Latest news with #Jays
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
First place in AL East is new Blue Jays target even after falling flat in series finale against D'Backs
Article content There are any number of motivational checkpoints in a 162-game season to help contending teams ride the inevitable swings of the odyssey, both high and low. When a three-plus weeks of solid baseball allows you to wake up in late June just two games out of the division lead, that would be one of them. Article content That was the position the Blue Jays found themselves in prior to a flat Thursday matinee against the Arizona Diamondbacks that resulted in a mostly lopsided and deflating 9-5 loss. Article content Sure, it wasn't pretty but at least the home side took the three-game series 2-1, cooling a team that had arrived on a give-game heater. Baseball players are generally better equipped at riding out highs and lows than other sports — in part in the name of retaining some sanity giving the length of the season. So dropping a game against the D'Backs shouldn't destroy momentum, especially with the opportunity presented by a three-game weekend series against the Chicago White Sox, the worst team in the American League, right around the corner. With the New York Yankees defeating the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Jays slipped to three games in arrears of the division leaders. But with a big four-game home series against the Yankees starting on June 30, for the first time in 2025 the prospect of chasing the division lead has a whiff of believability. Article content 'There is so much season left but, yeah, you look up and want so see yourself where you envision yourself,' manager John Schneider said prior to Thursday's lopsided affair played out before 33,978 at the open-roofed Rogers Centre. 'There's the wildcard and that's great, but the goal every year is to try to win the division. 'A lot (of season) to go but nice to look up and say we're playing well and where we are in terms of games back.' Article content The unsightliness of Thursday aside, the Jays have still won 14 of their past 20 games and with a record of 40-34 have distanced themselves from that annoying dalliance with .500 that consumed the first two months of the season. 'I remember at the start of the month when I said you kind of want to put your best foot forward before you get into July and the dog days and the trade deadline and all that stuff,' Schneider said. 'I think it's nice that we have done that, and it kind of keeps the carrot at the end of the stick, right there, even though it's a long way to go.' Article content The Jays couldn't get much of anything going on Thursday, early on the offence reduced to just two hits through the first seven innings, both of them Alejandro Kirk home runs. An eighth inning mini-rally — started by a Jonatan Clase homer — added three to bring the final score closer to respectability. NO GAS FOR GAUS? It's not a stretch to suggest that if the Jays are going to make a meaningful push for a division title, they're going to need stout starting pitching in general and a strong Kevin Gausman specifically. On Thursday, they got a dull one from the veteran right hander who was chased after 4.1 after the D'Backs rocked him for seven hits (two of them homers), four walks and seven earned runs. As an outlier, that kind of outing happens. But in three of his past four starts now, Gausman has pitched five innings or less and seen his ERA climb to 4.60. TO THE MAX? The more wear and tear that piles up on the Jays starters — not to mention the holes in the rotation that have needed patching for too long now — the more the urgency heightens for a Max Scherzer return to action. Schneider said that following Scherzer's excellent 75-pitch, eight-strikeout for the Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday, the righty will throw a bullpen session here, likely on Saturday. 'Just like everything we've said with Max, it's kind of just a day at a time,' Schneider said. 'If that goes well, we'll see if he needs another (rehab start) or if he's good to go.' If it's the latter, that could set up a start on Tuesday in Cleveland against the Guardians. Article content Latest National Stories
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
New guy Will Robertson comes to Toronto from the land of a Blue Jays legend
Article content If roots account for anything, the humble, personable Robertson is both in good shape and good company with the Jays. Less than 10 minutes from Loose Creek, a tiny town of 300 (give or take) where Robertson grew up on a cattle farm, is Taos, an equally small burg better known as the home of Tom Henke, a World Series champ with the Jays and the franchise's all-time saves leader. And yes, the connection wasn't lost on the 27-year-old Robertson nor the 67-year-old Henke. 'He's a great guy, whose down to earth, does a ton for the community and loves mid Missouri,' Robertson said of Henke, who has been a quiet but steady influence on his career. 'I always see him around and he's always asked how things are going. 'He's a good role model and good support to have.' Henke was well known to the family in an area Robertson describes as having 'more cattle than people, for sure.'
