The Big Red Report: “Rona-cation” Will impact Blue Jays Significantly One Way or Another

 At long last the NHL entry draft is getting underway on Tuesday. For the last 7 months the only way to talk about the Ottawa Senators would be by speculating about the team's plans for the future - whether that be by egging on a spirited campaign to bring back the 2D logo (which worked), or by forecasting what figures to be a franchise defining entry draft. A draft that could turn around the fortunes of the club or dig a deeper hole into the pits of despair.  It's no secret that the Senators have been the laughing stock of the NHL ever since Chris Kunitz ended the team's bid for a second Stanley Cup appearance in double overtime of the Eastern Conference Finals back in 2017. The following year, the fanbase's hopes reached an all-time high after the acquisition of Matt Duchene signalled an all-in mindset from the front office. Unfortunately, when the team returned from a 2-game series in Sweden against Duchene's former Avalanche squad, the entire organization fell i

 Heading into the Wild Card Series against the Rays, the Blue Jays knew they were in tough. Widely regarded as the favourite to represent the American League in the World Series, it seemed as if the threat Tampa posed scared Toronto, or more specifically, Charlie Montoyo. There is nothing wrong with respecting your opponent, but at the end of the day, you have to focus on your ball club and focus on how your team is going to win - not so much on how you are going to beat your opponent. For Toronto, a talented but young team, the key to success in my opinion would have been simplification. Yes, it's postseason baseball, but it's still just baseball. For guys that have little to no postseason experience, it's the job of the coaching staff to make it feel as close to a regular baseball game as humanly possible. This gives your team the best chance of living in the moment and allowing their God-given talents to guide them through 9 innings.  Instead, before a pitch was even thr

After 3 long losing seasons in Toronto, we were forced to latch on to the hope of someday. We watched some of the Jays top prospects light up the minors and banked on those kids bringing winning baseball back to Toronto. This season was almost like a tease for what is hopefully yet to come. There was a lot of good, a lot of bad, and a TON of weird. Who would want it any other way in the year 2020? Let's reflect on the bizarre year that was and the super bizarre playoff run that awaits. The good Hyun Jin Ryu: They brought him in to be the ace, and he delivered in spades. However, he has struggled in postseason play in the past, how he performs in October will determine if the jays got a bonafide superstar for an affordable cost, or just a nice arm at market value. Taijuan Walker: Tip of the cap to Ross and Mark on this one. I would argue this acquisition has had the biggest impact on any team around the big leagues. He’s had one bad start as a Blue Jay, and that was largely due to D

 It has been a long, weird road to get to this point. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL, like every other pro sports league, has had to fly by the seat of their pants and adapt on the fly. Unlike other pro sports leagues however, the NFL was in the midst of it's offseason when the pandemic arose. Therefore, the regular season is getting started this week, just as originally intended.  But do not be mistaken, this will not just be any other NFL season. In what is an unpredictable sport by nature, a virtual offseason and vacant preseason should amplify the unpredictability of this particular campaign ten fold.  Translation: This should be fun! Although virtual, this offseason certainly provided it's fair share of roster reflux and blockbuster transactions. From the goat himself Tom Brady taking his talents to the strip club capital of the world, to a diva star safety forcing his way out of the big apple, it was truly the reality tv we needed to get us through a major lull in

As you all have likely heard, the Canadian Football League has officially cancelled it's 2020 campaign... citing "financial losses". Now, while the extent of those losses is uncertain, so is the future of the league (if there is one).  If you are looking to brush up on the logistics of the matter, this is not the blog for you.  The cliff notes is basically this:  CFL: *Asks Canadian gov't for $30 million dollar loan.* Canadian gov't: 👋👋👋  So, now that we officially know there will not be a CFL season in 2020, the question has become: Will there be a season in 2021 and beyond?   I, much like the Canadian gov't, have no access to the League's financial records, therefore I cannot accurately assess the financial stability of said league.... But... I would be very surprised if this is the first time they have asked for a loan... I'll just say that. I am in the business of uneducated speculations/opinions.... And I am not changing my ways on this day.  S

In a sport like baseball, the “game of life’, everything is very fluid. If your ace pitcher shuts the bathroom door on his throwing hand, your season can get derailed. However, in this instance, the Miami Marlins’ - um, let’s call it misfortune -  has now significantly impacted the Blue Jays’ season. As it has for 5 other ball clubs (Orioles, Yankees, Nationals, White Sox, and Cleveland) . As a result of this, you have probably heard *insert radio/tv host here* interpret this turn of events as fuel being added to the forest fire that is Major League Baseball in the year 2020. It’s almost as if they WANT the sport to go down in flames.  However, if you take a step back and view the sport for what it always has been, “the game of life”, you start to realize this whole situation may not be the disaster you and most others probably think it has become.  In life, S*%$ happens. In baseball, S*%$ happens. Now all that’s left to be done for teams like the Toronto Blue Jays is to try and make t