Preview: Blue Jays Verses Athletics

Probable Pitchers:

TOR: Marco Estrada - 4-7, 4.72 ERA., 70 Ks.

OAK: Edwin Jackson - 1-2, 3.86 ERA., 21 Ks.

Tonight is probably Marco Estrada's last start with the the Toronto Blue Jays.

Major League Baseball's trade deadline is tomorrow and speculatiion is that the Jays are going to trade Estrada within the next 24 hours.

As for the Oakland Athletics, they're on a three game losing streak.

Also, the A's kick off a eight game homestand tonight.

Preview: Twins Verses Blue Jays

Probable Pitchers:

MINN: Adalberto Mejai - 0-0, 9.00 ERA.

TOR: Luis Santos - 0-0, 7.88 ERA.

A fairly even pitching match up here.

Both pitchers are inexperience in the Majors.

Also, both teams have losing records this season.

The teams, however, went the opposite direction this past weekend.

Toronto swept the Baltimore Orioles where as the Twins were swept by the Kansas City Royals.

There's a good chance the Blue Jays is going to win this series, however, anything is possible.

Jays Comeback Win Gives Toronto The Sweep

Yangervis Solarte (above) got three RBIs yesterday.

The Toronto Blue Jays battled back from an eighth inning 4-1 deficit to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 and take the three game sweep.

The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning when Yangervis Solarte drove in Kendrys Morales with a double.

The Orioles tied the game at the top of the fifth inning when Jace Peterson drove in Renata Nunez with a single.

Next inning, Jonathan Schoop hit a solo home run to put the Orioles ahead 2-1.

At the top of the eighth inning, Nunez drove in Schoop with a double.

Later that same inning, Mark Trumbo scored on an error.

It seemed as if the Jays were not going to get the three game sweep.

Toronto, however, rallied back in the bottom of the inning.

Randal Grichuk made it 4-3 Orioles with a two run homer.

Then, Solarte put the Jays ahead for good by hitting a two run homer.

Solarte went two for four at the plate and had three RBIs yesterday.

Jay's starting pitcher, J.A. Happ, had a really good day on the mound, giving up just four hits, an earned run, no walks, and struck out nine batters in five innings pitched.

Tyler Clippard gt the save.

Toronto begins a three game series against the Minnesota Twins tonight.

"Pretty Good Pitcher" Gibbons

(Above) Marcus Stroman.

The Toronto Blue Jays have started the second half of the season on the right foot.

Jay's pitcher, Marcus Stroman, pitched a gem yesterday as his team defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-1.

"He's (Stroman) a pretty good pitcher let me tell ya," said Jay's manager, John Gibbons in the post game press conference yesterday.

Stroman went seven innings, giving up five hits, an earned run, two walks, and struck out seven batters.

The Jays scored all their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

First, Randal Grichuk drove in Justin Smoak with a double.

Up 2-1, Luke Maile drove in Grichuk with a single.

Finally in the fourth inning, the Orioles walked in a run.

Baltimore scored their lone run at the top of the first inning when Adam Jones drove in Tim Beckham with a RBI single.

After that, it was all Blue Jays.

Diaz Saves The Day For The Jays

(Above) Aledmys Diaz drove in the winning run for the Blue Jays in the 10th inning last night.

Aledmys Diaz saved the day for the Toronto Blue Jays last night as the team was up 7-2 and then squandered  the scoring advantage in the late innings.

Diaz drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Blue Jays the 8-7 win.

Ironically, Diaz opened the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning.

The Orioles went ahead 2-1 at the top of the fifth inning when Tim Beckham hit a two run homer.

The Jays had a huge inning in the fifth, scoring four runs.

First, Russell Martin and Randal Grichuk hit back-to-back solo home runs.

Then, Devon Travis scored on a sacrifice fly by Teoscar Hernandez.

Finally, Justin Smoak drove in Curtis Anderson with a double.

The Jays went up 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Travis drove in Diaz with a triple.

Then, Granderson drove in Travis with a single later that same inning.

It seemed as if the Blue Jays had the game in their control.

The Orioles, however, battled back.

At the top of the eighth inning, Chris Davis hit a two run homer.

At the top of the ninth inning, Troy Mancini scored on a wild pitch.

Baltimore tied the game with solo home runs by Caleb Joseph and Jonathan Scoop.  The game had to go to extra innings.

Diaz went four for five at the plate and had two RBIs last night.

