Three of the five baseball games on the farm last night went into extra innings, combining for 40 innings. Meanwhile, the two games that didn’t go into extra innings very well could have, as Nashville scored 3 in the 9th inning to take a victory away from Las Vegas. In Auburn, the game was tied going into the 9th inning. Brooklyn scored a run in the 9th to take the lead, before Auburn scored two in the bottom of the inning for a walk-off win.

The weekend suddenly seems a long time ago.

I had this mad idea...

The man wearing number one for the Las Vegas 51's highlighted a perfect 5-0 night on the farm.  Three of the affiliates reached double digits and one just missed while another nearly made it to 20!  No problems with the bats on this night!

Anticipation has a habit to set you up for disappointment in evening entertainment. But who isn't feeling all giddy after the last two series? Like Dave, I'm hopeful that good crowds will show up, and that the Jays will jump on an injury-ravaged opponent coming off a frustrating weekend in the Bronx. Optimism wins!

So earlier today, Dave Rutt posted a really wonderful TDIB thread (check it out) that includes this sentence, looking back at this past weekend ... "First J.P. Arencibia has probably the best debut of any Blue Jay in history, and then the very next day Brandon Morrow pitches probably the best game in Blue Jays history."

And an all-new Box Question of the Day is called forth! Actually, in two parts ... (1) If not JPA, what Jay has had the best debut in team history? (Sidebar: What major league debut is the best ever?) and (2) If not Morrow's, what is the best game pitched in Blue Jay history?

Ready? Go!

Sometimes you want to write about something on the Jays blog that you write for, but your scheduled TDIB is one day removed from the thing you want to write about. That's okay, just write about it anyway!

The farm went 2-3 on Monday night and Las Vegas got an inning of relief from an unexpected source.

The Seattle Mariners have fired manager Don Wakamatsu, pitching coach Rick Adair, and bench coach Ty Van Burkleo.

Carlos Perez showed that JP Arencibia is not the only catcher with some power, Perez doubled and tripled and drove in four runs to pace the only win on the farm.  All the teams above Auburn lost, some badly.  There were some scattered good performances but it has been a sad week on the farm with most teams seeming to hit the skids at the same time.  It's either the dog days or opposite time where the affiliates play badly when the Jays play well.

 

The game looks different in three dimensions. There are things you see in person that you just can't see on the television.

In case you are living under a rock, Brandon Morrow just finished a 1 hit, 2 walk, 1 error 17 strikeout complete game shut out. The single was a weak one that Aaron Hill had and lost, and came with 2 outs in the 9th. After a visit from Cito Morrow managed to strike out Dan Johnson to end the game, and then was assailed unmercifully with shaving cream pies.

It was also, according to Bill James Game Scores, the best start in Blue Jays history, narrowly edging out Roger Clemens. It also narrowly edged Roy Halladay's perfect game for game of the year using the same measure.

That is all.

Who doesn't live for the big hit? The Jays had plenty of them Saturday afternoon as they belted eight homers among their 20 hits in a 17-11 victory at the Rogers Centre.  Jonathan Paul Arencibia was living the dream in his major league debut by hitting two home runs, a double and a single in a 4-for-5 day at the plate.  Aaron Hill also went yard twice while Adam Lind, Lyle Overbay, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista (shocker!!) also put one over the fence.  However, I'll remember this game for another reason after encountering this "learned Jays fan" (not to be confused with this fellow down below because that would be an insult to crash test dummies and all dummies in general!).

Las Vegas and New Hampshire made us on proud on Saturday.  On the rest, we only hope for a better Sunday.  Frustratingly,  only one of the farm clubs has an over .500 winning percentage – New Hampshire at .588 (67-47, tied for the Eastern League East division lead).  The others’ winning percentages are as follows:  Lansing .488, Las Vegas .482, GCL Blue Jays .463, Dunedin .429 and Auburn .367.  Dunedin has clinched the first half playoff spot in the Florida League.

One of the greatest baseball players in the history of the Toronto Blue Jays franchise, having already taken a spin through the New York (NL) circuit, has opted to sign a minor league deal with the most successful MLB franchise of this decade (that's still weird to write), the Boston Red Sox. Delgado is set to report to Triple-A Pawtucket Sunday.

One word: ick.