Weekly Takes - Monday, May 18th Edition
Weekly Takes - Monday, May 18th Edition
The Maple Leafs had no choice but to fire Craig Berube, whose coaching performance in 2025-2026 was as bad as any Leafs coach in recent memory.
The way the core players play and the way the roster was built around them… I could not think of a worse fit for a head coach than Berube. That, and even with a “Berube-style roster”, I do not think he is a good coach. Everything was built on simplicity. There was no creativity in anything he did.
Never mind that he had a “Dale Hunter/Alex Ovechkin” impact on Auston Matthews.
2026-2027 would have been a lost season if they brought Berube back, even after winning the lottery. Instead, John Chayka did what needed to be done.
It blew my mind that the likes of Daren Dreger kept implying that Berube would return under Chayka. I could not think of two people who see the game more differently than Berube and Chayka. The only way this was not happening was if MLSE did not want to eat Berube’s contract.
It turns out, thankfully, that MLSE is still willing to use its financial might.
Another hysteric media storyline goes out the window!
The wildest part of the Blue Jays’ season is how they are only one game back of a playoff spot, despite all their injuries, individual struggles, and team struggles. I still think they can contend in the American League, though that says more about the AL than the Jays themselves.
Here is what my roster would be, once Shane Bieber, Alejandro Kirk, and Addison Barger are healthy. (I assume Max Scherzer, Jose Beriros, and Yimi Garcia are off the radar until shown otherwise)
Starting Rotation
Dylan Cease
Kevin Gausman
Trey Yesavage
Bieber
Patrick Corbin
Bullpen
Closer: Louis Varland
RH Setup: Tyler Rogers
LH Setup: Mason Fluharty
Mid Relief: Jeff Hoffman, Braydon Fisher, Spencer Miles, and Tommy Nance
Second Lefty: Joe Mantiply
Lineup vs LHP
Ernie Clement (2B)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B)
Kazuma Oakmoto (3B)
Kirk ( C )
Daulton Varsho (CF)
George Springer (DH)
Davis Schenider (LF)
Myles Straw (RF)
Andreas Gimenez (SS)
Bench: Brandon Valenzuela, Josh Kasevich, Yohendrick Pinango, and Barger
Lineup vs RHP
Pinango (LF)
Guerrero Jr. (1B)
Varsho (CF)
Okamoto (3B)
Barger (RF)
Kirk ( C )
Springer (DH)
Clement (2B)
Gimenez (SS)
Bench: Valenzuela, Kasevich, Schenider, and Straw
DFA: Tyler Heineman (for Kirk), Lenyn Sosa (for Kasevich), Jesus Sanchez (for Barger), and Nathan Lukes (once off the IL)
A starting pitcher (back-end), reliever (mid-relief), and right-handed corner outfielder should be the targets at the deadline.
The reality is, though, Guerrero Jr. and Springer need to be way better at the plate, Hoffman needs to regress to the mean, and Clement, Varsho, and Straw need to return close to their defensive forms.
That feels doable.
4. The Steelers remain where they have been for over half-a-decade.
A ready-to-win roster, with a quarterback who has a limited ceiling, thus capping their ceiling as a team.
I must rather Pittsburgh have trotted out Will Howard before trying again with Aaron Rodgers.
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