According to Jim Street, six American League teams are among the group that has contacted free agent Ken Griffey Jr.. Based on some comments from Griffey's agent, you can be sure the Tampa Bay Rays are one of those teams.

"Kenny realizes that he probably would be a middle-ground guy when it comes to salary," he said. "He also understands that a contract could include some incentives, but I don't think he'll price himself out of a job. He's never been about being the highest paid."...Goldberg said Griffey would be receptive to a one-year contract offer from "the right team in the right place," but wouldn't be any more specific than that.

Griffey's agent says his client is healthy now after postseason season knee surgery and is ready to play a couple more years. A healthy Griffey posted 119 OPS+ with 30 home runs and a .372 OBP in 2007. Those numbers fell to 101 OPS+, 18 home runs and a .353 OBP.

This could come down to whether Griffey still wants to play the outfield on a regular basis. If he is willing to accept a role as a most-days DH, and an incentive-laden contract to play for a contender, Griffey is the type of player the Rays will target.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA...

• We will find out this week if Troy Percival will need surgery on either his knee or his back...Also, Joe Smith is reporting that the Rays are continuing to have conversations with Rocco Baldelli. [St. Pete Times]
• Tim Bogar, the Rays Quality Assurance Coach this past season, has been hired by the Red Sox to be their first base coach. [The Heater]
  
• Rocco Baldelli won the "Tony Conigliaro Award", which is given to "a major league player who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage." [The Heater]
• Carl Crawford had his baseball jersey retired by his high school prior to a recent playoff game. [Houston Chronicle]
  
• Joe Maddon is one of 10 finalists for Hazelton, Pennsylvania "Person of the Year". [Standard-Speaker]
• According to Nick Cafardo, the White Sox would want more than Andy Sonnanstine or Edwin Jackson for Jermaine Dye...Huh, wha? More than Duke or Nuke for a player that is owed $11.5 million next season and a $12 million option in 2010? That should about do it for the "Jermaine Dye is a good fit for the Rays" talk. [MLB Trade Rumors]
  
• Rounding the Bases lays out 7 reasons to trade Edwin Jackson. [Rounding the Bases]
• Rise of the Rays takes a look at some options for the Rays in right field and at DH either through trade or via free agency. [Rise of the Rays]
• Baseball Analysts previews the top 11 pitchers available in next week's Rule 5 draft, including Eddie Morlan and Chris Mason. [Baseball Analysts]
  
• The members of the Rise of the Rays community debate who will be the "key player for the Rays in 2009." [Rise of the Rays]
• Rays Prospects has an update on winter league stats for several current and former Rays prospects. [Rays Prospects]
  
• Rays Digest looks at the top hitting prospects in the organization. [Rays Digest]
  
• Baseball Talk takes a look at some of the lesser known pitching prospects in the Rays system. [Baseball Talk...]
  
• After Rhyne Hughes' solid Arizona Fall League season, Examiner.com tries to project how good the prospect can be. [Examiner.com]
• Ted Flemming offers several suggestions on what the Rays should do from the operations side of the coin, which includes broadcasting more spring training games. [Examiner.com]
• The King of Series, David Chalk's latest is counting down the 25 greatest Devil Rays...as an advent calendar. [Bugs and Cranks]
  

Back in early August, the Rays added Chad Bradford from the Orioles for a Player To Be Named Later (PTBNL). It is two months later and the Rays have yet to send a player to the O's to complete the deal. A couple of weeks ago, O's GM Andy MacPhail was asked about the trade.

MacPhail also said the player to be named in the Chad Bradford deal will be announced between the end of the World Series and the start of the winter meetings. That's quite a gap. But it's hardly worth pacing the floor over..."I've done everything I can when asked to downgrade expectations," he said, adding there won't be any immediate benefits to the acquisition.

The winter meetings are to be held December 8-11.

Often in trades involving a PTBNL, the receiving team (in this case the O's) is given a list of several players to choose from. This gives the receiving team a chance to scout the players on the list and decide which player they prefer.

With the seasons completed, this suggests that the Orioles are scouting one or more players in the Arizona Fall League. The AFL schedule ends on November 22, two weeks prior to the winter meetings. Rays prospects participating in the AFL include Rhyne Hughes, JT Hall, Matt Spring, Chris Mason, Ryan Reid, Wade Townsend, Mike Wlodarczyk and Desmond Jennings.

