The Jays continue their quest for revenge - a three-game sweep of the Tigers in their park - tonight. Fans in Canada will have radio coverage to look forward to, or else pay nearly 6 dollars for pay-per-view. Our American colleagues with Extra Innings will have a chance to see the game for no additional charge. Gitz, I expect a full report.

Nate Robertson, who pitched very well in relief in Game #2 at Skydome for a 4-inning save, will make his first start of the season against Ted Lilly, a deceptive lefthander with a sneaky fastball.

Okay, since we need a topic for this space, we're going to have our first Batter's Box Improvisational Thread. I'm going to start with a short opening paragraph of a story; subsequent posters will add to the story with short paragraphs of their own, taking in whateevr semi-plausible directions eems appropriate, to create what will either be a masterpiece of improvisational community fiction or one big ugly mess. Keep it clean and fun.

As pointed out by a few people, there have been a couple of moves in the last 24 hours. Our Sports Central reports that Sean Douglass has cleared waivers and has been sent down to Syracuse. Jason Frasor, recently acquired in the Jayson Werth trade, has been called up. This follows the move that sent Simon Pond to AAA and Chad Hermansen to the big club.

In short: Hermansen and Frasor up, Pond and Douglass down. What's your take? When will we see Pond and Douglass in Toronto next?

If you've been hanging around Da Box the last two weeks, you've no doubt tired of me talking about Extra Innings, and how great the world suddenly is because of it. (The Extra Innings package, that is, not my relentless jabbering about it.) Truth be told, it's a gift from my wife, who wants my transition from "carefree bum" to "father" to be as easy as possible when she gives birth sometime in July. No doubt the idea of me becoming a father sends shivers through loyal Bauxites, and in that we are kindred spirits, because not a day goes by that I do not shake with fear at some point.

Neither no optician, tell me what I ought to see
No one tells you nothing, even when you know they know
But they tell you what you should do
They don't like to see you grow

Break up the Tigers! After having won two more games already than they won all last April, the Detroit Tabbies are enjoying their brief lead atop the AL standings. Perhaps they're even happy to see the return of a Toronto squad that rolled over and played dead for them in a three-game opening series at Skydome last week. If so, that would be a mistake.

It's no surprise to see Billie's Bashers and gashouse gorillas atop the early leaderboard in what is now called the Alomar Division of the BBFL, but they have company. Chatsworth Halos and hannibal's cannibals share top spot after the first long "week" of head-to-head play. Our defending champion, the renamed Austin Senators, stumbled out of the gate, much like the real Jays, Phillies and Mariners. It is, of course, a long season, and these early results don't mean much.

I don’t pretend to know what you want
When you come around and spin my top
Time and again, time and again
No fire where I lit my spark
I am not afraid of the dark

"Hooking... hooking... there she goes!"

Try to read that line without imagining the voice of Jerry Howarth, now in his 23rd year of broadcasting Blue Jays baseball. We're delighted to have him step into Da Box to answer your questions.

Summer, thankfully, approaches. (How do I know? We're all bitching about Tosca's pitching changes.) And with summer comes summer vacations and summer reading lists - for many, their time to reacquaint themselves with the printed word.

I recently had a request from a reader for a list of books that were "must reads" for someone who is just emerging into baseball fanaticism. I stumbled through a couple of selections, but wasn't satisfied with what I could come up with on short notice. So I sat down and thought about it, and pared the list to five essentials. If possible, I'd like the other readers to add their own selections. Remember, this list isn't for experts, and not for complete neophytes, but for the fan who is starting to become seriously absorbed in the game.

Three Red Sox homeruns were too much for the Jays to overcome in a 4-1 loss.

As if Pedro's medium octane wasn't enough yesterday, today the Jays face the supreme octane of Curt Schilling, who is making his Red Sox Fenway Park debut. Miguel Batista takes the mound (and gives it back each half inning) for the Jays.

Batista again struggled in the first inning, walking three and allowing an RBI double to Manny Ramirez. It's a holiday, so I expect the board will be lite today, but fire away if you're near your computer. It's a magnificent day here in the "rainy" Northwest: plenty of sun, temps in the high 70s. I'm enjoying it, and I hope your day is as pleasant.

The Jays picked up their first win on Friday with a 10-5 decision over the Red Sox.

TV clickers in Toronto will get a workout this evening as a rare matchup of Cy Young winners interests a few of us even more than the hockey game downtown. Roy Halladay and Pedro Martinez both bring question marks with them to the Fenway mound; Doc gave up three homers to the Tigers on Opening Day, and Pedro's fastball was missing early against Baltimore. Roy's got that weird April split, and there are concerns about Martinez' shoulder. I'm expecting them both to pitch well, deep into the game.

It's the starting nine for the Jays; Cesar Crespo (!) leads off for the Sox and Kapler, Bellhorn and Reese are also in the depleted lineup. Let's hope the Jays' bats stay in a good groove and the fielders make the routine plays. A series win would be sweet.

Welcome to 2004! The minor-league baseball season got underway last night, and all four of the Blue Jays’ top farm teams saw action. We’ve got pitching duels, slugfests, extra-inning nail-biters and a brand-new fun feature to track the best prospects in the system. Batter’s Box is very happy to renew its in-depth coverage of Toronto’s minor-league system. Here we go: