Like the parent club, the affiliates fell a game below .500 in their nine games Tuesday night. The highlights were a couple of shutouts in the upper levels but the lowlights were a doubleheader sweep and a disappointing start to the second half for one of the affiliates. The GCL Blue Jays got an unscheduled day off as they were rained out.

The Blue Jays are back at their nest as they do battle with the Fightin' Phillies for a two-game set and the start of the Troy Tulowitzki era. In case you missed it, here's an Elton John-style infographic of the trade with Colorado.


Features bonus tracks "I Guess That's Why They Call Them The Blue Jays", "Kiss AA" and "1st Place In The Standings".

"Oh dear... kids, tell me when your father stops scratching himself.

...kids?"

"We'll tell you mom."

Jose Reyes & 3 minor leaguers (reported as Jeff Hoffman and  Miguel Castro and Jesus Tinoco) for Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins (now a reliever).

The affiliates played .500 ball on Monday, going 3-3. Dunedin's game in Port Charlotte was rained out. Lansing had the night off.

Buffalo came back from a six run deficit to beat the Red Sox. Matt Hague had a home run and five RBI. Lansing had a home run from Ryan McBroom to squeak out a 2-1 win. Vancouver were the third winner on Sunday.

Dunedin took a 1-0 lead to the ninth and lost in extras. Conner Greene had a nice start. New Hampshire and Bluefield lost not so close games.

The Blue Jays continue their West Coast swing with a stop in Seattle where they will face an old friend.



Mariners lefty J.A. Happ, pitching against Cleveland May 31, will face the Jays for the first time since being sent to Seattle for outfielder Michael Saunders last off-season. Happ compiled a record of 19-20 with a 4.39 earned run average in three seasons with Toronto.

The Vancouver Canadians' hopes of reaching .500 in the first half of the season were dashed by the Tri-City Dust Devils at The Nat Thursday night.



Tri City's Peter Van Gansen signals safe as he slides into third base with one out in the first. Unfortunately for C's third baseman Carl Wise and the rest of the Canadians looking on, the base umpire agreed. Van Gansen would tag up on a sacrifice fly to score the game's first run.

The affiliates were 4-5 on the back of strong pitching down on the farm.

The Vancouver Canadians turned the tables on the Eugene Emeralds by taking four of five at Nat Bailey Stadium this week. That was after Eugene did the same to the C's just over a week ago in Oregon. Here's some notes and photos of the series clinching victory at Nat Bailey Stadium Tuesday night.



C's starter Evan Smith won his second straight game against the Cubs affiliate by extending his scoreless innings streak to 11, pitching six frames of four-hit ball and striking out five.

Four wins and two losses. Daniel Norris and Miguel Castro helped Buffalo win. Lansing and Vancouver won their afternoon games. Bluefield won with lots of hitting. Yeltsin Gudino continued his recent hot streak at the plate.

Dunedin lost despite four hits from Rowdy Tellez and three by Richard Urena. New Hampshire were blown out. The GCL Jays were rained out.

It is well past the mid point of the minor league season so I am late getting to review the season to date performances of some of the top prospects. I have discussed in prior years how evaluators expect one third of a teams prospects to take a leap ahead, a third to fall back and a third to remain unchanged. I will look at the Jays top 30 prospects in this way, or should I say the top 27 prospects as Franklin Barreto, Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin are in Oakland. I finish with some names to watch who were not on the top 30 at the end of last season.

The affliates split their eight games down the middle on Tuesday. Pitching carried the day and it is reflected in today's three star selections.

The Toronto Blue Jays begin their West Coast swing in Oakland as Josh Donaldson looks to make a triumphant return. Brett Lawrie and Kendall Graveman will also look to prove something against their former team.

The Famous Chicken returned to Vancouver for the first time in three years and was coaching first base when the C's had their big inning to win their second straight against the Eugene Emeralds at Nat Bailey Stadium Monday night.



C's starter Tom Robson spins a breaking ball in the first inning. Robson survived a walk in the first and struck out the side in the second as part of a five strikeout performance over three scoreless innings.