Brandon League went 2 innings plus on consecutive nights. He threw 27 pitches on Wednesday and 16 last night. This is probably just at the limits of what is safe for a 21 year old, with his efficiency last night being the key. I'm hoping that they give him Game 3 tomorrow off.

Can anyone elaborate on the status of Mikael Jova re Rule 5. I believe this is his 3rd season in NA pro ball although he did have a season in the DSL prior to that. He has come along well of late.

Another rule 5 note: I think that Jordam deJong is pitching himself on to the 40 man. If it was my decision I would certainly ptotect him and his potential over some of the guys who continue to fail at major league level eg: Frederick, File.

It is possible, however, that there may be too many pitchers to protect. Maybe a real good deal could be arranged by packaging one of the pitching prospects with Gabe Gross. I have always like Gross but I think JP now views him as expendable. Maybe it's time we turned 2/3 good prospects into one very very good young impact player.

I think they'll steer away from using League but that will depend on the game situation I guess. A day of rest after back to back outings should generally be OK for young pitchers and Brandon's a fairly good sized player with a strong arm. 27 pitches over multiple innings and then 16 pitches over multiple innings is not bad at all. I'd be much more concerned if his pitches per inning were up there because that's when fatigue sets in faster. If today is an off-day then he should be just fine.

It's one of the reasons Frasor and Chulk have collapsed in the second half I think. Despite the fact they were doing quite well early their efficiency was not very good. They were walking lots of people and throwing a lot of pitches to earn their outs. As they continued to be used frequently that eventually caught up with them. A single 25 pitch inning is significantly more tiring than the same pitch count spread out over two plus frames.

This is Mikael Jova's 4th year in North American pro ball, and he would have to be protected in the Rule 5.

2000 - Dominican Summer League
2001 - Auburn / Charleston
2002 - Charleston
2003 - Charleston / Dunedin
2004 - New Hampshire

At 23 years old in AA, with a career-high OBP of .320 (2003, Charleston), there's no way I'd protect Jova. This year he went .277/.296/.411 (462 AB).

Maybe it's time we turned 2/3 good prospects into one very very good young impact player

If fantasy baseball taught me anything about roster management, it's that EVERYBODY would love to trade 3 good players for 1 great one... It never works in a basic fantasy league, because everybody's trying to do the same thing. It works sometimes in the real world, but only because of salary. The Jays aren't in a position to take on a salary that another club finds burdensome.

well said, johnny.
but i do think gross could be packaged for somebody with a little more impact. perhaps him and towers together could get a pretty good first baseman with a reasonable salary. mind you, i dont have anybody in mind, and i'm not talking about going after jim thome or anything.

I agree. Jova does not get protected, especially when you consider the number of other better prospects the Jays have to protect... and Jova's BB/K ratio is horrible.

While I don't play fantasy baseball, I did come to the same conclusion as Jonny. I expect every team is looking to trade 2 or 3 good players for 1 very very good one, especially this time of year. Roster flexibility is a valuable thing. Those opportunities come around very rarely and when they do it's usually because that player is starting to make some serious money.

I really hope DeJong and Ryan Houston (minor league free agent) are back next year but I don't think there's going to be room for them on the 40 man roster. Remember it's a lot easier for a team to claim on guy on waivers than to draft them in the rule 5.

I think the Jays can get away with not protecting DeJong. I can't imagine any team carrying him on their ML roster for the entire season next year. Relievers taken in the Rule 5 draft generally have better numbers, and those numbers are more likely in AAA as well.

I like the idea of doing some creative trading to address the issue of roster flexibility, and to acquire a high-ceiling 1B, SP, or RP. Easier said than done, of course. Another test for JP...

Incidentally, Rios seems like a pretty skinny kid. At the game yesterday I had a hard time imagining him as a power hitter (this year: 1 HR in 374 AB). I wonder how much he (at age 23) can be expected to "fill out". If he can hit 20+ HR/year, and learn how to walk, he could be a real asset. 10 HR and an average OBP likely won't cut it though--even if he can play above-average defense.

I'm heading up to New Hampshire for tomorrow nights game - gotta take pictures for the Magazine, ya know. Anyone else going? Hopefully they wrap it up cause I can't make the other 2 games.

It's a 6:05 start tonight for the Cats and the Curve. I'll be here for a couple of innings before I put on my chef's hat.

We're on rain delay already here at Gill Stadium in Manchester. Loads of rain around the area, will keep you posted on a start time.

I did a little research this morning. It appears that the last Toronto minor league affiliate to win a title was the 1992 Myrtle Beach Hurricanes. Lots of championship appearances since then, but I couldn't find any titles.

Thanks for the update, I'll keep checking back to see when the game starts.

I remember trying to find a Jays affiliate that won a championship, and it was hard information to find. I'd have thought that some Jays fan would have a 'history of the Jays minor league teams' site, but none existed, at least not that I could find.

