Monthly reviews below
Tom's Sports Corner
Tom has a passion for watching baseball and hockey, having enjoyed watching hockey games with his brother Jason and aunt Karen for about 20 years. Tom’s favorite teams are the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Blue Jays. There’s a friendly rivalry in the family, as some members cheer for the Montreal Canadiens—“Boo!” . He possesses an impressive memory for game statistics, able to recall dates and details that are truly remarkable.
Tom shared that he watched the Blue Jays play at the Canadian National Stadium during a high school trip, and informed us that the Blue Jays moved to the Sky dome in 1989, which is now called the Rogers Center. Tom shared that “they won the World Series back to back in 1992 and ... 1993”. His favorite currently players are Bo Bichette and George Springer. He commented that Bo is a good hitter, catcher and infielder, and that Springer is a good outfielder.
Tom entertained us with his history of the Toronto Maple Leafs stating that the last time they won the Stanley Cup was 1967, adding that he wasn’t born yet. He continued to add that from 2009-2012 they did not make the playoffs. He informed us that they had a “lock down strike in 2012” and that “after negotiations they had to get playing right away and they had no time to train”. They had a "draft and took out the old players and replaced them with younger ones” and then made the playoffs, adding that in “2017 they got back in”.
Tom’s favorite players are “Austin Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marnier, Morgan Riley, John Tavares” - Tom
September's
Review
Every week, Tom becomes the storyteller of the Blue Jays saga, boasting about their epic highlights and thrilling victories. He's got a memory like an elephant for league details and a special place in his heart for his favorite players. Each month, with a little help from his crew, Tom dives into a weekly rewind to give us the full Jays rundown; but it's the twinkle in his eye during the weekly updates that really steals the show! Everyone hangs on his every word!
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The latest scoop: Toronto’s holding strong, perching high in the East Division. After their September 21st triumph over the Kansas City Royals, they snagged a playoff spot! First to clinch it, they’re still playing hard to see how they'll rank.
Tom’s also got his radar locked on player injuries, like Bo Bichette’s knee mishap on September 7th against those pesky Yankees. The Jays feel his absence, and Tom’s crossing his fingers for Bo’s playoff return. On September 11th, Kevin Gausman was pitching up a storm with 9 innings of pure magic! Cheer on the Blue Jays for a World Series win starting October 24th!
At the time of his report, they're sitting tied for first with the New York Yankees, with two more showdowns against the Tampa Bay Rays. I’m sure there will be big news by the time this report is posted! Go Jays Go!​
Tom’s not just a Jays fan; he’s got a soft spot for the Toronto Maple Leafs too. They kicked off exhibition games with a bang, defeating the Senators. Tom’s all set to cheer them on as the regular season gears up!
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In keeping with Tom’s love of facts and history, we continue with a little trivia! How well can you do?
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1. What Jay hit the world series winning home run in 1993?
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2. What is the name of the stadium where the Blue Jays played from 1977 until 1989?
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3. Who is the highest paid player in Blue Jays history?
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4. Who was the manager of the Blue Jays when they won their first two World Series championships?
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As of September 27th, according to the internet the Blue Jays are second battling with New York in the East Division.
August's
Review
Tom’s updates on Fridays are all about Blue Jays chatter, and he couldn't wait to spill the beans about his recent escapade to the Sky Dome in Toronto! He's all about keeping up with the games, trades, and star players on his trusty tablet, grinning ear to ear with their stellar performance!
According to Tom, The Toronto Blue Jays are smashing it this season! They're still perched at the top of their division and holding strong as second in the American League. He caught an epic game on August 14th against the Cubs. For the first five innings, it was like watching a dance of ducks - three up, three down, no score! In the top of the second, Davis Schneider pulled off a jaw-dropping catch, swiping Cubs player Own Caissie’s first hit right out of the air, belly-slide style!
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The Cubs snagged the first run with a homer in the sixth, keeping Blue Jays fans on the edge of their seats. But in the bottom of the seventh, with a player on second and one out, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stepped up to the plate. The pitch came in, and WHAM! He launched it out of the park! Just two more innings to go, and they did it! The Blue Jays triumphed over the Cubs 2-1, clinching the third game of the series with two wins in their pocket.
He also added that he was pleased that he was able to sit with his girlfriend and that the hotdogs were good! Topping off his perfect day!
Bo Bichette, one of his favorites, is on fire! On August 23rd, he had a smashing game against the Miami Marlins with four hits, snagging
the winning run and pulling off a dazzling double play. Oh, and Tom chimes in to say the Blue Jays smoked the Minnesota Twins 10-4! Whoo-hoo!
In keeping with Tom’s love of facts and history, how about a little trivia! How well can you do?
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Trivia
1.The Blue Jays joined the Major Leagues in which season?
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2. What season/s did the Blue Jays win the World Series?
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3. When did the Blue Jays play their first game in the SkyDome?
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4. In 1987, who became the first Blue Jay to be named the American League Most Valuable player?
July's
Review
May
Review
At the start of the month, Tom was overflowing with excitement as he shared updates on Toronto's performance in the playoffs. He always stays informed about scores, trade rumors, injuries, and stats, eager to impart his knowledge to the group.
In his report, he mentioned that they faced off against the Ottawa Senators, winning five games before advancing to the second round. Each week, we were treated to an update, accompanied by Tom's big smile as he relayed the latest news.
