In preparation for the top 30 prospect series which will begin tomorrow, it is helpful to have a sense of the league standards and park factors for each of the affiliates- Syracuse in the International League, New Hampshire in the Eastern League, Dunedin in the Florida State League, Lansing in the Midwest League, Auburn in the New York Penn League and the GCL Jays in the Gulf Coast League.

Back in March, I asked all of you to foresee which teams would improve by 10 games in 2006, and which would decline by 10 games.

There has been a lot of debate about high pitch counts for starters and injury. I thought that it might be useful to step back and look at performance.

Wednesday's 8-5 Jay victory "clinched" at least a .500 season for the squad, which, even after last night's 8-5 loss to the Orioles, is now 81-78 heading into the final series with the Devil Rays.

Only five teams in all of baseball have a better home record than the Toronto 47-31 Rogers Centre mark, but two of them, those pesky Sox and Yanks, are also in the AL East.

Incidentally, the only other 81-78 club in the majors right now is that darling of the National League Central, the Milwaukee Brewers. Perspective alert -- it's all about the competition.

Anyway, is 81 worth, if not celebrating, at least recognizing?

Recent discussion in the Holy Cow! Look at These Numbers thread suggested the possibility of an All-Jewish All-Star team -- or what we call in these here parts, a Hall of Names roster.

And with guys like Sandy Koufax, Al Rosen, Lip Pike, youngster Ryan Braun and former Jay All-Star Shawn Green among those available to populate the lineup, it might turn out to be a fine ballclub ... a club that Mike Green has suggested we call "The Seed of Abraham," but for which a truer baseball name might be "The Milwaukee Hebrewers" ... Okay, maybe as a home city, Milwaukee doesn't so much work there. But we'll do our best in putting together a team we will grit our teeth to call ...

So I'm watching tonight's game, and they decide to have a poll on the most memorable moment of the exercise in frustration that has been the Blue Jays 2007 season. And I went... HUH?

John Lott in the National Post today reports that Mickey Brantley has been told by the Jays that he will not be back.  Lott and Brantley point out that if the Jays say that injuries are the reason for their shortfall this year then how can they hold him accountable.

The reality is probably that the players need a new voice to listen to.  It will be interesting to see if the replacement coach is a potential replacement manager.

The Jays announced their R. Howard Webster Award winners, for the top players at each levels of the minors yesterday.

The divisional races aren't all wrapped up yet, but we have a pretty good idea of who's headed to the post-season.

Shaun Marcum has a torn meniscus in his knee and will have surgery later this week with a 4 to 6 week recovery period.  Here is the Blue Jays upcoming schedule:

Tuesday - Vernon Wells shoulder surgery
Wednesday - Lyle Overbay hand surgery
Thursday - Shaun Marcum - knee surgery

Frank Thomas and Scott Downs are day to day.  John McDonald is back in the lineup Sunday.

A friend of mine at work just had a baby, and several others working on the same floor are due shortly, so a propos of nothing, I thought I'd see what the most popular baby names in the U.S.A. are right now. That, of course, spurred a Hall of Names project ...

Every year, there are a few numbers that just jump off the Sunday sports stats wrapups (okay, these days, off the ESPN.com MLB screen) screaming, in a Harry Carey voice, "Holy Cow!"

Oh, I don't mean the Bonds-73 and McLain-31 types of numbers -- those jump off the page/screen at even the most casual of fan. But in just skimming the nearly-complete 2007 season numbers, I found myself shaking my head a number of times. For instance, did you realize ...

Baseball America will announce their top 20 prospects in each minor league over the next couple of weeks.  The top 20's start Thursday with the Gulf Coast League.  Two Blue Jays are featured, John Tolisano and Kevin Ahrens.  As BA moves through the minor leagues players like Brett Cecil, JP Arencibia, Travis Snider and Kyle Ginley will be looking to make the lists.  Snider will likely be the #1 prospect in the Midwest League.  Robinzon Diaz and Brian Jeroloman have outside chances of being named in the Eastern League and the Florida State League respectively, perhaps Adam Lind in the International League if enough managers saw him play.

The latest on injuries, according to MLB.com:

• Overbay out with a hand injury & will have another surgery
  
• Downs out with a foot injury
• Glaus had successful surgery
• BJ Ryan has begun light throwing
  

For today's assignment, you get to be the Yankee manager in the World Series.  It will be October then, so pretending to be the leader of an Evil Empire should be a piece of cake.