Still in a holding pattern in Manchester. Our radio station, WTPL, will start Red Sox-Yankees coverage and we'll break in if there's baseball tonight.

Altoona at New Hampshire---rained out. Game 3 will be tomorrow (Saturday) in Manchester. 5:05pm

I'll be here at 5:00 for Game 3.

"...And the home of the Brave". Game 3 lineups:

Altoona

Duffy
Moriarty
McLouth
Eldred
Evans
Cortez
Sadler
Paulino
Screehot

P-Ian Snell

Godwin
Rich
Hill
JF Griffin
Hattig
Jova
Singleton
Chiaffreddo
Snyder

P-Francicsco Rosario

Play ball.

Top 1 Game 3:

Chris Duffy runs the count full, fouls off a few, and then strikes out looking on a pitch on the outside edge (Duffy looks back at the umpire). Ol' friend Mike Moriarty runs the count foul, and swings and misses on a fastball outside. Nate McLouth runs the count full (with a close check swing on the 2-2), and walks. Brad Eldred (6'5" and 240 or 278 lbs, 38 homers between single A and double A this year) takes a couple of balls, rips one just foul down the left-field line, takes a ball and a strike and walks on the full-count pitch. Rosario has gone full on each of the 4 bats, and has thrown 28 pitches. Very ol' friend Tom Evans takes 3 balls, fouls off the 3-0 pitch, takes a breaking pitch for a strike on the 3-1, and then takes a ball bounced in front of the plate for ball 4. Bases loaded, 2 outs. Jorge Cortez takes 2 straight fastballs for strikes...clap, clap, clap.. and he grounds out to Dominic Rich.

0 runs, 0 hits, 3 walks, 2 Ks, 37 pitches.

0-0 after 1/2.

Mike: I'm stuck doing a bunch of StatCan work, but I've got the Jays game on the radio and your updates every once in a while, when I have a few free seconds to refresh this page. If the Jays game turns into a blowout, I'll switch over to the F-Cats, but it's 2-2, so I'm sticking with the big club.

Anyway, once I finish up my work and the Jays game is over, I'll join in on the BBRadio calling.

Could be some Double-A Clinchin' (DAC) happening soon!

Bottom of 1- Game 3:

Tyrell Godwin lines out to left-fielder on a nice catch on a ball on a slicing drive down the line. Dominic Rich lines a single up the middle on the 3-2 pitch. Aaron Hill follows with a carbon copy up the middle, runners on first and second, one out. JFG takes a strike, chases a slider low, and then strikes out swinging. John Hattig takes a called strike on a fastball, swings late for strike 2, takes a ball low, then grounds one hard down the 1st base line, Eldred makes a fine stop and goes to the bag for the 3rd out.

0-0 after 1.

Top of 2:

Ray Sadler pops up to Aaron Hill on the 1-0 pitch. Ron Paulino is way out front on a changeup (the first pitch) and tops one in front of the plate, Rosario barehands it and throws him out. Screehot takes 2 strikes, fouls one off, takes a ball, then flies out to Jova in right.

3 up, 3 down, 8 pitches.

0-0 after 1.5 innings.

Thanks for this, Mike. That was more like it for Rosario.

C'mon, T-God!

I'm not listening to this game, but if there are 10 minutes here between updates, either (a) the F-Cats have scored a lot of runs and had a lot of baserunners or (b) Mike's computer has crashed.

I hope it's A. ;)

Bottom of 2:

Mikael Jova lines a single to center. Singleton lines a singles to left, runners on first and second, nobody out.

Paul Chiaffreddo up. Tom Evans at third playing in. First pitch, Chiaffreddo squares but takes a ball in the dirt. Second pitch, same plan, same result. Swings away at the third pitch and fouls it off. Chiaffreddo takes the 2-1 for a ball. On the 3-1, he grounds it to Tom Evans, who bobbles the ball and can get only Chiaffreddo at first. Runners on 2nd and 3rd, 1 out for Mike Snyder.

Snyder runs the count to 2-2, takes a ball low, and then another bounced to the plate. Bases loaded, 1 out for Tyrell Godwin. Pitching coach Jeff Andrews makes a trip to the mound.

Godwin fouls off a couple, and then takes a half-hearted swing for strike 3, and the 2nd out.

Dominic Rich (9-17 with the bases loaded this season) flies out to left on the first pitch.

0-0 after 2 innings.

Sorry to disappoint, Rob.

It's okay -- it's not like you can actually affect the outcome.

Hey, for all we know, this game isn't happening -- it's just two guys in a booth with sound effects, as in that one M*A*S*H episode where Frank tries to bet against the entire camp on a baseball game by listening to it beforehand, late at night. (Anyone know what I'm talking about?)

