The Jays bullpen tried to give this one away, but the Twins defence wouldn't hear of it.

Less than a month to go. What can we look forward to in the next (30 - 2) days?

Dunedin is behind the 8-ball in their best-of-three playoff series against Fort Myers and Auburn gives their fans a nice parting gift in their home finale.

I spoke with the Lansing Lugnuts manager, Clayton McCullough, last week in Lansing.  McCullough talked about his young players and highlighted what has impressed him this season.

The Jays added six players to their roster today.  Brad Wilkerson and Kevin Mench; Shaun Marcum, Scott Richmond and Brian Wolfe; and Curtis Thigpen.  David Purcey takes on the Twins tonight, facing Glen Perkins, he of the sub-4 ERA.

After posting a Q & A feature about major and minor league affilations on their official website last week, the Syracuse Chiefs are about to end their 31-year marriage with the Toronto Blue Jays.  Chiefs president Ron Gersbacher told the Syracuse Post-Standard that the club will be looking for a new major affiliate for 2009.

The regular season is over.  Dunedin and Lansing will be the Jays affiliates that get playoff action this year.

I attended two Lansing Lugnut games last week, both Lansing losses.  The scouting report is below as well as some player comments.  Tomorrow I will have an interview with Lugnut manager Clayton McCullough and on Thursday look for an interview with the Jays minor league roving pitching instructor, Dane Johnson.  The first Lansing Lugnut scouting report is here.

Congratulations to the division winners, Schroedinger's Bat, The Pohnpei Papayas and The Wedding Singers.

Sunday marked the end of the regular season for some while others have to work on Monday as well.  In any event, it was all pretty boring stuff.  But Ricky Romero continued his rejuvenation.

Ooh, you're a holiday
Such a holiday

Well, if you're just playing out the string, might as well make sure that the Yankees are just playing out the string as well. Gives one's life a little bit of purpose...

Anyway, I think I'll share some random predictions regarding the home team and the months ahead.

As per MLB.com, David Eckstein has been dealt to the Diamondbacks for 23 year-old RHP Chad Beck. 

This MLU contains four victories, including one of the walk-off variety; strong relief pitching and timely hitting. It also contains pitchers batting, managers being ejected, one major leaguer on rehab, another waiting for September 1 and hoping for a recall and a third trying to correct what has largely been a disappointing season. It doesn’t contain any news about Travis Snider.

An uneventful night on the farm, Dunedin and Auburn won.  Syracuse and New Hampshire each allowed nine runs.  Brad Mills and Marc Rzepczynski got ready for their playoff starts.

Faithful Bauxite AWeb writes in another thread, "Will there be a 'gone but not forgotten' thread for Stairs? I'll miss the big-little guy, taking a big swing, chugging around the bases and the outfield, and seemingly doing it without complaint."

So here you go. Share your lasting impressions of the man here -- favorite memories, if-onlies, whatever. And remember, as it says on the tombstone of W.C. Fields, "All in all, I'd rather be in Philadelphia."