We have been unable to confirm, but there is some sentiment that if the teams cannot agree on a player, the Rays will send a predetermined amount of "cash considerations" to the O's in order to complete the deal. There may also be a six month time limit on the deal.

MacPhail snippets [MASN]

Click on above images to be taken to full standings, box scores or schedule...

With the Cubs once again home without a World Series trophy, Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune is desperate for a story. How desperate?

"Of course, if we had won it, we'd be in the World Series by now," Maddon said. "We'll just have to wait one more day, hopefully, to get that done."...He meant one more game, as Friday was a travel day. And he did add an important qualifier with the word "hopefully." But still …When your team gets as close to the World Series as the Rays were—seven outs away, seven-run lead—and then unravels, the task ahead is about a lot more than waiting "one more day."

It amazes us that some writers get paid to write this shit. We are not sure if Phil Rogers is familiar with how the game of baseball works. But actually, it is that simple. The Rays are still one win away with two games at home and their two best starting pitchers. One more day. One more win. That's it. And somehow Phil Rogers turned that one benign quote into a 700 word cluster***.

Apparently Phil Rogers would prefer Maddon to just give up and go back to the shitpile with the Cubs.

Damn, we are an angry blogger right now. Nothing would give us more pleasure than to be on the mound with a ball and have Phil Rogers step into the box. Dude is a little too comfortable.

DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA...

• We have asked this before and we will keep asking until somebody gives us a satisfactory answer: Why is it OK for football teams to play in domes and it is not OK for baseball teams? Football is a game that is often better in bad weather. Some of the greatest and most memorable games in the history of the NFL were played in severe conditions. And yet baseball, a sport of precision, is stopped when it rains. The NFL has 6 teams that play indoors (Colts, Falcons, Vikings, Saints, Rams, Lions) and yet nobody ever complains. Anybody care to explain? And don't give us that "tradition" crap. We love the tradition of baseball more than most but anytime somebody brings up tradition we ask them why they aren't taking dumps in an outhouse any longer. [New York Times]
• Everybody is rooting against the Rays. Good. Keep it that way. Screw the networks and their bottom line. If the Rays go to the World Series we hope those FOX TV executives choke on their champagne when they are cruising the Mediterranean on their luxury yachts. What fan gives a flying hoot what ratings are? Either you watch the game or you don't. Why do some people care if other people watch? Jesus. Somebody get us a uniform. We are ready to run through a wall for Papa Joe. [Los Angeles Times]
• Really? The Hartford Courant is going to compare JD Drew's winning hit to the ALCS-winning, walk-off home run by Aaron Boone in 2004. Do they have Bonobos writing at the Hartford Courant? We worry about the sanity of Hartford. If all their stories are this idiotic the IQ of the entire town is in serious trouble. [Hartford Courant]
• You know those Red Sox fans and how they are the bestest fans in the whole world. How the entire Red Sox Nation was born in South Boston with a little red sock tattooed to their asses. How their ancestors came over on the Mayflower wearing a Red Sox cap and how they would prefer a league in which every season is just a Best-of-162 game series with the New York Yankees...Well those diehards were so diehard that they were seen piling out of Fenway in droves on Thursday night in the 6th and 7th innings. Big League Stew has the top 10 things overheard from the exodus. To which we would have added: "Who is Carl Yaster Zemski?" [Big League Stew]
• Big League Stew answers the question: "Why cowbells?" for those not familiar...Stu Sternberg (and Joe Maddon with his 9=8) both understand a very simple premise in marketing. Keep things simple. Keep them corny. The initial reaction will often be to snicker. But stick to it, and eventually corny becomes cool. [Big League Stew]
• Rob Neyer explores James Shields nickname "Big Game". The reason is suggestion #2 from Neyer. Joe Maddon believes it and wants Shields to believe it also. It is that simple. [ESPN]
• Nasty Boy Brian Knobbs got kicked out of Fenway during game 5, to which we ask: Who wears a shirt with their own picture on it? Knobbs does. [Home Run Derby]
  
• Rhyne Hughes is having himself a nice little Arizona Fall League. [Tampa Bay Rays Prospects]
  

Durham 6, Louisville 2. Ben Hendrickson won his 10th game, striking out 7 in 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk...Dan Johnson was 2-4 with 2 doubles and a walk...John Jaso finished 1-4 with a walk and an RBI...Jonny Gomes was 0-5 with a strike out.

