Rain-outs once again limited the field for the Three Star Selection. Thanks to Banks and Co. in Dunedin, there were plenty of worthy candidates.

Fed on nothing but full of pride
Look at them go, look at them kick
Makes you wonder how the other half live

The Jays continue their quest for revenge - a three-game sweep of the Tigers in their park - tonight. Fans in Canada will have radio coverage to look forward to, or else pay nearly 6 dollars for pay-per-view. Our American colleagues with Extra Innings will have a chance to see the game for no additional charge. Gitz, I expect a full report.

Nate Robertson, who pitched very well in relief in Game #2 at Skydome for a 4-inning save, will make his first start of the season against Ted Lilly, a deceptive lefthander with a sneaky fastball.

Okay, since we need a topic for this space, we're going to have our first Batter's Box Improvisational Thread. I'm going to start with a short opening paragraph of a story; subsequent posters will add to the story with short paragraphs of their own, taking in whateevr semi-plausible directions eems appropriate, to create what will either be a masterpiece of improvisational community fiction or one big ugly mess. Keep it clean and fun.

As pointed out by a few people, there have been a couple of moves in the last 24 hours. Our Sports Central reports that Sean Douglass has cleared waivers and has been sent down to Syracuse. Jason Frasor, recently acquired in the Jayson Werth trade, has been called up. This follows the move that sent Simon Pond to AAA and Chad Hermansen to the big club.

In short: Hermansen and Frasor up, Pond and Douglass down. What's your take? When will we see Pond and Douglass in Toronto next?

If you've been hanging around Da Box the last two weeks, you've no doubt tired of me talking about Extra Innings, and how great the world suddenly is because of it. (The Extra Innings package, that is, not my relentless jabbering about it.) Truth be told, it's a gift from my wife, who wants my transition from "carefree bum" to "father" to be as easy as possible when she gives birth sometime in July. No doubt the idea of me becoming a father sends shivers through loyal Bauxites, and in that we are kindred spirits, because not a day goes by that I do not shake with fear at some point.

Neither no optician, tell me what I ought to see
No one tells you nothing, even when you know they know
But they tell you what you should do
They don't like to see you grow

With Toronto idle and New Hampshire, Dunedin, and Charleston all rained out last night, it fell to Syracuse to provide good news for Jays fans and worthy candidates for the Three-Star Selection. Two fourth-outfielder hopefuls and a pitcher acquired for another of their ilk were up to the task as the SkyChiefs won for the first time in five outings.

Break up the Tigers! After having won two more games already than they won all last April, the Detroit Tabbies are enjoying their brief lead atop the AL standings. Perhaps they're even happy to see the return of a Toronto squad that rolled over and played dead for them in a three-game opening series at Skydome last week. If so, that would be a mistake.

Back around April Fool's Day, sports enthusiasts in the Detroit area certainly assumed that April would be an exciting month. The Red Wings and Pistons, each bolstered by mid-season trades, would be jockeying for position and then commencing their respective playoffs -- each with high hopes.

But improbably, the Tigers have also forced their way into the consciousness of Detroit fans. Off to their best start in nineteen years, the Tigers are generating sincere enthusiasm for their strong play when most Tiger fans would have settled for basic competence after last season's debacle. An influx of veterans with a basic idea as to how to play the game has rejuvenated the franchise, at least in the early going.

Still, the Jays need to get back on track, and this series presents an opportunity to do it. All three pitching matchups favour Toronto, and a better approach at the plate is all that's needed to get to Tiger pitching that was vulnerable against the Twins this weekend. Remember, Doc's outing on Thursday will be a matinee.

On to the Advance Scout!

The Blue Jays were facing an organisational whitewash yesterday, but David Smith of Charleston became both the home town hero, and the organisational saviour of the day, with a walk off three run home run in the bottom of the 12th inning to produce the lone Blue Jay win on the first Sunday of the season.

It's no surprise to see Billie's Bashers and gashouse gorillas atop the early leaderboard in what is now called the Alomar Division of the BBFL, but they have company. Chatsworth Halos and hannibal's cannibals share top spot after the first long "week" of head-to-head play. Our defending champion, the renamed Austin Senators, stumbled out of the gate, much like the real Jays, Phillies and Mariners. It is, of course, a long season, and these early results don't mean much.

I don’t pretend to know what you want
When you come around and spin my top
Time and again, time and again
No fire where I lit my spark
I am not afraid of the dark

"Hooking... hooking... there she goes!"

Try to read that line without imagining the voice of Jerry Howarth, now in his 23rd year of broadcasting Blue Jays baseball. We're delighted to have him step into Da Box to answer your questions.

And so my inaugural Minors Roundup begins…