Given the economic situation I thought I'd keep an eye on the Jays attendance this year.  We'd all like the payroll to go back up next year, and I figure this years attendance will be a factor in that decision.

Two new Blue Jays made their Toronto debuts in the weekend series against the Chicago White Sox.  Not only do Bryan Bullington and Brian Burres have the same first name (though spelled differently) and the same initials, their surnames have the same first two letters, they're also pitchers and they're both 28 years old.   Their arrivals give Toronto three pitchers named Brian, joining Brian Tallet.  No truth to the rumour he'll change his name from Tallet to Bullet.  Now that would be cool.  Brian Bullet!  Kinda like this guy.

This is just more of the hard-hitting analysis you've come to expect here and we're proud to pass on the savings to you in these challenging economic times.

I was watching the game last night and Campbell or Mulliniks seemed extremely impressed about something. I'm not sure exactly what - I wasn't giving them my undivided attention. But I thought they said something to the effect that Kevin Millwood has an exceptionally good record in games where he throws more than 100 pitches.

UPDATED! Woo-hoo!

The American League leading Toronto Blue Jays head to Minnesota to face the upstart Twins. Let's just hope the Jays aren't stuck for the next two months waiting for a recount. On to the first Advance Scout of the season!

Wednesday is opening day for the minor leagues.  Earlier this week we looked at the rosters, today Marc Hulet and I look at the key questions for each affiliate.

Okay, it's time for the annual edition of Batter's Box's The Contest, whereby you predict various things about the forthcoming 2009 season -- standings, awards, achievements, etc. Your answers -- well, the correct ones anyway -- earn you points on a carefully-considered, awesomely well-thought-out (translation: randomly-assigned) basis.

The Bauxite who compiles the highest number of points will be awarded the title of Unbelieveably Awesome Basebally Predictor-Head of the Internets and win a standard Batter's Box No-Prize, which in the past has included a cuttlefish, multiple cuttlefish and once, if I recall correctly, an entire school of cuttlefish. Note: your deadline for entering The Contest is Monday, April 13 at 5 p.m. -- but enter early, for each day you wait to post your predictions past Wednesday, April 8, 10 points will be deducted from your score. Unless you have a really excellent excuse that we buy, fictional or otherwise. (See, it really is random!)

Anyway, on with The Contest '09 ... your 38 predictions-to-be-made, worth up to 700 points in total, are as follows ...

Cleverly, I waited until the roster had been set before I started to write this. No point in previewing a bunch of guys who won't be on the roster, right?

Is there an economist in the house?

Help me -> help everyone -> help you

http://www.tangotiger.net/survey/

Everyone at Batter's Box is shocked and depressed to learn of the untimely passing of John Brattain.

Season previews have been a popular staple here on Batter's Box for the past several years, and given that it's March 20, some Bauxites are starting to ask, "Hey, where the *&^% are the team-by-team season previews?"

Well, we're doing things a little differently this year, but it all starts on Monday. And we come to you now with an invitation to help. Updated (again) 3/30.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, O'Bauxite Nation!  Ireland - the home of Guinness Beer where an occasional pint will probably be consumed today.  Where U2, Padraig Harrington, and Pierce Brosnan hail from.  Where sports like hurling, gaelic football, rugby and soccer dominate the sports landscape.  Ireland is not known as a baseball power yet but the sport has been picking up momentum as detailed in the DVD "The Emerald Diamond".

Time for a little story-telling, debate and meanderings down memory lane. In another thread this week, there was some mention of Roy Halladay's dominant nature (oh hell, that's been true every week this site has existed, hasn't it?) with sidebar mentions of Steve Carlton's 1972 season and others of that ilk. Which got me to thinking -- and now, gets me to asking, all ye loyal readers and posters in Bauxite Nation -- what's the most dominant pitcher season you recall ever seeing?

For the record, now -- screw the "records," now. Nobody say anything about statistical dominance or best ERA+ or anything of that nature. No mentions of Christy Mathewson or Ed Walsh unless there are truly elderly Bauxites out there who actually saw Addie Joss and Pete Alexander pitch. For me, there are four names that come immediately to mind ...

On the heels of the release of Vegas' over/unders, I got to thinking: Bauxites are pretty smart, think you can out-predict the oddsmakers?

Update: contest entry closes Monday, so get your picks in!

Update 2: Contest closed! Thanks for all the entries everybody!

The good folks in Vegas have come out with the Win total Over/Unders for 2009.