The six North American based teams gave up fifty six runs in seven games.  The only team to win was Las Vegas who could out muscle their opponent.  Bright spots were a 17 year old pitcher in the DSL who pitched five hitless innings; Jesse Carlson pitched well; Brian Jeroloman hit a home run; Ryan Goins got some hits; Carlos Perez hit a home run; Jake Marisnick got another couple of hits.

Title says it all. Brad Mills has been recalled.

The closest game the full season affiliates played saw them lose by 6. Auburn managed the only win and 3 teams were in varying states of action but failed to complete their games.

You might have heard ... a really good, somewhat stultifyingly annoying ballplayer, who will probably be a controversial Hall of Fame inductee in 10 or 12 years, hit his 600th career home run yesterday. He was once in the conversation for Greatest Shortstop of All Time and is arguably still the Greatest Third Baseman in the storied history of the Yankees. But Alex Rodriguez reaching this milestone? Apparently, not very many people actually, you know, care.

Various reports say this is because of the 'roid era, while others claim it has become more de riguer in baseball circles to reach what once was hallowed ground. I admit it, I don't remember a thing about Sosa's or Bonds' 600th dinger, or even Griffey's, which in baseball terms, just happened about 12 minutes ago. (Willie, Henry and the Babe were all before my time.)

So today's Questions of the Day: Do you care at all about A-Rod hitting this homer? Should we? If not, why not? And, just for the heckuvit, will any oher active players get there? (And if the answer to that last one is "no," does that change your thinking to the other questions?)

The biggest news from the minors didn’t come on the field yesterday, but came off of it when it was announced that the Jays decided to promote JP Arencibia to fill in for John Buck, who was forced to the 15-day DL after taking a foul ball off his thumb. While Las Vegas, perhaps missing one of their star bats, lost big to Memphis, New Hampshire shut out their opposition, while Dunedin won a slugfest. The Lugnuts were shut out, but Auburn doubled Vermont and the GCL Blue Jays won a tight affair against the GCL Pirates.

Jonathan Paul Arencibia has been called up to Baseball North to fill in for the injured John Buck according to the National Post.  A foul tip off the bat of "Mr. 600 Homers*" cut the thumb on Buck's throwing hand and he has been placed on the 15-day disabled list.

I was in Boston for the Ontario long weekend and I attended two games at Fenway Park, both Red Sox walk-off wins.  Both wins came at the expense of the Detroit Tigers whose bullpen was exposed in these games after Jose Valverde had to throw over fifty pitches on Friday to nail down a win for the Tigers.

Obviously Fenway Park is a busy place, they have had over 600 sell-outs in a row.  The aisles are narrow and the seats are small as you would expect with an old park.  There are obstructed seats back in the grandstand so you have to be careful in ordering tickets.  I went with tickets from stubhub and they are not cheap, you have to pay around $120-$150 for a decent seat.

The Jays have the Rays this weekend. The Yankees have the Red Sox. They'll try not to look past each other as Shaun Marcum takes on Phil Hughes today.

The highlights were Las Vegas' plate discipline, a Dunedin shutout and an Auburn explosion with the bats.  The low lights were an extra innings loss and a doubleheader sweep.

A.J. Burnett and Brandon Morrow have been compared quite a few times this season, so last night's match-up was something of a dream come true for all the Comparers out there.

Weather and scheduling meant the farm only played three games last night (plus the DSL). Vegas did its best Blue Jays impression, winning on the strength of a huge inning, and Auburn did its best Edwin Encarnacion impression, losing because of a crapload of errors. Also: now that the deadline is passed and John Buck is still in Toronto, is it time to resurrect the old FREE ARENCIBIA!?

Dewayne Wise gives a textbook example of how to move a runner along in this edition of the POTD!

DeWayne Wise squares up to bunt.

Got all that other stuff out of the way - the trade deadline, the deeply irritating Cleveland team. It's show-time.

Some mighty nice days on the farm as two stud pitchers started and won while a number of top prospects (and former top prospects) swung the big bats.

Ever wonder what it's really like to throw out the first pitch at a Blue Jays home game? Ever wonder what's going through the inevitably petrified mind of those who are fortunate (?) enough to do so?

Well thanks to the blogosphere, the wonderful prose of a genuine Canadian blogger who terms herself the "Yarn Harlot," you can now know the answers to these questions and more. (Props and a shout-out to my significantly better half, Sandye Thompson, for sharing this page with me.)

This memoiric essay features phrases like "There would be no actual baseball people involved. This was the plan," the obligatory "It all seemed to be going so well" preceding the equally obligatory "and that's when it all started to go wrong" ... well, you can (and should) read it for yourself.

Our story stars not only the overwhelmed first-pitching Yarn Harlot, but also the antics of what the Harlot terms "a rather large furry Blue Jay" with a Special Guest Star role by none other than Box favorite Brian Tallet.

Seriously, go read it. And if you, your significant other or anyone else in your life is into, you know, knitting and stuff, point them to the Yarn Harlot. She may not pitch much, but she definitely rocks the blogosphere.