... the great Jim "Catfish" Hunter spun a perfect game for the Oakland A's, topping the powerful (Carew/Killebrew/Oliva) Minnesota Twins, 4-0.

So, it's story time here at Batter's Box. Have you ever seen a perfect game? Or even a no-hitter? That means, live -- not "Oh, yeah, I saw Lenny Barker's perfecto on TV" (which I did, but that don't count here!) ... 

No-hitters have always fascinated me. So tell your story of seeing one, or sometimes just as interesting, almost seeing one (Dave Stieb fans out there?) ... My own painful story of almost seeing one is a bit different ...

Five runs in one Inning ? I'm a bit perturbed, these things are precious this year, five is practically a weeks worth, they shouldn't go using them all up at once.

A rain-out and a day off led to a 1-1 day.  Dunedin won with ten runs but three of the runs scored on bases-loaded walks, two on bases-loaded hit batters and two on wild pitches.  New Hampshire were blasted, they had one hit and gave up ten runs. 

Well, at least the Jays banged out 10 hits last night - only the third time since April 20th.

Kyle Ginley's first start in the Florida State League was one to remember, Marc Rzepczynski's Midwest League debut wasn't too shabby either and Kane Davis had nothing to be ashamed of.  However, the affiliates only managed to win just one of four on the evening.

A 3-1 night in the minors.

I go away for a week and come back and the Jays have something like a 1 ERA over the last week or so. Last night was a 1-0 victory over the White Sox for the first 4 game sweep in 5 years.

It's early days yet, but that Evil Ghost that haunted 2005 seems to have risen from the old crypt and is loose in the Rogers Centre again.

You know what makes you feel like an idiot?  When you accidentally delete a Minor League Report, mere seconds before publishing it.  No, I hadn't saved a draft.  Yes, I know how important it is to do so.  Thanks for mentioning it.

Five runs? Break up the Jays!

It wasn’t a very memorable night on the farm as the affiliates went 1-3 and were outscored 26-20 over the four games. Despite scoring twenty runs there weren’t too many noteworthy performances by the offence and several starters struggled, including one who didn’t make it out of the third inning. In between two strikeouts Travis Snider showed he might be slowly breaking out of his slump. Also, somewhat sad news out of Lehigh Valley as a former Blue Jay finds himself out of work.

Not sure if you noticed, but this week, His Aruban Largeness Sidney Ponson reappeared in the big leagues, throwing eight excellent innings in a win (actually his second start) for the Rangers over the Royals.

There have been 26 men to have played in the major leagues to this point with the given first or middle name "Sidney," and though Ponson may well be the biggest, that doesn't mean he's the best. Actually, if you search BaseballReference.com, you'll find ...

Only one win on the night, by Syracuse, and that involved Tracy Thorpe escaping from a bases loaded, no out jam.  Davis Romero continued to pitch well and Russ Adams was the offensive hero.  Jacob Butler drve in four runs for New Hampshire who lost by a lot.  The bullpen lost the game for Dunedin while Lansing were unable to come back from an early deficit.

No more excuses. If the Jays want to get back in this, they have to make a statement on this seven-game homestand against two division leaders. First on the chopping block are Ozzie's boys, led by their surprisingly competent starting rotation - and a surprising choice of leadoff hitter.

Whew.