The man wearing Russ Adams' old number eight came through at the plate and behind it by helping the man wearing Justin Speier's former digits to a 3-0 win in Baltimore Saturday night.

You don't feel taken and you don't feel abused.

Oh, who the hell am I kidding? PLAYOFFS!

Vernon Wells has earned his salary so far this season.

I've always hated the day off after Opening Day.  It's like someone saying, "hey, here's that steak you've been waiting for," and then swiping it away after your first bite.

Bluejays.com's Jordan Bastian says Jays lefty Marc Rzepczynski suffered a injury to his pitching hand thanks to a comebacker off the bat of Yankees second baseman Ramiro Pena Monday night.  Even though the injury does not appear to be serious, the 24 year-old hurler may have seen his chance to make the big club out of spring training go down the drain as he surrendered five runs in 4 2/3 innings during a 5-3 loss to the Bronx Bombers in Tampa.

Tom Cheek didn't win the Ford Frick...again.   Miller edges Cheek, Van Horne and Doucet for Frick Award‎

As several loyal Bauxites have pointed out, ESPN has reported the Jays hosted a private workout for Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman in their Dunedin spring training facility with both of his agents present. Despite saying earlier in the offseason that the team wouldn’t be a player for Chapman, Anthopolous and the front office likely must have some genuine interest in Chapman in order for him to agree to the private throwing session.

Yup, a former Cubs GM is now in the fold.

What have we missed in the past few days? Well ...

• Sorry, Rangers fans ... Mike Lowell isn't going anywhere (except maybe the hospital) ...
• Nick Johnson has returned the Bronx, likely to DH and to hit second ...
• Nothing official yet, but Coco Crisp appears headed to Oakland. Can we start the "Coco/Beane" pun contest yet?
• Ex-Jay Scott Rolen restructured his deal with the Reds and will earn $6 million in 2010, plus a $5 million signing bonus ... The club, in return, extended Rolen's contract  through 2012. He will earn $6.5 million in each of those two seasons.
• Mike Gonzalez got a two-year extenstion from the Orioles ... The Phillies exercised the 2011 club option on SS Jimmy Rollins ... Javier Lopez signed with the Pirates, LaTroy Hawkins with the Brewers, Juan Pierre with the White Sox and Hideki Matsui with the Angels ...

What else did we miss? And what do you think of these or any other possible moves around the sport?

So, what else has been going on in baseball land while the most interesting trade in the last ten years for the Blue Jays was being finalized? Well, there is one piece of news that I haven’t seen raised anywhere that affects the Jays. John Lackey signed a 5 year, $82.5 million deal with Boston. While that's been reported, what I haven't seen mentioned, unless I’m mistaken, is that this signing echoes AJ Burnett’s in more than just the dollar value. Because Boston signed Lackey it means the compensation pick the Jays receive for Scutaro will now be Boston’s second rounder and not their first. Just like last year, Toronto’s “A” free agent will only net them a second round pick and a supplementary pick, as opposed to a first-rounder.

This is NOT a repeat. You know the drill ...

First pitch is in a few hours. You know the players and all that's involved. So take a shot here -- who wins? Who stars? Who wears goat horns? What happens?

Wildest and most outlandish prediction (that doesn't involve a cuttlefish) wins a home edition of the coveted Batter's Box No-Prize!

Me? Well ...

First pitch is in a few hours. You know the players and all that's involved. So take a shot here -- who wins? Who stars? Who wears goat horns? What happens?

Wildest and most outlandish prediction (that doesn't involve a cuttlefish) wins a home edition of the coveted Batter's Box No-Prize!

Me? Well ...

The beginning of September is usually when I start paying close attention to division races and Wild Card standings.  In looking at where things stand this morning, there really isn't a whole lot to talk about, is there?

Hey, gotta take the positive wherever you can these days!

The Dome's pretty quiet at 5:15.