It's taken some time -- almost two full calendar years -- but we've actually completed every single viable All-Alphabet team for Baseball's Hall of Names -- 26 letters in the English alphabet, 25 complete teams. (Here's proof: A * B * C * D * E * F * G * H * I * J * K * L * M * N * O * P * Q * R * S * T * U * V * W * X * Y * Z)

What? I mean, sure 96.2 percent is still an "A" in most schools, and there is the little matter of the fact that no player in major league history has ever made it to The Show with a last/family name beginning with the letter "X." Besides, we can tell ourselves, 25 is a nice, round, "baseball number" -- the size of an unexpanded regular season roster. (And, be forewarned, that little factoid is going to lead to a Hall of Names Batter's Box challenge come this off-season.)

But no "All-X" team, especially in this era of X-treme sports? Preposterous! So what to do? Actually, that's quite easy ...

The thing about the Yankees is that even if you keep the Jason Giambis and the Derek Jeters and the Alex Rodriguezes off the board, they can still send a stealth Robinson Cano out there to beat you with a long ball. The Yanks took the measure of the Jays this season, and it's apparent there's still a sizeable gulf between the two teams. Can the Jays make up that difference between now and next April?

Yankees lose, Red Sox win.

Both teams at 90-64 with 8 games to go!

What's the ultimate goal in baseball? To get a whole bunch of W's strung together, of course. And that's what we've done here -- that is, strung together an entire team of players whose last/family name begins with the letter "W".

We have some help from previous All-Wilson and All-Wright and All-Williams (which was also an All-Kent) teams as well as the All-Black/White/Gray squad ... But for now, let's cut to the chase (no, not Hal) and meet ...

Today it was the Yankees $21 million dollar man who could only record three outs. The Jays hit ten singles, three sac flies, and accepted with glee a couple of defensive miscues.

And Miguel Batista struck out Jason Giambi with the bases loaded in the eighth en route to his 30th save.

Ted the Tease, Ted the Tease. He drives me crazy. But I've said that before, haven't I? So let's give him a little credit for this: he is at least willing to face the music afterwards, as the good Dr Prison Fence reports:

So how was Ted the Tease tonight?

New York - Bottom of 1st
D Jeter homered to right.
R Cano homered to left.
G Sheffield flied out to center.
A Rodriguez to second on wild pitch by T Lilly.
H Matsui doubled to deep right, A Rodriguez scored.
J Posada walked.
B Williams fouled out to catcher.
T Martinez singled to center, H Matsui scored, J Posada to second.
B Crosby grounded out to pitcher.

New York - Bottom of 2nd
D Jeter walked.
R Cano singled to center, D Jeter to third.
S Marcum relieved T Lilly.

Any questions?

There wasn't a chance this week to put together an analysis of the Yankees this weekend, but they're playing the most motivated ball they've played since at least the 2003 playoffs.

If the Jays want to steal a game or more, they'll need to do it with the bats. Toronto was unlucky to be shut down by Shawn Chacon last weekend, and Jaret Wright and Chien-Ming Wang are far from unbeatable. But the ferocious Yankee offence is starting to fire on all cylinders. Here's what the Jays are facing this weekend.

Alex Rios was last night's hero, and what better reward is there than being the subject of the photo of the day?

Let's be honest: I have very little to offer in the way of analysis when it comes to baseball. If you want me to explain how David Peoples took a wonderful novel by Philip K. Dick and stripped it of its complexity by replacing the plot with that of Disney's Pinocchio, I could go on for hours. But baseball, I just enjoy watching it, especially when the home side wins.

That's why I am about to attempt to set down the rules to the Definitive Toronto Blue Jays Drinking Game. As always, I need your help and suggestions.

The Blue Jays closed out their season finale against the Seattle Mariners with a 7-5 victory. I haven't watched the game yet -- it's waiting for me on a DVD here -- but it doesn't look like Chacin did his Rookie of the Year chances any favours with his outing today: Five earned runs in four and a third innings.

Here's Eric Hinske, trying to influence the path of his fly ball with his eyeballs and bat:

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? ...