How could I forget that our beloved skipper went to the All-Star Game?  Well, somehow I did.  Belatedly, here's a Photo of the Day shout-out to John Gibbons, with some collateral Molina action:

We did something like this once before, but honestly, I can't find the thread, so let's start from scratch. Here's your challenge:

Using last (family) name-to-first (given) name overlaps, what is the longest string of players you can build? For instance, there's Mark Corey Thurman Munson, tying together the former Pittsburgh RHRP Mark Corey, recent Jay RHRP Corey Thurman and Yankee captain and catcher Thurman Munson. But that's just three guys ... surely someone can do better?

The only rules are these:

At the all-star break Syracuse are last in their division, again, a source of great disappointment for the players, the teams few fans in Syracuse, and the Blue Jay organization and their fans.  In broad terms, to be successful a baseball team needs to be above average in two or three of hitting, pitching and fielding.  The Chiefs are above average in none of these categories and, as a result, the team's record at the break is 40-50, eleven games back of the division leader.

The Cincinnati Reds have traded Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez and Ryan Wagner to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Bill Bray, Gary Majewski, Royce Clayton, Brendan Harris, and Daryl Thompson.

It was the All-Star Break for both the Triple-A and Double-A teams last night, leaving four games (and four wins). It's easy for the organization to sweep when Syracuse doesn't play. (And if you can believe it, not one of the six teams played on Tuesday. Let's see if we still remember how to do this.)

Another off-day, another non-Jay featured in Photo of the Day.  This time it's All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez of the Detroit Tigers:

With the All-Star Game now in our rearview mirror, perhaps we should salute the 2006 ASG MVP with a look back at an old Hall of Names classic, The Youngs and the Rest List.

But instead, let's look to build a team of players who are literally All-Star names -- though it turns out this might be harder than we originally planned, so be prepared to help ...

April was bad. May was good. June? Not so much.

While the Jays are off for a handful of days for the 'break' part of the All-Star Break, Photo of the Day is pleased to present a few non-Jay All-Star notables, beginning with Vladimir Guerrero:

The All-Star Break nominally marks the halfway point of the season, but in the BBFL only eight weeks remain before the playoffs. With only a four-day schedule this week and the 25-inning minimum still in effect, owners must insure that their pitchers will see action.

Now that the Jays have stopped losing to Kansas City and we have all emerged, trembling, from under our bedcovers, here's my $.02 on the Jays' first half. As usual, all opinions are exclusively my own, but I'm happy to share if you like.

Since our last update at the end of May, the Lugnuts have completed the first half of the season by qualifying for the playoffs in second place just behind West Michigan. There have been a number of personnel changes on the club, particularly to the pitching staff.

The Blue Jay farm chalks up 3 wins against 2 losses.

As of Monday afternoon Dunedin sat tied for first place in the West Division of the Florida State League with the Tampa Yankees. They also finished the first-half in a tie for first place with Minnesota’s affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle. Dunedin lost their last three games of the year to finish at 38-32. Fort Myers also last their last game, blowing a chance to win the West Division, as Dunedin won the tiebreaker.

Screeching metal guitar and giant flames leaping up the scoreboards at the All-Star Game!  That's right, Bo Junior is an All-Star, and he's the fifth and last Jays All-Star to be honored by Photo of the Day.

Here's B.J. Ryan about to deliver the goods: