After 54 games, 1/3 of the season, the Jays sit at 28-26. They've won four in a row, their second longest streak of the season (they also swept a 2-gamer with Boston, had Bautista unleash his 5 HR weekend against the Twins and took the first from Detroit.) After the next two with Cleveland (Mitch Talbot, 3.77 FIP, Josh Tomlin, 4.42 FIP) they travel to Baltimore and Kansas City for 3 game sets before a difficult stretch to reach the All-Star Break - 3 each against Baltimore and Boston, before a 10 game road trip in the NL, where they get one of if not the most difficult schedule - Cincinnati, St. Louis, Atlanta (plus a rain out against Detroit). They then get six at home against Pittsburgh and Philly, before closing out the first half with 3 at Boston and 4 at Cleveland. So, if you're scoring at home, after this upcoming road trip they play 6 games in 5 weeks agaisnt sub-500 teams, and those teams are a combined 8 games under. Suffice it to say, this is a make or break point in the season.

So, how's the team doing at the third mark then?

We get to witness history this year.

I was at the RC tonight for the Jays win, thanks to a JP Arencibia bomb.  I had excellent seats, thak you vendor, and I had a great view of BJ Upton's ninth inning shot to the wall.  From behind the plate it looked like his earlier home run, I thought it was gone and we were looking at a tied game.  It was a relief to see Davis cruising to the wall watching the ball into his glove.  Upton's hit came after Nix and Arencibia botched a foul pop-up.  Normally that would be Nix's ball but Arencibia was right under it and pulled off at the last minute.

The affiliates swept in convincing fashion, winning 29-9. Somebody even hit a home run! You'll have to keep reading to find out who (hint: it was Anthony Gose. And like 3 other guys.)

I haven't done a cross-post with my blog in a while. Never a bad time for some self-promotion. Hope you enjoy!

Stringer extrodinnaire, Eddie Michels, sent me yet another nice shot of Jayson Nix in his final rehab appearance in the Dunedin game against Jupiter on Sunday.  Sportsnet (noted via BlueBirdBanter) says Nix is being activated from the DL today and that David Cooper is going back to Las Vegas. 

Nix went 1 for 4 today with a BB and 2 RBIs. 

We don't usually post daily threads on the weekend so things like Bautista's epic three-homer game (after four homers in six games) sometimes don't get the recognition they deserve. After the jump, some of the crazy Bautista stats as researched by Bauxites.

While watching tonight's game, I couldn't help but feel that the Jays are trying to win games with one hand tied behind their collective backs. They just aren't very good and there are a number of players who are in roles they can't handle. I welcome readers to give their own opinions/gripes, here are mine ...

Adam Lind went 4-4 as the Jays won against the Rays.  The rubber match is a day game today, at 1:10.

Lind is on fire at the moment, he is hitting over .500 on the road trip and he has moved his batting average over .300.  The Jays need him because Jose Bautista is out until the weekend and no-one else on the team is "hot".  Consider:

Juan Rivera did have a hit last night but his batting average is .215.

Halfway to Joe D.
Okay, twenty-eight is when it may be worth starting to pay attention.

That's the length of Andre Ethier's current hitting streak, and exactly half as long as the legendary Joe D'iMaggio's streak back in '41. It's already the second-longest streak in the illustrious history of the Brooklyn/LA Dodgers. (Quick, a thousand cuttlefish says you can't name who's first, at 31, without looking it up).

So Bauxites, how far does Andre's streak extend?

With about 20 games played in the 2011 season, two Blue Jays farm club teams are in the cellar in their respective league divisions, one in second place and one on top.  Las Vegas, suffering a current nine game losing streak is at the foot of the Pacific Coast League Pacific South Division with a 9 – 13  record.  Likewise, Dunedin, riding a 1 game winning streak, but  hurting from a weak start of the season, is 8 – 13, and at the bottom of the Florida State League North Division.

On brighter notes, Lansing is tops in the Eastern Division of the Midwest League with a 14 – 7  record and a three game winning streak.  And at 11 – 8 New Hampshire started out strong and are in second place in the Eastern League Eastern Division, despite a two game losing streak.

It struck me the other day that the Blue Jays staff doesn't have a lot of experience.

Specifically, I wondered if Ricky Romero, with just two seasons under his belt, might actually be second on the staff in career innings pitched.

A big win last night for the Jays, with David Price and James Shields lined up for today and tomorrow a win in game one was important.

Jayson Nix has gone on the DL after Sean Rodriguez repositioned his lower body, Mike McCoy is back up.

Jose Bautista got the Jays to extra innings, he scored all four runs scored in the regulation nine.  Rajai Davis started his rehab last night, as did Scott Podsednik and DeWayne Wise.  It can't come too soon as Corey Patterson has returned to his being Corey Patterson and his batting average is down to .214. 

Brad Emaus has been dispatched to Colorado, in exchange for RHP Chris Malone and either cash or a PTBNL.

Following up on a off topic post in a previous thread... Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported a few hours ago that Brad Emaus was designated for assignment by the Mets.