Top of 3:

Chris Duffy takes a ball and two strikes, fouls one off, takes a ball, fouls off another, then pops one up to Aaron Hill in short left. Rosario plunks Moriarty with his first pitch to him. Nate McLouth runs the count to 2-2, fouls one off, takes a ball to run the count full (62 pitches for Rosario to date according to Bob and Mike), and then hits one over Godwin's head and it one-hops over the wall for a ground rule double. Runners on 2nd and 3rd, 1 out for Brad Eldred.

Eldred swings and misses, then fouls one off trying to get out of the way. He takes a ball, and then strikes out on the 1-2 pitch.

Tom Evans runs the count to 1-2, and takes called strike 3.

0 runs, 0 hits, 21 pitches (66 total by my count)

0-0 after 2.5 innings. Errata: Altoona had 1 hit in the top of the 3rd.

Bottom of 3:

Aaron Hill takes a couple of strikes, then a couple of balls, and then grounds a single to left for his second hit of the night and ninth of the post-season (9-26). JFG runs the count to 1-2, fouls one off, takes one inside, and then strikes out swinging.

John Hattig flexes his man-strength and hits one deep to left-center and it's gone..2-0 F-Cats.

To be continued.

Going, going, Guam! Woo-hoo!

Bottom of 3 contd:

Mikael Jova rips a single to right and Justin Singleton follows on the first pitch with another to the same place. Runners on first and second, one out.

Paul Chiaffreddo grounds into a 6-4-3 DP to end the inning on the first pitch.

2-0 F-Cats after 3 innings.

It's a bit late, but I just wanted to make a reference to man-strength. Way to go! A long bomb by the Guam Bomb!

Top of 4:

Jorge Cortez bloops a single to left on the first pitch. Ray Sadler runs the count to 1-2, grounds it to Snyder who steps on the bag and throws to Hill who applies the tag on Cortez for the 3-6 DP. Ron Paulino strikes out on 3 pitches.

0 runs, 1 hit, 8 pitches (74 total by my count)

2-0 F-Cats after 3.5 innings.

Bottom of 4:

Mike Snyder runs the count to 1-2, hits one deep to center, Duffy's back, warning track and he makes the catch. Tyrell Godwin falls behind 0-2, fouls one off, and then strikes out swinging. Rich grounds out to second.

3 up, 3 down.

2-0 F-Cats after 4.

Top of 5:

Screehot grounds out to Aaron Hill on the first pitch. Chris Duffy takes a called strike, then grounds out to Rosario. Mike Moriarty fouls a couple off, takes one high and tight, and then strikes out swinging.

3 up, 3 down, 7 pitches (81 total by my count)

2-0 F-Cats after 4.5 innings.

Bottom of 5:

Aaron Hill grounds one up the middle on the 2nd pitch for his 3rd hit of the game. JFG swings and misses, the ball gets past Paulino and into the F-Cat dugout, Aaron Hill to third. JFG runs the count to 2-1, with double-barreled action going in the Curve bullpen. JFG takes a strike and a ball to run the count full, and takes ball 4. Runners on first and third, nobody out for John Hattig.

Hattig takes a ball, swings and misses, then fouls a couple off. Hattig strikes out on the 1-2 curveball.

Mikael Jova (8-11 in the series) takes a couple of strikes, fouls a couple off and then strikes out.

Justin Singleton (2-2 on the day) pops out to Evans on the first pitch.

That hurts.

0 runs, 1 hits, 2 LOB.

2-0 F-Cats after 5.

Bottom of 6:

Heart of the order up for the Curve, Ryan Houston warming in the bullpen.

Nate McLouth takes 3 balls and then a called strike. He pops up to Hattig on the 3-1 pitch. Eldred hammers the 1-0 a mile high and deep to left. Godwin is back, and the wind holds it up. Godwin catches it. Evans grounds out to Hattig on the second pitch.

3 up 3 down, 10 pitches (91 total)

2-0 F-Cats after 5.5 innings. 9 outs to go. I've got to go for a while. Can someone take over?

We join the Curve-Fisher Cats game in the top of the seventh.

The score is X-X, New Hampshire.
Vermilyea now pitching with two runners inherited, on first and second. Rosario had pitched the first 6 innings until now. Paulino, a good bunter, fouls off his first two attempts. He lays one down on 0-2, and it works. Sac bunt, second and third, one out. A base hit from Skrehot and this game is probably tied. The 1-2 pitch is swung on and missed, strike three! Two down in the seventh.

Some "Hawaiian Punch" coming in, as Vermilyea got both his men out. Brandon League (a Series MVP candidate) is coming in. To be continued.

Ugh. I meant to replace X-X with 2-0. I didn't know the score at the time, so I put in some placeholders. It is 2-0.

