Okay, this is probably more of a poll question, but I haven't been able to get the [expletive deleted] poll gadget to work for me since early in '09. So anyway  ...

Your Toronto Blue Jays are 16-13 and solidly in third place in the AL East and tied for second in the Wild Card "standings." No doubt about it, they're a real surprise. But in the big picture, now that we're a month into the season, what is THE most surprising ball club in the major leagues this season?

We have MANY options ...

Any idea what kind of odds I could get in Vegas predicting a Jays no-hitter this year?

Bradley Glenn has been one of the Lansing Lugnuts hottest players over the first month.  Glenn turned 23 in April and is in his first full season as a Blue Jay.  Glenn was a 23rd round selection last season out of the University of Arizona, where he played with Brad Mills.  Like Mills Glenn was drafted as a junior but returned to school to complete his degree.

Words from valued Bauxite mamboon in a recent thread:

Right on with the name "Callix Crabbe".  A name like that should automatically earn a 30% bonus on any future contract he gets in baseball.  Callix Crabbe should indeed go down as one of the great names in baseball.  What are some other names that rival ol' Callix?  Can't think of any.

Fabulous question, deserves its own Hall of Names discussion. A few suggestions, not to say rules, as you pursue your best contributions ...

I start this post at a disadvantage because I'm not a subscriber to either ESPN or Baseball America. I'm aware that BA has ongoing previews of the best players available for the upcoming June Draft.  and that Keith law has also weighed in with a Top 100 list. but given that both are not available for free, I must leave any discussion of those expressed opinions to others.

New Hampshire's big day at the plate was the good news.  A one-run loss in regulation and an extra innings heartbreaker were the bad news in a 1-3 night on the farm.

Ernie Harwell has lost his battle with cancer at the age of 92. 

Adam Calderone was the hero in the Fisher Cats big win on Saturday.  Calderone hit a walk-off, two run home run in the bottom of the ninth to complete the Fisher Cats comeback from a four run deficit.

Yesterday, Magpie wondered who would be the next Jays' starter to throw a complete game, noting that it hasn't happened since the Good Doctor was in town. Tonight, it almost happened.

It was a high-scoring night on the farm (mostly for the opponents), as 61 runs were scored between the four games.

Perhaps you heard ... earlier this week, catcher Wilson Ramos of the Minnesota Twins appeared in his first career game, in lieu of the ongoing injury to Joe Mauer. In that debut, Ramos had four base hits, just the twelfth player -- and the very first catcher! -- in major league history to accomplish that feat.

In one of the great quirks of baseball -- which is, of course, filled with great quirks! -- Ramos fills out a full "starting lineup" of these four-hit wonders. Let's meet the, um, "a-four-mentioned" team now as we introduce ...

Gerry has been doing a great job filling the POTD void in my prolonged absence.  Here are some shots of the Jays 9-3 victory over the A's Sunday afternoon at the Rogers Centre.

A couple of big name pitching prospects came up small on Sunday.

Today's subject of the minor league POTD is Henderson Alvarez.  For Alvarez we have photos of the day plus video of the day.  Alvarez is off to another hot start with a 0.37 ERA in four starts for Dunedin.  Alvarez just turned 20 in April and is one of the younger players in the FSL.  Last year Alvarez had a 3.47 ERA in Lansing in 23 starts.

Look, no one said this was going to be easy.