Nick Ashbourne
@nickashbourne.bsky.social
Blue Jays at Sportsnet and Leafs at @mapleleafshotstove.bsky.social
🎧 Talking Leafs on the MLHS Podcast and co-hosting Blue Jays Happy Hour (https://www.patreon.com/BJHH)
🎧 Talking Leafs on the MLHS Podcast and co-hosting Blue Jays Happy Hour (https://www.patreon.com/BJHH)
Reposted by Nick Ashbourne
🎙️ New MLHS Podcast 🎙️
- Leafs' winning streak & Matthews heating up
- Should the Leafs be more vocal about officiating?
- Robertson making his case
- The awkward Kampf situation
- Cowan joining the Marlies
+ much more via @NickAshbourne.bsky.social & @APetrielli.bsky.social 👇
- Leafs' winning streak & Matthews heating up
- Should the Leafs be more vocal about officiating?
- Robertson making his case
- The awkward Kampf situation
- Cowan joining the Marlies
+ much more via @NickAshbourne.bsky.social & @APetrielli.bsky.social 👇
The Maple Leafs are streaking, and Matthews is coming alive - MLHS Podcast EP103
The Maple Leafs are streaking, and Matthews is coming alive - MLHS Podcast EP103
mapleleafshotstove.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:07 PM
🎙️ New MLHS Podcast 🎙️
- Leafs' winning streak & Matthews heating up
- Should the Leafs be more vocal about officiating?
- Robertson making his case
- The awkward Kampf situation
- Cowan joining the Marlies
+ much more via @NickAshbourne.bsky.social & @APetrielli.bsky.social 👇
- Leafs' winning streak & Matthews heating up
- Should the Leafs be more vocal about officiating?
- Robertson making his case
- The awkward Kampf situation
- Cowan joining the Marlies
+ much more via @NickAshbourne.bsky.social & @APetrielli.bsky.social 👇
Stoeten and I did our best to sort through this bittersweet moment in Blue Jays history:
The Jays got as close to winning a World Series as physically possible. But, as I'm sure I don't need to tell you, they did not win.
So this week @nickashbourne.bsky.social and I talk about the playoff ride, an instant classic of a World Series, and heartbreaking defeat.
Have a listen! 👇
So this week @nickashbourne.bsky.social and I talk about the playoff ride, an instant classic of a World Series, and heartbreaking defeat.
Have a listen! 👇
🎧BJHH: 202 - Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End
The 2025 Toronto Blue Jays got literally as close to winning a World Series as physically possible.
stoeten.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Stoeten and I did our best to sort through this bittersweet moment in Blue Jays history:
You genuinely can’t get much closer to winning the World Series without doing it.
That Blue Jays run was incredible, and nothing that came before today was invalidated by that result — but a win sure could have elevated it.
That Blue Jays run was incredible, and nothing that came before today was invalidated by that result — but a win sure could have elevated it.
November 2, 2025 at 4:19 AM
You genuinely can’t get much closer to winning the World Series without doing it.
That Blue Jays run was incredible, and nothing that came before today was invalidated by that result — but a win sure could have elevated it.
That Blue Jays run was incredible, and nothing that came before today was invalidated by that result — but a win sure could have elevated it.
One thing that's in play for this chaotic game is a home run that trumps Joe Carter's (impossible to beat Game 7, extra-inning walk-off).
That's wild considering Carter's is one of the most important/iconic in the sport's history.
That's wild considering Carter's is one of the most important/iconic in the sport's history.
November 2, 2025 at 3:56 AM
One thing that's in play for this chaotic game is a home run that trumps Joe Carter's (impossible to beat Game 7, extra-inning walk-off).
That's wild considering Carter's is one of the most important/iconic in the sport's history.
That's wild considering Carter's is one of the most important/iconic in the sport's history.
When the World Series is on the line, you want the ball hit to Andrés Giménez.
November 2, 2025 at 3:53 AM
When the World Series is on the line, you want the ball hit to Andrés Giménez.
This game is an instant classic. It's got everything.
November 2, 2025 at 3:41 AM
This game is an instant classic. It's got everything.
I'm sure folks don't want to see Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but there's no guarantee he's going to be effective on no rest whatsoever.
As good as he is, this is a serious gamble by the Dodgers.
