If you jumped ship on everybody every time they go bad, you'd never field a team in this league. (John Gibbons, May 28 2005.

Toronto Blue Jays optioned RHP Dave Bush to Triple-A Syracuse and recalled RHP Chad Gaudin from Triple-A Syracuse. (May 29, 2005)

I think this move is nuts on a number of levels...(Me, about six hours ago.)

Doc Halladay is masterful as the good guys win it 4-0.

Halladay got the complete game 99 pitch, two hitter getting 10 Ks and giving up no walks. The two hits were a bunt and a dribbler to third that Hillenbrand couldn't get out of his glove.

After struggling through the All-Z and All-Q teams recently, with what was actually a nice break for a Y squad that had 93 former major leaguers including three Hall of Famers to choose from, we now head over to the daunting task of forming a team from the 92 men (and just two Hall of Famers) whose last or family name begins with the letter "V."

I don't want this
remember that
I'll never forget where your at
don't let the days go by

Because not even a speeding car could have picked them off last night. 5 stolen bases for the 'Nuts and a solid spot start for one of my favourite sleepers in New Hampshire. 3 (and a half?) wins for the affiliates.

Okay, we're not exactly sure what happened here -- let's call this the Invisible Game Thread, the Thread that Fell Into the Sixth Dimension, the Thread That Wasn't There, what have you. Anyway. Twins win 4-3, Dave Bush loses again, a ninth-inning comeback falls short, and the Jays have lost a lot of the momentum they gained from the Boston sweep. Thoughts on today's misadventure?

John Sickels is having a Community Mock Draft over at his website. Come join in on the fun.

If you want to get something done right, ask a Mississaugan. It's true for Hazel McCallion and it's true for the Blue Jays' minor-league system, which went 1-2 (with a rainout) last night and owes its lone victory to a powerful ex-Aggie and a teenaged southpaw suburbanite.

Well, the first thing I heard when I took my seat tonight was the voice of the handsome and talented Spencer Fordin. Spencer said: “Hey, Magpie, you doing the Game Report tonight?” And when I affirmed that indeed I was, he cackled that in that case, the home team didn’t have a chance.

Josh Towers (5-2, 3.76) vs Johan Santana (5-2, 3.82) - it looked pretty even at the start of the night...

OK, maybe not.

A very entertaining weekend of baseball appears to be on tap this weekend, as the Wild Card-leading Minnesotans come to town and Doc makes his return to the mound.

Johan Santana gets another crack at beating the Jays tonight, while Toronto tries to offer its own payback to Kyle Lohse and Joe Mays, both of whom stymied Blue Jay bats last week. One win would make this a fine homestand, and two wins would make it an exemplary one.

This week's Scout features an anxious outfielder, a controversial setup man and a couple of Canadians coming home. Don't miss next week's pinch-hit Advance Scout, in which the Mariners will be previewed by none other than the lovely and talented Craig Burley.

On to the Advance Scout!

When I am king
you will be first against the wall
With your opinion
which is of no consequence at all

Gosh, things really aren't going as most of us expected.

Okay, I was going to save this one for a bit because it's similar to the Aaron Hill photo that I posted a couple of days ago, but I couldn't wait any longer to share it:

Dunedin and Lansing lay a beating on their opposition, Syracuse are starved for runs, again, and New Hampshire split. Carlo Cota, Zach Jackson and Vince Perkins are your three stars.

Funny how things work. The club installs Field Turf, and we guess that the major effect will be to slow down balls in the outfield causing fewer triples. It might end up that way, but right now the Jays are 2nd in the majors in triples. Reed Johnson's leadoff triple set the tone in last night's game.

Did I mention that the Jays swept the Sox? Blew them away. Easily. It's chest-thumping time.