Tennessee 1, Montgomery 0. Mike Prochaska allowed only 1 run in 8 innings on 7 hits and no walks. He struck out 3.

Daytona @ Vero Beach (gm 1; ppd rain).
Daytona @ Vero Beach (gm 2; ppd rain). The D-Rays have now had their last 6 games postponed or cancelled due to rain or a wet field.

Columbus 2, Charleston 0 (gm 1). Jesse Darcy pitched a 2-hit shutout improving to 7-3 with a 2.95 ERA. He did not strike out a batter and did not issue a walk...Maiko Loyola finished 2-3.

Columbus @ Charleston (gm 2; ppd rain)

Hudson Valley 10, Oneonta 1.

Princeton 7, Johnson City 0. Tim Beckham did not play.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM...

• 5 of the Rays 6 Arizona Fall League participants will be from the Montgomery roster including James Houser, Ryan Reid, Rhyne Hughes, JT Hall and Matt Spring. Houser was originally scheduled to participate last fall, but was unable due to his on-going suspension. No word yet on who the 6th member will be, although it will likely be a pitcher. [Montgomery Advertiser]
  
• The Bulls' magic number to clinch the South Division is now 4 with 10 games remaining on the schedule. [Durham Bulls]
• The Biscuits now trail Mississippi by 3.5 games with 10 to play. [Montgomery Advertiser]
  

Charlotte 5, Durham 2. Mith Talbot gave up 5 runs in 6 innings.

Montgomery 8, Birmingham 3. Wade Davis held Birmingham to 2 hits and no runs in 7 innings. He struck out 4, walked 1. Thanks to two double plays, he faced 1 over the minimum...Ronnie Merril had 4 hits for the 2nd time in 3 nights.

Palm Beach 6, Vero Beach 1.

Columbus 6, Charleston 3.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM...

• Eduardo Morlan and Rhyne Hughes went on the DL for Montgomery. Morlan's injury is significant because now all three of the players received from the Twins for Delmon Young and Brendan Harris have been hampered by injuries in the first month of the season. [Biscuits Batter]
  
• David Price threw a live bullpen session yesterday but there is still no timetable for his 2008 debut. [The Heater]
  
• After a slow start, John Jaso is starting to weild a mean stick. He is in at #10 on Baseball America's "Prospect Hot Sheet". However, they do note that his time as a catcher may have a shlef-life. So far this season, base stealers are 25-26 against Jaso...Jeremy Hellickson is also mentioned as being just outside the Top 13. [Baseball America]
• Tampa Bay's Tomorrow takes a look at Jake McGee. [Tampa Bay's Tomorrow]
• Minor League Ball is running a mock draft and the pick for the Rays is Aaron Crow, a pitcher from Missouri. [Minor League Ball]
  

Durham: Off

Montgomery 5, Birmingham 4. Jake McGee improved to 2-1 after holding Birmingham to 3 runs in 6 innings. He struck out 5 and walked 2. He did give up a solo home run in the 3rd...Erold Andrus and Sergio Pedroza had 2 hits apiece. Andrus added his 8th double and Pedroza drove in 2.

Palm Beach 3, Vero Beach 0. Matt Walker dropped to 0-3 after allowing 3 runs in 4.1 innings...The offense didn't help matters, as the D-Rays managed only 2 hits, a Garret Groce single in the 4th and a Chase Fontaine triple in the 9th.

Charleston 5, Columbus 3. Brian Flores got his first start in place of Jeremy Hall. He worked 3 innings and gave up 1 run on 4 hits...Henry Wrigley hit his second home run of the season a solo shot...The Catfish managed only 3 other hits, all singles.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM...

• Scott Kazmir's next rehab start will come on Monday for the Durham Bulls. [Our Sports Central]
• Rays of Light takes a look at Desmond Jennings. [Rays of Light]
• Calvin Medlock and Mike DiFelice both cleared waivers and will be assigned to Durham. [Rays Report]
• Justin Ruggiano will be joining them, as he was demoted to make room for Matt Garza at the major league level. [MLB]
  
• Rhyne Hughes will have a CAT scan today after missing his 10th straight game after receiving a concussion as a result of a collision with Matt Spring. [Montgomery Advertiser]
  

Durham @ Norfolk, Double-Header (ppd. rain).

