Bluefield started their playoffs on Saturday. Mitch Nay hit a three run home run for an early lead but Pulaski came back to go ahead. The Jays tied the game in the seventh and had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth but could not score. The Mariners scored 5 off a melting down Phil Kish in the tenth to take a 1-0 lead in the best of three series. Alberto Tirado goes today for the Jays.

Lansing were able to get the ninth inning walk off hit. The Bisons lost despite a gallant comeback. They are eliminated from the playoffs. Vancouver won and are still in the playoff hunt. Dunedin were shutout, New Hampshire were rained out.

Everything's up to date in Kansas City.

Buffalo continued to hang in the playoff race, Andy LaRoche hit a three run home run, Kyle Drabek and four relievers held Rochester at bay.

New Hampshire were eliminated from playoff contention, Deck McGuire pitched well again but took a loss when the first hit off him in the sixth inning scored three runs.

Daniel Norris just allowed one hit in five innings in his debut for Dunedin. Dustin McGowan and Steve Delabar also pitched in that game.

Lansing had 17 hits and 8 runs, too little too late.

Vancouver's playoff chase took a hit with a loss. Bluefield have played poorly of late and start their playoffs today with Jairo Labourt on the bump.

Two Jays teams are in the playoffs. The Bisons tragic number is 2, but they are playing the team ahead of them, Rochester. Obviously they have to win as a loss would eliminate them. Vancouver lost and are now tied with Spokane for a playoff spot although Vancouver hold the tie-break.

After a slow start to professional baseball, Rowdy Tellez continued to mash late in the GCL season.  Aaron Sanchez and Tom Robson had fantastic starts for Dunedin and Vancouver. 

The farm teams were 2-6 tonight, with a bunch of extra-inning losses.  Dalton Pompey continues to be on fire in August, having another excellent game, while Austin-Bibens-Dirkx, and Chase DeJong had excellent starts for their teams. 

It's the rubber match.  On paper it's a mismatch, Hiroki Kuroda faces Todd Redmond.  Kuroda has been the Yankees best pitcher this season while Redmond has gone from "good candidate for the number 5 starter next year" to "will he make another start?".  It's time for Redmond to bounce back but he faces a tough opponent.

No wins in six attempts on the farm Tuesday night. The lowlight was Dunedin getting no-hit again in the second game of a doubleheader.

Andy Pettitte vs. JA Happ.

After winning with the Toronto Blue Bisons last night, the Jays are back to a more normal line-up.  Rajai Davis and JP Arencibia are back to face the lefty.  That leaves just three Bisons in the line-up, Moises Sierra, still looking for his first major league hit of 2013, Ryan Goins and Kevin Pillar.

AA met with the media today, there will be comments to discuss but off the top Gibby will be back.  Did you ever doubt it, he was AA's guy and that means he gets more than one year.

I was in Lansing last week to see two Lugnut games.  Below is my scouting report on the players.  I only had time for two games and that is a small sample size so my comments are limited compared to a four game look.

Lansing booted six field goals and treated the diamond as their own personal Double Deuce. Meanwhile, Buffalo split its doubleheader and Vancouver got a huge win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Those were the highlights of a 3-4 Monday on the farm. Dunedin's doubleheader was rained out again.

Can the Jays put together a two game win streak?  RA Dickey will try to pitch well under the Dome, which I assume will be closed tonight given the thunder throughout the day today.  Phil Hughes is on the other side.  Captain Jetes is back for the bombers.  He will have to beat Ryan Goins, Anthony Gose, Moises Sierra and Kevin Pillar, all of whom are in the lineup tonight.   With Thole catching Dickey more than half the lineup were in Buffalo mid-season.

 

 

After disappointing first halves of the season, Daniel Norris and Deck McGuire continued to pitch excellent late in the season.  The farm teams were 2-4 today, with wins coming from New Hampshire and Vancouver. 

Sean Nolin pitched 6.2 shutout innings for the Bisons to get his first AAA win. New Hampshire split a doubleheader. Aaron Sanchez gave up six runs in the third inning and was unable to complete the inning. Lansing were almost no-hit for the fourth time. Mitch Nay had three hits in Bluefield's win. The GCL Jays won behind innings from Matt Smoral.

Vancouver lost another game in the ninth inning. They started the weekend in the playoff hunt but two ninth inning loses have dented their chances. New Hampshire also had a shot at the playoffs but they have gone 1-2 over the last 2 days. Meanwhile depleted Buffalo are 2-0.

Miguel Castro had an excellent start for the GCL Jays, he pitched seven shutout inning and the Jays held on for a 1-0 win. Brad Glenn had two home runs for Buffalo as they kept their playoff hopes alive. New Hampshire lost a close game to hurt their playoff chances. Vancouver had a lead in the ninth but lost dealing a blow to their playoff chances. Bluefield lost a meaningless game, Chase DeJong had nine strikeouts in four innings. Lansing lost in extra innings, Dunedin lost in regulation.

Weekend in Texas. Can the Jays win a series against the lowly Astros? It should be good for Pillar, Gose, Sierra and Goins to face some competition closer to what they are used to.

Chien Ming Wang has been recalled and will start tomorrow. Aaron Loup has been placed on paternity leave. Is his mother having another child? Just kidding, he has a baby face so it doesn't fit my mental image of him that he is about to become a father.