Sports

SIMMONS: An opening-day hero for the Jays that no one saw coming – Toronto Sun

Published

4 years ago

April 2, 2021

Harry Miller

Author of the article:

Steve Simmons

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Julian Merryweather pitches against the New York Yankees during the 10th inning of an opening day game at Yankee Stadium on Thursday. Photo by Brad Penner /USA TODAY Sports

The player to be named later was talking a mile a minute, still caught in his own adrenaline and accomplishment, his words coming out almost at the speed of his fastball on opening day.

It is 33 months after the trading of Josh Donaldson and for most of that time, Julian Merryweather, once the player to be named later in that deal, has been the pitcher without a future, without a destination. Just another name on a roster, another trade without a noteworthy return, another hopeful in an accidental bullpen who had done next to nothing and now, at the age of 28, is still designated as a rookie.

But opening day can so often be about nobodies becoming somebodies, if even for just that one game. But there is something about Julian Merryweather, his story, his struggle, like the Blue Jays team he plays for, that you want to grab on to and cheer and ride and hope for the best. There is something about his personality and his honesty, electrified on a game such as this, that makes you more than hope. What if this is real? What if he’s more than a one-day wonder?

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On Day 1 at a partially filled Yankee Stadium, the Blue Jays looked as if they were going to be beaten in their season opener. They looked that way even as Hyun-Jin Ryu did what he normally does and kept them in the game. They looked that way getting the kind of infield defence they couldn’t play a year ago and with five different relief pitchers being occasionally erratic, but mostly pretty darn perfect, shutting out the Yankees for the final 4.2 innings.

They ended the game with Merryweather on the mound in the 10th inning, Aaron Judge on second base — that phony softball rule having been accepted in the majors — and all the right-hander had to do to preserve a 3-2 Toronto lead was face the No. 3, 4, and 5 hitters on one of baseball’s best offensive teams.

Merryweather struck out Aaron Hicks, then Giancarlo Stanton, then Gleyber Torres — looking a little bit like Goose Gossage; his arm, not his face, lucky for him. It was almost a nine-pitch, three-strikeout, immaculate inning. And somewhere the Yankees had to be saying: Who is this guy, and how is he doing this to us? They had to be shaking their heads.

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So, who is Julian Merryweather?

He’s been an injury waiting to happen since Ross Atkins drafted him for the Cleveland Indians drafted him in 2014. The Blue Jays are his 10th team in seven years. The American League is his eighth league. He’s been a name on the Toronto roster for almost three seasons, pitched just a few times before Thursday’s opener. Never seemed like he could be healthy enough to pitch today and be ready again to pitch next week or even tomorrow.

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But he was all but bouncing in the post-game interview chair, his excitement for the moment was that real. He almost leaped right out of the Zoom interview and into my living room, he seemed that excited.

His mom, Ulrike, had already phoned five times or more since the game ended. She was more excited than he was, and that’s saying something. His first phone call he said, once the interview ended, would be to her. There would be a lot of screaming, elation, and certainly some tears.

There is only one opening day every year and there is so little opportunity to be a name in the headlines. All of the excitement is worth it, even if it lasts just this one day. This is when sport is at its best, when the unlikely happens, when names you don’t know or care about emerge and grab you by striking out the heart of the Yankees order while not dreaming, while still awake.

The moment, Merryweather said, was “pretty surreal.”

“That’s Little League dreams right there,” he said, “to be able to go out there and get a win.”

The Jays got the win. Merryweather got the save. For this moment, life couldn’t be better

“That’s a pretty cool experience,” he said, for himself, not speaking for anyone watching.

As a group, the Blue Jays know what they need to be this season. They need to hit and they will. They need to play better defence than they did last season and it looks like they will. They need for Ryu to be Ryu and hope for others to emerge on four other days in every five. And they need this bullpen by committee, without a closer of consequence yet, with candidates in Jordan Romano and now Merryweather, to surprise.

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The predictable part of the roster they understand. The unpredictable, winning a game when the top of their batting order goes 0-for-14 with seven strikeouts, that’s something. Getting five relief pitchers to be perfect, that’s something else.

Having the almost unknown Merryweather walk to the mound at Yankee Stadium in extra innings, with an automatic runner already on second base and the Jays up a run, in a save situation, the kind of moment that can defeat some pitchers before they’ve gripped the baseball.

Julian Merryweather grabbed the baseball and grabbed opening day for all to see. This is a beginning for him and the Blue Jays.

Who knows where it goes from here?

ssimmons@postmedia.com

twitter.com/simmonssteve

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Vancouver Canucks winger Joshua set for season debut after cancer treatment

Published

4 days ago

November 14, 2024

Anne Joseph

Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.

Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.

The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.

He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.

“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.

The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.

Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.

“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.

“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”

The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.

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Sports

PWHL MVP Spooner set to miss start of season for Toronto Sceptres due to knee injury

Published

6 days ago

November 12, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.

The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.

She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.

Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.

Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.

The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 week ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

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