We may have very different thoughts on this draft in five years if Jenkins reaches the majors quickly and pitches well and Paxton struggles after being drafted next year and flounders in the low minors. However, at this point in time, due to an unprecedented failure to sign their top picks, there is no grade to give the Jays other than an F (or perhaps a generous D-).

The Jays' affiliates need help! Too bad they won't be getting it from three of their top 4 picks, as James Paxton, Jake Eliopolous, and Jake Barrett failed to sign on draft deadline day.

A 3-2 night for the affiliates featured a pair of excellent starts and another nice performance by a Double-A speed demon.

The New Hampshire game would have been fun to go to.  Randy Boone pitched a one hitter over seven innings and Danny Farquhar twice had to get out of bases loaded jams with a couple of timely double plays.  Lansing and Auburn played games where all four teams reached double digits in hits, Auburn came out ahead where it matters, Lansing did not.  Dunedin and the GCL Jays each split a double-header, Dunedin were no-hit in game one and needed an Adam Loewen home run to win game two.  Another Canadian, Michael Crouse had a nice day for the GCL Jays. Las Vegas lost despite home runs from Travis Snider and Brian Dopirak.

The big boys were 0-3 on the night but the short-season teams picked up the slack with three wins. Dunedin's game was postponed due to rain.

It was a quiet night on the farm with two extra-inning losses, a victory in Double-A and a game where Auburn almost should have left their bats at home. There were a couple of strong starts, but there were some difficulties in the pen and a 3-run ninth inning gave away one of the games. Although he didn’t get a star, Kevin Ahrens hit a homer and drew a pair of walks.

David Cooper had a big night, three hits including a two run game winning home run in the ninth inning.  Lansing won in extra innings, or rather South Bend lost it as the Lugnuts last five runs were unearned.  The GCL Jays won behind a three hitter.  Las Vegas, Dunedin and Auburn each lost.

The affiliates could easily have gone 6-0 but they had to settle for a split as two games got away in extra innings and another was lost in the late going.  The hitting with runners in scoring position was abysmal but there were a number of good performances turned in on the hill.

Las Vegas had 19 hits in their win.  Angel Sanchez had three of them and 7 RBI's including a grand slam.  Sanchez has been hot recently with the bat, hot streak or new level of performance?  Time will tell.  Dunedin as a team had three hits but still won on a Jesus Gonzalez home run.  Lansing and the GCL Jays both lost in extra innings.

Sorry for the delay, folks.  Only one win on Sunday but some impressive performances from the cream of the crop helped ease the pain.

I was in New Hampshire a couple of weeks ago to see two games and, with real life interfering, I am only now getting around to a scouting report.  In addition to my scouting report I spoke with Gary Cathcart, manager of the Fisher Cats, and Tom Signore, pitching coach.  I have added their comments to my own.

New Hampshire found their bats and scored early and often to reverse their lack of hitting in the previous two games.  Dunedin won behind good pitching by Chuck Huggins and a home run from John Tolisano.  Auburn also won in a group effort.  GCL Jays lost a squeeker but Las Vegas and Lansing were easy losers.

Another lousy Friday night with two wins out of six.

The affiliates won both games that went into extra innings but lost every game that didn’t. Fabio Castro and Scott Gracey turned in strong starts while Henderson Alvarez did not. Andrew Liebel took another loss despite not pitching too badly. Brian Dopirak had a forgettable night while two fast-rising relievers pitched scoreless innings. However, the biggest story may have been in New Hampshire where the Fisher Cats came within two outs of being no-hit.

Kenny Rodriguez and Zach Dials combined on a one-hitter as New Hampshire were the only bright spot on this night.  Las Vegas and Auburn each had given up double digit runs by the third inning and Dunedin and Lansing were behind early too but not by as much.  David Purcey had a bad night, Zach Stewart made his Blue Jay debut.  To take our minds off the carnage Farm Director Dick Scott answered a few  quick questions for Batters Box.