Jacksonville 5, Montgomery 4. James Houser shut down the Suns on 2 hits in 6.2 shutout innings. He struck out 5 and walked 2. He was never in any real danger as only one runner reached 3rd base...The bullpen blew the lead allowing 5 runs in the 8th and 9th innings combined...The Biscuits did score 2 in the bottom of the 9th and had a runner on third with only 1 out but failed to push the tying run home...Erold Andrus and John Raburn had 3 hits apiece...Pat Cottrell drove in 2 runs.

Brevard Co. 2, Vero Beach 0. It will be interesting to see how patient the Rays will be with Jeremy Hellickson as he is absolutely dominating the FSL right now. Hellickson ran his consecutive scoreless innnings streak to 16 after last night's 5 shutout innings. He struck out 7 and walked 1, with 4 hits. In 23 innings this year, he has allowed 2 runs (0.78 ERA) and struck out 30 while only walking 2...Vero Beach hitters managed only 5 hits.

Charleston 7, Columbus 2. Glenn Gibson dropped to 0-3 but looked stronger this time out. In 5 innings, Gibson struck out 5 and walked 1, allowing 3 runs. The big blow was a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning...Mike McCormick hit his first home run of the season to account for both runs.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM...

• Jake McGee who was held out from his last start with a sore forearm, had a bullpen session yesterday and felt fine. He should be good to go for his next start...Rhyne Hughes, who has missed more than week after colliding with a teammate and suffering a concussion, is expected back in the lineup tomorrow. [Montgomery Advertiser]
  
• Jeremy Hellickson and Matt Fields were named the FSLs pitcher and player of the week repespectively. [Basil's Blog]
  

Durham 2, Norfolk 0.

Jacksonville 11, Montgomery 7.

Vero Beach 10. St. Lucie 5. Dioner Navarro had a double and 4 walks in 5 plate appearances as the DH. Geez. Navi goes to Vero Beach and suddenly transforms into Barry Bonds. In 2 games he has walked 6 times...Matt Garzagoes today for the DEVIL Rays with Navi behind the plate.

Charleston 6, Columbus 0.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM...

• Jake McGee was scratched from his start last night due to a sore forearm. The move was precautionary as McGee says he could have pitched. [Biscuit Batter]
• Rhyne Hughes is scheduled to see a doctor concerning headaches he is experiencing since a collision with teammate Matt Spring. [Montgomery Advertiser]
  

Durham 2, Charlotte 1. Mitch Talbot finished the regular season by picking up his 13th win. He went 6.2 innings, allowing 6 hits, 1 walk and 1 run. Chad Orvella picked up his 20th save. Evan Longoria was 0-3 with a walk and 3 strikeouts. He finished the regular season hitting .269-5-19 in 31 AAA games. JP Howell led the IL with 145 strikeouts, while Mitch Talbot and Jeff Niemann were tied for the second most wins (12).

Montgomery 7, Jacksonville 3 (13 innings). The Biscuits head into the playoffs having won 15 of their final 16 regular season games to finish with the top mark in the SL at 81-59. Fernando Perez went 3-7 in the finale to finish the season with a .309 batting average, a .423 OBP and .908 OPS. John Jaso was second in the SL with a .316 average. Reid Brignac finished 2nd with 81 RBI. The Biscuits had three of the top four OPS marks with Evan Longoria leading the league at .930. Chris Mason led the league with 15 wins and was 4th with 136 strikeouts.

Vero Beach concluded their regular season on Sunday. After finishing 3rd in the division for the first half, the Rays fell to last place with a 25-44 second half record. Rhyne Hughes led the FSL with a .329 average. Sergio Pedroza was 2nd in the FSL with 22 home runs and both players were tied with the second best OPS (.907).

Columbus had their final seven games rained out. They will begin their best-of-3 first round playoff series on Wednesday against Augusta. Ryan Royster finished the regular season hitting .329-30-98 and has firmly established himself as one of the top hitting prospects in the Rays system. He was 4th in the SAL in hitting, tops in home runs, 2nd in RBI and lead the league with a .982 OPS. Desmond Jennings hit .315 with 45 steals in only 99 games, good for 4th in the SAL. Heath Rollinsled the league with 17 wins and was 2nd with 149 strikeouts.

Hudson Valley 10, Aberdeen 3.

Princeton concluded their regular season at 33-35, third in the AL East division. Michael Ross led the league with 36 stolen bases.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM...