Toronto's starting pitcher, Sam Gaviglio had a good night on the mound, despite giving up seven hits.

Gaviglio gave up just four earned runs, a walk, and struck out eight batters in 7.2 innings pitched.

Gaviglio's counter part, Dylan Bundy gave up five hits, five earned runs, a walk, and struck out just three batters in five innings pitched.

Preview: Orioles Verses Blue Jays

Probable Pitcher:

BALT: Dylan Bundy - 6-9, 4.35 ERA., 113 Ks.

TOR: Sam Gaviglio - 2-3, 4.58 ERA., 53 Ks.

The Toronto Blue Jays kick off the second half of the 2018 season with a three game series against the Baltimore Orioles, starting tonight.

The Orioles start the second half of the season without their star slugger, Manny Machado.

Machado was traded two days ago to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Toronto entered the All-Star break with two losses.  Baltimore entered the break with two wins.

Despite Baltimore's two wins, both teams have really struggled this season.

  The Orioles have the advantage in terms of tonight's pitching match up.

Dylan Bundy is 3-1 against the Blue Jays with a 1.17 earned run average (ERA.).

Toronto's starter, Sam Gaviglio, has never faced the Orioles in his Major League career.

What's even worse for Toronto is that outfielder, Keven Pillar, is out possibly for six weeks with a sternoclavicular joint injury.

Pillar suffered the injury, making a diving catch in the outfield on Saturday (July 14).

The DeRozan Era Is Over In T.O.

 DeMar DeRozan's (above) days are over in Toronto.

The DeMar DeRozan era is over in Toronto.

The Toronto Raptors traded DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs today for Kawhi Leonard.

DeRozan was a fan favorite in T.O.

DeRozan was selected ninth overall by Toronto in the 2009 NBA draft. 

DeRozan spent nine years with the Raptors and led the team in scoring the last five years.

A four-time all-star, DeRozan is the Raptor's all-time leader in points (13,296), field goals (4,716), free throws made (3,539), and games (675).

DeRozan had three years to go on his contract.

(Above) Kawhi Leonard.

As for Leonard, he spent seven years with the Spurs and helped the team win a NBA championship in 2014.  He also won the NBA Final's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award that year.

In 2016-17, Leonard averaged a career high of 25.5 points a game and was third in the MVP voting.

Unfortunately, times were tough for Leonard last season.

Leonard appeared in just nine games in 2017-18 because of injuries.

Even worse, Leonard's relationship with the Spurs deteriorated.

As a result, Leonard asked for a trade.

Toronto also acquired Danny Green in the deal.

Green's main attribute is that he is a three point threat. 

St. Louis Fire Matheny

Mike Matheny was fired last night

Shortly after an 8-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds last night, the St. Louis Cardinals fired their manager, Mike Matheny.

Hitting coach John Mabry and assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller were also fired.

Matheny had a record of 591-473, managing St. Louis.

In his first four years as manager of the Cardinals, St Louis made it to the postseason, including an appearance in the 2013 World Series.

Unfortunately, St. Louis has missed the playoffs the last two seasons and are on the verge of missing the playoffs this year.

Mike Shildt has been named St. Louis's interm manager.

Chelsea Hires Sarri As Manager

After firing Antonio Conte yesterday, Chelsea FC of the English Premier Football, (soccer),League hired Maurizio Sarri as their new manager today.

Chelsea has signed Sarri to a three year contract.

Sarri is best known for his recent success with Italian soccer club, Napoli.

"Maurizio's Napoli side played some of the most exiting football in Europe, impressing with their attacking approach," said Chelsea's director, Marina Granovskaia.

Sarri managed Napoli from 2015-18, returning the team to the Champions League.

In 2016-17, Napoli scored 94 goals in the Italian league, Series A.

Sarri also won Coach Of The Year in 2017.

The down side to Sarri is that he has a history of clashing with team owners.

Fleury Signs New Deal With Vegas

(Above), Marc-Andre Fleury signs a contract extension with the Golden Knights

National Hockey League goaltender, Marc-Andre Fleury, isn't going anywhere.

He just signed a three-year, $21 million contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Fleury had a year to go on his last contract before re-signing.

Fleury won 29 games this past season.  The 29 wins included his 400th career victory.

Fleury also appeared in all 20 playoff games, including the Stanley Cup finals against the Washington Capitals.

