The Dunedins are done, the Doubledays are drawing to a close

The D'Jays lost the first game of their 3 game playoff series and the Doubledays won as they prepare for their own playoff run.

It’s all over for the minor league regular season, save 3 more games for Auburn. Syracuse goes out on a winning note, New Hampshire and Lansing not so much.

It was a big day for John-Ford Griffin, culminating with the news he will be recalled by the Jays after today's game. Earlier Griffin hit his 30th home run and with it, moved over 100 RBI's for the season. Dunedin and Auburn prepared for the playoffs while everyone else is playing out the schedule. Ryan Patterson and Chip Cannon continued their fine seasons.

The minor league season is winding down. There have been pleasures and disappointments. One thing is sure; when the season is over, I will miss it. The farm affiliates went 4-1.

Inspired by Dave Till's August 2005 Report Card for the Blue Jays' major-league players, I put together something similar for the five minor-league franchises still playing as of this date (Pulaski's season has ended). Here's one observer's take on the good and the not-quite-so-good for the Blue Jays' five top farm teams.

Auburn swept a doubleheader to almost guarantee a playoff spot. Dunedin also won to keep them on place for the playoffs. New Hampshire lost to all but seal their tickets out of town for Tuesday, Syracuse, and Jason Arnold, lost late while Lansing won. Robert Ray was unable to reprise his no-hitter and had to settle for five shutout innings. Cory Patton hit a pair of homers and Davis Romero won again

Whether the results be nameless or scoreless, only a few games were played last night on the farm. Ted Lilly pitched well, and I have some trivia questions for you all...

UPDATE: This has now transformed into a Trivia Challenge thread. We don't need no stinkin' minor leagues.

2 wins, 2 losses and 2 games cancelled for Katrina.

Dane Johnson, the ex-Blue Jay pitcher, is now the minor league roving pitching instructor for the Jays. Johnson was originally drafted by the Jays in 1984, and made it to the major leagues ten years later. Johnson was visiting Buffalo last week and took a few minutes to talk with Batter's Box about some of the organization’s pitching prospects.

Big innings are the order of the day as the Toronto farm wins 3 and loses 2.

With the end of the season now just over one week away only Dunedin and Auburn are serious contenders for playoff spots. Syracuse rode Gabe Gross' hot bat and Zach Jackson's arm to beat Ottawa. New Hampshire were swept by Portland, again, and are almost dead in their chase for a playoff spot. David Purcey pitched on the wild side. Jacob Butler played his first game for Auburn and had a good day, just not as good as Ryan Patterson.

The offence was feast or famine on the Toronto farm, as they scored a total of 18 runs in 2 wins and just 1 in 4 losses.

If there's anything more fun than a minor-league no-hitter, I'd like to know what it is. The fans (usually an intimate crowd that figures out early what's going on) are totally into it, the players (most of whom are very young and have never experienced one before) are crazy-intense, and the celebration afterwards is amazing. Sincere congratulations from the Batter's Box crew to Robert Ray and Adrian Martin of Auburn, whose outstanding performance was the signal highlight of a 4-2 night on the farm.

They weren't all singles that the Sky Chiefs saw flying around Dunn Tire park yesterday, as the Chiefs were dumped unceremoniously. The farm affiliates went 4-3.