Weekly Takes - Monday, March 25 Edition

Weekly Takes - Monday, March 25 Edition 

1. My three stars from the Maple Leafs sloppy loss to the Flyers on Tuesday…

1. John Tavares

2. Tyler Bertuzzi

3. Max Domi

A lacklustre effort, combined with unluckiness against a desperate team is going to lead to a loss more times than not.

We may see this a lot down the stretch, with the Leafs position in the standings all but cemented. 

2. My three stars from the Leafs wild win over the Capitals on Wednesday…

1. Auston Matthews

2. Domi

3. Bertuzzi 

Some nights, #34 decides he is going to be the best player on the ice, no matter what.

This was one of those nights, and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

3. My three stars from the Leafs dominant win over the Oilers on Saturday…

1. Joel Edmundson 

2. Pontus Holmberg 

3. Bobby McMann

The most impressive win in the Matthews era, given the opponent, how undermanned they were, and how dominant they were right from the start of the game.

The Leafs have grown since the Bruins incident to not get bullied. This was different. They, right from the start, ran the Oilers out of the building.

This team is different. 

4. My three stars from the Leafs loss to the Hurricanes on Sunday…

1. Joseph Woll

2. Auston Matthews

3. Nick Robertson

Not many players, if any, had their A-game in this one.

To be expected, less than 24 hours after an emotional win.

5. 2024 MLB Predictions…

American League 

East

1. Baltimore (2)

1. New York Yankees (WC1)

1. Toronto

1. Tampa Bay

2. Boston

Central

1. Minnesota (3)

1. Cleveland

2. Detroit 

3. Kansas City

4. Chicago White Sox

West

1. Houston (1)

1. Seattle (WC2)

2. Texas (WC3)

3. Los Angeles Angels 

4. Oakland 

National League

East

1. Atlanta (1)

1. Philadelphia (WC1)

2. New York Mets

3. Miami 

4. Washington 

Central

1. St. Louis (3)

1. Cincinnati 

1. Chicago Cubs

2. Milwaukee 

3. Pittsburgh 

West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (2)

2. Arizona (WC2)

3. San Diego (WC3)

4. San Francisco 

5.  Colorado 

World Series Prediction: Houston defeats Atlanta 

Individual Awards Predictions 

• American League Most Valuable Player: Juan Soto

• National League Most Valuable Player: Ronald Acuna Jr. 

• American League Rookie of the Year: Jackson Holliday 

• National League Rookie of the Year: Yoshinobu Yamamoto 

• American League Cy Young: Kevin Gausman 

• National League Cy Young: Spencer Strider 

• American League Reliever of the Year: Johan Duran 

• National League Reliever of the Year: Edwin Diaz

• American League Manager of the Year: Scott Servais 

• National League Manager of the Year: Mike Shildt

• 
  

6. What my Blue Jays roster would be, once everyone is healthy…

Starting Rotation…

1. RHP Kevin Gausman

2. RHP Jose Berrios

3. RHP Chris Bassitt 

4. LHP Yuesi Kikuchi 

5. RHP Alek Manoah/RHP Bowden Francis 

Bullpen…

• RHP Jordan Romano (Closer)

• RHP Erik Swanson (SU)

• LHP Tim Mayza (SU)

• RHP Yimi Garica

• RHP Trevor Richards

• RHP Mitch White

• RHP Chad Greene

• LHP Genesis Cabrera 

(Yariel Rodriguez and Nate Pearson or Zach Pop begin with the team should Romano and Swanson not be ready)

Lineup Versus LHP…

1. George Springer (RF)

2. Bo Bichette (SS)

3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B)

4. Justin Turner (DH)

5. Alejandro Kirk ( C ) 

6. LHB Daulton Varsho (LF)

7. Davis Schneider (2B) 

8. Ernie Clement (3B)

9. LHB Kevin Kiermaier (CF) 

Bench Versus LHP…

• Danny Jansen ( C ) (Brian Serven until Jansen is healthy)

• Cavan Biggio (1B)

• Joey Votto (1B) (Daniel Vogelbach until Votto is ready)

• Isaiah Kiner-Falefa (2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, & RF)

Starting Lineup Versus RHP…

1. Springer (RF)

2. Bichette (SS)

3. Guerrero Jr. (1B)

4. Varsho (LF)

5. Jansen ( C )

6.  Biggio (2B)

7. Clement (3B)

8. Votto (1B)

9. Kevin Kiermaier (CF) 

Bench Versus RHP…

• Kirk ( C )

• Kiner-Falefa (2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, & RF)

• Schneider (2B, 3B, & LF)

• Turner (DH)

A World Series calibre rotation and bullpen, but they had that a season ago with incredible health. They are better prepared to deal with injuries due to the quality of upper-level arms in the system (a more established Francis, a revamped White, the signing of Yariel Rodriguez, and the development of Ricky Tiedemann, Adam Macko, Hagen Danner, Connor Cooke, T.J. Brock, etc) but at the end of the day, they are banking on no regression from the pitching staff. Unlikely, with Gausman, Bassitt, and Kikuchi exiting their primes. Expecting them all to be as good as they were a season ago is not realistic.

Now, expecting Springer, Guerrero Jr., Kirk, and Varsho to be as average as they were last season is not realistic either. I expect positive regression in their favour. How much? And will it be enough to offset regression from the pitching staff? No idea. That is what makes this season so compelling.

But this is why Ross Atkins failed in the offseason. He needed to do more outside of banking on internal improvement from the offence. Clement/IKF are not starting third basemen. It is a gaping hole in the lineup.

7. Here is what I do know about the Shohei Ohtani story. People love two types of stories. 

1. Stories about the rise of greatness.

2. Stories about the collapse of greatness

Ohtani is now experiencing both.

8. There should be no shame on either side if Kentucky and John Calipari decide to part ways. They had an amazing run together, but all good things come to an end.

And the Calipari era needs to end in Kentucky.

9. For as big as Future, Kendrick, and Metro are, "We Don't Trust You" serves as a reminder that Drake is on top and everyone else is a distant second at best.

Drake would never need to start a rap war to promote an album. Others start one with Drake to do just that.