Tonight the farm went 0-5, highlighted by another strong performance from Andy Burns.  Chad Jenkins had his first career AAA start, and Dustin McGowan pitched in back-to-back games for the first time in nearly 7 years.

Now we're up to bat — a little bit of laughs, a little bit of pain...

The lowlights were a pair of one-run losses and a shutout. The highlight was a come-from-behind victory.

And all I want from tomorrow is to get it better than today.

A 4-0 record by the affiliates is a good way to start the week as the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays begin another season.

This afternoon the farm went 1-3, with the only win coming from Buffalo.  Dustin McGowan continued to struggle, and further-delay his arrival to Toronto.  As well, Dunedin faced a former starting pitcher with mlb success, trying to make it back to the majors.

And how do I choose and where do I draw the line between truth and necessary pain?
And how do I know and where do I get my belief that things will be all right again?

Ricky Romero had something to take comfort from in his start for Buffalo. He pitched six innings and his last four were good. Many people wonder what's wrong with Ricky? I remember seeing Romero pitch in AA back in 2008. That was when Romero was being looked at as a bust, his ERA in AA was hovering around 5. Romero's WHIP in AA, over parts of four seasons was 1.56. Romero made 52 starts in AA, that is a full two seasons worth. Everyone was wondering why was Romero a bust? I was sitting beside a Blue Jay scout at the game and he said to me, after one inning, "he has the tools, lets see how he uses them". Romero has good pitches, he pitches well when he has some idea of where the pitches are going. Something clicked for Romero in 2009 and he turned from a bust to a full-time starter. If it happened in 2009 I think it can happen again. I do think it is mainly mental and I also think that Ricky needs to have some success, then build on that to restore his confidence and slow down his mind.

Buffalo lost their game when Chad Beck gave up a walk-off home run in the ninth. New Hampshire were well beaten. Dunedin's game was suspended in the second inning. Lansing took a big early lead and held on, barely, for the win.

Earlier this year I presented a top 10 list of minor league pitchers according to Age-Adjusted Dominance Ratio - a stat that I developed last year as a quick method of assessing a pitcher's dominance by weighing strikeouts against walks, HBP. HR and Hits.

In the outskirts and in the fringes, in the corner and out of the grip.

Deck McGuire pitched five hitless innings on Friday. He also pitched a sixth inning in which he gave up five runs on six hits. That was the second inning, he recovered to go four more. Adam Loewen hit a grand slam as New Hampshire won. Buffalo also won behind Dave Bush. Lansing had to get the 16 year opposing starter out of the game before they could take the lead and hold on for the win. The only losers were the D Jays who led by two runs in the ninth. Andy Burns and Kevin Pillar combined to go 0-9.

In the city late tonight - double feature, black and white - "Bitter Tears" and "Taxi to the Klo".

A rehabbing Josh Johnson was touched for six earned runs on eight hits in four and two thirds innings. Not really a surprise given he was poor before he got hurt. Dustin McGowan turned in a solid two innings. Buffalo fell to Crash Davis’ old team. New Hampshire won in Portland as first round flameout Kevin Ahrens went four for four. Starter Marcus Walden went six allowing a single run on four hits. Dunedin joined New Hampshire in the win column beating the Tiger High-A affiliate. Jesse Hernandez was solid in this one, going six innings and allowing just the one run. Lansing lost to the San Diego Padres affiliate. The affiliates were 2-2.

Make future plans, don't dream about yesterday, hey c'mon, turn this thing around.

Tongiht the farm went 1-3, highlighted by strong performances from Ryan Goins, KC Hobson, and Daniel Norris.  While 2012 first round pick Marcus Stroman, had a start to forget.