It was Jeff Hoffman night in Dunedin, as the 2014 first round draft pick made his professional debut. I’m telling ya folks, this is the kinda night you circle on a calendar as a minor league baseball junkie. However, like this minor league update, it leaves a lot to be desired.

The affiliates went 3-1 against on Tuesday with only Dunedin failing to join the winner's circle.

The affiliates won three out of four Monday and were just a run shy of having a perfect day on the farm.

Another awful road trip finds the Blue Jays needing a big homestand here to get back into the AL East race. They dropped two of three in Baltimore before pulling a no-show in Houston in a four-game set to drop their record to 17-22, dead last in the division but only five games back of the division-leading Yankees. The Angels lost in Baltimore Sunday but still took two out of three from the Orioles to stay above .500 at 19-18, 5-1/2 games behind the Astros for first place in the AL West.

All the affiliates split their weekend series. Matt Boyd, Chase De Jong pitched really well. Chris Dickerson slammed his way to a first inning lead for Buffalo. Daniel Norris pitched reasonably well.

It seems a lot of us are thinking the same thing right about now...

Here's a look in pictures at the Blue Jays' latest acquisition Ronald Torreyes. I saw him in action as a member of the Fresno Grizzlies during a game against the host Tacoma Rainiers in a Pacific Coast League contest May 3.


Ronald Torreyes — wearing #1 — greets Max Stassi after a solo home run that tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning.

Clean sweep for the affiliates. Hooray! Andy Burns was clutch. Shane Opitz went deep and the Fisher Cats played defense. Dunedin hit the baseball and J.D. Davis had a big game in Lansing. Your affiliates were 4-0!

Game on? Ok...

Box contributor Eephus, who just happens to have my cellphone number, has sent me a text message. In which he asks a question aimed at Older Fellows like myself.

"Did 1999 Doc Halladay look anything like Aaron Sanchez now?"

The affiliates won just one out of four Tuesday night. Losses for the three second-place teams on the scoreboard were justified because they left a small village on the basepaths.

"Wow! How many home runs are you gonna hit with that bat?"

"Let's see... we play thirty games, ten at-bats a game... three thousand."

*whistles*

A 2-2 Monday night on the farm was highlighted by strong performances from two recent former Jays.

The Fightin' Blue Jays and the Fightin' Orioles begin round three at Camden Yards. Toronto completed a 4-2 homestand with series victories against New York and Boston to get to .500 on the season at 16-16. The Orioles are 13-16 after losing five of six in New York, including three of four to the Yankees. Their road trip was extended to nine games after the Baltimore riots forced their series against Tampa Bay to be played at Tropicana Field instead. The O's did take two of three against Tampa as the 'home team'.

Only two teams played on Sunday and both loss. Buffalo lost a tight game for the third straight day, this one a 1-0 loss that wasted a good start from Andrew Albers. New Hampshire took a 4-0 lead but lost 11-4.