The top half of the system has not been producing a lot wins but they took care of business on Thursday. The Bisons used a distributed attack to win 7-2. Patrick Murphy did not need much support but the hitters relaxed and produced 11 runs. Dunedin's bats went cold and they wasted a good start from Maximo Castillo. Lansing also lost.

The affiliates had just one win and it took a one hitter to make it happen. The Dunedin Jays one-hit Tampa, led by Graham Spraker. Alejandro Kirk scored the only run. The Bisons were beaten handily although Cavan Biggio had three hits. Andrew Sopko pitched well for New Hampshire but the anemic offense couldn't help. Lansing were shut out.

The Blue Jays affiliates dropped three of four Tuesday night despite the shutout efforts made by two starters making their next-level debut. #LetsGoBlueJays

One ninth-inning rally worked, another did not as the Blue Jays affiliates split their two games Monday. Buffalo and New Hampshire had the night off. #LetsGoBlueJays

The first-place Twins, sporting the second best record in the major leagues - whoa. Have I stumbled into some inter-dimensional vortex?

Brutal weekend on the farm. Dunedin on up were swept. The only two wins coming from Lansing affiliate.

Too early to start writing off seasons and there's certainly something to be said about facing adversity of a prolonged slump and working through it, but some really rough years so far for some guys who should be pushing on or have shown some year-to-year improvement on key weaknesses. I'd be interested to see if our farm follows the 1/3 rule this year. By my rough count there's a whole lot more regression out there than usual. I wouldn't be surprised if we start hearing about how there's been changes to the farm and approaches to development, etc. coming from the Jays in the next little while to try to explain away some pretty glaring developmental failures. Guys with command issues seemingly with worse command, or guys with contact issues with growing holes in their bat are not a good look on your development program.

But hey, it was just one weekend.

The Bautista-less Jays venture into Arlington for a resumption of hostilities. The Rangers are one game under 500 while the Jays are now three games under. With the Alen Hansen era over, the Jays will look to bounce back from a bad series in Anaheim.

Andrew Sopko pitched seven shutout innings and looked to be set for the first star, but then DJ Neal had a GAME. Three hits, a home run, walks, stolen bases, runs scored, runs driven in, he did it all. Ryan Feierabend came off the IL to pitch well for Buffalo. Jordan Patterson had five hits in a doubleheader. Cal Stevenson seems to be getting his bat to work better. Every affiliate won, while Buffalo also lost one half of the doubleheader.

New Hampshire and Dunedin won, Lansing lost two, Buffalo were rained out. Now that April is behind us, it's time to look at which prospects played up to their level and which disappointed in the first month of the season. Don't read too much into April numbers. In many locations the weather is an obstacle and for others they are getting used to a new level. By the end of May teams will have played over a third of the season and that will be a better measure.

A doubleheader sweep was the good news as the Blue Jays affiliates split four games Tuesday. A rainout delayed a third potential loss. #LetsGoBlueJays

The Blue Jays affiliates managed to gain a split of their two games Monday despite seeing their starting pitchers walk 11 batters. Dunedin and Lansing had the night off. #LetsGoBlueJays

Nate Pearson was dealing on Thursday and the last thing he needed was lots of runs. But lots of runs he got, 18 to be precise. What a waste! Buffalo hitters went deep three times but it wasn't enough. New Hampshire were one hit. Lansing lost as the big dogs were quiet.

Dunedin led 5-4 with two outs in the bottom of the tenth inning and the tying run was on third. Matt Shannon threw a ball in the dirt, the batter swung and missed, strike three right? In order to complete the strikeout Riley Adams had to throw to first, and that's where the snatch began. Riley's throw was off, the runner was safe, the scores were tied. The next hitter doubled and Chavez Young made a fielding error, the run scored, game over. That was one to forget. Elsewhere, the Bisons won thanks to a couple of home runs which you might have heard about. New Hampshire won, Lansing lost.