John Sickels, over at Minor League Ball, has put up his Top 75 Prospects Mid-Season Update. There are two Blue Jays on the list:

47) Marcus Stroman, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays. Previously 111. No problems in Double-A. Another one who seems oddly overlooked when top pitching prospects are discussed.

And

55) Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays. Previously 42. No question about the stuff, command is still wobbly and he's had some arm trouble.

I agree that Stroman doesn't get the love that he should on prospects lists, it likely has some to do with his size and maybe the suspension hurt him in the eyes of some. He has been terrific for New Hampshire this season, putting up a 3.23 ERA in 55 innings, 14 walks, 63 strikeouts.

Sanchez, as mentioned, has had some arm troubles, but the 3.34 ERA in 56 innings looks pretty good, as does the 37 hits and 49 strikeouts. 23 walks is a few too many.

At the top of John's list is Byron Buxton of the Twins. Former Jays Noah Syndergaard is #11, Travis d'Arnaud #22 and Jake Marisnick #68.

The latest baseball sensation out of Cuba may be with an MLB organization very soon. Right-hander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez cleared the final hurdle standing between him and free agency earlier this week, and now could sign a contract with a big-league club as early as next week, reports Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com.

Gonzalez, 26, has been a primary target on several teams' wish lists since he began holding private showcases in Mexico late last month. The only thing keeping seriously interested clubs like the Cubs, Dodgers, Rangers, and Red Sox from inking the 6'3 right-hander before now was final clearance from the US Treasury Department.

A-Rod Positioned to Play Hero

...although he probably won't. Still, it's fun to think about, and that's a dramatic change.

Now that Gonzalez has been cleared -- he secured his "unblocking license" on Monday -- interested teams like the Phillies, Blue Jays, and Braves are free to negotiate with him as much as they like. It was rumored a few weeks ago that the big right-hander might command as much as $60 million over five years, which would blow Yasiel Puig's record deal with the Dodgers out of the water.

Part of the reason that Gonzalez is believed to be worth so much is that scouts believe he will be ready to face MLB hitters after just a few minor-league starts, meaning he could very well help a contending team's rotation down the stretch. Since Gonzalez is a Cuban player over the age of 23 with at least three years pro experience (in Cuba), he's also not tied to the international spending limits, giving teams free rein to throw as much money at him as they see fit.

There's still quite a bit of mystery surrounding Gonzalez since team scouts are essentially the only people to have seen him throw recently, but he's said to throw four pitches: a mid-90s fastball, a forkball, a curve, and a change-up. Here's a video of Gonzalez from 2010:

More from SB Nation:

• 6 bold predictions for the second half

• American League wins, 3-0 | Mo Rivera named MVP

• Was Leyland’s Mo blunder really a blunder?

• The ballad of the kid who ran on the field at the All-Star Game

• Longread: Brooklyn’s field of broken dreams

The Texas Rangers, who were closing in on a deal for Chicago Cubs' right-hander Matt Garza on Thursday night, "don't like the asking price [for Garza] and are in the advanced stages of a Plan B", according to Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com.

Rangers closing in on acquiring Garza

The Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers are "getting closer" on a deal that would send right-hander Matt Garza to Texas.

While it is currently unclear if the team is out of the running for Garza, Mooney's report makes it seem like the chances of the 29-year old landing in Texas have suddenly decreased.

The Rangers have viewed Houston Astros' starter Bud Norris as a backup plan, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, but it is not certain that he is the "Plan B" mentioned in Mooney's report. The Blue Jays, Dodgers, Giants and Pirates are also pursuing Norris, according to Passan.

A major league source confirmed on Thursday night that the Rangers "have a pretty strong offer in" for Garza, but that nothing is done yet. He also noted that the Cubs have been in talks with many teams regarding the highly-pursued starter. According to reports, the Red Sox, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Indians and Cardinals have also been in the running for Garza in recent days, but the Rangers seemed to be the clear favorite.

Now that the Rangers seem to be closing in on making their backup plan a reality, it will be interesting to see if the Cubs will decide to move Garza for a slightly lesser price due to the strength of the Rangers' original offer. With so many teams involved in talks for Garza, the Cubs should still be able to get the three top prospects that they have been asking for all along. What remains to be seen is if those prospects will come from the Rangers or one of the many other teams who have been pursuing Garza.

More from MLB Daily Dish:

• Cubs asking for final offers for Garza
• Alex Rodriguez injury: Expects to be back Monday vs. Rangers
• Yankees rumors: New York inquired on Padres' Chase Headley
• Yankees trade rumors: Hughes, Joba being shopped aggressively
• Jurrjens elects for free agency

Kevin Pillar was drafted from California State Dominguez Hills as a senior, in the 32nd round of the 2011 draft. His college plays in the NCAA Division II, and its most successful baseball alumni are a decent reliever (Eric Plunk) and a backup infielder (Craig Grebeck, former Blue Jay). In fact, the school's wikipedia page lists no baseball players as notable alumni. And now there's Kevin Pillar, lighting it up in triple-A, trying to make that wikipedia page - among other things - despite the odds seemingly stacked against him. In 2010, when Kevin Pillar was a junior, he set a new Division II record with a 54-game hitting streak, but went undrafted. In his senior year, he did get drafted, but only in the 32nd round and for a minimal signing bonus.

Kevin Pillar's minor league career started off nicely, as he hit .343/.377/.534 for Bluefield after signing in 2011. Still, a 22-year-old hitting well in a league for 19-year-olds is hardly a miracle, and it seemed like Kevin Pillar was still more known for the similarity of his name to "clubhouse presence" Kevin Millar, and the subject of jokes rather than an analysis of his abilities as a player. Last year, Pillar continued his career with the Lugnuts, hitting .322/.390/.451 for them, and .323/.339/.415 after a promotion to Dunedin late in the season. This performance put him on the radar for some, but a 23-year-old hitting for little power at those lower levels still seemed like a long shot to many. But Pillar wasn't done yet. Hitting .313/.361/.441 for New Hampshire, Pillar "forced" the Blue Jays' hand, and they called him up to Buffalo, where he's now hitting .347/.404/.621 in 25 games. That is a fantastic number, and Jays fans will be eager to see what Pillar can do.

