I've been away for several days, and so missed much of the fun surrounding Rafael Palmeiro. While creating a post on his Hall-of-Fame worthiness in the accompanying sidebar poll, I went into more detail than usual and ended up with something I thought I'd post as a short feature, to while away a few minutes of your day.

4 wins, 2 losses. Josh Banks was stellar again, while Davis Romero was not.

Another Pinch-Hit Game Report from Elijah, our Angelino Bauxite who had the added advantage of attending in person last night's ballgame in Anaheim. From Francisco Rodriguez's wildness to Chavez Ravine beach ball mythology, here's today's Batter's Box Game Report.

I wanted to provide some supplementary information to Rob's piece yesterday on AL closers... ah, hell. I just wanted to make a Data Table. Get your Analytical Fix right here!

Frank Catalanotto with the winning RBI! And I called it in the RBI Pool!

Two great games in a row.

And I just heard that Wednesdays With JP is on tomorrow before the game, at 8:30 Eastern.

According to a news flash e-mail from the great Jamey Newberg, the Rangers have called up LHP Justin Thompson, former Tiger All-Star and 15-game winner, and the supposed centerpiece of the Juan Gonzalez trade that also netted the Rangers Coco Cordero and Frank Catalanotto.

Thompson has not appeared in a big league game since 1999. Which [willy insists] prompts the question ... given that he has not pitched in this millenium, if he has sustained success in Detroit, would Thompson be the greatest comeback story in baseball history?

Post your nominations in this category (hint: Jim Bouton with the Braves and Minnie Minoso in his 50s were sideshows, not comebacks) and your memories of both successful and failed comebacks in the Great Game ...

The Blue Jays amateur scouting organization is seemingly thin - 28 people are involved in a draft that covers over 1,500 players.

I am intense. No question about it.
-- Roger Clemens

In our second day of appreciating, photographically, the coaching staff of the '05 Toronto Blue Jays, here's Ernie Whitt.

Yesterday's thread speculating on what Brad Arnsberg was saying was pretty funny; who wants to narrate what's going through Ernie's head in this shot?

I am once again running the Scouting Report project. The Jays ballots were one of the most-filled last year, and I'm sure it's in no small part due to the Batter's Box readers. If you can take a few minutes, I'd appreciate it.

Very little pre-amble here. It's 2:31 am and I'm tired. So, let's get right to it.

I decided to research the performances of the American League closers, after some debate on the weekend when Miguel Batista nearly blew a save. Bauxites had varying opinions on his performance; this shall attempt to answer the questions. Enjoy!

Lots of offence in Syracuse and Lansing nets wins for the Toronto farm; so does solid pitching in Dunedin, but in Auburn it’s not enough.

NFH is asleep now. This is Rob here. John Gibbons is a Slave To The Save and it cost this team the game. No argument, no "but that's second-guessing," no nothing.

It was a terrible move to bring Walker out. Just terrible.

Slave To The Save!

The Jays hope to continue their solid play in Anaheim, where they face a club clinging to a one-game lead in the AL West. Winning the series -- as the Jays did against the Halos, back in the Rogers Centre in July -- could prove to be a tall order.

Then again, the Jays manage to avoid the Angels' two primary workhorses, and they throw two lefties at a club that sometimes struggles with southpaws. Both teams like to throw strikes and flash the leather...it should be an entertaining series.

This week's Scout features an old-school starter, a white-hot Vlad and an old friend that might be returning to an old role. Plus, a couple of Molinas(!) and a Trivia Challenge!

On to the Advance Scout!

Consider: Greg Legg, IF, 1986-87 Phillies. Rollie Fingers, Hall of Fame reliever. Roy Face, All-Star closer, 1960s Pirates. Armando Benitez, All-Star closer, active.

That's right, it's time to build our all-body-parts Hall of Names team (and presumably Tom Cheek will be calling the games). As you can see ...