Life doesn't get any easier for the scuffling Jays, who battle a couple of first-place Beltway clubs this week.

On the other hand, it's a four-game set that provides a real opportunity to make up ground within the division if the Jays can get their bats going -- and the return of proud Father's Day celebrant Vernon Wells will help. Of course, this will be difficult, since the Orioles are playing relaxed, smart baseball and are supporting their decent starting pitching with a fearsome lineup (even absent Javy Lopez).

This week's Scout features a somewhat slowing breakout season, a very lucky knight and a proud first-time recipient of an ejection.

On to the Advance Scout!

Your Division Leaders at the Halfway Point:
Alomar: Austin Senators (85-37-10, .682, up 9.5 games on Toronto Walrus)
Barfield: Pistol Nine (81-46-5, .633, up 3.0 games on Team Junior Felix)
Carter: Magic 9 (81-47-4, .629, up 1.5 games on Pohnpei Papayas)

While the history of the BBFL is perhaps slightly less rich and colorful than the National League, it does offer some insight into how well teams can expect to perform in the second half. In reviewing the inaugural, one-division league of 2003 and the two-division format of 2004, I’ve unearthed the following revelations:

Here's a preview of our coverage of Alan Schwarz's Learning Annex talk about his book The Numbers Game this past Saturday at the Rogers Centre:

Those Nats just aren't going away. They have a 2.5 game lead over the Phillies and are on pace to win 94 games. Can it continue?

The Syracuse Skychiefs won two more games to make it eight wins in a row despite Shaun Marcum's shortest appearance of the year. The bullpen lost a game for the Fisher Cats while Lansing won the last game of the first half, a nothing game as far as the playoffs are concerned.

As I am writing two game reports in a row, I decided it was time to examine the Blue Jays through the numbers. The Jays have played 69 games so far this season, so I’ll find something to connect to the team having to do with the numbers from 1 through 69.

She throws like a girl. Who cares. Maybe she can hit...

The Jays had a hazillion chances to score some runs - the Brewers issued seven walks. Oh, it was ugly. There was Hinske's golden sombrero. There was Reed Johnson going 0-5 (does this man need some rest or what?). Alex Rios, 0-4. Ken Huckaby 0 for June...

Hi Dad!!!

Lots new, actually. New Hampshire and Lansing won, while Syracuse played 14 innings to no avail. Suspended games are so unsatisfying.

Well, today is Father's Day all across North America and the United Kingdom, and as such, we could take a look back at the ode to fathers and sons in the majors posted here last year around this time.

But instead, we'll go with a followup on a more recent Hall of Names entry, the All-Nice Guys team, which was conceived by my own dear ol' dad -- who, as I have written before, is really the one who came up with this whole "Hall of Names" idea waybackwhen during the end of the Bobby Bonds Era, when I was a lad and we'd brainstorm ideas for what became the All-Food team that was the first of what is now more than 80 entries in the Hall of Names legacy.

In fact, and not for the first time, I'm just gonna turn this one over to dad (that's Mike Doherty Sr. here on Da Box) for presentation of -- and this is his team moniker, so don't blame me -- The Bad Names Bears.

Roy Halladay wasn't bad, he just wasn't brilliant. Carlos Lee came into the game with 2 HRs in 16 ABs against Doc, and he hit another. Ben Sheets made it stand up.-

Three games, five total runs scored, three of them on solo homers. It's a testament to the strength of Blue Jay pitching that the system came away with a 1-2 record on the night and nearly pulled off a 2-1. Too bad the high-powered Dunedin offence was on All-Star Break hiatus. Accordingly, this minor-league update is a slim and concise volume.

I don't have a coherent theme or anything for you this time. I don't have page after page of numbers (but I do have a few.) I just have a few odds and ends to pass along...

Eric Hinske said he needed to play regularly to keep his stroke. So he started against a LH and hit a three run homer.

Not a great night for Gus the Polar Bear, but the bullpen allowed just one run in 6.2 IP, Hill and Hillenbrand each had three hits, and Gord Ash knows the bitter taste of defeat. La plus c'est change, la plus c'est meme chose. I think.

The Jays' old rivals from Wisconsin come to town in an interleague series that won't really feel like one. Milwaukee comes in as disheartened as any team would after dropping two of three to the D-Rays, but there is a sizeable contingent of young talent and good-to-quite-good pitching on the Brewer roster.

Fans should be in for an absolute treat on Saturday when Doc trades devastating curves with the talented, but ailing, Ben Sheets. Gustavo Chacin should have an easier time with the Brew Crew's lefty-heavy lineup than should Josh Towers.

This week's Scout features a Gary Sheffield doppelganger (really!), some injury news, and the gift that keeps on giving, courtesy of the Diamondbacks.

On to the Advance Scout!