The Blue Jays travel to Fenway to take on the Red Sox, who were late winners on a dramatic three-run home run by Cody "The Boss" Ross. Toronto is only 2.5 games behind Boston, and 3.5 out of the final wild card spot, but six teams stand between them and the postseason at the moment, and at a guess it's going to take a minimum 86 wins (and maybe closer to 90) to make the playoffs, so Toronto has to play well over .600 ball the rest of the season to have a chance, with games against other Wild Card contenders (basically everyone) counting especially. So let's see if they can do it - let's Advance Scout.

FLASH! BULLETIN! URGENT NEWS!

The Blue Jays have optioned RHP Sam Dyson to New Hampshire and will recall C-INF Yan Gomes from Las Vegas (as reported by Barry Davis and others on The Twitter.)

That was yesterday. Today they sent seven bodies to Houston (including the much beloved Francisco Cordero and Ben Francisco) in exchange for pitchers J.A. Happ, David Carpenter, and (the Prodigal Returns) Brandon Lyon.

Las Vegas and Dunedin won, but the other teams on the farm lost or had their games postponed.

In honour of his major league debut, today's POTD is dedicated to rookie outfielder Anthony Gose after he went 1-for-2 against the Yankees Tuesday night.

Anthony Gose, surveying the infield at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma June 27, where only his shadow can overshadow his glove.

After yesterday's MLU I avoided puns in the title today.  Eric Arce continued his hot hitting, including another home run.  Jake Marisnick stayed hot with another multi-hit game.  Sean O'Sullivan turned in another very good pitching performance, through seven innings he had faced 21 hitters.  Dunedin turned a triple play.  All-in-all it was a 5-2 night on the farm.

The affiliates split eight games down the middle on Monday.  They were 1-3 against Twins affiliates and 3-2 against non-Minnesotan clubs.  Dunedin was rained out and the Dominican Jays had the day off.

Jose Bautista has left tonight's game with what The Gregor is characterizing as not a break but a "tendon issue," which I'm not sure what that means. The Yankees broadcasters were apparently speculating that he might have broken a hamate bone, but either way, it's pretty terrifying, and if Bautista misses much time it's hard to see how the Jays, even only 2 games out of the Wild Card (but behind 5 other teams) would realistically contend, missing much of their rotation and now their best hitter.

Tuesday Update: Bautista to the 15-day DL with apparently no structural damage; he's optimistic he comes back in 15. Gose up.

It's time to find out what the 2012 edition of the Toronto Blue Jays is made of as they visit the Evil Empire for the first time this season.

There was some decent pitching for the minor league affiliates on Sunday. Ryan Tepera (AA), Jesse Hernandez (A+) and Taylor Cole (SS) combined to allow just two hits in 14.1 combined innings of work.

Lovely article in the Globe about Don Wakamatsu's practice of writing out the Jays daily lineup cards in near perfect Gothic script. He's a self taught “bootleg calligrapher”, who's glad he's not coaching Jarrod Saltalamacchia any more. Apparently they sell these things for charity, and I'd like to buy one.

92-93 shares with us his observations from the final game of the Las Vegas 51s first half (follow 92-93, and see more pictures, at @NorthYorkJays):

With the caveat that it's ridiculous to draw conclusions based on any one game, here're my thoughts from the 51s game I attended, with some shoddy iPhone video/camera links.

A 2-5 Saturday for the affiliates with four games involving nine runs as the winning total.  Three of the games ended 9-3 and that's where you will find the two wins.  Turn me on, dead man!

The Blue Jays original closer heading into the season is now done for the season.  The National Post reports Sergio Santos is set to have his right shoulder operated on by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles.



Sergio Santos, pitching April 11 at the Dome and earning his first save against the Red Sox, made just six trips to the mound for Toronto in 2012.

For his role in almost blowing Saturday's eventual 11-9 win by the Blue Jays over Cleveland at the Dome Saturday afternoon, right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez has been sent back to AAA Las Vegas according to Gregor Chisholm of BlueJays.com. Chad Beck has been beamed up from the 51s to take Chavez's place.



Jesse Chavez posted an 0-1 record with an 8.85 earned run average over 8 appearances, including a pair of starts, with Toronto this season.

Las Vegas continued their run at Sacramento and Lansing, Vancouver, Bluefield and the DSL Blue Jays put W’s on the Board as well.