It’s my Parting Shot for some Weekend Short Shots…..
At the risk of upsetting any Toronto Maple Leafs’ fans out there, the firing of G-M Brad Treliving was something that had to be done. Not him specifically, but someone had to take the fall for the Buds’ pratfall this season – missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The debate could be who should’ve been let go – Treliving, who has tried to carve out a championship team from a group that has consistently underachieved once the post-season comes around. Or, should it have been head coach Craig Berube, one of many bench bosses to go through the Toronto coaching office and be frustrated with trying to squeeze playoff wins from players who just can’t seem to rise to the occasion in the Stanley Cup tournament. Seems to me that the Maple Leafs need a rebuild – that dirty word in hockey that screams we’re going to need a few years of losing and understanding from the fan base before we’re ready to take a shot again!
Speaking of Toronto teams, the so-called “revolutionary” way of winning baseball games last year by the Blue Jays – on the way to getting to Game 7 of the World Series – is working against them to start the 2026 campaign. While teams, players, managers, coaches, executives, etcetera, seem intent on going all or nothing at the plate – the Jays insist on making contact and scraping together offence with as many as three hits to score just one run while using “Punch and Judy” singles and doubles to try and keep up with the home run hitter-laden squads! However, that requires team batting averages close to .270 and not much of a decline in batting average with runners in scoring position in order to be successful. They may be 4-2, but they aren’t getting enough hits, especially key hits, to back up the stellar starting pitching that they’ve had so far! Hopefully, that changes for them!
And, Canada’s men’s soccer team played a pair of friendly matches in the last week, tying 2-2 against Iceland and goal-less against Tunisia on home soil! Two months away from being one of the host nations for the World Cup, unless a bunch of key injured players come back fit and ready to go, this could be a humbling experience for Canadian soccer on the international stage! I hope I’m wrong!!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!