I'm not the biggest fan of player comparisons, but I get why people want to see them. In the case of Pillar, I actually agree with the common comparison being thrown around: Reed Johnson. Johnson, like Pillar, was drafted late (17th round) and also started his minor league career at the ripe age of 22. He started a level higher than Pillar, in the New York-Penn league, but hit just .241/.326/.335 there. However, in a very comparable second season - mostly in low-A with a stint in high-A at the end - Johnson outhit Pillar with a .298/.420/.479 season. Moved up to Double-A, Johnson hit .314/.383/.451 in his age 24 season, but unlike Pillar, Johnson did not receive a promotion. Reed Johnson wasn't the exact same player then that Kevin Pillar is now, but the two are very close. Pillar draws less walks than Johnson, but seems to get more hits on balls in play (skill or luck?). Johnson had a better second pro year, but Pillar has "beaten" Johnson to Triple-A and is only getting better. Like Johnson, Pillar seems headed for a career as a decent contributor to a big league team.

At this point, however, it would be wise to curb the enthusiasm just a little bit. Pillar's line in New Hampshire is good, but not fantastic, especially for a player who is likely a corner outfielder. His value pre-Buffalo for a large part came from a high batting average on balls in play. As you likely know, the majors are filled with very good defenders, making it harder to hit for a high average by simply making a lot of decent contact. And while Pillar has been amazing for Buffalo, it's only been 25 games. Let's not forget that Jim Negrych hit .429/.486/.683 in April, before returning to the same subpar hitter he has always been. The statement that Pillar "has hit everywhere he's gone" is misleading. He's only ever hit a lot of singles and doubles, he's never dominated a level (until now with the Bisons) and he's always been old for the level he's played at. Pillar does not have a track record of destroying minor league pitching. Reed Johnson is not his floor, it's one of the most positive possible outcomes for Pillar. But you bet I'll be rooting for this guy, both in the minors and hopefully soon in the majors. And, even if it's not likely to be on his mind right now, I very much hope he makes that wikipedia page.

Houston Astros' starter Bud Norris is drawing interest from the Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports. Texas views the 28-year old as a backup plan if they cannot acquire Matt Garza from the Cubs.

As Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reported this morning, the Rangers are close to finally obtaining Garza from the Cubs. This would mean that they are out of the Norris sweepstakes, and that he will almost definitely end up elsewhere.

The Red Sox have "checked in on the Norris market and currently believe the Astros' asking price is too high", according to a report from Alex Speier of WEEI.com. If the price comes down, Speier expects the Sox to be more aggressive in pursuit of the Astros' right-hander.

The Astros are looking for two top prospects in return for Norris, as Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported last week. That price is significantly lower than the Cubs' price on Garza, who has drawn interest from as many as twelve teams in recent days.

Norris, who is not a free agent until after the 2015 season, is 6-8 with a 3.63 ERA in 19 starts this season. He is one of many veterans who the Astros will look to swap for prospects before the July 31st trade deadline.

More from MLB Daily Dish:

• Rangers closing in on Garza deal
• Yankees rumors: New York inquired on Padres' Chase Headley
• Giants rumors: Lincecum trade unlikely
• Braves targeting left-handed relievers
• Cuban sensation Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez expects to sign next week

Real baseball is back as the unofficial second half of the season gets underway tonight at the Rogers Centre. David Price goes for the Tampa Bay Rays, while Esmil Rogers starts for the Blue Jays. Price faced the Jays for the first time this season on May 9 going eight innings allowing two earned runs (four total) on seven hits. The big left hander had eight strikeouts in the game that the Rays won 5-4. In the very next start against the Red Sox, Price suffered a left triceps strain that wasn't supposed to be serious, but kept him sidelined 47 days before starting again for Tampa Bay on July 2nd.

In the three starts since coming off the extended 15-day DL stint, Price has been much better allowing only three runs in 25 innings, including two complete games! In those starts he's also had zero walks and only allowed 19 hits, simply dominating the weak offenses of the White Sox and Houston (twice).

All of the Tampa Bay Rays' staff was quick to say that the injury to Price wasn't serious when it occurred, but it's pretty clear that it had been messing with him. Before the DL stint Price was constantly missing the zone, but since coming back his CY Young control seems to have returned:

Left-handed hitters still can't hit David Price and it'd be wise for the Blue Jays not to stick Adam Lind in the lineup simply because the team is coming off a four day break. The lineup I'm hoping for would be:

1. Reyes SS
2. Bautsita RF
3. Encarnacion 1B
4. Davis LF
5. Lawrie 2B (They're still doing that eh?)
6. Rasmus CF
7. Arencibia C
8. Izturis 3B
9. DeRosa DH

For the "Find the Link" today:

Find the link between David Price and the player packaged with Ian Stewart for Tyler Colvin in the Cubs-Rockies swap of 2011.

This is a tough first test coming out of the All-Star Break for the Blue Jays, should be an interesting game.

The Chicago Cubs are close to trading right-hander Matt Garza to the Texas Rangers, according to a report from FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi. The Cubs will receive "a strong package of prospects" in exchange for Garza, but the exact return is still unknown.

According to Joe Davidson of the Sacramento Bee, the Garza-to-Rangers deal is 99% complete, and the teams are in the midst of exchanging medical records. He adds that six players are in the mix in the deal.

Don't miss the latest on Garza or the Cubs

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Rangers' prospects said to be in play in talks with the Cubs include third baseman Mike Olt and right-handers C.J. Edwards and Neil Ramirez, according to Rosenthal and Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

Texas is not willing to part with pitching prospect Martin Perez reports T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. The Cubs have known all along that Perez would be considered untouchable, and have focused on other highly valued prospects in the Rangers' system. A source confirmed that pitcher Luke Jackson, who was rumored to be a key part of the potential deal, was taken off the table by the Cubs because they had players evaluated higher than him. Other players like Jurickson Profar and Neftali Feliz are not in play in discussions.

Garza's agent was told earlier in the week that the 29-year old would be traded in the near future, according to ESPNChicago's Bruce Levine. Levine also notes that the Rangers, Dodgers, Blue Jays and Indians were told to make their final offers for Garza, but the Rangers are still the clear favorite to acquire him. The Cubs have asked for Indians' third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall in talks with the Tribe, and he would likely be included in any deal between the two teams.

The Red Sox, Diamondbacks and Cardinals have also been rumored to have interest in Garza, and may jump in if a deal with the Rangers falls apart. As of last night, CSNChicago.com's Patrick Mooney reported that Texas was "in the advanced stages of a Plan B" in case they didn't land Garza, and many have speculated that Astros' pitcher Bud Norris could head to Arlington if Garza does not. As noted in this morning's piece, Norris is also drawing interest from the Pirates, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Dodgers and Giants.