Fleury had a goals against average of 2.24 and a save percentage of .927 in 2017-18.

Fleury was picked up by Vegas in last year's expansion draft after spending the first half his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins where he won three Stanley Cup titles.

Fleury has 404 wins in 737 career games.

Ronaldo Heads To Juventis

Cristiano Ronaldo is now with Juventis.

International football, (soccer), superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, is no longer a member of the Spanish club, Real Madrid.

After nine years in Spain, Ronaldo has accepted a four year deal from the Italian league, Series A's, Juventis, worth 112 euros, ($131.5 million).

Speculation is that Ronaldo decided to go to Italy to avoid tax problems.

Recently, Ronaldo and other footballers playing in Spain was accused of tax fraud by the Spanish government.

With Madrid, Ronaldo became the club's best scorer, scoring 451 goals in 438 matches.

Also with Madrid, Ronaldo won four Champions League titles.  Ironically, Madrid won thw 2017 Champions League title against Juventis.

Ronaldo has scored  120 Champions League goals.

J.A. Happ.Gets Batted Around By Yanks.

THE PICTURE SAYS IT ALL: (above), J.A. Happ lasts just 2.2 innings yesterday.

After losing 6-2 the night before, the New York Yankees batted J.A. Happ around yesterday afternoon in a 8-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge quickly put the Yankees up 2-0 at the top of the first inning with two solo home runs.

Brandon Drury put New York ahead 4-0 later in the inning by driving in Giancarlo Stanton ans Aaron Hicks with a two run double.

Happ lasted 2.2 innings, giving up four hits, six earned runs, six walks, and struck out five batters.

Kevin Pillar made it a 4-2 in the bottom of the second inning with a two run homer.

Unfortunately for the Jays, the Yankees continued to score at the top of the third inning.

First, Gardner drove in Didi Gregorius and and Greg Bird with a triple.

Then, Gardner scored on a pass ball to make it a 7-2 game.

The Jays tried to battle back in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Randal Grichuk hit a solo home run.

Then, Justin Smoak scored on a sacrifice fly by Pillar.

Gregorius put the Yanks. ahead 8-4 by driving in Miguel Andujar with a single at the top of the ninth inning.

Toronto added another run in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn't enough.

Pillar went 1 for 3 at the plate and collected three RBIs.

Gardner went two for five at the plate and also had three RBIs yesterday.

Yankees starting pitcher, Luis Severino, gave up five hits, three earned runs, two walks, and struck out five batters in five innings pitched.  

Smoak Lifts Jays With Three Run Homer

Justin Smoak, (above), hits a three run homer last night.

Up 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning last night, Justin Smoak hit a three run homer in a 6-2 Toronto Blue Jay's win over the New York Yankees.

Down 5-0 at the top of the third inning, Aaron Hicks hit a solo home run.

The Jays walked in a run at the top of the fifth inning.

The Jays got a run back in the bottom of the eighth inning when Teoscar Hernandez drove in Aledmys Diaz With a double.

Hicks went 1 for 3 at the plate and collected two RBIs.

Smoak went two for three at the plate and had three RBIs last night.

Yankee's starting pitcher, Sonny Gray, had a rough night on the mound.  He lasted just two innings, giving up six hits, five earned runs, two walks, and struck out four batters.

Gray's counterpart, Sam Gaviglio, gave up four hits, an earned run, three walks, and struck out six batters in 4.1 innings pitched. 

Leafs Add More Depth With Ennis

(Above), Tyler Ennis

The Toronto Maple Leafs have added more depth to their roster by signing Tyler Ennis to a one-year, $650,000 contract.

This signing happens just days after the Leafs signed John Tavares to a seven year contract, (read July 2 article).

In his first six years in the NHL, Ennis has averaged 0.61 points per game.

The problem with Ennis is that he's injury prone.

In 2015-16, 2016-17, Ennis was on the sidelines a good portion of the time because of injuries.

Ennis managed to score eight goals and had 14 assists in 17 games last season.

Ennis is also a three-time 20 goal scorer.

In his career, Ennis has 105 goals, 153 assists for 258 points in 492 games, playing for the Buffalo Sabres and a short stint with the Minnesota Wild.

He also has three goals, five assists in 14 playoff games.

Jays Rains On Bautista's Homecoming

The Toronto Blue Jays rained of Jose Bautista's homecoming by defeating the New York Mets 8-6 after the team went up 5-0 in the first four innings of the game.

