Dick Scott is the Blue Jays Director of Minor League Operations and has made several visits to Da Box in the past.  Dick sat down with Batters Box last week to talk about the Jays minor league system and to specifically talk about twenty of the Jays players.  Finally Dick told Da Box why the Jays are shutting down their Pulaski team for 2007. 

I didn't get any photographs of A.J. Burnett until late in the season, so you're going to see him a little more often as the Jays' season and my season of Photo of the Day wind down.  Here he is, about to pitch the ball:

Not all prospects worth following can be found on our top 30 list. Some are rising, and others, once noteworthy, have to work to get it back. We have chosen five of each.

Okay, I promise: no Gilmore Girls references today. Instead, here's a photograph of Jeremy Accardo discussing strategy with Bengie Molina:

Jays lose, and Curt Schilling beats Tampa. Back in third place...

Monday, we took a look at Prospects #30-#21 in the Blue Jay farm system. Yesterday, it was #20-#11. Now, we get to the part you've all been waiting for.

The top 10 classic rock songs of all time are...Never mind. There was not much debate among the minor league crew about the best of the best in the Jay system, with one exception. Who is the better Romero, Ricky or Davis? We enlisted ouija boards, oracles and Jordan Furlong to assist us in resolving this difficult question. We are pleased to advise that with their assistance, no wars were fought and no bones were broken as we came to a decision.

Shaun Marcum, Casey Janssen, Dustin McGowan and Brandon League, mainstays from last year's top 10 list, are no longer eligible due to major league service time.

No, they're not in the same picture together.

I was in a Coffee Time searching for some appropriate Gilmore Girls season premiere junk food (don't worry, I time-slipped it and watched it after the Jays game), and what did they have on the shelf? A wonderful, wonderful doughnut. Unlike the other doughnuts in the store that had professional-looking plaques, this one had its name written in black marker on a piece of masking tape at the front of the shelf: BLUE JAYS. Needless to say, I bought it and photographed it for your entertainment. Oh yeah, and then I ate it while watching Gilmore Girls.

But today's real picture is of Troy Glaus, by request. See if you can figure out which picture is which:

Do the second-place (second-place!) Jays feel like helping the Twins? With 156 down and 6 to go, they can. Minnesota sits just 1 game behind Detroit and two of three by Toronto in this series could lead to Aaron Gleeman boasting about three division championships in four years.

But we're talking about the Tigers here. Tied for the best record in the majors with the Yankees, they clinched a playoff spot after beating the Royals on the weekend. This, of course, is the first time they've been in the playoffs since the Collapse of '87. They can -- nay, will -- clinch the division itself this weekend when they host Kansas City, since the season series is "DET 14, KC 1". Until then, however, the Jays face their youngest starter, their oldest starter, and a starter...for whom we have a picture.

On to the Advance Scout!

Jays stroll into second

Yesterday, we looked at prospects #30-#21. We move on today to players who are more familiar.

Marcum had a spectacular game last night; I don't have a picture of him.  But I do have a picture of the guy who called that great game -- Jason Phillips:

It's that time of year again. The minor league crew voted on the top 30 prospects in the Blue Jay farm system after the 2006 season. We are pleased to share our choices, ten daily for the next three days. We begin with nos. 30-21.

The comments are prepared by individual members of the crew and indicated by their initials: G- Gerry , P- Pistol, JG- Jonny German, T- Thomas, R- Rob and MG- Mike Green. Jonny German was again instrumental in providing the statistical information that accompanies the comments.

The Jays pummelled the Pawtucket pitching staff yesterday, and took advantage of some... unorthodox outfield play courtesy of Kevin Youkilis and Wily Mo Pena. They now stand just half a game out of second place...

Who's coming down to the final home game with me?

Today's photo is Lyle Overbay at first base:

I'm rolling thunder, pouring rain
I'm coming on like a hurricane
My lightning's flashing across the sky
-- AC/DC, Hell's Bells

It's not overly presumptious to say that the "save" is one of the most overblown statistics in Major League Baseball history.

It's also not a great leap of faith to point out that while pitching the era of Eckersley, Wetteland, Smoltz, Gagne and Rivera, the unassuming Trevor Hoffman -- who has led his league in saves precisely once in 14 big league seasons -- has never been considered "The Man" when it comes to closers.

Until today.