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Blue Jays blast D'backs as Max Scherzer's long-awaited return could be as soon as next week
Get the latest from Rob Longley straight to your inbox Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks tosses away his bat after striking out in the fifth inning against Jays lefty Eric Lauer at the Rogers Centre on June 18, 2025 in Toronto. Photo by Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images The boxscore will show that Eric Lauer made his fourth start of the season Wednesday night at the Rogers Centre, allowing one earned run over five-plus innings in a blowout 8-1 Blue Jays win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account With due respect to the lefty's latest handiwork, however, the Jays are hoping and intending that Wednesday's outing was just keeping the rubber in that spot of the rotation warm for the long-awaited return of it's big off-season pitching acquisition, Max Scherzer. With that in mind, as the Jays breezed to their second in a row over the D'Backs, the bigger development in the zoomed-out view of their season unfolded down in Worcester, Mass., where Scherzer was brilliant in what surely had the feel of his final rehab start with the Jays' triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons. The 40-year-old veteran reached his intended pitch limit of 75 and did so by striking out eight Red Sox hitters over 4.1 scoreless innings. Assuming everything is OK with Scherzer's bothersome thumb, returning to a big league mound for just his second start with the Jays next Tuesday in Cleveland is a real possibility. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Having the name, having the competitiveness, having the stuff,' Jays manager John Schneider said when asked prior to Wednesday's game what Scherzer could bring to his team. 'It would be huge just to have him, knowing that you have that calibre of pitcher waiting on your staff every fifth day would be a nice shot in the arm.' It would be much more than that, of course. The Jays rotation has been in tatters over the past month, held together by overusing the bullpen at times and sticking with struggling Bowden Francis. That's why Lauer's effort was so critical on Wednesday, causing minimal strain on a bullpen that will be asked to cover multiple innings here on Friday against the Chicago White Sox. In fact, Lauer has been so reliable for the Jays that, down the road, he could slide into the other black hole of the rotation. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bigger things first, though. When you have a three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series champion ready to contribute, you tend to get a little bit excited if you are the Blue Jays. 'That would be good,' Schneider said with a smile and no further explanation when next Tuesday was raised as a possibility for Scherzer, who hasn't pitched in the bigs since a three-inning outing on March 29. 'That would line up nicely.' It would also give the Jays the boost that they need at a time of the season when wear and tear starts to hit pitching staffs around baseball. And as easy as it is to forget, given that Scherzer has spent 70 games on the injured list with that wonky thumb, the Jays paid him $15.5 million US on a one-year deal for a reason. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Prior to Wednesday's win, the Jays' 14th in their past 19 to move their record to 40-33, Schneider was asked what it was like to be on the other side when Scherzer's name came up as a probable pitcher for the opposition. 'It sucked,' the manager said. 'You know what you were getting into. You know that it's a future Hall of Famer that knows how to pitch. And whether he's got 94 (miles per hour on his fastball) or 98 in the tank that night, he knows what he's doing.' Down in Worcester, Scherzer certainly appeared to be accelerating on the right track, with a fastball hovering around 94 miles per hour and confounding triple-A hitters. 'He always thinks his stuff is ready,' Schneider said. 'I think it's more the physical part, how he's feeling tonight, tomorrow and the days in between. He thinks he could strike everybody out right now.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Doing it for the Blue Jays and doing so soon could be one of the biggest developments of a season headed in the right direction for the better part of the past month. HOME COOKIN' On Wednesday, the Jays picked up where they left off in Tuesday's dramatic ninth-inning comeback victory, when leadoff hitter Bo Bichette launched his 10th homer of the season in the first, a 418-foot blast to centre field. They broke it open in the sixth when back-to-back doubles from Addison Barger and Vlad Guerrero Jr. (and how are those bats back-to-back working for you?) were part of a three-run burst to increase the lead to 5-1 before a crowd of 27,635. Barger continued his torrid play at the plate with a pair of doubles and a single. Of his 46 base hits this season, 24 have been for extra bases. In taking the first two against the D'Backs for a rousing start to a six-game home stand, the Jays have now won 11 of their past 12 Rogers Centre contests. That three-game weekend sweep at the hands of the Phillies in Philadelphia is the Jays' only series loss in their previous seven. NHL Canada Soccer Columnists Canada
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A win for Leafs' John Tavares in face-off with Canadian tax court: Report
As John Tavares contemplates how much of a hometown discount is appropriate for the Maple Leafs in his next contract, he might have preserved some extra millions through the courts. The Hockey News reports his lengthy tax appeal fight with the Canada Revenue Agency has been adjourned and quite likely to remain dormant in his favour. In dispute is a $15.25-million US signing bonus as part of his massive, seven-year, $77-million free-agent deal with Toronto back in 2018 that has just expired. The CRA contended the bonus should be treated as salary and taxed at 50%, close to $8 million Canadian. Tavares' representatives counter that it qualifies for a preferential 15% rate under the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty, a deal covering income earned by non-residents providing services in Canada. Such cases, when adjourned, usually are not pursued by the government. Postmedia's request for comment from Tavares' agent, Pat Brisson, was not immediately returned. Last week, THN reported the tax court ordered the CRA to disclose key internal records and notes related to its reassessment after initially denying to answer questions from the appellant about how the findings in his audit and comparables were used. The CRA had cited privacy concerns about releasing the data. The case is closely being watched by Canada's pro sports teams hoping to lure more stars north to the seven NHL franchises, as well as the Toronto Blue Jays and Raptors. The CRA has been unsuccessful in similar proceedings against the contracts of one-time Jays Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin, but is appealing. Tavares, who wants to stay a Leaf and was nearly at point-a-game production this past season at age 34, is expected to get somewhere between $4 million and $5 million per year on his next contract. lhornby@ X: @sunhornby
