For the first time in the long, distinguished history (all of four months!) of the Batter's Box Minor League awards, we have monthly co-winners! Andy Burns and Kevin Pillar share the Player of the Month honours for July while Kendall Graveman captured the Pitcher of the Month award.


Andy Burns and Kevin Pillar earned 13 points as the top position players while Kendall Graveman racked up 14 points in July from the 3 Star selections from the Batter's Box Minor League correspondents. The scoring is based on a 5-3-1 points system.

Three affiliates were on the wrong side of blowouts, while three more were narrowly edged. Only Vancouver and Dunedin went home with something as the affiliates, overall, had a night to forget.

The affiliates played .500 ball on Wednesday, featuring a come-from-behind victory and a come-from-ahead loss. One of the clubs put up a 10-run inning but it was almost not enough.

On Wednesday the affiliates were 3-5 with a bunch of close losses, and several strong offensive performances. Matt Smoral was strong again for Bluefield, while the offense had 16 hits which amounted to 13 runs.

The boys on the farm came away with a split of their six games Tuesday but two of the losses were of the come-from-ahead variety. The Florida folks were rained out.

The affiliates were able to win five out of eight games Monday. Two of the losses were of the one-run variety.

On Sunday the Jays affiliates were 2-3, with one game suspended. Bluefield lost in extra innings, Lansing won in extra innings, and New Hampshires game was suspeneded in extras. Vancouver lost a close game, Dunedin lost and Buffalo had a field day against a former Blue Jays pitcher.

Miguel Castro dominated again but the game was scoreless until extra innings when Vancouver rallied to win. Buffalo had excellent pitching from Liam Hendricks and won easily. The GCL Jays won a slugfest with Gunnar Heidt racking up three hits. John Anderson, Taylor Cole and Jeremy Gabryszwski pitched well in losing efforts. Bluefield also lost making it a 3-4 day on the farm.

Andy La Roche had five RBI's to lead Buffalo to victory. Kevin Pillar and AJ Jimenez also had good games. Casey Lawrence pitched very well again and New Hampshire won. Emilio Guerrero hit a game winning home run in the eighth and Ian Parmley had a walk-off throw to cut down the tying run at the plate to end the game. The GCL Jays won in extra innings.

Lansing were held to just one hit. My notes from my visit to Lansing are at the bottom of this report. Jairo Labourt was shaky in from of Alex Anthopoulos, Vancouver lost. Bluefield lost a close one.

The Vancouver Canadians fell to 0-2 to start the second half of the Northwest League season but they rebounded with their first win to split their doubleheader against the Hillsboro Hops, an Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate, at Nat Bailey Stadium Thursday night.

Game one starter Andrew Case drops a ball at first base that would eventually lead to a second run for Hillsboro in the third inning. The New Brunswick native struck out his first batter looking but that was the only K he registered in three innings. He allowed two runs (one unearned) on four hits and three walks. He reached 95 miles per hour with one pitch but was usually around 90 for his outing.

Our Future Game representatives had solid nights down in AA, but Raul Valdes was the star tonight pitching Buffalo to victory.

On Wednesday the affiliates were 1-5, with 2 PPD games. The only win came from Lansing in a walkoff victory in extra innings.

In a best-of-seven, the affiliates came up short Tuesday with a 3-4 record. Lansing had the night off.

The affiliates lost five out of nine Monday, thanks in large part to a doubleheader sweep and a come from ahead loss. The Mariners affiliates were of no help whatsoever, handing Jays farm clubs two losses and costing another a playoff spot.

The affiliates were 3-3 today with a bunch of strong hitting and starting pitching performances. DJ Davis helped Lansing, and Jon Berti helped New Hampshire with walk off hits, leading their team to victory.