• Chris Mason was named the top pitcher in the Southern League while Evan Longoria took home the honor as the league's MVP. [Montgomery Advertiser]
  
• Winning championships at the minor league level does not mean much when the parent club loses 90+ games every season, but the winning attitude must start some place and with the Montgomery Biscuits winning the Southern League championship in 2006, they are joined by Durham and Columbus in the playoffs this season. [TBO]
• The first round of the International League playoffs will begin on Wednesday with the Bulls facing Toledo. These two teams have won the last four IL titles. JP Howell will pitch the opening game, and will be followed by Jeff Niemann and Jae Seo. [Durham Bulls]
  
• The Devil Rays have announced their fall instructional league roster and it is a who's who of the system's top prospects, including David Price, Jake McGee and Ryan Royster. [Rays Digest]
• In their final regular season game, the Durham Bulls set a single-game attendance record (11,071) and broke the team's single-season attendance mark (520,952). [OurSportsCentral]
  

Tennessee 6, Montgomery 2. Erold Andrus was 2-4 and hit his 10th double and 1st home run since being promoted from Vero Beach. Reid Brignac was 0-4, and Fernando Perez was 2-4.

Clearwater 9, Vero Beach 8. Sergio Pedroza was 4-4 and hit his 18th home run. It was his third straight game with a home run and he is 8-10 over that span, with 3 doubles, 3 home runs and 10 RBI. He is 17-36 (.472) with 5 home runs and 5 doubles and a triple in the last 10 games.

Columbus 6, Lexington 4. This year's 2nd round pick, Will Kline, had his longest outing yet as a pro, striking out 3 in 4 innings. He gave up 1 run in 4 hits and a walk. Ryan Royster hit his 19th home run.

Staten Island 5, Hudson Valley 4. Alex Cobb, the Rays 4th round pick last year made his 10th start of the season, allowing 3 runs in 5 innings. He has a 3.18 ERA on the season.

Danville 7, Princeton 6 (10 innings). After scoring 3 in the top of the 10th to break the 3-3 tie, Danville came back with 4 in the bottom half of the frame for the victory. Two errors did in the P-Rays in the bottom of the 10th with the final run being scored on a 1-out single. Another 2006 draftee, Jeremy Hall, struck out 8 in 6 scoreless innings.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM...

• The Durham Bulls had a scheduled off day yesterday.
  
• Dale Thayer was named the Southern League's pitcher of the week. During the week he picked up 1 win and 3 saves. [Stacy Long's Riverwalk Talk]
  
• Jed Lockett takes a look at Tyree Hayes, the son of former major leaguer Charlie Hayes. Being around the game his entire life made his career choice somewhat inevitable, but his path to becoming a pitcher did not develop until much later. [Bluefield Daily Telegraph]
• With the promotion of Rhyne Hughes to AA, JT Hall has been working at first base, a position that he is familiar with. [TCPalm]
  
• The P-Rays have made an effort this season to visit as man of the local little leagues as possible. [Princeton Rays]
  

Evan Longoria has been promoted to AAA Durham. He hit .307-21-76 with a .930 OPS in 105 games. He is tied with for the lead league in home runs and leads the SL in RBI and Runs (78). Despite a stellar glove, Joel Guzman will be moved permanently to first base to make room for Longoria. Guzman started at first base for the Bulls on Tuesday night. It will be interesting to see if a strong month at AAA will tempt the Devil Rays front office to bring The Dirtbag to the Trop for a September call-up. [Montgomery Advertiser]

Indianapolis 5, Durham 3. JP Howell was masterful for the Bulls, striking out 12 and allowing only 1 walk and 2 hits in 7 shutout innings. Howell left the game with a 3-0 lead but the bullpen was unable to protect it as Chad Orvella and newly acquired Brian Shackelford combined to allow 5 runs in the 9th inning on 3 home runs. Shackelford allowed a walk-off 2-run home run to the only batter he faced. Jason Pridie was 0-3 and Joel Guzman was 0-4.

Montgomery 6, Birmingham 2. Reid Brignac was 1-4 with his 14th home run. He also committed his 20th error of the season.

Columbus 4, West Virginia 0. Heath Rollins moved to 12-4 with 7 shutout innings. He allowed 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 5. Ryan Royster hit his 16th home run, a 3-run shot in the first.

Vermont 6, Hudson Valley 1.

Princeton 6, Elizabethton 3.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM...

