Do the second-place (second-place!) Jays feel like helping the Twins? With 156 down and 6 to go, they can. Minnesota sits just 1 game behind Detroit and two of three by Toronto in this series could lead to Aaron Gleeman boasting about three division championships in four years.

But we're talking about the Tigers here. Tied for the best record in the majors with the Yankees, they clinched a playoff spot after beating the Royals on the weekend. This, of course, is the first time they've been in the playoffs since the Collapse of '87. They can -- nay, will -- clinch the division itself this weekend when they host Kansas City, since the season series is "DET 14, KC 1". Until then, however, the Jays face their youngest starter, their oldest starter, and a starter...for whom we have a picture.

On to the Advance Scout!

Jays stroll into second

Yesterday, we looked at prospects #30-#21. We move on today to players who are more familiar.

Marcum had a spectacular game last night; I don't have a picture of him.  But I do have a picture of the guy who called that great game -- Jason Phillips:

It's that time of year again. The minor league crew voted on the top 30 prospects in the Blue Jay farm system after the 2006 season. We are pleased to share our choices, ten daily for the next three days. We begin with nos. 30-21.

The comments are prepared by individual members of the crew and indicated by their initials: G- Gerry , P- Pistol, JG- Jonny German, T- Thomas, R- Rob and MG- Mike Green. Jonny German was again instrumental in providing the statistical information that accompanies the comments.

The Jays pummelled the Pawtucket pitching staff yesterday, and took advantage of some... unorthodox outfield play courtesy of Kevin Youkilis and Wily Mo Pena. They now stand just half a game out of second place...

Who's coming down to the final home game with me?

Today's photo is Lyle Overbay at first base:

I'm rolling thunder, pouring rain
I'm coming on like a hurricane
My lightning's flashing across the sky
-- AC/DC, Hell's Bells

It's not overly presumptious to say that the "save" is one of the most overblown statistics in Major League Baseball history.

It's also not a great leap of faith to point out that while pitching the era of Eckersley, Wetteland, Smoltz, Gagne and Rivera, the unassuming Trevor Hoffman -- who has led his league in saves precisely once in 14 big league seasons -- has never been considered "The Man" when it comes to closers.

Until today.

As we bounce around the list building Hall of Names teams for each of the 25 most common boys' names in the United States (again, if you know of a free online Canadian equivalent, post a link here!), we'll drop to the anchor position on the list, #25, and take a look at the name Jeff.

To be clear, that means historical big league players with the given first name "Jeffrey" -- not alternate spellings or nicknames or middle names or anything of that sort. If there are to be exceptions to that rule, well, we'll cross that -- what's the word? -- when we get to it. Which, not coincidentally, brings us to our team name, as it's time to meet ...

For those who don't remember 2004 (and why should you?) it was the year that saw the introduction of the First Annual Robert Goulet Memorial Trophy. Naturally, it was awarded to Baltimore that year before Toronto took it back with their third-place finish in 2005.

And a Kevin Youkilis-Wily Mo Pena-Eric Hinske outfield would have been quite amusing, but Trot Nixon took RF while Hinske played first base in the bottom of the first for the first time ever in Toronto.

Here's an almost-end-of-season overview of the 2006 Blue Jays season. Executive summary: it hurts more when you care more.

This is it. A mere 1.5 games behind the Red Sox, the good guys have a golden opportunity to swipe second place in this weekend's four-game set at the RC. But there's a catch: to liberate the metaphorical princess that is the AL East silver medal from the clutches of Boston, they'll need to slay a metaphorical dragon - four straight righthanded pitchers...

It's the last home series for the Jays before three-gamers in Detroit and the Bronx. Will they clinch second place and force Boston to accept the Robert Goulet Memorial Trophy?

On to the Advance Scout!

So Adam Lind looks good.

It's been a while since we've seen a photo of the day of Vernon Wells' mighty swing.  So today's photo is of Vernon Wells' mighty swing:

Jays win, but Yankees clinch.