Tom noted that Toronto played a tough series against the Florida Panthers that went to seven games. They started strong, winning the first two games, but lost the next two. In his characteristic matter-of-fact style, Tom reported that they lost on home ice in Game 5, then had a win in Game 6, setting the stage for Game 7. Game 7 turned out to be quite disappointing, as they lost. Tom observed that in Games 5 and 7, the team was not there to play.
He also shared that goalie Anthony Stolarz was injured in the first game after being elbowed in the head by Sam Bennett (a Panthers forward), leading to a concussion. Joseph Woll had to step in, but the team did not play well and were not playing as a team.
Now that the season has concluded, trade rumors are swirling. Mitch Marner is going to be a free agent, and looking for $13 million for the season. Tom is uncertain whether he will remain with the Leafs or move on.
He hopes to see Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Max Domi, and Mitch Marner return next season.
Additionally, Tom reported that Brendan Shanahan will be stepping down as president, and the Leafs do not plan to fill the position. In true Tom fashion, he remarked, “We will have to see what happens!” Despite everything, he remains a dedicated fan, proudly chanting, “GO EDMONTON GO!”
April
Review
Tom's got Maple Leafs fever and he's spreading it like wildfire! Bursting with excitement, he announced the Leafs snagged the top spot in the Atlantic Division and are currently playing the Ottawa Senators. After four nail-biting games, they've won three and just need one more victory to advance!
Tom's thrilled to report that three of those games went into overtime—with lots of action! He's crossing his fingers and toes for a win in game 5 so they can breeze into round 2.
Next up, they'll face either the Tampa Bay Lightning or Florida Panthers, but Tom's rooting for a round with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The games have been a rollercoaster of action and scuffles, and Tom's loving every minute of it. He can't stop raving about his star players: Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Auston Matthews, and John Tavares, with Auston Matthews holding the crown as his absolute fave.
Tom's dream? For the Leafs to keep playing like great, as a united front, and skate their way to the Stanley Cup!
Go Leafs, go!
March Review
Tom spilled the beans that the Leafs strutted through March with 13 games, snagging 6 wins and enduring 7 losses. They've got just 10 more regular-season showdowns ahead. Tom couldn't resist bragging that they're sitting pretty in 1st place in the Atlantic division and holding 3rd in the Eastern conference. As of the 28th, he shared they are still in the playoff shuffle!
On the trade front, Tom excitedly announced that they've snagged Scott Laughton from the Flyers, Brandon Carlo from Boston, and Reese Johnson from Minnesota. He dished on a potential swap—Mitch Marner for Mikko Rantanen from the Hurricanes—but alas, Mitch pulled the "No Trade Clause" card and said, "Nope!"
Tom gave Coach Craig Berube a nod, reminiscing about his days playing for the Leafs back in 1991-92. He then raved about the goalies, with Joseph Woll stealing his favorite choice. Max Domi’s energy reminds him of his dad Ty, who skated with the Leafs in the '90s.
Tom emphasized that the team shines brightest when they work together. Their passes are on point, though sometimes they end up giving away the puck. Tom enthusiastically rattled off his faves: Matthews Knies, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Nick Robertson, and John Tavares.
February Review
Tom was on fire while sharing his report, serving up some juicy details! When the topic of wins and losses came up, he quickly chimed in that they’ve only played seven games because to the 4 Nations games. He shared that they snagged victories in six of those!
With a grin that could light up a room, he talked about the 4 Nations games. Tom dropped some star player names: Auston Matthews is led the charge for Team USA, Mitch Marner played for Canada, and William Nylander played for Sweden. Tom’s eyes lit up when he shared that —Canada snagged a thrilling overtime win! He was quite excited to have watched the game!
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When asked about penalty kills and power plays, he gave a shout-out to the Leafs for their killer penalty kills, praising the goalie as “marvelous” and highlighting their Power Plays as top-notch. If you’re looking for players to keep your eye on, Tom’s all about Auston Matthews and John Tavares, saying they’re “playing really well”!
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When asked about goalie Anthony Stolarz, he reported that he made his comeback on February 6th against the Seattle Kraken and walked away with a win. As for suspensions, Tom couldn’t remember a recent suspension but remembered Ryan Reaves and Morgan Rielly both getting a five-game time-out for an illegal head check. He also mentioned that major suspensions come with a fine!
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And just when you thought it couldn’t get better, he wrapped things up with a burst of enthusiasm: “the Blue Jays started their training camp, and they started off against the Yankees!
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How has your team played so far?
Toronto is playing good. They have won five out their last ten games. Austin Matthews and William Nylander have been doing really good with getting goals and assists. They have trouble playing against Ottawa.
What great things have the team done so far?
They have been scoring goals and winning.
Are any bad moves the team has made lately?
They have to watch when they pass the puck, to make sure the puck is not being stolen by the other team.
Have there been word on any trades so far?
I have not heard of anything so far.
Are there any great players that you think will be leaving? The goalie Anthony Stolarz is hurt. He has missed a few games from a knee injury. But on January 28th he started to practice again.
What are the chances that your team makes it to the playoffs?
They will make it to the playoffs. They have done it many times and usually lose in the first round. I hope not this year. They are first in their division at the present.
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