Ooh, you're a holiday
Such a holiday

Well, if you're just playing out the string, might as well make sure that the Yankees are just playing out the string as well. Gives one's life a little bit of purpose...

Anyway, I think I'll share some random predictions regarding the home team and the months ahead.

As per MLB.com, David Eckstein has been dealt to the Diamondbacks for 23 year-old RHP Chad Beck. 

This MLU contains four victories, including one of the walk-off variety; strong relief pitching and timely hitting. It also contains pitchers batting, managers being ejected, one major leaguer on rehab, another waiting for September 1 and hoping for a recall and a third trying to correct what has largely been a disappointing season. It doesn’t contain any news about Travis Snider.

An uneventful night on the farm, Dunedin and Auburn won.  Syracuse and New Hampshire each allowed nine runs.  Brad Mills and Marc Rzepczynski got ready for their playoff starts.

Faithful Bauxite AWeb writes in another thread, "Will there be a 'gone but not forgotten' thread for Stairs? I'll miss the big-little guy, taking a big swing, chugging around the bases and the outfield, and seemingly doing it without complaint."

So here you go. Share your lasting impressions of the man here -- favorite memories, if-onlies, whatever. And remember, as it says on the tombstone of W.C. Fields, "All in all, I'd rather be in Philadelphia."

Travis Snider and Prince Fielder - take a look.  

After the game, the Blue Jays designated Matt Stairs for assignment and traded him to the Phillies.  He's being replaced by Travis Snider.

Knock me over with a feather. The future begins now.

With the minor league season winding down, some players are looking down right tired (Lansing, I'm looking at you) while others are trying to finish strong (Hello, Auburn).

Only one win on the farm on Wednesday.  The GCL Jays season ended with a cancelled game.  Dunedin delivered the only win behind good pitching from Reidier Gonzalez.  Pitcher Chi-Hung Cheng was released by the Jays yesterday.  Cheng had been unable to return from labrum surgery and was in his third season in Lansing.

David Purcey was fantastic.

Entering the final week of the regular season, just three of the eighteen playoff spots have been secured.

Well, we actually took one from those pesky Rays...

Syracuse kept its slim hopes alive of staying over .500, Auburn snapped a nine game losing skid to get back to .500 and New Hampshire will remain well below .500 but at least they got a walk-off win to lessen the pain.  Dunedin and Lansing don't have much to play for these days as they get ready for the post-season and the GCL Jays got their breakfast, lunch and dinner handed to them in a .500 night for the affiliates.

Just one win down on the farm yesterday.  The affiliates were 1-4 on the night with NH getting the day off.

Last week I saw one Auburn game, against Williamsport.  I talked with Auburn's pitching coach Antonio Caceres, about some of the pitchers.  That interview and some observations, follow.