Kazuma Okamoto Breaks Another Blue Jays Record in a Win

During his time with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan from 2018 to 2024, before crossing the Atlantic, Kazuma Okamoto hit 232 home runs.
However, heading into the Toronto Blue Jays' game last night (Tuesday) against the Rays in Tampa Bay, the Japanese slugger had yet to hit a home run in August; his last home run came on July 28 against the Washington Nationals.
It's been a tough month for the 30-year-old, as evidenced by his .487 OPS in August, with three walks and 18 strikeouts.
But the Japanese sl

Do you like nicknames?
I'm asking because the Canadiens have invited “the Rat” to their rookie camp, which will take place in a few weeks.
Who is it?
We're talking about Mavrick Rousseau-Hamel, who has spent the last few years playing for the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. It's also worth noting that Rousseau-Hamel is a 5'10”, 168-pound left-handed forward who doesn't describe himself as the most offensive player on the planet.
He tallied 27 points (nine goals) in 56 games last

Dear Gossips,Emmys voting is now underway and will continue until next Wednesday 26 August. In the Best Supporting Actor category, comedy, the nominees are Colman Domingo, Paul W Downs, Nick Offerman, Stephen Root, Michael Urie, and Tyler James Williams. Oh yeah, and also Harrison Ford. This is Harrison’s second Emmy nomination, after his first-ever Emmy nomination last year. Which he didn’t win.Will he win this time?According to awards experts, he has a chance, but given the breakou

Two Habs players are currently still without contracts: Zachary Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj. Both players are RFAs (restricted free agents) and are still eligible for a hostile offer.
I've wondered a few times over the summer: Is it a coincidence that the only two players still without contracts are two guys who are struggling to find their role in Martin St-Louis' lineup?
 
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Se

This morning, we chatted about Corey Pronman's top 156 U23 players.
We talked about the fact that Juraj Slafkovsky is ranked fourth on the list and that Ivan Demidov is the eighth-best player on Pronman's list.
They're in the “star” and “near-star and top-tier player” categories, respectively, in the rankings, which can be found on The Athletic's website this morning.
But I wanted to take the time to take a more serious look at the case of Lane Hutson, a player whom Corey

Who let the dogs out?Arguably, it was Jordan Illingworth and Leo Powell.Previously globe-trotting nightclub operators, the couple established a new base of operations in Victoria to launch North America’s largest dog festival in 2011.Fifteen years later, the Pet-A-Palooza Day of the Dog takes place in eight locations, including this Sunday’s takeover of the 1100-block of Mainland Street in Yaletown. The festival is expected to bring in over 15,000 people and their furry family membe

Who let the dogs out?Arguably, it was Jordan Illingworth and Leo Powell.Previously globe-trotting nightclub operators, the couple established a new base of operations in Victoria to launch North America’s largest dog festival in 2011.Fifteen years later, the Pet-A-Palooza Day of the Dog takes place in eight locations, including this Sunday’s takeover of the 1100-block of Mainland Street in Yaletown. The festival is expected to bring in over 15,000 people and their furry family membe

The start of the school year is fast approaching, and cooler evenings will soon be here, but the level of competition will also be heating up on our fields. Here's an overview of the action currently underway.
In Senior baseball, the Bélisle League is currently on hiatus while the Canadian Championship is being held in New Brunswick. The LBMQ representatives will play their first game this Thursday against Newfoundland. Later that evening, it will be Nova Scotia's turn to face our favorit

The New Orleans Saints will have to make do without one of their key offensive players at the start of the 2026 season.
Running back Alvin Kamara has suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament and is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks.
At 31, Kamara remains a key figure on the Saints' offense, but this injury comes at a time when there were already questions surrounding his future with the team. His last season, in particular, was marked by a decline in production, fueling disc

When has a ranking ever failed to get people talking?
Yesterday, Corey Pronman ranked the 32 NHL teams based on the quality of their under-23 players. The Canadiens came in third on the expert's list.
This takes established players into account, not just prospects.
What caught people's attention was the fact that the ranking of the Habs' players as a group had some flaws. For example, Jacob Fowler was the 13th player on the Canadiens' list.
Adam Engstrom is ranked 10th—he's knocking on the