Randal Grichuk drove in Russell Martin with a double in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Michael Conforto put the Mets ahead by five runs again at the top of the seventh inning, driving in Brandon Nimmo with a double.

The Jays made their big comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning.

First, Randal Grichuk scored on a routine ground out by Lourdes Gurriel Junior.

Then, Devon Travis scored on a wild pitch.

Finally in the seventh inning, Yangervis Solarte hit a three run homer.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Gurriel Jr. hit a two run homer.

Both Solarte and Gurriel had three RBIs.

Game Two is tonight.

(Above) Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Jays Lose In Extra Innings

The Toronto Blue Jays split the four game series with the Detroit Tigers as the team lost 3-2 yesterday in extra innings.

The Tigers opened the scoring at the top of the first inning.

Victor Martinez drove in Nicholas Castellanos with a RBI single.

The Jays tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning when Curtis Granderson scored on a routine ground out by Teoscar Hernandez.

At the top of the sixth inning, Detroit went ahead again.

Castellanos scored on a routine ground out by John Hicks to make it 2-1 Tigers.

The Tigers walked in a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game 2-2.

Niko Goodrum scored the winning run for Detroit on a sacrifice fly by Jose Iglesias at the top of the 10th inning.

Both starting pitchers were solid yesterday.

Detroit's Mike Feirs went eight innings, giving up just three hits, an earned run, a walk, and struck out five batters.

I his second appearance in the Majors, Ryan Borucki gave up six hits, two earned runs, no walks, and struck out eight batters in seven innings pitched.

The Jays kick off a two game mini series with the New York Mets tonight.

James Signs Four-Year Deal With Lakers

It is official.  LeBron James is no longer a Cavalier.

James has just signed a four-year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 33 year-old James is a four-time NBA MVP.

He has won three NBA titles.

This is the third time in eight years that James has changed teams.

James returned to Cleveland in 2014 after spending four years with the Miami Heat, where he won his first NBA championship.

Neal Signs Five-Year Deal With Flames

James Neal, (top), is now a Flame

After missing this year's playoffs, the Calgary Flames have made a move to boost their team.

The Flames have signed former Vegas Golden Knight, James Neal, to a five-year, $28.75 million contract.

In 2017-18, Neal scored 25 goals and had 44 points in 71 games.

He also had six goals and 11 points in 20 postseason games.

Neal has reached the 20 goal mark in his first 10 seasons in the NHL.

He had a career high 40 goals in 2011.

Neal has 263 goals and 495 points in 703 career games.

Tavare Signs Seven-Year Deal With Leafs

(Above) John Travares

After months of negotiations with several teams, John Tavares has a new home.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed Tavares to a seven-year, $77 million U.S. contract.

"I'm thrilled to be starting a new chapter in my career and my life in Toronto," said Tavares in a tweet he posted on Twitter.com after he signed the deal.

First overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Tavares has 272 goals and 621 points in 669 career games.

In 2017-18, Tavares had 37 goals and 47 assists in 82 games.

Tavares spent his first nine seasons with the New York Islanders.

Tavares signed a six-year, $33 million contract with New York in 2011.

James Van Reimsdyk (above) is a flyer.

In other Maple Leafs news, James Van Reimsdyk has signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Tyler Bozak is also no longer a Leaf.  He signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the St. Louis Blues.

Smoak Wins It For Jays With Ninth Inning Home Run

(Above) Justin Smoak hits ninth inning home run yesterday.

The Toronto Blue Jays are not going to lose the four game series against the Detroit Tigers, thanks to Justin Smoak.

Smoak hit the winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning yesterday to give Toronto the 4-3 victory.

The Tigers went up 3-0 at the beginning of the game.

John Hicks hit a solo home run at the top of the a second inning.

The next inning, Nicholas Castellanos hit a two run homer.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Toronto tied the game.

First, Devon Travis drove in Kevin Pillar with a routine ground out.

Then, Randal Grichuk hit a two run homer.

Grichuk went 1 for 4 at the plate and collected two RBIs.

Castellanos went two for four at the plate and also had two RBIs yesterday.

Both starting pitchers had solid outings yesterday.

Toronto's Sam Gaviglio went seven innings, giving up just four hits, three earned runs, three walks and struck out five batters.

Detroit's Matthew Boyd also gave up four hits, three earned runs, two walks and struck out seven batters in six innings pitched.