This series could be the very last installment in baseball's Battle of Canada to be played in Toronto, so I intend to show up to both of the weekend games.

I can't take it no more
I can't stand it no more
Who's laughin' at me?

The best way to sum up yesterday’s Debacle at the Dome is this: the Blue Jays scored three more times than the Argonauts did last night -- and they still lost by 6 runs. Get all the gory details from Spencer Fordin, Allan Ryan and Mike Ganter. As Fordin notes, it was a bad day for pitchers at Skydome yesterday.

I can't say it better than Spencer Fordin did. Stop if you've heard this one before: When the Blue Jays and Expos play this weekend, it could well be the final time two Canadian teams square off against each other on Canadian soil. This time, though, it looks like it might be for keeps: the Expos will have a new home next year, and for reasons known only to Selig & Co., the Jays-Expos rematch next weekend takes place in Puerto Rico, not La Belle Province. Nice. Anyway, let's save the eulogies for the funeral. Talented young righty Zach Day goes for Montreal, opposed by Josh Towers. We were talking about sad four-word phrases the other day, and here's another one: "Leadoff DH Howie Clark." And yes, Josh Phelps once again is watching from the bench. It's already been a looong summer.

It's Ted Lilly versus John Halama in a game that started ... let's see, three minutes ago. Play ball!

The Royals have finally traded CF Carlos Beltran -- to the Astros in a three-team trade. The A's get RP Octavio Dotel from the Astros. The Royals get 3B Mark Teahen and P Mike Wood from the A's and C Joe Buck from the Astros. (Source: Lee Sinins)

Someone said this deserved its own thread, so there it is. Beltran to Houston, Dotel to Oakland, kids to Kansas City. Discuss.

It affects you in the most peculiar way
Dull day don't seem pretty
We've said all that there is to say.

The Kent Williams Birthday Charm is at five years and counting, making us look smart for forecasting a win last night. Spencer Fordin, Mike Ganter, and Mark Zwolinski have all the details of last night’s 2-1, extra-inning victory, with additional commentary from Richard Griffin.

Sorry, today's roundup became corrupted and can't be restored. It is an ex-thread.

Apologies to author Mike Moffatt and everyone whose comments were eaten by the latest annoying Greymatter glitch. Repairs and rebuilds are complete, so things are supposed to be stable again, but we're already investigating software alternatives. That will be a major project, which won't happen overnight. In the meantime, thanks for your patience. Feel free to make this a Hijack Central.

As promised, we have the second of two pieces by Ryan Levy of tamu-and-baseball.com on draftees from Texas A&M University. Today's piece is on sandwhich pick Zack Jackson. Enjoy everyone!

Why will Tampa Bay's franchise-record 12-game winning streak crash to a halt tonight? Not just because Roy Halladay takes the mound tonight against Victor Zambrano, and not just because Frank "Leadoff Homer" Menechino is atop the lineup. It's because it's Coach's birthday, and as Ryan Lind points out at Post #14 therein, Kent's riding a four-year winning streak. Top that, Mr. Piniella.

It's a great day for a man I'm honoured to call a mentor and a friend. Happy Birthday to Coach, without whom none of us would be here right now.

There Is No Cabal, but if there were Coach would be its Kim Il-Sung. Hail to the Great Leader!

As first reported by Gerry McDonald, the Jays have called up 2002 4th round pick Adam Peterson. According to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats press release, in 28.1 innings of work, Peterson has only given up 20 hits and 10 walks while striking out 38. He should be a valuable addition to the Jays bullpen.

Hey, our buddies from Tampa are in town! Let's go greet 'em in old-fashioned Cheer Club style.

You know me, I'm like into the clean stuff
Like PAC-MAN, and like, I don't know

Pop quiz: which of the following outlandish statements is false?

A. Tampa Bay comes into this game riding an 11-game winning streak.
B. Statistically, Blue Jays starters are outperforming Yankees starters.
C. Statistically, Blue Jays relievers are outperforming Braves and Cubs relievers.
D. The Blue Jays leader in Win Shares Above Average is Jason Frasor.
E. Chris Gomez is starting at first base for Toronto tonight.

That's right, everyone's favourite pink-haired economist is in Toronto this week. Who's up for a get-together before Sunday's game?