• Rhyne Hughes (.329-12-57) and infielder Aaron Sisk were promoted to AA Montgomery. Sisk was recently named the FSL offensive player of the week when he hit 6 home runs in the week ending July 15.
  
• Both Jeff Niemann and Wade Townsend are currently sidelined but neither injury is considered serious. [TBO]
  
• Evan Longoria was named the top prospect in the "MLN FAB50 Baseball 2007 Rankings", a mid-season look at minor league talent. [The Raw Feed]
  
• Jeremy Owens was named the IL's batter-of-the-week. He is the 5th Bull to win a weekly award. [Our Sports Central]
• Behind the Dugout takes a look at three of the Devil Rays' top pitching prospects. [Behind the Dugout]
• Vero Beach and Jupiter were postponed due to rain.
  

Ottawa 4, Durham 3. Huh? Andy Sonnanstine lost? That's weird. Sonny got knocked around for 10 hits and 4 runs in 6 innings. He surrendered 2 home runs. We don't mean to pile on Sonnanstine after one bad outing, because it is rare, but this is what we need to worry about. Remember he does not have the best "stuff". A lot of people think that is refreshing. And believe us we are rooting for Sonny. The problem is, when a pitcher is dependent on "tricking" the batter with every pitch he has to be on top of his game every night out. On nights when a pitcher like Sonnanstine is not on top of their game, he will be very hittable...Wes Bankston hit his 7th home run. Jonny Gomes played left field and batted clean up. He went 1-2 with 2 walks in his first game since being demoted.

Huntsville 11, Montgomery 4. Jonathon Barratt only gave up 2 hits in 4 innings, but he walked 6 and allowed 3 runs. Reid Brignac was 0-3 and Evan Longoria was 1-4. John Jaso went 3-4 and is now hitting .329.

Vero Beach 9, St. Lucie 7. Wade Davis struck out 9 in 6 innings, but gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and 2 walks. He had a wild pitch and surrendered a home run. Garrett Groce was 2-5 and now has multi-hit games in 3 of 4 starts since returning from the DL.

Charleston 6, Columbus 2. Ryan Morse also struck out 9 in 6 innings. And like Wade Davis, he gave up 4 runs (3 earned). Nevin Ashley was 2-4 to raise his average to .281.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM...

• The Vero Beach Devil Rays have 5 players that were named to the FSL All-Star team. Starting pitchers Wade Davis and Jake McGee will be joined by relief pitcher Eduardo DeLaCruz, catcher Christian Lopez and first baseman Rhyne Hughes.
  
• When Evan Longoria makes his major league debut, he will become the first player in Major League history to go by the name "Evan". Well, that's what we were told and who are we to doubt. We would rather go to the fridge and grab another beer than go verify the info. Be right back.
• Evan Longoria was one of only four of the top 20 prospects to receive a letter grade of A for the first one-fourth of the season.
  

Durham 10, Syracuse 3. Andy Sonnanstine picked up his 6th win of the season after allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks in 6 innings. He was supported by 3 home runs including Joel Guzman's 5th. He was 2-4 with 3 RBI and picked up his 4th stolen base.

Montgomery 5, Birmingham 1. James Houser had his second straight strong start after returning from the disabled list. This time he allowed only 2 hits and 1 walk in 5 scoreless innings. He has now only given up 4 hits and 2 walks in 11.1 innings since being activated. Evan Longoria had 2 singles in 4 at bats, and picked up an RBI. Reid Brignac was 1-4. John Jaso hit his 4th home run and is now hitting .339.

Vero Beach 6, Lakeland 2. Jacob McGee struck out 8 in 6 innings and allowed 3hits, 3 walks and 2 runs. He struck out 5 of the first 7 batters he faced.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM...

• James Houser's victory on Sunday was his 14th straight. The 2003 2nd round pick, had not lost a games since May 12, of last season, covering 27 starts.
  
• Derek Feldkamp was removed from the rotation in Montgomery and made his first relief appearance on Sunday. In 2 innings, only 1 batter reached base via a throwing error.
  
• Rhyne Hughes is just as surprised as everybody else by his emergence this year after struggling last season. He is 4th in the FSL in hitting at .329.
• Evan Longoria and Reid Brignac top the OTB's list of "Prospects You Need To Keep An Eye On."
• Shawn Riggans was placed on the DL and Josh Johnson was promoted to take his place.