As of this afternoon, no players who are involved in talks between the Cubs and Rangers have been notified of a deal, according to sources.

More from MLB Daily Dish:

• Cubs asking for final offers for Garza
• Giants rumors: Lincecum trade unlikely
• Yankees rumors: New York inquired on Padres' Chase Headley
• Astros rumors: Norris market heating up
• Yankees place Derek Jeter on 15-day disabled list

Let the games resume! The last time the Rays took on the Toronto Blue Jays the Jays had arrived in St. Pete winners of 11 games in a row and had charged back to 2-games over .500 at 38-36. The Rays snapped the win streak and proceeded to take 2 out of 3 and the Jays needed a spectacular performance by R.A. Dickey to avoid the sweep.

Since leaving St.Pete the Jays have struggled and have lost 10 of their final 16 games heading in to the break and as the second half becomes they have been one of the biggest disappointments in baseball with a record of 45-49. Whether the Jays see themselves as buyers or sellers may be clearly defined over the next 7 to 10 days. Their second half begins with a 10 game home stand with 3 against the Rays, 3 against the Dodgers and 4 against the Houston Astros. They enter the weekend 11.5 games out of first place in the AL East and 8.5 behind in the Wild Card.

This time it's the Rays who are the hot team as the series opens. They are winners of 10 of their last 11, 14 of 16, and 17 of their last 21. Since May 8th they are a major league best 40-23. The Rays will look to continue their winning ways on what is a very important 10-game 3-city road trip within the AL East. After the weekend series against the Jays the Rays will head to Fenway Park for a 4-game series with the Red Sox before finishing with a 3-game weekend series in New York against the Yankees.

The pitching matchups for the weekend are David Price (3-5, 3.94 ERA) vs Esmil Rogers (3-4, 3.64 ERA) on Friday at 7:07 p.m. Jeremy Hellickson (8-3, 4.67 ERA) vs Mark Buehrle (5-6, 4.89 ERA) on Saturday at 1:07 p.m. and Chris Archer (4-3, 2.96 ERA) vs R.A. Dickey (8-10, 4.69 ERA) Sunday at 1:07 p.m.

The Blue Jays offense has been in the middle of the road over the past 30 days:

Hot and Cold:

Over the past 30 days Colby Rasmus has been their best hitter, Edwin Encarnacion has been hitting home runs, and Rajai Davis has been stealing bases. Mark DeRosa and Emilio Bonifacio have both struggled and one has to wonder if Mark DeRosa is nearing the end of the line.

The Bullpen:

The Jays bullpen is comprised of 8 pitchers. Closer Casey Janssen, Steve Delabar, Aaron Loup, Darren Oliver (LHP), Neil Wagner, Juan Perez (LHP), Brett Cecil (LHP), and Dustin McGowan.

The Jays bullpen has been the best in baseball over the last month posting an ERA of 2.15 (FIP of 2.81) covering 83.2 innings of work.

Starting Pitchers:

Esmil Rogers

Esmil Rogers began the season in the Blue Jays bullpen and has been stretched out to a starter with positive results. Overall as a starter he has made 8 starts and is 2-2 with a 3.27 ERA and has delivered 44 innings striking out 35, walking 14, and only allowing 4 home runs.

Over his last 5 starts he has faced Colorado, Tampa Bay, Boston, Detroit, and Cleveland and is 1-2 with a 4.25 ERA in those starts. He has worked 29.1 innings. He has struck out 24 batters while walking 10 and has given up 3 home runs (all to Rays).

Back on June 25th he faced the Rays and allowed 4R/ER on 7 hits walking 3 and striking out 2 in a 4-1 Rays victory. He allowed back to back to back home runs to James Loney, Wil Myers, and Sam Fuld in the 2nd inning and a single run in the 3rd before settling down and holding the Rays to just 2 hits over his final 3.2 innings of work.

Mark Buehrle

Overall Mark Buehrle has made 19 starts and posted a 5-6 record with a 4.89 ERA. He has worked 116 innings and has been what we expected. He doesn't walk many (2.3 BB/9), strike out a lot (6 K/9), and is susceptible to the gopher ball already yielding 18 in his 116 innings of work.

Over his last 5 starts he has faced Colorado, Tampa Bay, Boston, Minnesota, and Baltimore and has posted a 2-2 record with a 5.59 ERA. He last faced the Rays on June 25th and went 5 innings allowing 4R/ER on 8 hits walking 4 and striking out 2.

This will be the fourth start against the Rays this season. In his previous 3 starts he 0-1 with a 6.50 ERA. He has worked 18 innings allowed 13R/12ER on 21 hits striking out 13 and walking 8 (one intentional).

R.A. Dickey

Overall R.A. Dickey has had an inconsistent year posting a record of 8-10 with a 4.69 ERA. Control has been the big difference in comparing his Cy Young season from a year ago to 2013. His strike out rate has dropped from 8.9 K/9 in 2012 to 6.1 K/9 in 2013 and his walk rate has increased from 2.1 BB/9 in 2012 to 3.3 BB/9 in 2013. The other big issue he has had in 2013 is the home run ball. Last year he allowed 24 home runs while pitching a league leading 233.2 innings. This year in just 128.2 innings of work he has allowed 20 home runs.

Over his last 5 starts he has faced Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Detroit, Minnesota, and Cleveland and has posted a record of 2-2 with a 4.11 ERA. He has worked 35 innings allowing 17R/16ER on 28 hits (including 6 home runs) while striking out 25 and walking 9.

There is something about the Rays and Tropicana Field that brings out the best in Dickey. He last faced the Rays on June 26th and made quick work of the Rays working a complete game allowing just 2 hits striking out 6 and walking 1. He only needed 93 pitches to toss the complete game shutout as the Jays avoid a series sweep winning the final game 3-0.

This will be the 4th time he faces the Rays this season. In the previous 3 outings he has a 2-0 record with a 1.57 ERA. He has worked 23 innings allowing 6R/4ER on 11 hits while striking out 16 and walking 10.

