Can you name all four players in these filtered photos?

It wasn't so long ago that four celebrated veteran managers walked off into the sunset, shaking all cares and business from their age and conferring them on younger strengths, so that they, unburdened... okay, enough with the King Lear.

Pitching prospects dominated on a night that saw the affiliates go 3-3.

Sal Fasano is in his second year as a manager.  His first year, last season, was in Lansing, this year he has moved up to AA New Hampshire.  I talked with Fasano last week in Erie.

Lansing and Bluefield had different results in their 10-inning affairs. New Hampshire won, while Dunedin lost. Vancouver was victorious in a high-scoring affair, while Las Vegas lost a blowout.

Some bright flashes on offence, but some heavy K action from the mound (except for Las Vegas) put the night in the win column for Toronto’s farm club teams.  Drabek stumbled mightily in a short-lived appearance.

Las Vegas lost a squeaker in the late innings in a game that received top billing on MILB.com thanks to Brett Cecil squaring off against the Reno Aces. The rest of the affiliates went 2-4.

Any excuse for a new thread! Anyway, Eric Thames is back, and Mike McCoy's frequent flier points are becoming truly awesome. Do you wanna go to the moon? Mike can take you...

There were two off-days, one scheduled and one not, and an extra game from yesterday. Meanwhile Dunedin wrapped up the first half of their season, and Griffin Murphy dazzled in his pro debut.

I spent last weekend in Erie, Pa. to see the Fisher Cats win two of three games from the Erie Seawolves.  This thread covers my observations from the games.  Over the next week I will follow up with interviews of Sal Fasano, pitching coach Pete Walker, hitting coach Justin Mashore, pitcher Chad Jenkins and first baseman Mike McDade.

Yahoo!  Sports encapsulates it this way:

The good news: A Marine lieutenant colonel finally figured out a way for the St. Louis Cardinals to defeat Roy Halladay.

The bad: It involves actually shooting and killing the Philadelphia Phillies ace pitcher with a 68-ton battle tank.

Seriously, go read the story linked above, then come back here and share your thoughts. Bonus points to the Bauxite respondent who can find the most creative way to say "disgusting" and "idiotic."

 

There was a tie game after nine innings which will be completed today.  There was an awful pitching performance, a good pitching performance, a grand slam, a victory in our home and native land, an All-Star Game that featured a Canadian All-Star, a promising start by one of the Jays prominent international signees and a game that had similarities to the parent club's Tuesday night.  It was a 3-4 night on the farm with one game pending.

Yesterday there was a debate raging about how close the Jays are to being a competitive team. Let's examine that question in a little more depth.

Alternate title: The Showchinko. The Showchinkshow?

Justin Nicolino, the Jays' second round pick out of high school in 2010, had a pro debut to remember, as did reliever Blake McFarland.