have different opinions doesn't make them wrong. Oh and i've been watching since day one of the Blue Jays.
ANd Navarro helps the team more than average Joe Thole.
- the_eye

Josh Thole's .158 batting average is tied for 79th place among the 90 catchers that have played in the majors this year - and he has more plate appearances than any catcher behind him. I like him - Jays can't afford a personal catcher that cannot hit for the fifth starter - that is unlikely to pitch in the post season. Nice guy - sure, Navarro far superior in skills and hitting. Very sharp move by management.

I might be wrong... The Pittsburgh situation happened before the salary cap era, and I think the Chicago situation happened both before and near the beginning of the salary cap era. Both those teams were either broke or pretending to be broke and that is why they sucked for so long.

Leafs situation is much much different.
- Njuice

Toronto was in cap hell, they had to rid themselves of players instead of being abe to attain them, And then there was the Muskoka 5 that wouldn,t budge.
The cap did them in for 5 or six years, and then new management sucked even worse.
I hated the Burke and Wilson hirings and the stoopid Phaneuf contract.

Toronto was in cap hell, they had to rid themselves of players instead of being abe to attain them, And then there was the Muskoka 5 that wouldn,t budge.
The cap did them in for 5 or six years, and then new management sucked even worse.
I hated the Burke and Wilson hirings and the stoopid Phaneuf contract.
- the_eye

Yeah it was for a damned TV special. (frank)ing Nonis

Ahh well, we are finally on the right track. Can't wait to see the kids this season

Thank you for this. People just need to hate things, I guess?

But, barring injuries and assuming they make it, Richardey won't be on the post season roster. That's why they brought Dinner Navarro back - they won't need Thole in the postseason, so they'll have a much better back up catcher, and a switch hitting pinch hit threat off the bench.
- 1979AD

Yeah and I'm taking it all out on poor eyeball but I had to rant lol. It's what I do.

I guess the plan probably is to stick to Estrada, Happ, Sanchez, Stroman but with how Estrada's been pitching lately you never know. Richardey could be an option. Still lots of baseball left.

edit: not saying they would play Richardey over Estrada btw, just they might need 5 guys since he seems fatigued.

OH... Go on.


- .HOHO.

Yeah and I'm taking it all out on poor eyeball but I had to rant lol. It's what I do.

I guess the plan probably is to stick to Estrada, Happ, Sanchez, Stroman but with how Estrada's been pitching lately you never know. Richardey could be an option. Still lots of baseball left.

edit: not saying they would play Richardey over Estrada btw, just they might need 5 guys since he seems fatigued.
- daeth

Don't worry about the poor eyeball, he's a grown man and he can take it.