As good as he is, this is a serious gamble by the Dodgers.
November 2, 2025 at 3:32 AM
I'm sure folks don't want to see Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but there's no guarantee he's going to be effective on no rest whatsoever.
As good as he is, this is a serious gamble by the Dodgers.
As good as he is, this is a serious gamble by the Dodgers.
There's no way Addison Barger has that at-bat against an elite LHP a couple of months ago. He's matured so much as a hitter.
November 2, 2025 at 3:30 AM
There's no way Addison Barger has that at-bat against an elite LHP a couple of months ago. He's matured so much as a hitter.
Players with 30+ hits in a single MLB playoff run:
Ernie Clement
That's it.
Ernie Clement
That's it.
November 2, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Players with 30+ hits in a single MLB playoff run:
Ernie Clement
That's it.
Ernie Clement
That's it.
The Blue Jays only needed 8 more outs to win the World Series when Freddie Freeman stepped up to the plate and Vladdy took care of 25% of them.
November 2, 2025 at 2:34 AM
The Blue Jays only needed 8 more outs to win the World Series when Freddie Freeman stepped up to the plate and Vladdy took care of 25% of them.
No one's ever had more hits in a playoff run than Ernie Clement has in 2025.
That sentence is pure lunacy.
That sentence is pure lunacy.
November 2, 2025 at 2:19 AM
No one's ever had more hits in a playoff run than Ernie Clement has in 2025.
That sentence is pure lunacy.
That sentence is pure lunacy.
Between spring training, the regular season, and the playoffs, Louis Varland appeared 99 times and pitched 100 innings.
With Chris Bassitt in the game, he can finally rest.
With Chris Bassitt in the game, he can finally rest.
November 2, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Between spring training, the regular season, and the playoffs, Louis Varland appeared 99 times and pitched 100 innings.
With Chris Bassitt in the game, he can finally rest.
With Chris Bassitt in the game, he can finally rest.
By coming into this game, Louis Varland sets the MLB record for pitching appearances in a single playoff run (15).
November 2, 2025 at 1:47 AM
By coming into this game, Louis Varland sets the MLB record for pitching appearances in a single playoff run (15).
That may have been the last time we see Max Scherzer in the MLB playoffs, where he’s been an institution.
He’s appeared in 11 playoff runs with 157 IP (8th all-time), 182 Ks (5th), 2 World Series Game 7 starts, and 2 World Series rings (and counting).
He’s appeared in 11 playoff runs with 157 IP (8th all-time), 182 Ks (5th), 2 World Series Game 7 starts, and 2 World Series rings (and counting).
November 2, 2025 at 1:44 AM
That may have been the last time we see Max Scherzer in the MLB playoffs, where he’s been an institution.
He’s appeared in 11 playoff runs with 157 IP (8th all-time), 182 Ks (5th), 2 World Series Game 7 starts, and 2 World Series rings (and counting).
He’s appeared in 11 playoff runs with 157 IP (8th all-time), 182 Ks (5th), 2 World Series Game 7 starts, and 2 World Series rings (and counting).
That Daulton Varsho catch was on a 109.8 mph liner with a .660 xBA.
Critical play from the Gold Glover.
Critical play from the Gold Glover.
November 2, 2025 at 1:20 AM
That Daulton Varsho catch was on a 109.8 mph liner with a .660 xBA.
Critical play from the Gold Glover.
Critical play from the Gold Glover.
Gotta go to Dominguez here. That's the best right-on-right option you've got.
November 2, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Gotta go to Dominguez here. That's the best right-on-right option you've got.
Plenty of ballgame left, but so far one team is swinging it and one team is not.
November 2, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Plenty of ballgame left, but so far one team is swinging it and one team is not.
Bo Bichette's first home run in almost two months is the biggest hit of his life.
November 2, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Bo Bichette's first home run in almost two months is the biggest hit of his life.
One possible outcome tonight is that a team that went 74-88 last year will try to bring a World Series to a country that hasn't had one in over 3 decades, with a 41-year-old legend on the mound backed by a lineup no playoff team has ever outscored.
That'd make for a good story.
That'd make for a good story.
November 2, 2025 at 12:02 AM
One possible outcome tonight is that a team that went 74-88 last year will try to bring a World Series to a country that hasn't had one in over 3 decades, with a 41-year-old legend on the mound backed by a lineup no playoff team has ever outscored.