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Next six weeks will determine where latest win-now Blue Jays season is headed
There may be 91 games left in Toronto's season, but there are just 38 until the crucial MLB trade deadline Get the latest from Rob Longley straight to your inbox Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez tags out Philadelphia Phillies Otto Kemp at second on an attempted steal. AP Photo The road map to meaningful September baseball is simple for the Blue Jays. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Or as simple as it can be in a complicated sport with a marathon season packed with so many moving parts. Yes, over the next six weeks leading to the July 31 Major League Baseball trade deadline the Jays have ample opportunity to give general manager Ross Atkins the ammunition and motivation to be an aggressive shopper and thus open the opportunity for a meaningful late-season run. The downer of a three-game sweep at the hands of the Phillies on the weekend is real, a come-up-empty performance against a good, playoff-bound team with elite starting pitching. It was not the end of the world, however. After their longest trip of the season, the Jays returned home for a Monday off day following what was an overall reasonably successful 5-4 trip, especially since all nine games were contested against three teams with winning records. Given the way it ended — following a sweep of the Cardinals by being on the other end of the broom in Philly — it had to feel a little emptier than that, however. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The good news — and it's legit — is that a 38-33 record built from a 12-2 record prior to the last stop of a trip through Minnesota, St. Louis and Philly set the course towards success. A team that had danced a couple games below and above the .500 mark for the first two months of the season has at least built itself a cushion in its pursuit of the post season and a tangible record to build upon. . So what is manager John Schneider's team going to do with that recent burst of promise? We're about to find out. Starting with a six-game homestand against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox and extending throughout the all-star break and on to the trade deadline, the Jays have put themselves in a reasonable position to make the 2025 season a success. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. There are a whopping 91 games remaining in the season, but just 38 until the trade deadline. That run includes a nasty stretch in late July that features three games each against the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees and four more against the mighty Detroit Tigers. But consider that the Jays have reached this point with basically zero contribution from two of their top off-season acquisitions — pitcher Max Scherzer and slugger Anthony Santander — and there is an element of impressiveness to the fact that the Jays are sitting somewhat comfortably in an American League wild-card spot. So what has to happen between now and July 31 to define the Jays as playoff contenders? For starters, obviously, it's about the starters. Somehow the team has jumped to five games above .500 (a season-high eight before the ill-fated Phillies series) with what functionally has been a three-man rotation. There is still a bullpen day every five games and often what is effectively second grueling assignment for the relievers given whatever the struggling Bowden Francis is right now. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Perhaps out of desperation as much as loyalty, Schneider and the organization stubbornly has stuck with Francis, believing minute signs of improvement are enough. Bluntly, they have not been and, even more bluntly, it certainly feels like the leap of faith can't go on for much longer. Somehow, then, the Jays have to find a way to hold it together and hope that Scherzer's latest positive steps to get his right thumb back in working order will see him on the mound in the next couple of weeks. At some point, a return of Santander couldn't hurt either, although given his early season struggles and the fact he has been on the injured list for 15 games with shoulder inflammation, it will feel as though the habitual slow starter will back to square one whenever he does get back in the lineup. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More The return of Daulton Varsho (now missing 13 games with a hamstring strain) and reliever Yimi Garcia (down for 22 with a shoulder impingement) could also be massive influences in any pre-trade deadline push. The larger point though, is that for all their faults, injuries and inconsistencies to this point, the Jays have kept themselves in the mix. The 12-2 run was invigorating — both within the clubhouse and for the fan base. The resiliency shown in many of those games was a quality that serves teams well when big games get tight later in the season. Sure, those successes also helped mask and cover some of the flaws, concerns that are still not far below the surface. But a team that has yet to show its best consistently, has played itself into a position that still holds hope and opportunity. Barring a complete collapse, it's difficult to fathom a scenario where the Jays are sellers at the end of July. The meter already is running on the $500-million US Vlad Guerrero Jr. extension and the past three seasons essentially have been contested in win-now mode. The next six weeks will help decide how realistic the 2025 season fits that mantra. Sunshine Girls World Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Canada
