Three wins for the affiliates and all of them in extra innings.  Auburn won in 10 innings even though they had only four hits, Syracuse won in 12 innings and Lansing were outhit 20-16 but won in 13 innings.

Dunedin's season finished yesterday, for good.  Syracuse, Dunedin and the GCL Jays are out of the playoffs.  Lansing and Auburn are in the playoffs.  New Hampshire are tied with Portland for the last playoff spot in the Eastern league.  Both teams are at 70-71, uninspiring records, and both are on losing streaks, Portland's is at four games, New Hampshire's at two games.  On Monday, in the final game of the regular season Ricky Romero will face Tyler Clippard of Trenton to see if he can pitch New Hampshire into the playoffs.

The Auburn Doubledays clinched the division title and a playoff spot Saturday.  Josh Banks made a strong claim for a promotion.  With Lansing and Auburn in the playoffs the other teams in contention continued to slip.  Dunedin lost their fourth in a row and are now out of the playoffs.  New Hampshire are a half game back with two games left, three games left for Portland, their rivals in the chase.  The Dunedin and New Hampshire offenses have struggled with the playoffs in sight.

So as you know by now, young Clay Buchholz has tossed a no-hitter for the Red Sox, in just his second big league start. Does this earn hima a place on an All-Clay Hall of Names roster? Let's find out ...

Congratulations to Boston Red Sox rookie RHSP Clay Buchholz, who in making just his second career major league start tonight, no-hit the Baltimore Orioles, 10-0.

Buchholz's no-hitter comes on the heels of last night's gem by Minnesota's Scott Baker, who came within three outs of a perfect game and two outs of a no-hitter against the Royals.

During New Hampshire’s exciting extra-inning victory Sean Stidfole managed to work his way out of tight spots in a tie game in consecutive frames. Alhough New Hampshire won, Syracuse wasn’t so fortunate and lost their game in the tenth inning. Dunedin’s pitchers didn’t have a good night, while Auburn needed only one inning to secure their victory. Finally, Jonathan Diaz did everything he could to lead Lansing to a victory, getting on base every time he went to bat and contributing two extra-base hits, but he, perhaps unfairly, doesn’t get a star due to three strong performances during the two extra-inning games.

The Jays will encounter a desperate opponent this weekend. The freefalling Mariners have lost six games in a row.

Gus Chacin had shoulder surgery earlier this week.  There apparently was a small rotator cuff tear that was repaired and according to the article Ricciardi said he should be ready for spring training.

Vernon Wells also has a shoulder issue, but not enough of one to stop playing, or even have an MRI on it.  But he will have an MRI after the season.  This seems a little silly to me, no?

So, Dayton is not Memphis, but what are you going to do? Sue me? The farm affiliates went 2-3.

The farm affiliates went 3-2 on the night.

The Jays have one premium prospect and he continues to hit like one.  He should pick up his 2nd league MVP in as many years.

I was curious, so I spent a couple of hours this evening looking up this year's stats for the Jays' regular hitters, and comparing their numbers with their 2006 and career totals.

As the BBFL enters the final week of the regular season there is still a lot at stake.

Syracuse pisses one away, New Hampshire does the same and Auburn loses in OT. However, Dunedin and Lansing got the pitching and the W's while the boys from the Gulf Coast ended their year on a winning note, thanks in small part to a rehabbing Brandon League. Total it all up and that gives the affiliates a saw-off at 3-3.

One weekend later, the A's are reeling again.

Thursday night, they marched into Tampa Bay behind a motivated Chad Gaudin and won 12-2. Then the Rays realized it was Raymond the Blue Fuzzy Thing's birthday weekend and decided they'd better get their act in gear. So they immediately turned the tables and massacred the A's three straight times by an aggregate score of 33-9, hanging three beatings on Oakland's top three starters. The A's will look to turn things around at home behind a couple of ex-Jays, both of whom hit their stride as pitchers immediately after leaving Mr Rogers' neighborhood.

The Houston Astros have fired GM Tim Purpura and manager Phil Garner. Filling the shoes of the only manager to lead Houston to a World Series berth will be Cecil "What Took So Long For Me to Get a Shot?" Cooper, one of the heroes of the '82 Harvey's Wallbangers Brew Crew.