The lower level teams each played a doubleheader on Monday, going 3-1. New Hampshire got rained out for the second straight day, and Lansing had the day off for the second straight day, while Marc Rzepczynski continued his fine season for Las Vegas.

The Jays' affiliates had an off-day, a postponement, and a suspension. In the remaining 3 games, they went 2-1.

The Yankees just completed a season of dominance in New York, taking the season series from the Mets, 6-0. In that last game, Mariano Rivera trotted out of the bullpen in the eighth inning to nail down his 110th career save of more than three outs -- and, oh by the way, the 500th save of his magnificent, Cooperstown-bound career.

So here's the question ... Trevor Hoffman is still the all-time saves leader. Rich Gossage and Rollie Fingers are already in the Hall for their work in what was a different era for closers. Bruce Sutter recently joined them, perhaps representing the first real one-inning closer, or at least the natural transition from Hoyt Wilhelm and the Goose to Dennis Eckersley and Lee Smith.

But Rivera has done it on the world's biggest stage for his entire career -- none of the others mentioned were one-team guys, much less New York guys. Rivera has done it in the post-season, arguably better than anyone else ever has (with a respectful nod to Luis Gonzalez, natch).

So there's your question ... Mariano Rivera ... the greatest closer (career, not just one season or we'll get lost in the minutiae of really-goods like John Hiller and remember-him?s like Bobby Thigpen)  in major league baseball history?

And if not him, who?

Dunedin won a doubleheader 3-1.  That is they won game one 3-1 and game two by the same score.  Every other affiliate lost.   Fabio Castro had another poor start as Toronto's surplus of young pitchers shrinks again.  Mills, Castro, Cecil, and Purcey have each had their struggles this season.  This is common with young pitchers which is why the Jays say they are targetting 2010.  Dave Delucci had two more hits and is now 6-11 in his last three games, with four of those hits being of the extra base variety.

The All-Star Break appears on the horizon - after the current homestand concludes, the team has one last road trip (to the Bronx, Tampa, and Baltimore.)

The Jays' affiliates had more rain-outs (2) than wins (1) on the night. Enough said.

It was a second consecutive good day on the farm with the affiliates posting a 4-2 record and the only defeats occurring in the Gulf Coast League and Double-A. Las Vegas won behind some strong relief pitching after David Purcey did not last long in his start. New Hampshire lost, but Dunedin won with a big inning and Lansing pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the eighth. Strong pitching lead the Doubledays to victory while the Gulf Coast League Jays lost after a disastrous first four batters to the game.

Everyone won (seriously, the affiliates actually had a collectively-solid night) except the young kids in the Gulf Coast League... and they lost in extra innings.

5 starting pitchers DL'd plus our current closer with the $10 million closer now a mop up man?  No problem!

Blowouts were the rule rather than the exception but the exception featured arguably the best pitching performance turned in by a Jays farmhand this season.  It was a 3-2 night for the affiliates with Lansing enjoying the day off, save for one Lugnut who was at the Midwest League All-Star Game.

I paid my second ever visit to Manchester to catch the opener of a series between the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and the Erie Sea Wolves in AA action.  Timing in life is everything.  I missed a walk off win by the F-Cats the night before and this one was decided in the late going as well. 

Adam Loewen hit his first home run of the season among his three hits.  Another Canadian, Randy Schwartz, also homered for Auburn.  Those home runs helped the only two affiliates in action to wins.  Dunedin used their strong bullpen to pitch five shutout innings waiting for the offense to break out.  After being one hit on Sunday, Auburn two hit Jamestown on Monday.

Yup, still just 1 game out of the playoffs and just 10 games from the mid-season point.

Another depressing night on the farm as the affiliates went 1-3 after blowing two big leads and narrowly avoiding a third.

Every autumn, there are arguments about what the "Most Valuable Player" award means, or should mean, and all the familiar arguments about winning teams, lineup protection and hitters vs. pitchers are trotted out ... among so many others. So let's settle this -- okay, at least set up the argument -- in June, rather than waiting to see if anyone wins 25 games or knocks in 150 runs or whatever ...

Here's the question: Who is the most valuable player in the game today, right now? And here are the parameters: If every player in the game was a free agent entered into a common draft, and you had the first pick, who would you take?

Some things to consider ... Age, salary, general health. So for instance, is Albert Pujols, age 29 and making $14M, worth more than David Wright, age 27 and making $5M? Or do you actually gamble on a rookie-wage youngster? Or ... do you prefer to fill a "tougher" position like catcher with Victor Martinez (Late edit: OK, OK, I should have written "Joe Mauer." Would you believe it was  typo?) or shortstop with Hanley Ramirez?

Make your pick. And defend it!