Five wins as the Dunedin Jays game was suspended.  New Hampshire had a big win to keep them in the playoff hunt as Kyle Yates delivered a huge start.  New Hampshire are playing their playoff rival Portland and Ricky Romero couldn't help the team on Friday making Saturdays game even more important.  Yates shut down Portland as the Fisher Cats built a big lead and cruised to the win.  Auburn also won to strengthen their playoff hopes.  Syracuse won in the bottom of the ninth, John Tolisano propelled the GCL Jays to a win and Lansing wins in a team effort.  

Toronto’s affiliates played not one, but two, double-headers last night to give fans an eight-game menu to appease their palate. The teams split both twin billings and Toronto’s other four affiliates went 3-1 on the evening. The multitude of games means there were many outstanding performers yesterday, from Triple-A players hoping to make it back to the big leagues to high-round GCL prospects.

Seems an obvious set of initials has been overlooked in our Hall of Names journeying ... ballplayers with a moniker shortened to "B.S.," a great and powerful pair of letters, initially speaking, which of course, anyone can tell you, stands for ...

This time you get to be a casting director, instead of a manager.

It's a pitcher's week, and Marc Rzepczynski set the tone for the evening with an overpowering performance in Auburn. Adam Lind replied nicely for the hitters in the second game of a rare Chief double-dip sweep. The farm affiliates went 6-2.

So the Jays are nine games out of the wild card. But, liberated from the pressure that accompanies being in serious playoff contention, they still have an opportunity to cause mischief in the AL West race. The Angels' lead over Seattle is down to two games.

Toronto will see an Angels team that has received an infusion of youth since last week. A rejuvenated Ervin Santana, a healthy Howie Kendrick and the much-hyped Brandon Wood are all in the house.

Congratulations to the Austin Senators and the Trembling WIlburys on being the first BBFL teams of the year to clinch playoff spots.

A walk-off homer, a big ninth-inning rally and two double digit runs totals were the highlights of a 5-1 day for the farm affiliates.

Rangers win tonight after putting up a *30* spot on the Orioles. When I first saw the score on ESPN I thought it was a preseason football score. WOW.

The Rangers 8th and 9th hitters each have 7 RBIs.

That can't help the O's pythaogoras!

Tango today published fascinating work on DIPS and pitcher BABIP, of obvious relevance to those who try to sort out the importance of FIP/DIPS measures vs. ERA in the evaluation of pitchers.

A 3-4 night in the minors.

Tango is asking for the input of fans on the defensive capabilities of the players they watch regularly.  I am sure that Bauxites will be happy to help him out.  Click on the link to go to the ballot for the Jay defenders.

The number 10 was a key theme in last night's action.  Among the highlights were a no-hit bid, an overtime thriller and a long losing streak finally coming to an end as the affiliates went 4-0 on the night.  Lansing and Auburn were washed out.

The recent Greatest Padre poll ("spoiler" alert: Gwynn, and big) brings to mind this thought ... what franchise can build the best lineup made up of players best known for what they did with other teams?

In other words ...

Next up, it's the A's, who are coming off a 4-2 homestand against the AL Central's bottom feeders. Their pitching will be a stiffer challenge than it was the last time the Jays saw them, as Dan Haren and a certain righthander are both scheduled to start, and the Athletics bullpen is almost at full strength again.