Back in 1993, the New York Yankees ended a very un-Bronx-like skein of four straight losing seasons to burst back onto the scene of baseball's winning franchises with an 88-74 mark, good for second place just seven games behind the eventual World Champion Blue Jays.

It had also been 12 years since a playoff appearance for the pinstriped crew, but that year the torch was passed from Toronto and after a cruising to a division-best 70-43 mark in the strike-shortened 1994 season, the Yanks have been in the playoffs each season since, capturing six pennants and four titles.

Corey Koskie had a much better night at the plate yesterday than he's had in a little while; in honor of that, and to hopefully let some of that Picture of the Day mojo keep him hot (and if you don't believe that it works, our most recent Photos of the Day have been Chacin, Brantley and Rios), here's Mister Wheat, the Kid from Anola, Corey Koskie:

A lunchtime treat for us, today, as the Jays and Rays face off before hopping onto planes and jetting out of town. No home team TV coverage, but you can tune in the Fan on the radio and let Jerry tell you all about it.

Josh Towers vs. Doug Waechter, first pitch at 12:37.

Sorry for the delay; NFH's game report just arrived at Batter's Box HQ via FedEx, in a torn manilla envelope:

Only one game was played last night. That game was on Internet radio. The fact that it was a Dunedin game makes the previous sentence a Fort Myers Miracle.

The second game of the series is tonight. Chacin faces Kazmir for the second time this season.

According to this press release the Blue Jays have given manager John Gibbons a two year contract extension.

Consequently, I’ve a tendency to be unhappy
You see the thoughts in my head
All the words that were said
All the blues and the reds get to me

When I visited the Fisher Cats in Binghamton recently I had a chance to talk with Canadian pitcher Vince Perkins, as well as some of the other pitchers.

From Bauxite Kevin Pataky, we have another great pinch-hit Photo of the Day. Says Kevin:

"We went to the Jays Welcome Home Luncheon on Friday. I got some good pictures of the guys in there too. My favorite is of Gus Chacin holding up his fist with his EL Championship ring on. When I commented on the ring's size, he took it off and flipped it to me. Upon review, the thing looks like a Super Bowl Ring. The top is all encrusted in diamonds wrapped around a Fisher Cat head. His Name and number were carved on the side. It was really well done."

The Blue Jays rode a six-run sixth inning and a key error by The Prettier Alex Gonzalez to a 7-5 win over the Devil Rays. Ted Lilly got the win thanks to six innings of solid work, despite an ugly start to the seventh that saw him depart after giving up a three-run homer to rookie Jonny Gomes. The bullpen put in solid work to see him home.

For this session, I will be paying particular attention to Jason Frasor and Brandon League. Your comments on how they look, and any other bullpen topic, would be welcome here.

In a reverse of yesterday's report, the Jay's affiliates won 4 out of 5 games.

For whatever reason -- or in some cases, lack of viable reason -- various Bauxites have clamored for the head of the GM over the past several months. Well, finally, it's happened ... the Jays released the only GM on the active roster, and you all are invited pay your respects to Crash as we ponder the immutable baseball question hinted at in the immortal All-Steinbrenner Yankees sketch when the Boss hosted Saturday Night Live.

What would a team entirely made up of GMs look like, anyway? Well, it's certainly stuffed with Gregs and Georges ...

When Greg Myers came back to the Jays after a decade wandering the majors, I concluded my welcome with the words "Greg Myers, it's great to have you back."

Let me begin this farewell by saying Crash, it's sad to see you go.