Gregg Zaun did his best. Had his 9th-inning drive to left-centerfield fallen in, the Jays would've tied the game and would've had an excellent chance to win it. But Jeremy Reed made a fine running catch, and so my last Game Report of the year, just like the first 53 or so, ends with an L. I expect I'll be taking home the Unluckiest Rosterite Medal at the post-season Boxy Awards (televised live in Rogers Cable 23 in Iqaluit).

How was that a base hit? The ball struck the shortstop in the wrist, because he misjudged the trajectory and jumped too soon. If this ballgame were being played in Seattle, that's an E-6 and Felix Hernandez still has a chance to make history. Anyway, lots to talk about tonight, including Dave Bush's quick hook, Brandon League's rebirth, and a near-comeback torpedoed by a fine Jeremy Reed catch. That's as good a game as you can ask for between two also-rans in late September.

The prize on the line here is, of course, a No-Prize and Fifty Million Batter's Box points, redeemable anywhere Batter's Box Points are considered legal tender.

This one is hard unless you cheat. Don't cheat. A wrong guess is better (and more fun) than a correct lousy stinking cheater's right answer.

Ready? ...

Gregg Zaun had a magnificent night last night: another spectacular blocked plate (I love it when the baserunner smacks into Gregg and then bounces backwards and ends up sitting) and a two-run homer. Here he is:

Wasn't it nice to see a two-run ninth-inning lead protected without the usual hammering tension? Jason Frasor might have just been filling in for Miguel Batista, but I'd personally be happy to see him fill in a few more times before the season's done.

It's Pinch-Hit Wednesday again, and coming off the bench today is longtime Bauxite and Blue Jay Way regular MatthewE, with some further reflections on the Toronto bullpen. Take it away, Matthew!

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Game on. Seattle got three unearned runs in the first off Josh Towers, but Vernon Wells got two of them back with one swing in the bottom of the inning. Wells had two hits, a walk, a stolen base, and threw out a runner at home plate for a nice night's work.

Anyway, Koskie doubled in Wells to tie it up in the fourth, and Russ Adams put the Jays up to stay with an RBI double in the fifth. Josh Towers held the line through six, Going Going Zaun chipped in a two-run homer, Schoeneweis and Chulk bridged the gap until the ninth inning - when Jason Frasor worked an uneventful and scoreless inning for his first save of the season.

I know what you're thinking, but no - Batista was just getting the night off after pitching in three straight games.

As of this writing, only four men in the history of the Great Game whose last/family name began with the letter "T" have been inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame. Quick, a no-prize and fifty million points if you can name all four without looking. (Your hints: one earned mention in our All-Two First Names challenge, while another is nicknamed for a delicius pastry dessert.

Alan Trammell arguably should be there, of course -- but we do already have a shortstop among our Hall of Famers (albeit Trammell was certainly a better player -- ooh! Another No-Prize hint!). Joe Torre didn't quite make it as a player, though he likely will someday as a manager/overall contributions candidate.

Among current players, Frank Thomas will almost certainly get in, Jim Thome just might, and Miguel Tejada might take that shortstop job away from Trammell someday.

On the pitching side, Luis Tiant and Frank Tanana, with 229 and 240 career wins, respectively, will likely anchor our rotation, but neither really came close to Cooperstown bronze; no current pitcher is likely to be the first T enshrined, either, as the leading current winner among T-hurlers (Throwers? Tossers?) in 2005 is none other than Toronto's own Josh Towers, with 11 (so far).

Sorry, Josh, you're not going to make this Team. So who is? Well, let's find out -- it's time to meet ...

Here's good ol' Ken Huckaby behind the plate:

With increased workloads here, you'll have to be content with another "day in the life of" Game Report. This time, I move from the MLB.com GameDay experience to an explanation of the difficult process of finding a television showing the baseball game.

And by explanation, I mean running diary.

Your Championship Finalists:

Alomar Division: Thunderbirds vs. Horse Field Hammers
Barfield Division: Jay's Ehs vs Schroedinger's Bat
Carter Division: Baseball North vs Pohnpei Papayas

Ho hum, just anoth--wait, what? Grand slam? Hmm?

Oh. Oh, I see. Blown to bits, you say? Could you recover any of the--

Oh. Oh, I see.

After an emotional and gutsy showing this weekend, the Jays have to adjust to a non-electric atmosphere and a non-contending opponent. The Mariners, who pay an anomalous mid-September four-game visit to Toronto, faced the same problem themselves this past weekend -- and struggled against Texas after playing inspired spoiler-ball against the Angels.

My advice for those of you in the GTA: Head down to the Rogers Centre on Wednesday night, and splurge on a 100- or 200-level ticket. You'll want to be up close and personal to see 19-year-old Felix Hernandez taking aim at the Blue Jay bats.

Felix isn't the only player you likely haven't seen before as you prepare for the series. You want to learn about Greg Dobbs? George Sherrill? Jeff Harris? The wonderfully-named Yuniesky Betancourt? Well, there's an awfully convenient way to do it -- and it's to read on here at Batter's Box.

On to the Advance Scout!

Here's a bunch of guys in the Jays dugout:

A close victory against one of the seasons toughest oppenents.

Well, as good as possible.

But one of the concerns expressed in recent days, by myself and by others, has been more or less as follows: if Vernon Wells is your best hitter, just how good an offense can you have?