It was two of these that did in Cat's chances for the cycle last night:

The Jays are probably getting themselves a reputation around Beantown. I was discussing the AL East/Wildcard race with a co-worker, and we came to the conclusion that, no matter what happens, if you're a Jays fan cheering against the Yankees (sorry Mick), the outcome of these four Jays-Red Sox games is bad no matter what it is.

Well, I guess if you're going to help the Yankees, you should at least do it in style, and that's what the Jays did last night — thank God. Frankie Cat came this close to becoming only the third Jay to ever hit for the cycle (quick trivia question: who were the other two?), Eric Hinske hit a 2-run drive Mike Wilner described as "prodigious," and the Jays absolutely hammered Bronson Arroyo.

But, as is my wont, this game stops being analyzed here, and I go onto other, somewhat different topics.

Sorry, no gloating over SoSH here. Too tired. Perhaps Magpie will have the transcript for us by 3:45 am...

Anyway, I missed the whole game. What was good about tonight's win over Boston?

The headline, of course, is a reference to Hall of Famers Chick Hafey and the incomparable Babe Ruth, with (one supposes) a shout-out to one or the other of the two Dolly Grays, neither of whom posted Hall-of-Fame numbers. But the Hall of Names ... as you know by now, that is a very different story, indeed.

That's right, this installment of Baseball's Hall of Names takes its cue from the old Johnny (no relation to Norm or Dave) Cash song, "A Boy Named Sue" and focuses on major league ballplayers who, well, there's really no other way to say this, had girly names. Specifically, traditionally female first (given) names. You know, Chase Utley. Blondie Purcell. Jamie Moyer. You get the idea.

So who qualifies for this team? Okay, here's the rules ....

The Blue Jays' season was on display in microcosm in last night's doubleheader. After a frustrating and dispiriting loss in the opener, Toronto fell behind 5-2 early and could easily have given up the ghost. But they battled back, first to tie it, and ever so gradually, to move ahead and eventually win it.

Gregg Zaun gets a lot of love from the photo of the day, primarily because he kicks so much ass. Here he is, swinging and missing (it happens sometimes):

Yesterday's and Monday's articles were just the warm-up acts. And tomorrow, we’ll have some rising and falling prospects who didn’t make our top 30. Today, it's the main attraction: the Top 10 Prospects in the entire Blue Jay farm system, according to your minor-league correspondents. Read ‘em all, and then tell us what you think of our Top 30: anyone we missed? Anybody too high or too low on the list? Who do you think should be #1?

Our final Pinch-Hit Game Report of the season comes from Blue Jay Way's Matthew E, a Bauxite who just about finally reached his breaking point following the Blue Jays' dispirited 3-1 loss in the opener of yesterday's doubleheader (the nightcap Game Report will follow later today). Join him in this Keats-inspired lament for another Blue Jays season mere days from departing into the history books.

Two sacrifice flies in the last two innings made the difference, as the Jays managed a split with the BoSox. Chalk this one up to the bullpen, which bailed out Gustavo Chacin, and the bats, which never quit and continued to grind it out. Shaun Marcum is having himself quite the big-league debut.

Dave Bush overcame a very shaky start, and Dustin McGowan contributed two perfect innings of relief, but it was all for naught. The Jays could only push across one unearned run, and according to GameDay, made outs with 12 runners on base. Gustavo Chacin will try to salvage a split in the nightcap, going up against Curt Schilling.

Four big games in three days await the Jays, who go from raucuous Yankee Stadium to frenzied Fenway.

The Fighting Jays have played the Bosox awfully tough this year, and it would do wonders for the confidence of some of the younger players if the good guys could steal a couple of wins this week. The Red Sox are unlikely to overlook the Jays, though; they know that this is not the roll-over-and-die Orioles in town.

This week's Scout features a struggling veteran hurler, a locked-in MVP candidate and some empty hospital beds. After all, the Sox are on TV at home.

On to the Advance Scout!

Haven't seen much of Pete Walker lately, so here he is:

Yesterday's prospect list consisted mainly of players in the lower minors. By contrast, today's prospects, #20-#11 on our Top 30 list, are (with two notable exceptions) well on their way to The Show. Check out the Middle Ten.

Here's a point for discussion ... what's the biggest surprise in MLB this season? As we wind down the entire season, we can start to draw some conclusions, rather than rely on projections, so speaking as an avowed fan of the interlocking NY and pinstripes, I would humbly suggest that the biggest surprise of 2005 ...

The Yankees' late-inning comeback yesterday capped off the season series between Toronto and their rivals in the Bronx.

As a New York resident of over seven years, I've attended more games at Yankee Stadium than at any other big-league ballpark, save the Dome/Rogers Centre and Exhibition Stadium. In an attempt to be fair and balanced, Fox News-style, I've listed things to both like and dislike about The House That Ruth Built, in ten different categories. Notwithstanding the results, I'll be there again in 2006, cheering on the Jays in some rather hostile territory.