More from DRaysBay:

• Projecting the AL East: A cyborg experiment
• The Rays as Sellers at the Trade Deadline
• When Alex Cobb Returns.....
• Playoff odds at the break

I thought the home run derby came before the all-star game. Edwin Encarnacion homered against David Price in the first inning (after Jose Bautista came close). Ben Zobrist answered with a solo shot of his own in the third inning, but the Jays' J.P. Arencibia took back the lead with another solo dinger, and Bautista made up for his earlier warning track power with a towering two-run shot to bring the score to 4-1. The Rays were not done, though. Wil Myers homered to opposite field in the fourth inning, and Evan Longoria and Kelly Johnson brought the game even (Rays 4, Jays 3 in derby scoring) in the sixth.

For the past three games, David Price has made a mockery of baseball. He's simply thrown strike after strike, walked no one, gotten into three run counts against no one, and somehow not given up hits either. He's thrown an 87 pitch complete game shutout. Pitchers aren't supposed to be able to do that, and tonight, against better opposition than Price has recently faced, it didn't quite work.

The Blue Jays have some extremely good hitters, and they knew exactly what Price was going to do. They already have a reputation as an aggressive hitting ball club, and they were not about to wait around and let David Price strike them out. In that situation, Price only needed to put a few fastballs into too-hittable spots for the Jays to hit them hard. Credit to Price for making and adjustment to keep the Jays off balance with his secondary offerings, while continuing to pound the zone.

So that's Price's excuse. What's Esmil Rogers's? He only gives up home runs to the Rays, apparently, but he gives them up to the Rays in droves. Price lasted seven innings, Rogers five and two thirds.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Ben Zobrist got aboard with a luckily placed nubber off the end of his bat. John Gibbons elected to intentionally walk Longoria, and bring in all-star lefty Brett Cecil to face Luke Scott. Unfortunately for the Gibbons, Cecil walked Scott on four pitches, to set up the less inviting matchup against Wil Myers with the bases loaded. Cecil quickly got ahead in the count, though, and got Myers to fly out harmlessly to short right center.

Johnson started off the eighth inning with a single against Cecil. Joe Maddon pinch hit for Matt Joyce with Sean Rodriguez, forcing Gibbons to make the call for the all-star righty Steve Delabar. Maddon let S-Rod hit, but asked him to bunt, which he did, advancing Johnson to second. That left Jose Molina and Ryan Roberts the task of getting the man in. Molina hit a line drive but right to the center fielder, Rasmus. Roberts, newly back in the majors due to James Loney's paternity leave, picked him up with a liner of his own into short left field and KJ, running on contact, made it home to score the go-ahead run. Jennings scored Myers to tag on an insurance run with yet another well-hit line drive.

Joe Maddon then made a curious move, sending out Kyle Farnsworth rather than Joel Peralta out to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning. Farnsworth walked Encarnacion, and then was immediately pulled for Peralta, the usual eighth inning pitcher. What was Maddon doing? I think he probably thought Peralta was getting complacent in his role as setup man. To stay sharp, he probably needs more leverage, more danger. Maddon is a great leader of men. Peralta did his job (although he did walk Maicer Izturis), with some defensive help from Longoria at third.

The Rays tagged on two more runs in the ninth, partly due to some overambitious defense by Jose Reyes, to dramatically lower the leverage. Jake McGee came on and finished the game, despite giving up a home run to Brett Lawrie on a lame duck slider that brought the final tally to 8-5 (4-4 in home run derby scoring).

Some other notes:

• The fans at the Rogers center were in good voice tonight. It was striking, even through the TV set. That's what a stadium should sound like.
• In the bottom of the fourth inning, Matt Joyce made a terrific diving catch after a short run toward a sinking line drive. Why do I highlight good defensive plays by Joyce in low leverage situations? Because other people jump all over his bad plays, and I think his fielding gets misrepresented.
• Holy crap Jose Reyes has a strong arm.
• In the bottom of the sixth inning, Colby Rasmus hit a chopper to Longoria that stayed up long enough for Evan to have no chance of making a play. He probably should have gone with prudence, but instead he chose valor, and Kelly Johnson bailed him out of a throwing error with a good snag at first. Longoria redeemed himself by catching a hard line drive off the bat of Arencibia to end the inning. Longo then caught another hard liner in the eighth off the bat of Rajai Davis, possibly saving a run.

UPDATE: Here's a GIF of the Myers oppo, courtesy of D-Russ

Click to make it dance.

More from DRaysBay:

• Play Ball! Rays Travel To Toronto To Take On Blue Jays
• Projecting the AL East: A cyborg experiment
• The Rays as Sellers at the Trade Deadline
• When Alex Cobb Returns.....
• Playoff odds at the break

The thunderstorms that rolled into the Toronto area just before game time caused a power surge down at the Rogers Centre, where the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays combined to hit eight home runs in a 8-5 loss for the Blue Jays. Rays starter David Price came in to Toronto on the heels of three solid starts since his return from the disabled list in early June--two against the Astros and one against the White Sox. His competition would be much stronger tonight.

The Jays took flight early, with an Edwin Encarnacion solo shot right after Jose Bautista made a loud out to the warning track. In the bottom of the third, David Price completely shatters Colby Rasmus's bat with a 96-mph fastball. The ball rolled past he pitcher's mound in fair territory, but Rasmus just stood in the batter's box. The Rays completed the play by stepping on first and left the field, but Rasmus turned to umpire Jeff Nelson and told him that the ball was actually fouled off his shin. The four men in black gathered together to confer, then ruled correctly in Rasmus' favour. But after all that kerfuffle, which included Joe Maddon coming out to argue for several minutes, Price needed just one more fastball to strike him out.

Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

In the third, the Rays struck back against Esmil Rogers, with a Ben Zobrist solo shot to right. The Blue Jays broke the tie right away in their half, J.P. Arencibia slammed a Price cutter to dead centre, right "above" the fake Acura ad that Sportsnet has up on their broadcasts. Up next was Brett Lawrie, who hit a line drive right at second baseman Ryan Roberts for an out. Jose Reyes then singled then stole second base after several pickoff attempts by Price. But that didn't end up mattering as Jose Bautista hit a no-doubter over the wall for a two-run shot to put the Jays up 4-1.

David Price then settled in after the third, retiring the Jays in 1-2-3 fashion in the fourth, fifth, and seventh, allowing just a Rasmus infield single in the sixth. As Price settled, his offense started chipping away at the Jays' lead, with three solo homers by Wil Myers, Evan Longoria, and Kelly Johnson, tying it up at 4-4 in the sixth.

