How have the Jays been vs the league at each position and are things improving? This is a big question for 2012 and beyond. Is JPA's 98 OPS+ enough for a catcher? What about Encarnacion's 113 OPS+ at DH?

Dating at least to "Casey at the Bat," baseball has, more than any other North American sporting event, inspired a fair amount of poetry. (You could say this is the art form of going fron "bat" to "verse.")

Today, sample the work of veteran Bauxite Rusty Priske, whose poem "Thrill Of" is part of his online collection, and who knows?, maybe part of his next book. (His first book, Rusty Priske: Trapeze Artist is available for preview on the site linked above.)

So in this thread, Bauxites -- consider it the "Arts & Letters" section of the site -- give shout-out feedback to Bauxite Poet Laureate Rusty ... name your own favorite baseball-themed poens -- and if you have heard from the muse of baseball yourownsellf, let us know right here!

Consider Brandon Morrow.

A slow day on the farm, as the Jays' affiliates go 2-5 despite some nice pitching performances.

More than 60 Ks from the Farm’s hurlers, including  8 for Ybarra and 7 for Bongiavanni, could only achieve a W/L split.  Talley slammed a Slam for Dunedin.

The Jays take on Tampa Bay for a rare Friday to Monday, four game series. This series will survive hurricane Irene while other east coast series are being rearranged to avoid hurricane-outs.

DeWayne Wise has been claimed by the Jays on waivers to fill the CF hole. Colby Rasmus will go on the DL tomorrow. I guess Wise rated higher than Darin Mastroianni who has been left to his major league memories in Las Vegas. But seriously bball12 might have a point here, why didn't the Jays recall Mastro? It is not a vote of confidence in Mastro.

John Farrell is on the one day DL, he has been diagnosed with pneumonia. Under doctors orders Farrell will miss today's game and will probably be back tomorrow, but like all of us, he is day-to-day. Don Wakamatsu is in charge tonight.

A few days ago Farrell thought this team could win 88 games, I hope that doesn't mean the Jays play all the veterans in September to pad the team's record.

Four wins in seven tries for the affiliates on Thursday.

Jim Thome is the Cleveland Indians' all-time career home run leader with 334.

Now, Thome has been traded, via waiver claim for a PTBNL, to ... the Cleveland Indians!

Maybe the latest 600-homer guy can bring his career full-ciricle now and retire with the Tribe ... in the playoffs?

The ballot is now ready:

http://www.tangotiger.net/scout/

Thanks for participating!

What are the Blue Jays up to?

Mike Lavery at TheBaseballPage.com has an interesting take on what's up in The Mind of Anthopolous and even previews the 2012 Jay lineup. Give it a read and weigh in ... whatchathink, Bauxites?

Drew Hutchison and Noah Syndergaard made impressive debuts at higher levels, adding to what Nestor Molina had done on Tuesday.  Even Kyle Drabek had a decent start.

The Associated Press says long-time Baltimore Orioles pitcher and former Blue Jay Mike Flanagan was found dead outside his Maryland home yesterday.  He was 59.

Mike Flanagan was a member of the Blue Jays from 1987 to 1990.

New Hampshire and Dunedin were your Tuesday night winners in a 2-4 effort on the farm.  The lone Canadian club in the system had a horrendous night in Oregon.

Today's POTD looks at a Bauxite fan favourite and a couple of former Jays with St. Louis earlier this season.

Royals reliever Tim Collins shown on Crown Vision prior to his entrance to the mound against Oakland May 8.

It has happened, Aaron Hill is gone, along with John McDonald for Kelly Johnson via the Jays website.