The Royals have finally traded CF Carlos Beltran -- to the Astros in a three-team trade. The A's get RP Octavio Dotel from the Astros. The Royals get 3B Mark Teahen and P Mike Wood from the A's and C Joe Buck from the Astros. (Source: Lee Sinins)

Someone said this deserved its own thread, so there it is. Beltran to Houston, Dotel to Oakland, kids to Kansas City. Discuss.

Short(ish) & sweet today, as the day job looms. A stirring debut from a very promising youngster, and the Jays' affiliates went 4-1 overall but Pulaski will get most of the ink.

It affects you in the most peculiar way
Dull day don't seem pretty
We've said all that there is to say.

The Kent Williams Birthday Charm is at five years and counting, making us look smart for forecasting a win last night. Spencer Fordin, Mike Ganter, and Mark Zwolinski have all the details of last night’s 2-1, extra-inning victory, with additional commentary from Richard Griffin.

Sorry, today's roundup became corrupted and can't be restored. It is an ex-thread.

Apologies to author Mike Moffatt and everyone whose comments were eaten by the latest annoying Greymatter glitch. Repairs and rebuilds are complete, so things are supposed to be stable again, but we're already investigating software alternatives. That will be a major project, which won't happen overnight. In the meantime, thanks for your patience. Feel free to make this a Hijack Central.

As promised, we have the second of two pieces by Ryan Levy of tamu-and-baseball.com on draftees from Texas A&M University. Today's piece is on sandwhich pick Zack Jackson. Enjoy everyone!

After watching the Jays bats struggle all night at Skydome, I got home to find out that the bats were very much alive down in the minors. 4 wins as all 6 affiliates were in action for the first time this year.

Curtis Thigpen's Longhorns take on Georgia in the College World Series semifinals today at 1:00pm.

Why will Tampa Bay's franchise-record 12-game winning streak crash to a halt tonight? Not just because Roy Halladay takes the mound tonight against Victor Zambrano, and not just because Frank "Leadoff Homer" Menechino is atop the lineup. It's because it's Coach's birthday, and as Ryan Lind points out at Post #14 therein, Kent's riding a four-year winning streak. Top that, Mr. Piniella.

It's a great day for a man I'm honoured to call a mentor and a friend. Happy Birthday to Coach, without whom none of us would be here right now.

There Is No Cabal, but if there were Coach would be its Kim Il-Sung. Hail to the Great Leader!

As first reported by Gerry McDonald, the Jays have called up 2002 4th round pick Adam Peterson. According to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats press release, in 28.1 innings of work, Peterson has only given up 20 hits and 10 walks while striking out 38. He should be a valuable addition to the Jays bullpen.

Hey, our buddies from Tampa are in town! Let's go greet 'em in old-fashioned Cheer Club style.

You know me, I'm like into the clean stuff
Like PAC-MAN, and like, I don't know

Minor-league action in the Toronto system last night saw Pulaski playing their season opener and putting on a show, while Auburn won a close one in their home opener. Meanwhile, the Syracuse bats were anemic and the New Hampshire pitchers were flammable. Dunedin and Charleston rested on the laurels of their first-half division titles.

Pop quiz: which of the following outlandish statements is false?

A. Tampa Bay comes into this game riding an 11-game winning streak.
B. Statistically, Blue Jays starters are outperforming Yankees starters.
C. Statistically, Blue Jays relievers are outperforming Braves and Cubs relievers.
D. The Blue Jays leader in Win Shares Above Average is Jason Frasor.
E. Chris Gomez is starting at first base for Toronto tonight.

As if the Jays' infuriating 8-11 record in 2003 against Tampa Bay wasn't enough motivation for the hometown gang to get up for the first of six series against their divisional rival, the Devil Rays come into town the talk of baseball, having won an astonishing eleven straight ballgames.

Only a brief Advance Scout report today, as time has been short. But against the three pitchers Piniella will be sending to the mound this week, the Jays need to practice what they preach -- namely, patience at the plate -- to prevail.

On to the Advance Scout!

That's right, everyone's favourite pink-haired economist is in Toronto this week. Who's up for a get-together before Sunday's game?