Due to technical problems, we cannot show the remainder of Bambi. Instead, we've got Roy Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays facing off with Tony Armas Jr. and the Montreal Expos. There's no score after 2 innings. So put another packet of popcorn in the microwave and enjoy the game.

There was some confusion about what was going on with the Jays recent roster moves, but it seems to be cleared up. One of my favourite websites, Rotoworld, has announced that "Blue Jays sent outfielder Simon Pond outright to Triple-A Syracuse. Pond, removed from the 40-man roster to make room for David Bush, was able to make it through waivers."

In total we had the following moves:

1. David Bush added to both the 25 and 40 man rosters
   
2. Mike Nakamura taken off of the 25 but not the 40 man roster
   
3. Simon Pond taken off of the 40 man roster (he was not on the 25 man)
   

The Jays are coming off a 20-hit performance (tellingly, none of them homeruns) as they play their Canadian cousins in .... San Juan, of course.

Question of the day: Where would the Jays offence be right now if not for recent acquisitions Gregg (Going, Going) Zaun and Frank (Mighty Mouse) Menechino?

Second question of the day: How many national anthems will be played before tonight's game?

Two games went to extra innings, one game did not even go nine. A new player hit a home run for Dunedin, Carlos something or other. And yours truly is off to Buffalo to see the Chiefs.

Find no interest in the racks and shelves
Just a thousand reflections of my own sweet self, self, self...

It's an unusual, and rather inappropriate, locale in which to hold what will likely be the last-ever Pearson Cup showdown. Instead of playing in the air-conditioned comfort of Olympic Stadium, surrounded by those familiar once-futuristic yellow moulded plastic chairs, the Jays and Expos will instead renew their rivalry in hot, sticky and soggy Hiram Bithorn Stadium, where Carlos Delgado will unfortunately not perform in front of his friends and family. Rain is a very real possibility for today and tomorrow; stay tuned for some possible doubleheader action (which would kill the Expo bullpen).

The Jays face a reeling Expos club that was bombed in dropping three of four to Philadelphia this week. This weekend, David Bush makes his big-league debut against a legitimate workhorse, the Doc takes on a recent patient and Ted Lilly squares off against a young Canadian with nowhere to go but up in his major league career.

Oh, and memo to the Jays' staff: Careful with that second baseman. He can hit a little.

On to the Advance Scout!

A forgettable day as the Blue Jays affiliates went 2-4, with the Dominican Summer League entry picking up one of the wins. The six teams combined to score just 15 runs and no team could score more than four.

The good news is that four of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats have been selected as Eastern League All-Stars. Starters Todd Ozias and Cam Reimers and the double-play combination of Aaron Hill and Dominic Rich will play in the July 14th classic in Bowie, MD. Congratulations, all!

Here's my June report card for the Blue Jays. As usual, players are graded from A+ (yow!) all the way down to F (ow!). Gradings are extremely non-scientific.

In geometric order
An insulated border
In between the bright lights
And the far unlit unknown

Mike Wilner of the Fan 590 has reported that 2002 Jays 2nd round pick David Bush has been called up to the big team. To make room on both the 25 and 40-man rosters it appears that Michael Nakamura will be taken off, leaving his future with the Blue Jays organization in doubt. None of this appears to be 100% official yet. Thanks to Rob (who isn't named Ryan) for the heads up.

UPDATE: 7:50PM. An AP story reports that "The Blue Jays optioned reliever Mike Nakamura to Syracuse after Thursday's 14-0 win at Tampa Bay [...] Toronto will make an additional move Friday to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Bush."

After today I won't have to hear that blowhard in the front row for awhile. He's Exhibit A for what you get when you combine lots of money and atrocious manners. If I were sitting a few rows behind, I'd be surreptitiously throwing peanut shells and popcorn at him. I can't imagine the other patrons are enjoying the game very much.

Many baseball fans will agree that Scott Carson has one of the best jobs in the world. He gets a terrific view of all the Blue Jays games while making an important contribution to the broadcasts. While the team is on the current road trip, the TV statistician will be visiting this thread to answer questions from Batter’s Box readers. We thought you might like to get to know him a little better first.

No perfect games to report today unfortunately, but the Pulaski Blue Jays pulled out a squeaker to keep their hopes alive for a perfect season! Five levels up, Guillermo Quiroz made a rather inauspicious return to action.

Also, Da Box gets a plug from John Habib of the Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News in a must read article about Mr. Perfect, Jamie Vermilyea.

Some twisted selection
That tangles me
To keep me alive

Thank you for watching Welcome Back: A Very Special Sweathogs Reunion, starring Gabe Kaplan and John Travolta. Because the preceding program ran longer than expected, we now join our regularly scheduled program, already in progress. No score, bottom of the first in Tampa Bay, Josh Towers versus Dewon Brazelton.