Yesterday, the creator of DobberHockey offered some fairly generous projections for David Reinbacher’s upcoming season.
He projected Reinbacher to play about 40 games and score 19 points.
Even accounting for a few games missed due to injuries and others played in Laval, that wouldn't be bad for the former No. 5 overall pick by the Canadiens in 2023.
Brian Wilde, a contributor to Tony Marinaro's podcast, The Sick Podcast, has a different perspective with a different kind of projection.&ldqu

Alexander Zharovsky continues to be the talk of Montreal. We know he's back in Russia and has played in some preseason games since then.
What role will he play in Montreal? How many years will it take before we see him on the big club's roster?
These are questions that remain unanswered for now, but Grant McCagg shared his thoughts on the Russian's future in his podcast.McCagg began with an interesting statement. He believes Zharovsky is still at least two years away from the NHL, based on what

Tarik Skubal has short-, medium-, and long-term goals for 2026.
In the short term, the pitcher's goal is clearly to get back in shape. He hasn't been pitching up to his potential since arriving in L.A.
In my opinion, he just needs time to adjust.
He's the first to admit it: he needs to step up his game. He needs to stay on the mound a little longer to help the Dodgers win.
“My last outing was 5 innings, the one before that was 6; that’s just not acceptable—it’s not the st

Few people expected the Montreal Canadiens to draft Gleb Pugachyov in the first round this summer, let alone move up two spots to ensure they got him.
As you get to know the Russian, it's clear that the pick makes sense. We know the Habs wanted to bulk up, and they chose the most intimidating player in the draft.
However, he doesn't just dish out checks and throw down—he knows how to play hockey.
The comparison to Tom Wilson is obvious, since he's pretty much the only player of his type in

At the trade deadline, the Blue Jays traded some players. Then they started winning a bunch of baseball games.
It happens sometimes, but it's still strange.
Until proven otherwise, the Blue Jays will therefore fight for their spot in the playoffs. And they have to do it without some key players.
Even though some new additions (Jose Soriano, Brett Bateman) are helping the team stay competitive despite the departures, some key players have left.
Kevin Gausman is a good example. He was so well-like

The Canadiens are still looking for their second-line center.
That was the case last summer, when everyone was wondering who would get the chance to play alongside Ivan Demidov.
And it's still the case this year, since Kent Hughes hasn't been able to pull off the big move we were all expecting in Montreal. 
What if the Canadiens' solution were… Sean Monahan?
That's the idea a reader named Y. Perron sent to us via email at DLC. And I decided to analyze Mr. Perron's idea for the sake o

Patrik Laine is still a free agent.
And the more time goes by, the more it seems he might have to settle for a tryout just to land a spot in the National Hockey League.
That's where things stand with the player himself. 
The guy has been linked to several teams since the start of the summer, and there are plenty of rumors swirling around him. Everyone has an opinion about the Finn…
Mike Rupp, who was on the DFO Rundown podcast, said what he would do if he were in Laine's shoes: do ev

OMG
Jose Iglesias will throw out the ceremonial first pitch tonight at the Mets game.
Candelita returnsJose Iglesias is throwing out the first pitch tonight at Citi Field! pic.twitter.com/vzvcwcVgon
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 18, 2026
Ketel Marte is undergoing tests
His knee is the issue: he's heading back to Arizona.
Ketel Marte is returning to Arizona to get an MRI on his knee, per @NickPiecoro. pic.twitter.com/mYwv7njqHW
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 18, 2026
Liste

This year marks the 25th anniversary of The Fast and the Furious, the first movie that would eventually become a franchise, released in 2001. Since then there have been nine more, for a total of ten at the moment, with a planned eleventh installment called Fast Forever.Last night there was a fan event to celebrate the milestone, with several Fast Furious family members in attendance including Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Meadow Walker representing her father, Paul, and of course the fam

Carey Price is still receiving tributes.
The day after his official induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, the former Montreal Canadiens goaltender will make a highly anticipated return to the Bell Centre to celebrate with Montreal fans.
Price will be honored on November 10, the day after the ceremony in Toronto. This time, it will be the Canadiens fans who get to pay tribute to him… as his name is officially added to the Bell Centre's Ring of Honor.
The ceremony in Toronto on November 9

