You were third in the East last season. And frankly, you've grown really tired of seeing the same team finish on top every year. What to do...

The White-hot Sox are next on the docket. They've won four straight, including a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers. Standings mean nothing this early in the season, but those three games only put Chicago in a tie with Detroit. Both Toronto and Chicago are at 5-4, one game behind a favoured division leader, but the Jays don't have anyone hitting .059 at the top of their lineup.

Aside from Scooter Podsednik's early season woes, the Chisox have a masher at first, a big guy in the bullpen, a legitimate #1 workhorse, and a "dink" in the press box.

On to the Advance Scout!

When Magpie pointed out that today is Greg Maddux's 40th birthday, Rob Pettapiece quickly retorted, "As for birthdays, Maddux shares today (though not the same year) with two other Greg(g)s -- Myers and Zaun. How's that for a coincidence?"

Well, it's "coincidental" enough to spur the following (C'mon, you saw this coming, or at least noticed the graphic, right?) Hall of Names exercise. There have, in fact, been 44 MLB players born on this date, though no Hall of Famers yet. Mr. Maddux will be the first, though a certain Charles Hustle, had he not hustled quite so much OFF the field, would already be there.

Today's date, as noted, produced quite a few long-term more-than-serviceable catchers, three of whom have even compiled ...

Can't complain about much of anything after the Blue Jays took two of three from the first place Red Sox. In Fenway, behind a pair of left-handed starters.

For the first time in 2006 the Blue Jays had an organisational sweep, as the parent club and all four affiliates won yesterday.

Craig wrote an interesting piece on the slowest runners around. It's a good read and the kinds of things that sabermetrics should be about, but often is not.

The Jays win 8 to 4 in Boston and hand old "friend" Boomer Wells the loss.

The farm affiliates had another difficult day, going 1-3, with only those tough 'Nuts of Lansing coming out on top.

Doin' some damage in my own subtle way

The Sox enjoy their home opener, beating the Jays 5 - 3.

Season Four of the BBFL is underway.

A tough day all around for the Jays organization. The minor league teams went 1-3 on Tuesday.

Roy Halladay will miss his next scheduled start according to Sportsnet with a forearm strain. It is not considered to be serious.

It's the first road trip of the season for the Fighting Jays, as they take a trip to Fenway for three games with the Bostonians. Unlike last year and 2003, there will be no 11:06 AM start, as Toronto is not in town during the Boston Marathon this time. Today's game is at 2:05, though, and with that early start time and a busy day (and week) for yours truly, the Scout is not as full of information this time around.

The Red Sox have started off 5-1 this year, and it looks like the Jays will dodge Curt Schilling just as the Bosox won't face Roy Halladay. Unfortunately for Toronto, they have no real edge in any of the pitching matchups this series -- and as good as some of the Blue Jay hitters might be, there are two guys batting 3-4 in Boston who'll have something to say to the Toronto pitching staff.

On to the Advance Scout!

A three-win night for the Blue Jay farm, featuring homers at all levels. Dig it!

Big sluggers get big money