With one month to go in the minor league year, we turn our attention back to the hitters. It won't be long until we sharpen our pencils and replace the batteries in our wireless mice to prepare for the annual end of year prospect review.

Meanwhile, the farm affiliates went 2-2 on Thursday with 2 Florida rainouts. An encouraging performance from Ricky Romero highlighted the day's events.

JP Ricciardi on the Fan590 this morning announced that the Jays had designated Royce Clayton for assignment after yesterdays game.  Per JP, John McDonald had won the shortstop job and the Jays did not feel they should keep Clayton around in a backup role.  JP said that the Jays would make a roster move before Fridays game, presumably to call-up Rey Olmedo.

Great performances, mainly from the pitchers, were the key to a 4-2 day for the farm affiliates.

And he got the start in Syracuse.

Well, it's August -- the trade deadline has passed, we are well into that time of the season known as "the pennant race," even closing in on that related time called "the stretch drive."

But it's August ...

Teixeira to the Braves. Castillo to the Mets. Lohse to the Phillies. Betemit to the Yankees. Who's next?  Whatever happens, we won't get fooled again...

Here is your thread to discuss the trades of the day.

It was a night from hell for the top 4 affiliates but the short-season affiliates saved the day.   

Friend of Da Box Jamey Newberg reports:

"According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.com, Texas and Atlanta have agreed in principal on a trade that will send Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay to the Braves for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, and two pitching prospects, pending a review of the players’ medical records."

Confirmation will be posted when we have it in hand. [Here it is: Atlanta || D/FW]

Your thoughts?

With five weeks left the BBFL is coming down to the wire. Although the Austin Senators seem to be cruising to the Alomar title, things are not so clear cut in the other divisions. In Barfield, the eastern Shore Birds are being chased by Schroendinger's Bat and Baseball North, while the Carter leading Trembling WIlburys are still trying to shake off the Garth Iorg Gremlins.

Three wins, one loss and two days off.  The Chiefs won with good pitching and the Fisher Cats won by scoring ten runs.  Lansing won by shutting out the opposition.  Auburn took the only loss but had two runners thrown out at home.  Adam Lind hit a home run but left the game.

Free Anonymous Reliever!

John-Ford Griffin had five RBI's and Lee Gronkiewicz had six strikeouts in three shutout innings to lead Syracuse to victory.  Gustavo Chacin struggled.  The Fisher Cats dropped a doubleheader, The GCL Jays lost in 13 innings.  Dunedin and Lansing emerged victorious.

I'll be honest -- I'm not much of a fisherman. Been out maybe four or five times in my life, mostly for perch on Lake Erie when I was much younger. So when the idea came to do an All-Fish Hall of Names team, I had some misgivings. Most of what I know about fish comes from the menus of fine seafood restaurants.

And did you realize ...

I'm back online, and the winning streak ends. My fault. I should have known.

Never mess with a winning streak.

I'm sorry.