The word collapse does not seem strong enough. Well, today is a new day I suppose.
JAYS LINKS
Jays fail to sweep M's after blowing early lead - Sportsnet.ca
"J.A. Happ, who made his first start since May 7 when he suffered a skull fracture, couldn't capitalize on an early lead and the Toronto Blue Jays fell to the Seattle Mariners 9-7."
Easy Fixes At Catcher And Second Base? | Drunk Jays Fans | Blogs | theScore.com
Depends what one means by fixes. Would it be easy to get more from those positions than the Jays have this year? One would have to think so.
Buehrle and Dickey: an Update on the Pace Race | FanGraphs Baseball
It's scary how high this ranks on Blue Jays story lines down the stretch.
Minor League Archetypes: Part 2 – Mid-Minors - Blue Jays from Away
A look at some of the typical types of guys you find in the "Mid-Minors"
Nolin matches Cats record with 13 K's | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball
'Sean Nolin matched the New Hampshire team record with 13 strikeouts and combined with three relievers to fan a franchise-high 18 overall in the Fisher Cats' 2-1, 11-inning win over Bowie Wednesday afternoon.'
AL EAST LINKS
Hiroki Kuroda’s Case for the Cy Young Award | FanGraphs Baseball
Kuroda has been pretty unbelievable this year
Alex Rodriguez should be allowed to take all of the drugs - SBNation.com
"Alex Rodriguez could be the most incredible athlete of our time -- if only we'd get out of his way."
Red Sox target Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez back on the market? - Over the Monster
"Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez' deal with the Phillies may fall through, leaving the Red Sox free to take another shot at the major league ready pitcher."
Orioles minor leagues: Alex Liddi living out his boyhood dream - Camden Chat
"From Italy With Love - Alex Liddi. The Baltimore Orioles minor leaguer is living out his boyhood dream as he tries to play his way into the majors with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides."
Three Orioles ranked as having best tools in Baseball America manager's survey - Camden Chat
"In a survey of major league managers by Baseball America, three Orioles ranked as having the best tools in the American League for their areas: Chris Davis (power), J.J. Hardy (defensive shortstop), and Adam Jones (outfield arm)."
Editor's (Minor Leaguer) note: The Blue Jays had five names on the list too: Edwin Encarnacion has the third best power, Rajai Davis was the second fastest and third best baserunner, Mark Buehrle has the third best pickoff move, Jose Reyes has the third best infield arm, and Jose Bautista has the second best outfield arm. In the high-A version of this list, three Blue Jays minor leaguers were on the list: Jon Berti (best baserunner), Andy Burns* (best defensive 3B), Aaron Sanchez (best breaking pitch). In the triple-A version of the list, only Moises Sierra made it as best outfield arm. No Lugnut was named to the low-A list and no Fisher Cat was on the double-A list.
THE REST OF THE BASEBALL UNIVERSE LINKS
Fun Notes From the Past Calendar Year | FanGraphs Baseball
Notice where Encarnacion sits among 1st baseman here in wRC+
Tigers release Valverde from triple-A contract - Sportsnet.ca
"The Detroit Tigers have released veteran closer Jose Valverde from his contract with Triple-A Toledo."
Happy 22nd Birthday, Mike Trout | FanGraphs Baseball
He's good.
Carolina notes: Pucetas' new pitch | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball
"The transformation of Kevin Pucetas is underway. The veteran right-hander, with advice from R.A. Dickey, is reinventing himself as a knuckleball pitcher with Myrtle Beach this season."
Presenting 2013′s Surprising Top Two Pitch-Framers | FanGraphs Baseball
Jeff Sullivan continues his GIF-tastic voyage towards pitch framing enlightenment.
NON-BASEBALL LINK OF THE DAY
BBC News - Shark found on New York subway
Color me bamboozled.