Only a Lansing doubleheader split prevented a winless night for the affiliates as they went 1-4.  However, some individuals managed to shine - especially at Oldsmobile Park.

A strong day on the farm featured three wins and a dominating pitching performance in Las Vegas.

Move along people nothing to see here, except for four losses. Picking the three stars was tough, Brian Van kirk was an obvious choice for #1, he reached base all five times he came to the plate.  Andrew Liebel had another good start, Reidier Gonzlaez was good for 5.2 innings before giving up five runs in the fifth, channelling Scott Richmond perhaps.  The four affiliates combined for 8 runs.

If you start from the top, things don't look so good with both Las Vegas and New Hampshire losing. But the A-ball affiliates saved the day - especially after Lansing came from behind to score eight runs in the final two innings to defeat Fort Wayne.

There were four games on the farm yesterday and the affiliates won three of them. There was a pitcher’s duel in Double-A between one of Toronto’s better pitching prospects and a Double-A veteran better known for being a minor part of the biggest trades of the past few years. Lansing won with a timely homer, demonstrating that when a team gets runners on with two out there’s no rule you have to strand them on base. Production from the bottom of Dunedin’s lineup and some good middle relief propelled them to a comfortable win and Las Vegas won behind Brett Cecil.

Every organization has at least one player who has all the talent in the world, but they just continue to drive management (and more importantly fans) crazy with their inconsistencies. In Toronto, we have David Purcey... or, Mr. One-Good-Game, then Mr. One-Bad-Game. Unfortunately for Las Vegas, last night was his bad game.

It was a 2-2 night for the affiliates as the Lugnuts and D-Jays put one in the win column.

A week after complaining that the affiliates never play well on Mondays, and threatening to fact-check that claim, the affiliates threw a wrench in my plans by going 3-0. The evening featured excellent starting pitching at all 3 levels, and one player went 5-5 with a home run. Who was it? Guess you'll just have to click through!

I was in Lansing over the weekend and I saw two games, both Lansing wins.  I had the opportunity to talk with the Lansing manager, Clayton McCullough, the Jays roving pitching instructor, Dane Johnson, the Jays roving hitting instructor, Chad Mottola, and another roving instructor, Mel Queen, as well as several players.  Look for these interviews on Batters Box over the next week or so.  We will start with what I saw in the two games I attended.  Here is a quick scouting report as well as some comments on the Dunedin Jays from a scout I was talking to.

A fairly uneventful day on the farm as the affiliates went just 1-3.  Highlights included a couple of strong starting performances and some big power from the usual suspects in New Hampshire.

Only one win, by Lansing, in a come from behind victory.  Dunedin and New Hampshire were blown out even though New Hampshire hitters had four home runs and Jesus Gonzalez hit a grand slam.  Several good starters had bad days, Marc Rzepczynski, Chuck Huggins and Henderson Alvarez each struggled.  Las Vegas lost in extra innings when Davis Romero ran out of gas.  Brett Cecil started.

It was a rather uninspiring night on the farm with the late Las Vegas result still pending. The other three clubs went 1-2. UPDATE: Am I ever glad I didn't wait up... Las Vegas lost in 16 innings.

Mistakes in the field, struggles with runners in scoring position and mediocre starting pitching all led to losses in the minors as the affiliates won one of five games. Brad Mills’s rough start to the year continued, as he remains winless, although on the positive side Travis Snider went 2 for 4. The Fisher Cats had a rough day in the field and Dunedin could muster little offence. Top first base prospects helped do the affiliates in, as Lars Anderson was 3-5 and Eric Hosmer was 2-4 with a pair of doubles in the first game of Lansing’s doubleheader.

Sorry, folks;  Life and work got in the way of a full minor league recap.  Here's an abbreviated look at Wednesday which was actually a good night.  3 games, 3 wins, all in the final at-bat.  Too bad the big club blew it.

Three affiliates managed five runs in their three losses.  The other scored ten and won in a 1-3 night on the farm.