In honour of the upcoming All-Star Game in Houston (next Tuesday) Batter's Box is putting on a Pick The All-Star MVP Contest. You could win your choice of an array of fabulous prizes if you manage to pick the MVP.

When we walk into silence
When we shadow the sun
When we surrender to violence

Game Two of the Mariners-Blue Jays sees hot-tempered Josh Towers take the mound for Toronto against rookie Australian hurler Travis Blackley. Australia is a great country, and has really given the world so much. Their world-class All-Blacks rugby squad, of course. And the tremendous scenery and locations for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. And of course, great entertainers like Russell Crowe and Lucy Lawless. Let's hear it for Australia! I feel like flying to Wellington right now....

Another week, another homestand...but what's that I hear? Could it be the triumphant return of the O-Drum?

It's Barajas, Braden (Looper) and Belliard -- in that order -- at the top of the mid-season Andujar rankings, sponsored by Batter's Box. In a non-binding vote by 16 members of The Roster, Jeff Suppan and former Jay Jose Cruz Jr. also cracked the top five.

Our first look at the 2004 Andujar rankings back on May 1 showed Marlon Anderson with a healthy lead on the field ... but in true Andujar "youneverknow" fashion, the erstwhile St. Louis infielder found his way onto just one of the 16 ballots cast at midseason.

In fact, just one player -- Rod Barajas -- made it onto all 16 ballots, but six players were on at least 10, while 23 players were named at least once each. So it's still a wide-open field and of course ... youneverknow.

I thought I could say what I wanted to say
For a second that thought became a sword in my hand
I could slay any problem that would stand in my way

4 for 5 with a rainout for the Blue Jay farm, a night featuring 4 great pitching performances and 8 home runs.

Imagine for a moment that you're Carlos Delgado. You're back from -- what? Yes. Yes, that's right, you are young, handsome, powerful, wealthy and remarkably popular. Okay, stop it now, you're not paying attention. You're back from a lengthy stint on the disabled list, you're raring to go, and who's the guy on the mound facing you? Jamie Moyer, the most infuriating soft-tossing left-hander since Frank Tanana. But while you may think that would be annoying, Carlos is probably wearing his trademark smile right now. Because lifetime against Moyer, he's batting .447 (21-for-47) with six home runs, five doubles and 11 RBIs. It'll be very, very good to see the big slugger back in the lineup tonight.

Take heart, fellow Jays fans: It could always be worse.

Despite being far healthier than the Jays (only Raul Ibanez and the scuffling Rafael Soriano are noteworthy members of the DL), the Mariners come to town with an $81 million payroll (not counting the departed Kaz Sasaki), a popgun offence and a shaky bullpen, just two and a half seasons removed from a 116-win season. Seattle got their hats handed to them in St. Louis, and it's a fragile bunch of Mariners entering tonight's series opener.

This week's Scout features an exuberant Aussie, a beleaguered bullpen, a five-pack of slumping sluggers and a very unusual condition on which John Olerud will accept a trade. Tonight's Moyer-Batista match-up should be a fast-moving pitchers' duel, and some very promising rookie hurlers will be on display in the other two games.

On to the Advance Scout!

Gerry and I arrived in the visitor's clubhouse at 4 p.m. on a beautiful Friday afternoon to find only a smattering of players there. One of the players asked us who we were. After introducing ourselves we told him we wanted to talk about how the ballclub was doing. He thought for a moment and replied that we'd better wait for manager Marty Pevey. When we discovered we were talking to the one and only Stubby Clapp, our eyes lit up.

With nine weeks remaining in the BBFL regular season, absolutely nothing has been decided, but it's nice to have a little more breathing room at the top.

Carlos Delgado looks to be ready. Charleston pitchers delivered a one hitter. Two other Jays teams had last at bat wins and two of the Jays pitching prospects pitched well enough to win, but did not.

Security throw through the wall
Future dreams we have to realize
A thousand sceptic hands
Won't keep us from the things we plan
Unless we're clinging to the things we prize

Back in late March, 79 of us predicted the World Series champs, pennant winners, division winners, award recipients, and every team's place in the standings. With the season half-gone, it's time to see who's wearing the wizard's cap and who's wearing the fool's cap.

This is the June edition of my minor league starting pitchers review. Who is hot, who is cold? Who is getting by on smoke and mirrors?