April ended with the team's record at 10-11 and we all assumed that May would see an improvement, an incorrect assumption as it turns out. Syracuse's May record is 12-18, a huge disappointment for a team put together to be competitive. Their season record of 22-29 puts them eleven games behind the divison leader.

...in Lansing. Cannon-ating drives and enormous saves were the order of the day as the farm affiliates went 2-2.

On May 30, the defending Eastern League champion Fisher Cats stood at first place in the EL's Northern Division with a 28-20 record, after winning 6 of their previous 7 games. Today, a few days later, that record is 29-23, with the Cats tied for first place with Portland, to whom they lost last night. But I froze the stats on May 30 to write this report, so that's the snapshot we're using for the May 2005 Fisher Cat review.

Dunedin had an excellent month in May, and now stand at 32-20, the second best record in the Florida State League. Unfortunately, they play in the same division as the Lakeland Tigers, who possess the best record in the league at 34-17. Still, the gap was closed this month, and with a good run in June, the D-Jays stand a chance at the first-half title.

A pair of pitching performances by two pitching people we all have a pair of peepers on. Make that "on which we have peepers," if you don't like ending a sentence with a preposition.

The minor league season is approximately one third complete. The half way point will come soon after the draft, a busy time for minor league followers, so this is a good time to have a quick look at how the Jays top prospects are doing. The starting point was Baseball America's top 30 list, Russ Adams and Gustavo Chacin have been excluded, leaving 28 prospects to review. Da Box's Jordan, Mike Green, Rob and yours truly have combined to deliver our report cards on the Jays top prospects.

There is one question to ask. Has the player improved, stayed at the same level, or regressed, in their prospect status? There are three possible answers, Improve, Flat, or Regress. On with the show...

Only one win on the farm. An offensive burst from the Skychiefs, a pitchers duel in Manchester, and a rough night for Danny Core.

A disappointing 0 – 4 night for Toronto’s affiliates featuring 3 pitching debuts and too many unearned runs.

I don't know if Casey Janssen is related to David Janssen who played Dr. Richard Kimble on the old "The Fugitive" TV show, but there was no search for a one-armed man yesterday as the two arms of Janssen and Eric Arnold led Dunedin to victory. Syracuse had no offense, New Hampshire pulled one out in the ninth behind a spot start by Jamie Vermilyea, Lansing had the offense but poor pitching. A 2-2 Sunday on the farm.

Because not even a speeding car could have picked them off last night. 5 stolen bases for the 'Nuts and a solid spot start for one of my favourite sleepers in New Hampshire. 3 (and a half?) wins for the affiliates.

If you want to get something done right, ask a Mississaugan. It's true for Hazel McCallion and it's true for the Blue Jays' minor-league system, which went 1-2 (with a rainout) last night and owes its lone victory to a powerful ex-Aggie and a teenaged southpaw suburbanite.

Dunedin and Lansing lay a beating on their opposition, Syracuse are starved for runs, again, and New Hampshire split. Carlo Cota, Zach Jackson and Vince Perkins are your three stars.

Show me the way to go home
I'm tired and I want to go to bed

Ever have one of those days where you just don't feel like doing much? Welcome to today's "No Hustle" Minor League Update.

It sounds awful, but the Lugnuts behind late homers from DP combo Peralta and Klosterman rallied from a 4 run deficit to an extra-inning victory. The farm affiliates were a perfect 3-0.

Alone behind locked doors
And have scrambled eggs for breakfast
And sit and read the box scores

One win for the Toronto farm, and woulda, coulda, shoulda.