The affiliates came away with a split of their four games on Monday. The winning teams put up a 15 under the hit column. Another had 16 but they lost.

Dalton Pompey reached base four times on Sunday and stole two bases. Emilio Guerrero came off the DL hitting, he had four hits. Despite those performances all the affiliates lost.

There was discussion of the Jays assignments to start the season, they seemed very conservative. The players have been doing little to prove them wrong. Conner Greene and Sean Reid-Foley pitched on Sunday and were OK but they are not yet demonstrating they need to be promoted. Early in the season some of the stand-out offensive performers include Pompey, Jorge Flores, Richard Urena and Andrew Guillotte.

It was a winning Thursday night on the farm as Buffalo and New Hampshire won their home openers and Dunedin was victorious on the road. As for the Lansing nine, they were about as successful as Leisure Suit Larry.

Fenway Park, kids. Site of much memorable baseball history. But I think Bette Davis said it best:

"What a dump."

Lansing were the only winners thanks to a big comeback. After Dayton scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning, Lansing scored seven in the bottom. Ryan Cook turned in an excellent start. The other three teams lost. Buffalo went to the thirteenth before losing, Drew Hutchison had a hot and cold start. New Hampshire lost a close game while Dunedin and Tom Robson were blown up in the first inning and that was the game.

The affiliates had a winning night on the farm Tuesday, winning three out of five.

Still imperial, still evil....

The affiliates took two out of three Monday night. Buffalo was rained out in Syracuse and will try to make it up today as part of a doubleheader.

Jesus Montero drove in five runs for the Bisons on Sunday. Dwight Smith drove in four for the Fisher Cats. Dunedin were shut out and Lansing were snowed out. The bad weather has impacted New Hampshire who have lost two games and Lansing who have lost three.

After coming off a hugely disappointing split of their season-opening series in Tampa Bay, the Blue Jays hope some home cooking will get them back on track as they return to SkyDome for their first home opening set against Boston.


The Blue Jays will get to play on an all-dirt infield at home for the first time in their 40-year franchise history. (Image from Toronto Star)

Yesterday was the first day of the minor league season. Somebody forgot to tell the weather, Buffalo, New Hampshire and Lansing all had their games rained or snowed out. Dunedin started the season on a winning note.

It's the final countdown! Dah-nah-nah! Da! Dah-nah-nah-da-dah!

Today is roster day for the minor league teams and we will have the rosters trickling out during the day. At some point the Jays will send me the full list but until then we will fill in with the news as it comes out.

Getting closer now...

The 2016 regular season begins where the 2015 campaign ended last year - Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.


The Blue Jays managed to win a series at Tropicana Field in 2015 but still dropped six of nine overall.
(Image from Deadspin.com)