Pat Hentgen retires, and Dave Bush starts, as the Jays go for the sweep. Bush had a little trouble with the running game in triple A, so I wonder if Kevin Cash will get the start.

The short-season affiliates continued their domination of the NYPL and Appy leagues, while the full-season affiliates split 4 nailbiters.

For a new affair
She knew it would finish
Before it began
Something tells me you lost the plan

Reader Phil asks I have a question on waivers in MLB. Say a player is put on waivers. The CBA says that if a player is released, then the team must pay him a termination fee, which during the season, is the balance of his contract. If that player is picked up, is the original team off the hook completely?

The Jays have plugged in a couple holes caused by the trading of Terry Adams to the Red Sox and the retirement of Pat Hentgen by calling up the following players from Syracuse:

1. Sean Douglass
   
   • Toronto: 2G, 4.0IP, 3BB, 4K, 0HR, 0.00 ERA
   • Syracuse: 18G, 89.0 IP, 37BB, 74K, 7HR, 4.75ERA
   
   
2. Mike Nakamura
   • Toronto: 17G, 23.0IP, 5BB, 23K, 5HR, 7.43 ERA
   • Syracuse: 18G, 33.1 IP, 10BB, 41K, 2HR, 3.78ERA

Douglass will be the starting pitcher tomorrow against the Yankees, Nakamura will be used as a reliever.

A romp, a triumphant return, a squeaker, and a typical night at the office for the Doubledays were the highlights of a 4-2 night for the farm affiliates.

And we'll come together fine
All we need is just a little patience

According to the Portland Sea Dog broadcast team Terry Adams and cash has been traded to the Red Sox for AA 3B John Hattig. Hattig is currently hitting .298/.413/.523 in the Eastern League.

Spencer Fordin of MLB.com has reported that Jays starting pitcher Pat Hentgen has decided to call it a career after posting a 2-9 record this season. Pat is generally regarded as one of the good guys of the industry, so I'd wish to wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

Let's play two. The sun is shining, and the Jays won last night. Happy 40th Birthday, Barry Bonds! As my coffee cup says, heavy breathing is not necessarily a sign of passion. Congratulations, Paul Molitor, on your induction!

On with the game. Josh Towers and Rob Bell bring matching 4.97 ERAs to the hill. Will the day off help the O-dog emerge from his slumbers?

A late and abbreviated report today. Yours truly was in Auburn yesterday watching a Canadian kid be a hero for the home team. Four wins and two losses for the minor league teams.

So you're looking for the thrill
And you know just what it takes
And where to go

Batter's Box reader Marc has taken a crack at the ongoing debate between drafting high school versus drafting college players. Always an interesting (and controversial) topic. Enjoy!

The third place Devil Rays come to Toronto to face the last place Jays. At the beginning of the season Tampa was expected by most to spend another year in the basement and the Jays were the popular 'surprise' team by many experts expecting to challenge for the wild card spot in the AL.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays, virtually since the beginning of their existence a Newman to the Jays' Jerry, will provide the opposition as Toronto plays some badly-needed home games. Tampa Bay arrives in an offensive funk, and since their pitching has been consistently (and predictably) so-so, it's translated into a lot of recent losses after their franchise-record June.

It's been a busy, three-Scout week, but this edition features some freezing bats, some blazing speed, some not-quite-ripe rumours of both buying and selling at the trade deadline and a potential megadeal for a teenager who has yet to see action at the big league level.

On to the Advance Scout!