League's first pitch to Duffy is slammed onto Maple Street, but foul. Phew. 0-1 count, as Murphy calms himself down in the booth. 0-2 on a great slider. The 0-2 is a check swing, and he went! Call it a strikeout.

Stretch time, 2-zip for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Six outs to go. Do you believe?

Homerun inning here in the bottom of the seventh. Will someone win a two-hour cruise?

Rosario's line: 6 IP, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K (missed the hits - I think 3 or 4). 0.68 ERA in his last four starts.
3394 in attendance.

JFG strikes out for the hat trick.
Hattig fouls off a few at 1-2, then a fly out to centre.
I missed the last at bat, but it was a 1-2-3 inning.

2-0 after seven. No cruise.

I think Rosario has fully recovered from the surgery.

Top 8th:

League pitches to the 2-3-4 hitters.
First, Moriarty: Ball one, then ball two. A foul, then a ball high. The 3-1 is an automatic strike, then the full count is taken up high for ball four.
[1XX,0] McClouth batting. He grounds one and it's a double play!
[XXX,2] The 1-2 to Eldred is high and away. 2-2. Swing and a grounder to Hattig. Uses some man-strength to get it to first in time.

No runs, no hits, none left after the DP.

Yes, Virginia, it is still 2-0 NH. Did everyone get the idea of the [1XX,0] meaning man on first, nobody out? It's easier to type that.

Just working on my technique for Syracuse in 2005. ;)

Note: Rosario gave up three hits. Altoona only has 3 in the game.

Bottom 8th:

DeJong is not warming up. League might pitch the 9th. Anyone else excited?
[XXX,0] Singleton grounds out.
[XXX,1] Chiaffredo breaks his bat on a groundout.
[XXX,2] Snyder also grounds out.

Ninth inning, folks! This is it! League will probably pitch.

Good ol' Tom Evans takes a strike. Then another. The 0-2 is a swinging strike! Two outs to go?

I said, do you BELIEVE?

That ? should be a !, of course.

Hattig's 2-run homer looking big now.

Fisher Cats are gonna win the championship and I'm 3 scoreless innings away from 140$. This is like the best day of my life guys.

I believe!

Testify!

2-1 count here on Cortes. Fouled back, 2-2. Big chopper to 2B. Rich gets it and call it a 4-3 groundout!

ONE OUT LEFT.

I BELIEVE.

I love Terry Adams right now.

Sadler vs. League.

Outside, ball one.
Swung on and missed, strike one.
Check swing, strike TWO!

Outside, ball two. Damn.
The 2-2 is grounded to Rich, and Sadler...beats the throw. Damn again.

STRIKEOUT!!!!!

Ronnie Paulino is now batting. Damn, I can hardly type. Please forgive all typos.

League's first pitch is a fastball, strike one.
Outside, 1-1.
Strike two called!

And the pitch...swung on and missed! What is a Fisher Cat? A champion, that's what!

MY CONNECTION ISN'T AWFUL ANYMORE!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

DON'T HURT LEAGUE! PLEASE GOD DON'T HURT LEAGUE!

I am swinging around in my chair right now, doing the worst swivel-chair dance ever!

First championship in the minors for Toronto since Myrtle Beach in 1992.

Great stuff!

Thanks Rob and Mike (and others) for providing updates! Much appreciated!

= (AA version)

I arrive back at the radio and turn it on. The first words are: "Fisher Cats are Eastern League champions".

Thanks for the save, Brandon League and Rob.

This concludes BBRadio's coverage of the Jays' minor league season this year in fitting fashion. Thanks to everyone who contributed: Rob, 6-4-3, Coach, #2JBrumfield, Ryan Lind, Jordan, Robert Dudek, Alex Obal, and a few who I may have forgotten.

Indeed, thanks to all for the updates.

League is the MVP. I think we can all expect some great things from this 21-year old

This concludes BBRadio's coverage of the Jays' minor league season this year

Not quite yet. Ladies, gentlemen, lurkers, and spyware bots: The Most Valuable Player of the Eastern League championships of 2004 is....Brandon League!

And, the first season of BBRadio is now over, with a championship. We'll see you all here next year, when six talented teams will try and duplicate the success of the Fisher Cats. Comgratulations to Brandon League and the rest of the team, especially Terry Adams. ;)

For a cast of tens, thank you for refreshing our page. See you in 2005.

So, does anyone think Basso will be coach/manager in Syracuse/Toronto next year?

Great work, Rob. Thought I'd join the "cast of tens" in congratulating you.

So, does anyone think Basso will be coach/manager in Syracuse/Toronto next year?

I don't know, Rob. Marty Pevey has also done a great job, though he had a depleted roster to work with this year. They are both very capable leaders and teachers, and if there's an opening in the majors, both are excellent candidates. Don't forget Omar Malave, who was reassigned from Syracuse to Dunedin this season and merely won FSL Manager of the Year honours. The organization is strong top to bottom.