I'll just cut to the chase, since this is really what you want to hear: J.P. Arencibia had a huge night, going 3-3 with 2 homers, a double and 2 walks. No matter what else happened, it was a good night for the affiliates.

Strong pitching and weak hitting was a theme in the minors on Sunday, as the four affiliates allowed just 10 runs in five games yet still only won two of 'em.

Only one win for the affiliates, a big come from behind, ninth inning, win by Dunedin.  Justin Jackson was 2-3 with three RBI's.  It's a very small sample but in the three games since coming off the DL Jackson is 7-9 with no strikeouts.  

Sorry for the lateness of the report, but some of us had to work early, early on the first official day of the long weekend. Las Vegas and New Hampshire won, while Dunedin took two losses in a double-header. Lansing was rained out.

Las Vegas finally get good pitching from the starter and the relievers in the same game and win a game in the land of the delta blues.  New Hampshire lost despite two more hits by Brad Emaus.  Lansing split a doubleheader with the win coming on another good start by Henderson Alvarez.

Winning in Memphis
Winning with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Winning in Memphis
But do I really feel the way I feel

Only two games on Wednesday night thanks to the rain.  But the two teams that did play both featured starts by pitchers who began the year in the Blue Jays rotation.  One was great while the other struggled with command. 

That's the good news.  Las Vegas, New Hampshire and Lansing could not muster a hit with a runner in scoring position but one of them still managed to get a win on a 1-3 night for the affiliates.  Let's go down to Junior's Farm, shall we?

And to be honest with you, when the farm goes 0-3, I'm just not all that motivated to be clever.

The 51s romped while the Fisher Cats were one-hit by a top prospect in a 2-1 day for the affiliates.

I have never been to Las Vegas but I hear people walk the strip to see the sights.  On Saturday there was a lot of walking off the strip, Las Vegas hitters walked ten times.  They walked three times in the first, and scored three runs, and they won the game in the tenth with the always exciting four walk inning.  The other three affiliates took the "L".  Mark Rzepczynski pitched OK but not good enough.  BJ Ryan took the loss in Dunedin and Tim Collins gave up some runs.  Lansing were never in it although Kenny Wilson stayed hot.

The top two farm teams combined for 32 runs and two wins. 'Nuff said. Oh, and can you remember a time when three separate Jays farm hands had five hits a piece in one night?

Las Vegas lost despite a good start from Brad Mills but the other three affiliates won.  Al Quintana hit a grand slam for the Fisher Cats, Tim Collins got the win for the D-Jays to outshine Casey Janssen and BJ Ryan, and Henderson Alvarez pitched a complete game to lead the Lugnuts.  Darin Mastroianni got things started and finished for Dunedin.

Of all the reasons why the AAA club's move to Las Vegas was bad for the organization, the most egregious is the fact that 10:05 start times really impact the writing of a minor league recap.  I don't know if the Jays considered these ramifications, but I'd like to think they'll right this wrong as soon as possible.

Oh, right:  the games.  The affiliates went 2-3.

The three affiliates in action all had early leads and they blew them.  Only one of them managed to get in the win column.  Still, there was one great start turned in and a number of fine offensive performances.

The affiliates went 2-2 on the evening, in what I believe to be the most successful Monday Minor League Update so far this year.