On the first Minor League Update of my career, I almost gave you an update about the Syracuse SkyChiefs (if that's what they're still called). No joke. I looked at the box score and realized I had no idea what I had signed up for. Anyway...

The American League leading Toronto Blue Jays head to Minnesota to face the upstart Twins. Let's just hope the Jays aren't stuck for the next two months waiting for a recount. On to the first Advance Scout of the season!

Poaching a headline off Braden, or Ned as I like to call him, the Jays could not use the brooms in Cleveland, falling 8-4 to the Tribe Sunday afternoon. 

I'm not a Phillies fan. Most of you probably aren't either. But this, sadly, is big news ...

Longtime Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas has died at the age of 73. Kalas, who had also filled a voiceover role for NFL Films since 1975, was taken to a hospital after passing out in the broadcast booth before Monday's Philadelphia game against the Washington Nationals. Read more here.

Last night, around 7pm, I settled in with my laptop ready to pen my first Minor League recap of the season.  At 7:01, I was finished.

Okay, who had Jason Frasor getting the Jays first save of the season?  The reliever with one foot always seemingly out the door got the final out in the nervous ninth to preserve a 5-4 victory over Cleveland Saturday afternoon in the state of Ohio.

The first three teams to play on Saturday each lost but Dunedin saved the day by winning thanks to fifteen hits and ten runs.  Vegas lost as Brad Mills had a tough start.  New Hampshire lost their first game of the season as the Cats could only register three hits while proving Brad Emaus is human.  Lansing continued to struggle, losing 9-0 as they could only manage two hits.

The Jays are off to their best start in eight years after ruining the Indians home opener with a 13-7 win Friday night at Progressive Energy Field.

The title says it all for the most part. Oh, and one ugly collective pitching performance in High-A ball... except for Tim Collins, of course.

Toronto’s minor league season began in earnest yesterday as three affiliates played their opening games. Unfortunately, they all lost, but the other affiliate improved to 2-0 on the season. However, there are many debuts worth reading about, from Scott Campbell’s first game in Triple-A to how the 2007 draft class fared in their Dunedin debuts.

In a first time showdown of two first round picks making their major league debut on the mound, "Rockin' " Ricky Romero bested Rick Porcello in Thursday afternoon's 6-2 victory at the stadium formerly known as SkyDome.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others were killed in a three vehicle accident in Anaheim overnight Thursday.  The tragedy comes after he pitched six shutout innings Wednesday night against Oakland.  Adenhart was 22.

The first inning was the worst inning as the Jays lost their first game of 2009, a 5-1 setback to the Tigers at Ted's Shed Wednesday night.

Bart Given is the former Assistant General Manager of the Blue Jays.   Given has filled many roles with the Blue Jays including the role of travelling secretary.  Since leaving the Blue Jays Given has created his own website, www.insidethemajors.com.  On his site Given provides perspective on front office activities such as rules around roster management and dates, waivers, player options, rule 5 draft and other rules the front office needs to be aware of.  Given agreed to be interviewed by Batters Box.

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats kicked off the 2009 minor league season tonight.   Brad Emaus continued his hot spring with three doubles and four RBI's.  Marc Rzepczynski got the win and recorded nine strikeouts in five innings.Plus we have some comments from Dick Scott on the opening day rosters.