The pitching gave the affiliates a chance to win all four games Monday.  It was a 2-2 night on the farm with the losses coming from a doubleheader sweep.

The Jays affiliates combined for a 2-1 record on the night, while one club got the night off thanks to Mother Nature.

Just one win on the farm but each game featured some last-inning dramatics, both good and bad.

Las Vegas came to town and brought their lumber with them, humiliating the crew from Colorado.   The Fisher Cats put up just a meow against the Rock Cats.  Dunedin did their thing besting Brevard and Lansing’s Lugnuts lost to West Michigan.  All in all, the Blue Jay farm boys out hit opponents 43 to 33.

(Too big a stretch?)

The Blue Jays minor-league squads were 2-2 on the night. As you might guess, in places where the pitching was right good things happened, in other places not so much. Since there's now one full week of the season in the books (okay, 8 days, humor me) , along with tonight's game updates I'll be highlighting those hot and cold starts worthy of comment.

It was a 3-for-4 night for the affiliates, as New Hampshire’s bats were relatively quiet while those in Las Vegas exploded. Perhaps that’s not a huge surprise. However, given all the young hitting talent at Triple-A, it may surprise you to see who was leading the offensive attack.

The lower three teams won while what happens in Vegas needs to stay in Vegas.   The undefeated Lansing Lugnuts continued to roll behind unheralded starter and Michigan native Jesse Hernandez who pitched seven shutout innings.  Andrew Burns hit his first home run to get the scoring going.  Dunedin also won again to run their record to 4-1 behind Casey Lawrence.  New Hampshire won 3-2 with Drew Hutchison pitching six shutout innings but it wasn't Hutch's best start.  Brad Glenn homered and scored twice to lead the offense.  Las vegas were bad, the bright spot was Adeny Hechavarria who had three hits, including a based loaded triple.

 

The affiliates did very well in towns beginning with Dayton.  Everywhere else, not so much.

There was only one minor league game during Easter Sunday and the 51s took the loss after giving up 10 runs to Oakland's veteran-laden triple-A club.

The Lugnuts went nuts on the basepaths to key a doubleheader sweep.  That represents all of the wins on the farm for a Saturday night.

It is a rare, perhaps unprecedented, occasion when the minor leaguers share opening day with the major league squad. Three of the Blue Jays four full-season affiliates  played official games tonight, while the Lansing Lugnuts participated in their annual Crosstown Showdown exhibition against the Michigan State Spartans. In was a good night all around on the farm for everyone except the 51's pitching staff.

Unusually this year the Blue Jays and their minor league affiliates start their seasons on the same day.  All four full season affiliates are in action but the game counts for just three of them.  The Lugnuts play their traditional pre-season game against the Michigan State Spartans, a game that is a bigger deal in Lansing than the home opener.  This game is the real home opener for the Luggies, in the minds of the Lansing residents.  I believe it's also the first $2 thirsty Thursday so the college students can fill up on cheap beer.

The minor league season starts next week, around the same time as the Blue Jays start. The rosters were announced to the players this morning and Batters Box has received a copy.

Most assignments were well known: d'Arnaud, Gose, Sierra and Hechavarria to AAA. McGuire, Jenkins, Hutchison and Jimenez to AA. And Marisnick, Crouse and Knecht to Dunedin. But there are a few surprises.

Relief pitchers in most cases are the left-overs.  In general, teams put their priority players in the starting pitcher spots and if you are not a priority player you are usually a reliever.  This often changes in AA or AAA where players need to change roles in order to succeed.  Some players have bullpen roles due to an unusual delivery, Danny Farquhar, or due to being injury prone, Alan Farina.   As the Jays accumulate pitching prospects, some good pitchers will be forced into relief roles.  They can try to pitch their way out of the pen, or show their worth as a future major league reliever, or make themselves attractive to another team.  There is always an opportunity on a baseball team.

Starting pitchers are the biggest group in our review and the most subject to change.  Invariably by the start of the season there will be a half dozen pitchers on the disabled list including several starters.  We will forecast an excess of starters and hope that within that mix we will find five to stick.