This “time is a construct” moment is brought to you by To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, which premiered 8 years ago. How is that possible? This might require a rewatch. I’d be down for a “where are they now” movie. When the series ended, I think that was the plan.
Also, Lana Condor is in Coyote vs. Acme, which was almost permanently shelved but is getting pretty decent reviews.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Netflix US (@netflix) View this post o

The Montreal Canadiens players are gaining more and more respect throughout the National Hockey League. And the new ratings in NHL 27 prove it once again!
Cole Caufield has an overall rating of 90 in the new EA Sports game—a score that places him among the best players at his position, ranking him 8th among the NHL's top right wingers.
This is a great recognition for Caufield, who has established himself as one of the league's most dangerous snipers. And what about Nick Suzuki?
The Canadie

Baker Mayfield clearly has no intention of letting the negative predictions surrounding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers affect his team.As the season approaches for Baker Mayfield, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buccaneers, NFL 2026, 2026 NFL season, Baker Mayfield Buccaneers, Tampa Bay NFL, NFL quarterback, NFL predictions, 2026 Buccaneers, American football, NFL season, Baker Mayfield contract for the 2026 NFL season, the quarterback exudes remarkable confidence and believes his team could quickly prove t

The Blue Jays are in the playoff race.
John Schneider and his team's job will be to make sure they win as often as possible to try to qualify.
MLB
One thing that could help them win games is having Dylan Cease pitch more often than the others.
With one day off per week between now and the end of the season, the Blue Jays could keep him on a five-day rotation and give the others a breather.
But don't expect to see the Blue Jays do that.
As Arden Zwelling told Sportsnet, Cease isn't at 100% right

It’s been six long years since Phoebe Bridgers last released a full-length studio album, and the result of that wait is a melancholic collection of songs that will have you crying as much as you are vibing. Lost Weekend is an album about grief, but the kind that exists alongside love, resentment, guilt, nostalgia and everything in-between. The album is dedicated to her late father and circles around his 2023 death and the complicated relationship that Phoebe shared with him.Taylor Swift ga

Alexander Zharovsky continues to make headlines.
The young prospect for the Montreal Canadiens scored a beautiful goal today in Salavat Yulaev Ufa's second preseason game.
His team lost, but Zharovsky still found the back of the net: on the play, the forward capitalized on a counterattack to push into the opponent's zone before firing a solid shot that beat the goalie.
The goal is all the more impressive given that Zharovsky had experienced a rather eventful few days.
The young forward notably l

The New York Giants could soon add a well-known name to their running back roster.Najee Harris is reportedly close to reaching an agreement with the New York team, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to the Associated Press on Tuesday.
However, the deal has not yet been made official. Harris, 28, has nonetheless taken an important first step by participating in a practice with the Giants on Monday.
This comes as the player continues his rehabilitation following a serious inj

Just yesterday (Monday), it was announced that Quebec native Émilien Pitre had been promoted to the AAA level in the New York Mets organization. We'll be watching closely in the coming weeks to see if the Repentigny native is called up to the major leagues.
That won't be the case, however, for Miguel Cienfuegos, who hasn't taken the mound since August 8 in El Paso in Triple-A and has been released by the San Diego Padres. The left-hander posted a 7.35 earned run average despite striking o

Big announcement from Bad Bunny yesterday – after weeks of rumours that he’ll be closing out the Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour at home in Puerto Rico, following a year of touring around the world, it was finally confirmed that Benito will indeed perform two final shows there this weekend, August 22 and 23, with tickets going on sale tomorrow, Wednesday 19 August. That’s not a lot of lead time but it’s not like anyone is worried that no one will go.
Like I

Right now, Sidney Crosby has one year left on his contract.
Naturally, we have to wonder what will happen with the Penguins' captain, who has been at the center of much speculation for several years now.
That said, this summer has been quiet. It makes all the difference to play for a team that isn't completely terrible.
Crosby has never started a season while in the final year of his contract. Will this season be different for him, given that he doesn't want to retire in a year?
We have to assum