The Rays threatened in the top of the seventh. After a Zobrist double to the wall against Dustin McGowan, John Gibbons called for the intentional walk to Evan Longoria to bring in All-Star reliever Brett Cecil. Cecil couldn't find the strike zone against Luke Scott, walking him on four pitches including a couple in the dirt., but got out of it when he induced Wil Myers to fly out to leave three on board. The Rays tried again--and succeeded--in the eighth. Kelly Johnson started it with a single against Cecil. Gibbons then brought in the other All-Star reliever Steve Delabar. The first batter he faced, Sean Rodriguez, put down a perfect two-strike sac bunt to advance Johnson, who scored on a Ryan Roberts single to left field. A wild pitch later, Desmond Jennings doubled in Roberts to give the Rays a 6-4 lead. Tampa Bay used the long ball to tie the game, then took the lead with bunts and doubles.

That Roberts single wasn't hit too far from where Maicer Izturis was playing at third. It would've been a difficult play, but perhaps someone with better range (like Brett Lawrie) could've gotten to it. Lawrie did move to third in the ninth, after Emilio Bonifacio came into the game. Lawrie made his first mistake at second base, fumbling a grounder in the second.

In the eighth, the Jays started a rally, but it was extinguished when Evan Longoria caught a Rajai Davis line drive then Colby Rasmus popped up weekly.

On the field, Jose Reyes made two terrible throws to first. The first was ruled an infield single by Zobrist, and the second happened in the ninth on a Myers grounder which led to the Rays' seventh run. A Rodriguez single then led to an 8-4 lead after Rasmus threw the ball far enough from the plate to prevent Arencibia from making a play at the plate.

Lawrie connected with his sixth homer of the season with a solo shot in the ninth.

Overall, it was a disappointing game. The Blue Jays got to David Price early but Esmil Rogers and the normally-reliable bullpen allowed the Rays to climb back one run at a time. The positives: the Blue Jays hit four homers, several balls that were hit hard were caught, and the staff combined for seven strike outs, giving the crowd of 33,266 each a free slice of pizza. The negatives: Rogers giving up four homers, a couple of pitches that went through Arencibia's legs that he could've blocked, the fielding mistakes, and a shaky outing by the relievers.

Jays of the Day! Edwin Encarnacion (+.160).

Suckage Jays: Steve Delabar (-.261), Esmil Rogers (-.168) Colby Rasmus (-.133), Rajai Davis (-.102). Rajai did have a nice strong throw home to hold a runner at third early in the game.

On to tomorrow's game.

Jeremy Hellickson takes on the Blue Jays for the fourth time today, while Mark Buehrle faces the Tampa Bay Rays for the fourth time as well. Hellickson last faced Toronto on June 24th going seven innings allowing just one hit in the form of J.P. Arencibia's single. Although Hellickson also walked four he dominated dominated the game, never giving the Blue Jays a glimmer of hope.

As Hellickson always does, he worked arm-side all game rarely venturing away to right-handed hitters:

via www.brooksbaseball.net

After seeing Hellickson so many times it's hard to dig up anything new on him, but it's interesting to look at how the movement on 75% of his pitches is almost exactly the same with only the curveball having any real movement:

Left handers have traditionally hit Hellickson better, so Josh Thole might get the start although R.A. Dickey is pitching Sunday, which would make it back to back games for Thole. The lineup that I'd like to see features five left-handers and looks like this:

1. Reyes SS
2. Bautista RF
3. Lind 1B
4. Encarnacion DH
5. Izturis 3B
6. Rasmus CF
7. Davis LF
8. Lawrie 2B
9. Thole C

A win would be nice, so would some new opposing pitchers.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera may return to the lineup within a few days, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca. The Blue Jays placed Cabrera on the disabled list June 27 with left knee tendinitis and he's been on a minor-league rehab assignment since July 12.

Cabrera's leg is not at 100 percent, according to Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, but the outfielder will play through the injury until it heals up. An MRI following his placement on the DL showed no more serious injury than the tendinitis.

Over 78 games this season, Cabrera has hit .278/.321/.362, just a year removed from a season that saw him hit .346. 2012 was cut short, however, when he was suspended for high levels of testosterone. The Blue Jays signed Cabrera to a two-year, $16 million contract in the offseason.

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• Royals Review: Dayton Moore has to go!

• The man who would be a fake Cubs mascotl

• Longread: Brooklyn’s field of broken dreams

After a trade between the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers involving Matt Garza was considered to be close for most of the day on Friday, talks lost momentum after the sides exchanged medical records, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports.

The Cubs had medical concerns about one of the players they were receiving in the deal, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, who notes that possibly-involved prospects Mike Olt and Neil Ramirez have recently dealt with physical issues. A Garza-to-Rangers deal is still a possibility, according to Sullivan, but there is also a chance that he could end up with one of the multiple other teams who have been pursuing him.

Lincecum trade unlikely

The soon-to-be free agent will likely finish the season in San Francisco.

There has been "no significant headway Saturday toward striking a deal", according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, who reveals that yesterday's stalled deal was set to send Garza and another player to Texas in exchange for a package of prospects that included Olt, Ramirez, shortstop Luis Sardinas and pitcher C.J. Edwards.

Passan notes that Cubs' reliever James Russellwas also discussed between the two teams, so he is possibly the sixth player involved in the proposed deal.

A mystery team in the National League "could intercept Texas' efforts and get Garza", according to Gordon Wittenmeyer, who also notes that the mystery team is not the Nationals or Cardinals. The Pirates, Diamondbacks, Dodgers and Padres have shown interest in Garza along with American League teams like the Indians, Blue Jays and Red Sox.

Washington was rumored earlier in the day to be the mystery team that Wittenmeyer mentioned, but a later report indicates that the Nats are not willing to pick up the remainder of Garza's contract. A new entry into the Garza sweepstakes on Saturday is the Oakland Athletics, who FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal says "would love to have Garza if the price is right."

At this point, nothing is for certain. Garza will almost definitely be traded before his start on Sunday, but with as many as ten teams showing interest in him, his destination is completely up in the air. Any of the teams who have been linked to him--the Athletics, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Indians, Rangers, Nationals, Cardinals, Pirates, Dodgers, Padres and Diamondbacks--could swoop in and acquire him at the last minute.

More from MLB Daily Dish:

• Bud Norris rumors: Trade talks heating up
• Matt Holliday injury: Cardinals placed outfielder on DL
• Cubs trade rumors: Rangers close to acquiring Garza
• Red Sox agree to minor league deals with Contreras and Lyon
• Andrew Bailey injury: Torn capsular, damaged labrum

The Streamer Report provides you with daily startng pitcher streaming selections for owners who prefer to stream starting pitchers on a daily basis. This report identifies starting pitchers who are owned in less than 50% of ESPN leagues, and who either has a decent track record vs their opponent, has pitched well of late, or has a decent matchup.

