1/2 the World Series is set up with the Phillies returning for the first time since Joe touched them all. The Rays came oh so close to joining them last night but blew it like the Jays of the early 80's.

Yesterday's All-P.M. Hall of Names team calls to mind the fact that we have done a number of "all-initial" teams including every single double initial from AA through ZZ, as well as GM, PR, JR, MD, TO, BS, MO and JV, among others. Some of these rosters would be quite good -- some, well, not so much. But your challenge, Bauxites ... what initials would form the best possible team? Let us know your candidates ...

For instance, an All-AR squad could include Alex Rodriguez, Aramis Ramirez, Al Rosen, Aaron Rowand, Amos Rusie and Allie Reynolds. (Not to mention one Alexis Rios.)  Who can build a lineup, or even a full roster, to beat that one?

Just before the conversation in a recent thread could veer off into a wildly inappropriate non-basebally political wing-ding, the always-brilliant Mike Green defused it all with a simple comment, "The best PM in recent memory?  Hmm, I vote for this guy." Hard to argue.

But that did call to mind another burning question ... would would a whole team of PMs look like, er, "initially" speaking? We've done tons of all-initial teams previously, and one for Presidents of the United States name-alikes. But what about the erstwhile PMs? Let's find out as we meet ...

The Jays are  announcing this afternoon that they will be bringing back Paul Beeston on an interim basis, to lead the search for a new CEO of the club. Beeston was the club's first employee, and was team president during the glory years, from 1989-1996. From 1997-2002 he served as president and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball. Thanks to various Bauxites for the heads up.

The happiest I've been all post-season was about an hour ago when Matt Stairs took a Jonathan Broxton fastball deep to give the Phillies a 7-5 lead and a 3-1 lead in the NLCS.

Although they were never actually worst that year.

Dick Scott, the Blue Jays Farm Director, joins us in Da Box for his annual post-season review of the farm system.  Last year's interview is here.

These players didn't crack the Batter's Box Top 30 Prospect List but are interesting players to keep an eye on nonetheless.

Anybody here remember Jeff Lahti? A fine RHRP for the Cardinals in the mid-1980s, he saved 19 games for the '85 Redbirds in a bullpen that also included one-time closers like Bill Campbell, Neil Allen, Todd Worrell and Doug Bair. Lahti turns 52 today -- he is the only major league alumnus born on Oct. 8, 1956.

So, um, you think, who cares? Well, it's as good an excuse as any to call to mind that today is also the 52nd anniversary of one of the most famous games ever pitched.

On Tuesday we delivered #30-#21, and yesterday #20-#11. Now, we are proud to present our selections as the top 10 Blue Jay prospects for 2008.

No intro - let's get to it!

The Blue Jays claimed Dirk Hayhurst off waivers from the San Diego Padres on Monday.

It's official, Tom Cheek was #3 on the fan vote this year.

Welcome to the annual installment of Batter's Box's Top 30 Blue Jay prospects.

The minor league system seems to be stronger than it has been in years. This year there were 48 different players that got at least one top 30 vote from the 6 voters in the top 30 prospects. Today we present players #30 to #21.

While we're thinking about common names that haven't yet received the Hall of Names treatment, the exploits of a certain faster-than-Mercury outfielder with Tampa Bay's Rays, one Carl Crawford, reminds us that that appellation has not yet been addressed.

And despite the weak headline above, there aren't a ton of famous Carls from any walk of life -- Jung and Sagan on the science side of things, and "not Ryne" Sandburg from the poetic; then there's Carl Lewis -- maybe we should sign him up as a designated pinch-runner, though that didn't work out too well for Herb Washington back in the day.

Anyhow, let's see how well we can do with an All-Carl of Names squad, then, beginning, as always, with just a few rules ...