This is fun. Ted Lilly takes the hill to face the Rangers' Ryan Drese at 8:05 p.m.

Here is some Texas trivia. In the Rangers' first three seasons in the Metroplex, 1972-4, they opened the seasons respectively with Ted Williams, Whitey Herzog and Billy Martin as managers.

Our week of daily photographs comes to an end, but I'll be putting up a new picture every day at lunchtime again next week, starting on Monday.

In honor of Roy Halladay's magnificent performance yesterday, here's Doc on April 9th at the Rogers Centre:

Taking a cue for the organization’s ace, the Toronto farm featured impressive starting pitching at every level in winning 3 of 4 contests.

Another Exhibit for Murphy's Law. My Game Reports focus on the Jay bullpen, and Roy Halladay throws a complete game gem. But, hey, I'll take the win over a good story any day.

Part Three: Reading, Writing & Sabermetrics

See also:

1. Part One: Paper Blue Jay
2. Part Two: Inside the Clubhouse

And now, some parting shots from Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Tom Verducci, who flew down Blue Jay Way in Spring Training.

Off to Texas after a series win over the A's, the Jays and Roy Halladay face the Rangers and Pedro Astacio. This game is on TSN at 8:05pm, which is good, because I don't get TSN and I really need to study.

The Jays ride into the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, the stompin' grounds of our very own Mick Doherty (and, according to Mapquest, three and a half hours from the stompin' grounds of our very own Scott Lucas). The Rangers come into play with an absolutely reeling bullpen, as even ace reliever Francisco Cordero has proven mortal this season after gagging two leads to the rival Angels.

The Fightin' Jays would do well to press on with their offensive patience and persistence, because there are lots of ways to get on base against the Rangers' staff. The downside, of course, is that the Jays' pitching staff travels from a forgiving Oakland outfield to a windy Arlington bandbox. The bottom third of the order, presumed to be the weak link in a powerful Rangers lineup, has actually swung the bats very well in the early going.

It should be four shootouts at Ameriquest Field. Can the Jays win yet another series?

On to the Advance Scout!

Last September John Suomi was playing in the most exciting baseball series of his life and he had every reason to feel on top of the world. The 23-year-old catcher had just completed a very solid season for the Modesto A’s of the California League, which had included a spot in the California League All-Star Game. The A’s were playing the Lancaster Jethawks in the California League Championship Series and the best of five series was knotted at one game apiece. Suomi had solidified his status as something more than organisational filler, and a ticket to Double-A looked to be in the cards for 2005. However, in the third game of the championship series came the play that may have irreparably changed Suomi’s career.

Our expanded Photo of the Day extravaganza continues!

Today we have Butterfield talking to Rios after Rios was caught stealing on April 9th:

Last night, Josh Banks navigated his way to seven innings of shutout ball, John-Ford explored the art of the extra-base hit and a couple of Canadians helped Lansing to an extra-inning win.

Or, their first home win, at least: Oakland 6, Jays 3.

• 1 pitcher's duel (6 innings)
• 2 miscues, Blue Jays flavour (or 1, if preferred)
• 2 homer announcers
• 15 860 fans
• 50 players, divided

Mix players with fans in large Coliseum-sized bowl. Quickly add pitcher's duel (less than 1 hour, 15 minutes). Sprinkle in miscues and garnish with homer announcers. Serve Pacific-style.

Two fine young pitchers in this one, Dave Bush (0-1) for Toronto takes on Joe Blanton (0-0) of the A's.

I'm homeless.

I am really, really, really sick and tired of hearing "It's early, but . . ." What if some of the early-season events are actual indicators and not merely scurrilous scatterings of small samples? So let's all play the first annual (snicker) edition of "Fluke" vs. "Trend"! Grab some Yoohoo, find a friend (or hire one, this being a community of nerds, after all), and pull up a chair (or two, this being a community of fat nerds, after all).

Our daily expansion of Photo of the Week continues with the mighty Gregg Zaun, who hit another homer last night.

This picture is of Zaun watching his grand slam sail towards the fences on Saturday: