They're never too far
away from men who made the grade
out in a world of their own
They'll never come down
until the battle's lost or made

Here's the hitting coach. Let's not speak of mojo right now.

"This was the worst [expletive] road trip I have ever been on.". - Josh Towers

Lots of runs scored on a hot Sunday. The hitters are featured today, Gross, Cosby, Arnold, Cannon and Thigpen are featured. Plus bonus coverage, conversations with David Bush and Brandon League.

Following a miserable roadtrip the job doesn't get any easier with the St. Louis Cardinals making their first ever appearance at the Dome. The boys in blue are going to need our support and there should be some great games to watch.

A while back, when we published the R is for Ruth, Rodriguez and Robinson (Wow!) edition of Baseball's Hall of Names, you might glean from the exclamation in the headline that it was a pretty impressive group.

That story went so far as to declare "R" the letter "that would yield the best team overall." In the immortal words of Lee Corso, not so fast my friend.

An e-mail this week from Fountain of Baseball Knowledge (tm) Mike Green pointed out that the letter "M" would field a pretty fair lineup as well. Indeed. Such an exceptional lineup, in fact ...

The Jays send Josh Towers to the hill as they try to avoid the sweep in Houston

Roy Oswalt throws a two hit complete game shutout as the Jays leave Houston with a whimper not a bang.

It's an old joke, and not very good, but we will take all the levity we can get after a 1-3 night on the farm, complete with 2 late blown leads.

Today, we're launching a new feature here at Batter's Box: the Pinch-Hit Game Report. We recognized that we have some of the smartest baseball fans on the Net frequenting our site, so we decided to invite some of those readers to show off their analytical and writing abilities by occasionally producing a post-Game Report.

Today's account comes to you courtesy of Box regular Elijah, who explores John Gibbons' ninth-inning managerial decisions in the context of a poker game. If you'd like to try your hand at a Pinch-Hit Game Report, write us and we'll add your name to the list of potential contributors. If you haven't posted to Da Box regularly, we may ask you for a writing sample.

Thanks, and take it away, Elijah!

The Jays rallied off Brad Lidge for two runs in the top of the ninth - it got Gustavo Chacin off the hook, and denied Roger Clemens the win. Then they gave it back in the bottom of the inning, as Morgan Ensberg teed off on Miguel Batista's 3-0 pitch for a walk-off three run homer.

So what did everyone think of bringing in Scott Schoeneweis to face three RH batters in the 9th inning of a tie game?

The path of least resistance
is the dead end of the road
I hate to say I told you so
But hey, I told you so

This was a game that the Blue Jays needed to win.

Back it up, clap it up, switch it up, change it up
Do that thing for me, Do that thing for me
Flip it up, give it up, I'mma grip it up, while you rip it up
do that thing for me

Two wins, three losses, and that's that.

It's a matter of some debate whether or not Leo Durocher actually ever said "Nice guys finish last," but thanks to an idea from my inimitable, irascible dear ol' dad -- and this whole Hall of Names concept is his fault originally, as you may recall -- we are now going to test the theory overall.

Unfortunately, nobody named "Nice" has ever played big league ball. However, we have plenty of choices among the Friends, Buddys, Goodmans, Allies and Saints out there.

Or do we?

The Blue Jays needed this one. Ted Lilly against Wandy Rodriguez is by far the best match-up the Jays will get this weekend. Could Ted out-pitch the rookie?

What, you need me to answer that?

Only a brief Advance Scout report today, as the Jays travel to Minute Maid Park to take on the Astros for the first time in meaningful games.

Notwithstanding the former "Ten-Run Field" moniker of the retractable-roofed stadium, the Astros rely heavily on their starting pitching. True, the 'Stros will throw Clemens and Oswalt at the Jays this weekend, but a middling bullpen and the worst offence in the majors seem to present an opportunity for the Jays to win the series. Expect some pitchers' duels.

On to the Mini-Advance Scout!