Hitting the Links

ManchVegas or Las Vegas? Kevin Gray of the Manchester Union Leader examines why the Toronto Blue Jays are stacking up their big name prospects at AA New Hampshire and not with the AAA Las Vegas 51s. Their loss is the gain of the good people of New England who get to watch them play! Manchester Union Leader

Mike Lowell's last appearance in a Red Sox uniform may actually be a Pawtucket one and not Boston. After slugging three home runs last night against the Toledo Mud Hens, and with Boston burying him on the bench, speculations of his return to the majors have turned towards it possibly being with another club. The MLB trade deadline is this Saturday and Terry Francona has stated that they will sit down with Lowell on Friday to discuss his options, once the big club returns from the west coast. In the meantime, Lowell should get in another game with the PawSox tonight. MiLB.com

Rocco Baldelli is trying to make a comeback and has been working on his game down in the Florida State League with the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Apparently he has also been working on a sick mustache. I had trouble getting into the story itself because of the accompanying photo. After Rocco's one season of life on the Red Sox disabled list, he took a position in the Tampa Bay Rays system as a coach. But alas, the mustache could not be contained as a mere hitting instructor, this mustache must shine at the plate in the field dammit! Florida State League Notebook

The MiLB's Minors Moniker Madness tournament has moved on to the second round of action. The winners this week go on to the Sweet 16 and a few local players are in the hunt. New Britain's Yangervis Solarte, seeded 3rd in the Icicle Reader bracket, takes on 6th seeded Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg. Tough draw. In the Natty Nattress bracket, the 15th seeded Seth Schwindenhammer of the Lowell Spinners pulled out the big upset in round one and now faces Petey Paramore, the 10th seed. The always solid Bubbie Buzachero of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats is the 8th seed in the Razor Shines bracket and has to face top seeded Al Albuquerque in round two. Let's keep our favorite, local appellations in the hunt towards immortality. Vote Here!

Here is a campaign video from the VOTE FOR HAMMER camp: