Four affiliates scored 8 runs or more each and they all won.  Syracuse scored two, and almost won.

I'm not quite sure what it was that got me thinking about the name "Joel" -- maybe it was the acquisition  (and insertion into the rotation) of ex-phenom Joel Pineiro by the Cardinals. Maybe it was the debut with the Nationals of young righty Joel Hanrahan, whose two-game career OPS+ (347!) and ERA+ (130) portend great things. Heck, maybe I just heard a song on the radio by Billy Joel.

Regardless, it was off to BaseballReference.com, where I found that a search for the name "Joel" currently has 25 returns -- and 25 is a magic number in the baseball world. The question is, can we flip that 25 into a passable 25-man roster? Let's see ...

A pitcher's duel, a walk off homer and a pair of 6 run deficits were erased as the affliates posted a 4-2 record on the night.

It wasn’t a good evening for hitters down on the farm, as the affiliates played seven games thanks to a Dunedin doubleheader and managed to score only thirteen runs between them. Syracuse and the GCL Blue Jays, the highest and lowest affiliates, were each shutout, while three other games had the Jays farm teams scoring 1, 2 and 2 runs. When the high point is a pair of four run performances, the result is a forgettable 1-6 record on the evening.

The Rangers fell in April and never got up. Last week, they decided to clean house and devote the remainder of the season to figuring out what kind of talent they have in-house. So, goodbye to Kenny Lofton, Eric Gagne and Mark Teixeira, all of whom fetched a respectable return on the trade market. And hello to the first wave of prospects, led by Jason Botts and the guy from Atlanta with the long name.

With one month to go in the minor league year, we turn our attention back to the hitters. It won't be long until we sharpen our pencils and replace the batteries in our wireless mice to prepare for the annual end of year prospect review.

Meanwhile, the farm affiliates went 2-2 on Thursday with 2 Florida rainouts. An encouraging performance from Ricky Romero highlighted the day's events.

JP Ricciardi on the Fan590 this morning announced that the Jays had designated Royce Clayton for assignment after yesterdays game.  Per JP, John McDonald had won the shortstop job and the Jays did not feel they should keep Clayton around in a backup role.  JP said that the Jays would make a roster move before Fridays game, presumably to call-up Rey Olmedo.

Great performances, mainly from the pitchers, were the key to a 4-2 day for the farm affiliates.

And he got the start in Syracuse.

Well, it's August -- the trade deadline has passed, we are well into that time of the season known as "the pennant race," even closing in on that related time called "the stretch drive."

But it's August ...

Teixeira to the Braves. Castillo to the Mets. Lohse to the Phillies. Betemit to the Yankees. Who's next?  Whatever happens, we won't get fooled again...

Here is your thread to discuss the trades of the day.

It was a night from hell for the top 4 affiliates but the short-season affiliates saved the day.   

Friend of Da Box Jamey Newberg reports:

"According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.com, Texas and Atlanta have agreed in principal on a trade that will send Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay to the Braves for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, and two pitching prospects, pending a review of the players’ medical records."

Confirmation will be posted when we have it in hand. [Here it is: Atlanta || D/FW]

Your thoughts?

With five weeks left the BBFL is coming down to the wire. Although the Austin Senators seem to be cruising to the Alomar title, things are not so clear cut in the other divisions. In Barfield, the eastern Shore Birds are being chased by Schroendinger's Bat and Baseball North, while the Carter leading Trembling WIlburys are still trying to shake off the Garth Iorg Gremlins.