Before I get to Sunday's streamers, here is how my streamer picks performed on Friday night:

Kyle Kendrick vs Mets -5.2 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, BB, 7 K, W

Felix Doubront vs Yankees - 6.1 ER, 3 H, ER, 3 BB, 5 K, W

Jorge De La Rosa vs Cubs - 6 IP, 5 H, ER, 3 BB, 4 K,

Combined stats: 18 IP, 17 H, 8 ER, 7 BB, 16 K, 2 W, 4.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP

Sunday's Streamers

Chris Archer vs Blue Jays

Archer is owned in 41.2% of ESPN leagues and his ownership percentage is growing as a result of his last two starts, where he has not given up a run over his last 15 innings of work. Over his last five starts, he has given up just six runs over his last 32 innings.

Wily Peralta vs Marlins

Peralta is owned in just 8% of ESPN leagues and I wonder if he has finally figured how to get major league hitters out. Over his last three starts, he has given up just one earned run on 13 hits and 8 walks over 21+ innings or work. He gets the Marlins on Sunday afternoon, so the streak could continue.

Jordan Lyles vs Mariners

Lyles is owned in under 2% of ESPN leagues and face a Mariners team that is playing well since they called up a bunch of prospects. He has given up 2 runs or less in 9 of his 14 starts this season and will look to bounce back from from a few poor starts on Sunday.

Tampa Bay Rays 4, Toronto Blue Jays 3

I moved from Kitchener to Vancouver last August. As such, I hadn't attended a Jays game in nearly a full calendar year before Saturday. I had been to Safeco Field in Seattle, sure, but not to see the Jays and not at Rogers Centre. I was greatly looking forward to it, the first game of a four-games-in-five-days set I'll be doing between now and Wednesday.

And now I remember. Like the ex-boyfriend who returns to a crazy girlfriend after time apart, thinking perhaps she's changed and become normal (and hey, she's still hot!), I expected a great time. I was promised better beer selection, bigger crowds and, of course, a better team.

Well, there are more beers (quibble, if you will, at the quality of said expanded offerings) and over 42 thousand people showed up to annoy me with the wave at key times. There were also glove-wielding adults and fans cheering for the Expos, which I still haven't decided how I feel about, given it was a relatively small effort - I think I could get behind a full Expos Day, but this was not that.

But, as the ex-boyfriend probably suspects in the back of his mind and as all his friends warn him, she's still crazy.

She, here, being the Toronto Blue Jays, who continued their infuriating season by coughing up several chances to jump ahead of the Rays. They eventually fell 4-3 to drop to 45-51 overall, and it took the mid-rotation workhorse to stand up and say what probably should have been realized some time ago.

"Maybe we were overrated. Maybe we aren't as good as we thought we were."

From Sportsnet.ca Now, I don't want to be an alarms over-reactor, especially nearly 100 games into a season that my man DrewGROF deemed over months ago, but if a losing streak out of the All Star Break isn't enough of a death knell to the fanbase's playoff hopes, apparently only Game 162 will be.

Normally, I have a real problem with the Wilner-callers and Stoeten-trollers of the world, throwing up their arms and making ridiculous claims about players and management. And I still do, of course - Munenori Kawasaki is not a replacement option for Brett Lawrie, John Gibbons does not need to be fired, and so on. But I definitely understand the frustration after expectations were set so high.

I'm also a little on tilt because I've got a solid buzz on, my bronie step-brother keeps interrupting me to talk about music I don't care about and yes, frustrating losses seem to have a bit more of a sting in person.

As for the game itself, it was a frustrating one, to be sure.

Most frustrating is the team's insistence on playing Lawrie, a gifted third baseman still uncomfortable at second, at second and Izturis, decent at the keystone but sub-par at the hot corner, at third. It appears the plan is for Lawrie to move to second for the foreseeable future (perhaps because the third base market is more appealing this winter, but more on that next week), but these are the kind of changes that are best suited for the offseason. There's no need for Lawrie to be re-learning how to turn two in games that ostensibly count, and it cost the team at least a run today when Lawrie threw away the double play turn in the third.

But that wasn't the only frustrating thing - aside from a Jose Bautista home run in the third, some solid plate appearances by Adam Lind (three walks), a few nice hits from Jose Reyes and some excellent heads-up base running (Bautista stole third, as did Encarnacion, and Encarnacion technically stole second in the ninth but it was bizarrely ruled defensive indifference despite him being the winning run), there wasn't much. It was about as annoying as that run-on sentence I just used.

But it wouldn't be 2013 Toronto Blue Jays baseball without an extra crotch-kick in the form of hope down the stretch. In the eighth, the Jays loaded the bases with nobody out. Rasmus popped out behind the plate, Izturis took strike three and then J.P. Arencibia struck out swinging. Surprised? Me neither.

In the ninth, the Jays got a huge favour from Mr. Shoot Dem Arrows as he instead Shot Dem Errors, making a bizarre lack of play on an Encarnacion dribbler. That scored a run and put two on with two out. Bautista then stole third, Encarnacion stole second, and Adam Lind lined one into centerfield...right into a glove. Sigh, ballgame.

The Jays left 10 men on base overall but the Rays did, too. The key was that the Jays left five on in the eighth and ninth in the highest leverage situations possible.

Basically, the Jays saw some other girl post on my Facebook between stints together and took a spray paint can to my car. THAT kind of crazy. THAT kind of frustrating.

Follow @BlakeMurphyODC

Call-Ups

Junior Lake is worth a pickup if you need a SS or MI. He's hit well at AAA this year and has above average speed. Despite playing mostly infield throughout his minor league career he'll play center-field for the Cubs until David DeJesus returns in about week. After that Lake's status will be up in the air.

Henry Urrutia was called up by the Orioles and is worth a pickup in AL-only leagues. He should hit for a decent average and has potential for about 10 HR the rest of the way with regular at-bats.

Notes

Francisco Rodriguez is likely to be traded. I think that Jim Henderson will return to his closer role if K-Rod is shipped out. John Axford has been much better since his early season blowup and would also be an option to close.

Donovan Hand has pitched well this season and will get a start on Tuesday vs. the Padres. I like him as a streaming option in NL-only leagues.