That'd make for a good story.
That'd make for a good story.
12 teams have World Series droughts longer than the Blue Jays:
CLE (77), MIL (57), SD (57), SEA (49), PIT (46), BAL (42), DET (41), NYM (39), A’s (36), CIN (35), MIN (34), COL (33).
Plenty of teams haven’t won it for a generation, if they ever have. These chances are special.
CLE (77), MIL (57), SD (57), SEA (49), PIT (46), BAL (42), DET (41), NYM (39), A’s (36), CIN (35), MIN (34), COL (33).
Plenty of teams haven’t won it for a generation, if they ever have. These chances are special.
November 1, 2025 at 11:50 PM
12 teams have World Series droughts longer than the Blue Jays:
CLE (77), MIL (57), SD (57), SEA (49), PIT (46), BAL (42), DET (41), NYM (39), A’s (36), CIN (35), MIN (34), COL (33).
Plenty of teams haven’t won it for a generation, if they ever have. These chances are special.
CLE (77), MIL (57), SD (57), SEA (49), PIT (46), BAL (42), DET (41), NYM (39), A’s (36), CIN (35), MIN (34), COL (33).
Plenty of teams haven’t won it for a generation, if they ever have. These chances are special.
Time is the most valuable resource any of us has, and it is downright idiocy to wish away a single, precious second of your life under any circumstances.
That said, I'd be OK skipping to the first pitch of Game 7.
That said, I'd be OK skipping to the first pitch of Game 7.
November 1, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Time is the most valuable resource any of us has, and it is downright idiocy to wish away a single, precious second of your life under any circumstances.
That said, I'd be OK skipping to the first pitch of Game 7.
That said, I'd be OK skipping to the first pitch of Game 7.
When Max Scherzer signed with the Blue Jays, he said:
"I’m not just playing to play. I’m playing to win. I really feel like Toronto offered that."
There was reason to be skeptical. Surely there was a safer bet out there. Now he's starting GM 7 of the World Series.
Turns out Scherzer knows ball.
"I’m not just playing to play. I’m playing to win. I really feel like Toronto offered that."
There was reason to be skeptical. Surely there was a safer bet out there. Now he's starting GM 7 of the World Series.
Turns out Scherzer knows ball.
November 1, 2025 at 5:33 PM
When Max Scherzer signed with the Blue Jays, he said:
"I’m not just playing to play. I’m playing to win. I really feel like Toronto offered that."
There was reason to be skeptical. Surely there was a safer bet out there. Now he's starting GM 7 of the World Series.
Turns out Scherzer knows ball.
"I’m not just playing to play. I’m playing to win. I really feel like Toronto offered that."
There was reason to be skeptical. Surely there was a safer bet out there. Now he's starting GM 7 of the World Series.
Turns out Scherzer knows ball.
The Blue Jays have played 179 games now, but it all comes down to one ballgame on Saturday night.
Won the division on a tie breaker, won the ALCS in Game 7, will need to earn a World Series in 7. Everything has been a tooth-and-nail fight.
Won the division on a tie breaker, won the ALCS in Game 7, will need to earn a World Series in 7. Everything has been a tooth-and-nail fight.
November 1, 2025 at 3:19 AM
The Blue Jays have played 179 games now, but it all comes down to one ballgame on Saturday night.
Won the division on a tie breaker, won the ALCS in Game 7, will need to earn a World Series in 7. Everything has been a tooth-and-nail fight.
Won the division on a tie breaker, won the ALCS in Game 7, will need to earn a World Series in 7. Everything has been a tooth-and-nail fight.
Really unfortunate sequence for Addison Barger after such an important hit. That ball wasn't particularly close to dropping.
November 1, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Really unfortunate sequence for Addison Barger after such an important hit. That ball wasn't particularly close to dropping.
The Blue Jays' pitching has been outstanding tonight. 12 Ks, just 4 hits allowed, nothing over the wall.
You can't ask for much more.
You can't ask for much more.
November 1, 2025 at 3:00 AM
The Blue Jays' pitching has been outstanding tonight. 12 Ks, just 4 hits allowed, nothing over the wall.
You can't ask for much more.
You can't ask for much more.