Playoff fever - AA style

While their parent clubs will be squaring off in Beantown, the AA affiliates of the Jays and Red Sox will face each other down in a one-game death match to get into the Eastern League's playoffs.

Why should this matter? We firmly believe that players who learn to win and compete in a playoff atmosphere in the minors will learn a lot from the experience.

While there are only a handful of the Fisher Cats that we can forsee as future Jays, the idea of having Ricky Romero, Tracy Thorpe or David Purcey pitching under that sort of pressure can only help with their personal development. If fifty percent of this game is half mental, then the hope is that they can learn to win in a pennant race and in the playoffs, and can bring that experience with them to the big club, sooner rather than later.

UPDATE: More Jays Minor League Playoff Mayhem!
We'd be remiss if we didn't note that the short season A ball Auburn Doubledays have already clinched their division title, and will be playing postseason games starting later this week, while the advanced A ball Lansing Lugnuts have clinched a playoff spot as well.

Dear Diary
Speaking of Romero, he was one of four players to have a player journal on MiLB.com this year. They're not exactly earth-shattering in terms of insight, but it is interesting to track Romero's thought process through this year's injuries and struggles. At just 22, Romero is the youngest player on the AA club, but he seems pretty well-adjusted. Hopefully, he'll be able to contribute within the next year or so at the major league level.