Chris Carpenter is pitching at AAA right now and will likely be an impact fantasy SP if he's deemed healthy enough to return to the Cardinals rotation. I suggest picking him up right now if he's un-owned in your league and you have the bench or DL space.

Pick up Blake Parker and/or Pedro Strop if you want to speculate on saves. There's a good chance Kevin Gregg will be traded. I prefer Parker.

Brad Miller hit 2 HR yesterday and is arguable a top 12 guy at 2B and SS, respectively. If he is somehow un-owned in your league then you should change that.

Tom Wilhelmsen's hold on the Mariners closer job is shaky and Yoervis Medina should be picked up because he's probably within one blown save by Wilhelmsen from taking over.

Injuries

Matt Holliday was placed on the DL today but will probably only miss about a week due to the filing being retroactive. It sounded like he could be ready to rock this weekend so he should be fine when he's eligible to come off the DL on July 27^th.

Peter Bourjos could still miss another 3 weeks with his wrist injury and it's possible that his hitting will be affected upon his return.

Tommy Hanson should return within the next 2 weeks.

If you own Yoenis Cespedes, then like me you may have been excited after his impressive HR derby showing but now the excitement has turned into worry. He's been dealing with pain in his left wrist and even if he returns in a few days which is what they're saying this could affect his power stroke.

J.A. Happ could be ready to rejoin the Blue Jays rotation in about 3 weeks.

Paul Maholm sprained his left (throwing) wrist today against the White Sox and will likely need to be placed on the DL. Brandon Beachy should be ready to replace Maholm in the Braves rotation if needed. Either way, Beachy could be activated within the next 10 days.

Aramis Ramirez will miss at least another couple weeks with his knee injury.

Ryan Vogelsong is set to return to the Giants rotation in about 3 weeks.

Curtis Granderson is about 2-3 weeks away from returning the Yankees lineup.

Alex Rodriguez will probably make his season debut on Monday.

Paul Konerko will likely be activated from the DL by next weekend.

Rafael Betancourt will miss about two weeks after getting his appendix removed. Rex Brothers will take over at closer during that time. Betancourt is a trade candidate and Brothers is worth hanging on to even after he returns.

After 23 days on the Disabled List for left knee tendinitis, Melky Cabrera was taken out his rehab game in Buffalo tonight after the fifth inning setting the rumour mill churning.

Melky Cabrera goes 2-for-2, plays only five innings in LF in rehab game tonight in Buffalo.

— John Lott (@LottOnBaseball) July 21, 2013

After the game Buffalo Bisons' manager Marty Brown cleared up the confusion by letting everyone know that Melky was on his way up to Toronto to be activated off the Disabled List and rejoin the big league squad before the game tomorrow:

According To Bisons Manager Marty Brown, Melky Cabrera is set to be called up by the #BlueJays

— Igor Henriques (@IgorSNET590) July 21, 2013

Cabrera hit in the mid .300's during his rehab stint and looks to strengthen a weak Blue Jays lineup that is scuffling after the All-Star Break. So far this year, Cabrera has had an okay season hitting .278/.321/.362 although he's severely lacked power. If you're thinking the sight of him limping around in left field is a thing of the past, well, you're probably wrong:

Bison manager Marty Brown in post game interview...says Melky Cabrera is on his way to Jays..."not 100% but they need him in the lineup"

— Rick Briggs-Jude (@RBJinc) July 21, 2013

A corresponding roster move will have to be made before the game tomorrow, likely involving the bullpen.

The post title comes from a book that popped up on Google when I searched for a similar phrase.

Minor Leaguer update (from his phone at a hotel room): In a corresponding roster move, Neil Wagner was optioned back to Buffalo. He did not deserve the demotion but was a victim of roster limits and the fact that he has options remaining. He'll be back.

Here's the tweet:

Blue Jays activate Cabrera from 15-day DL. Wagner optioned to Buffalo.

— Blue Jays-Official (@BlueJays) July 21, 2013

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were too slow for the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 5-2.

Jake Arrieta pitched the first five innings and took the loss. He allowed four runs on six hits, the big one being a three-run home run by Mike Olt in the second inning. Arrieta walked two and struck out three.

Olt really took it out on his possibly, maybe future teammates in the second inning. In the top of that inning, he started a 5-4-3 triple play on a Jae-Hoon Ha ground ball.

DH Josh Vitters was 2 for 3 with a double and was hit by a pitch. He scored one run.

Right fielder Darnell McDonald was 2 for 4 and drove Vitters home in the seventh inning. Left fielder Ty Wright was 2 for 5 with an RBI. First baseman Brad Nelson went 2 for 5.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies eclipsed the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins), 7-4.

Austin Kirk started and got his eighth win and second with the Smokies. Kirk pitched five innings and allowed four runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out three.

Marcos Mateo continued his strong comeback with two hitless innings. Mateo walked one and struck out two.

Frank Batista pitched the final two innings for his 12th save. Batista allowed a single to the first batter he faced, but no other baserunners. He faced the minimum when he got the second hitter to line into a double play. Batista struck out two.

Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara went 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored twice.

Shortstop Javier Baez went 2 for 5 with a two-run double in the second inning. Baez scored one run.

Third baseman Christian Villanueva went 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored.Matt Szczurwas 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored one run.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs played two games with the Charlotte Stone Crabs (Rays). They lost the first game, 1-0 in 13 innings in a game that the first six innings were played yesterday. The second game was declared a tie after 15 innings, 2-2.

In the first game that started yesterday, Ivan Pineyro tossed six scoreless innings. He allowed four hits. He struck out three and didn't issue a walk.

Pineyro has not allowed a run in his first 11 innings as a Cub.

When the game resumed today, Eduardo Figueroa took over and threw another six shutout innings. He gave up seven hits, all singles, and he walked one. Figueroa had two strikeouts.

Frank Del Valle started the bottom of the 13th and gave up a run and took the loss. He walked a batter with one out, who then stole second and scored on a two-out single. Del Valle also walked another batter intentionally. He did not have a strikeout in his two-thirds of an inning.

Center fielder Zeke DeVoss went 2 for 6. Shortstop Elliot Soto was 2 for 5 with a walk. Right fielder Taiwan Easterling went 2 for 5 with a double.

In the second ridiculous game, Matt Loosen started and allowed two runs on four hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked three.

Jeffrey Lorick threw four innings without allowing a run. He gave up three hits and four walks while striking out two. Dayan Diaz threw the final three innings before the game was declared a tie. He gave up one hit and one walk and he struck out four.

Obviously there was no winning or losing pitcher.

DH Taylor Davis hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to tie the score and eventually send it into extras. It was his second home run this season. He was 1 for 6.

Right fielder Bijan Rademacher was 3 for 5 with a double, a triple and a walk. He also gunned down what would have been the game-winning run in the 12th inning at the plate after a fly out for a double play.

Second baseman Wes Darvill was 2 for 5 with a double and the other Daytona RBI.

Apparently, Florida State League policy dictates that all games must end at 1am.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars bolted the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays), 8-4 in a game that ended after six innings because of rain.

Felix Pena tossed a six-inning complete game for his third win. He gave up the four runs on six hits, three of them on a home run in the top of the first inning. Pena struck out four and didn't walk anyone.

The Cougars only had five hits in this game but they walked nine times. Every hitter in the starting lineup except Marco Hernandez walked once and Jeimer Candelario walked twice. Candelario was 0 for 1 with an RBI and a run scored.

First baseman Dan Vogelbach was 2 for 2 with a double and a walk. He scored twice and had one walk.

Center fielder Albert Almora went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks scored four times with two out in the ninth, but the rally fell short and they lost to the Everett AquaSox (Mariners), 8-7, snapping the Hawks seven-game win streak.

Starter Duane Underwood took the loss after he allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits over four innings. Underwood walked three and had one strike out.

Center fielder Shawon Dunston was 3 for 5 with two RBI and one run scored. Second baseman Daniel Lockhart went 2 for 4 with a double and one run scored. Third baseman David Bote was 2 for 4. He scored once and had one RBI.

After two were out in the ninth, five straight Hawks reached base, scoring four runs and bringing the tying run to the plate in the form of pinch-hitter Cael Brockmeyer. But Mighty Brockmeyer struck out.

AZL Cubs

Game suspended because of rain after four innings with the Angels leading 8-1. David DeJesus was 0 for 1 with a walk before the rains came.

R.A. Dickey takes on Tampa Bay today as the Blue Jays try to salvage a game during this series. His opponent on the mound will be 24-year-old phenom Chris Archer. Archer was involved in the Matt Garza deal with the Cubs as the main prospect piece going to Tampa Bay. After coming up for a cup of coffee last year, Archer has been given 9 straight starts this season and has solidified his place in the Tampa Bay rotation. His ERA sits at 2.96 masked by a .238 BABIP that hides his low strikeout numbers leading to a FIP of 4.21.

Chris Archer throws a fastball, sinker, slider, and changeup with his hard stuff comfortably sitting mid-90's. As you can see below, his fourseam fastball and slider are his two main pitches and have been most successful this season. That being said, none of his pitches have gotten over 30% Whiffs/Swing, which must be a little troubling for the Rays' brass.

As with Jeremy Hellickson yesterday, Archer throws most of his pitches outside the zone on the arm side:

Will today be the day Archer throws more pitches in the zone, than outside of it? Oh the intrigue!

Chris Archer is on a huge hot streak right now, which has been the case for all three pitchers the Rays have thrown at the Blue Jays so far. Aside from not allowing a run in the past 16 innings, Archer also pitched a complete game five hit shutout against Houston last time out.

The lineup I'd recommend to face Archer would be:

1. Reyes SS
2. Bautista RF
3. Encarnacion DH
4. Lind 1B
5. Cabrera LF
6. Rasmus CF
7. Izturis 3B
8. Thole C
9. Lawrie 3B

Rays 4 Blue Jays 3

Well, at least it was exciting at the end.

In the bottom of the 9th, Josh Thole walked, Brett Lawrie hit an infield single (with a error by Evan Longoria to put runners on the corners) and Jose Reyes doubled home both of them to make it a 1-run game and sit second as the tying run at second with our best hitters due up.

But Jose Bautista chased a pitch well high out of the zone to strikeout. Edwin Encarnacion waited until he had a 3-1 count to ground out to third (nice bit of base running by Reyes to get to third on the play). After Adam Lind did a nice job to take a walk, Melky Cabrera ground out to end the game.

Once again we could get base runners, we had 8 hits and 5 walks, but we couldn't score them. 2 for 13 with RISP for the day, 9 left on base. The 9 left on game wouldn't have been bad with we had score a few. Bautista and Encarnacion, in particular, had a bad game. Between them they were 0 for 10 with 7 left on base. Why weren't they allowed to take part in the home run contest?

On the plus side, Reyes went 2 for 3 with 2 walks, a steal and 2 RBI. And Jose Thole was 1 for 2, with 2 walks. The hit was nice, a ground rule double, Sam Fuld was playing too far in against Thole, that scored Melky Cabrera in the 2nd.

R.A. Dickey wasn't bad, if you ignore the 3 solo home runs (insert Titantic joke here). In total 6 innings, 7 hits, 4 earned (only one that wasn't scored on a home run), 1 walk and 8 strikeouts. He is throwing harder. I don't know what to think about him.

Other moments of note:

• Juan Perez pitched 1.1 innings, which brings him to 21 innings of work without an earned run, though he left the game with runners on the corners and just one out in the 8th. Aaron Loup worked out of the jam to keep Juan's streak alive. Loup pitched 1.2 scoreless, with just a hit batter against him, with two strikeouts.
• Brett Lawrie made a great play on a ground ball in the second, saving a run. No chance Maicer Izturis would have been able to make the same play. On the flip of that, Izturis turned a double play that I'm not sure Lawrie would have turned.
• Oh, and Jose Reyes took a pick off throw in the ummmm unmentionables. Time to wear a can Jose.

It was just another of those crappy games. I don't know what the answer is but I'm starting to think Chad Mottola isn't the genius batting coach we were hoping he'd be, or perhaps it isn't a good idea to have him and Dwayne Murphy working with the batters.

Jays of the Day is Reyes (.347 WPA) and Thole (.157).

Suckage goes to Bautista (-.346), Cabrera (-.219), Encarnacion (-.206), Dickey (-.167) and Izturis (-.157).

Considering how bad the team has been, we had a pretty nice GameThread, 25 of us totaled 502 comments. After missing a couple of games, I led the way. I think my Paul McCartney concert was a lot more fun than watching the Jays lose. And Dave Grohl and the other former members of Nirvana joined into the encores, so that made it more special.