Hey, for once, the Devil Rays didn't blow a lead!

The Jays have notified the Appalachian League that they will not be in Pulaski next year, and apparently are planning to have five minor league affiliates rather than six next year, according to Baseball America.

Thanks to mendocino for the tip.

Not satisfied with one series from the 15th to the 17th of another month, these two teams are at it again in September. The Devil Rays, as is their wont, are not very good. They were swept by the Yankees, and didn't hold a lead after the first inning in either of the first two games. Their 19 road wins are the fewest in baseball; their 53 road losses are the most.

In other words: it's another team out of contention, and, due to the fun of university, another reduced Scout. Coming to you live between calculus and combinatorics...

On to the Advance Scout!

By request, here's a panorama view of the field at Rogers Centre from way up in section 518:

Now that we've finished up Hall of Names teams for each of the 10 most common boys' names in the United States (again, if you know of a free online Canadian equivalent, post a link here!), it's time to move on to #11 -- Christopher.

Compared to the other names we've looked at, there is a shocking dearth of players in MLB history with that designation; once you remove all the players with that middle name, along with the five men with the last/family name Christopher (as well as early '80s DET LHP Mike Chris), there are only just over 100 or so candidates to choose from. And just one Hall of Famer -- Christopher "Christy" Mathewson is a good one to have heading the rotation, though.

He's heading that rotation for a squad that bears an avian nickname like Toronto's hometown Blue Jays; the home ballpark is the Three Acre Wood, and it's time to meet ...

I know, I promised VBF a panorama of the inside of the Rogers Centre today, but I cannot let Gregg Zaun's fantastic day in Seattle yesterday go unappreciated.  Ladies and gentlemen, give up your desktops for THIS MAN:

Toronto’s Charlie Wholestaff can’t quite match Seattle’s Gil Meche and a cast of thousands.

Travis Snider had a highly successful debut in professional baseball.  What does the future hold for him?

Last time he was sneaking around the basepaths; this time Jason Phillips is smackin' the magical mud off of a baseball:

Lilly grabs his career high thirteenth win

Only three of the twelve lower-seeded teams won in the opening round of the BBFL playoffs. This week, the bye teams return to battle.

Looking back at this year's photos of the day, it appears that Frank Catalanotto is criminally under-represented.  So here's the Cat, checking his swing:

The one-man version of the two-man Advance Scout team continues this week as Alex finds himself leaving on a jet plane. Classes have started yet again for yours truly -- by the time you read this, I'll be in another one -- so this preview of two also-rans in late September is not as full of information as the preceding ones. I don't think King Felix will flirt with a no-hitter this time, but youneverknow.

On to the Advance Scout!

The modern division of labour among the various members of the pitching staff puzzles me. You know the division I am speaking of- five starters whose role it is to throw 6-7 innings, a closer who takes the ninth inning with leads of 3 runs or less, and six other relievers who fill in between the starters and closer. I suppose it is not too bad if a team has four or five starters who can fulfil the role well. The Angels and White Sox of 2005 certainly made it work, but what if a team doesn’t have those starters on hand?

At this point, it's mostly about the Fight for Second Place. Not just in the AL East, either.