Putting the game thread up early because I'm making supper (BBQ Steak, you is all invited) at the moment and likely won't be finish till after the start time tonight. I'll post the lineups when I get a moment. We have Shawn Marcum pitching for us tonight; I'm hopeful that Cito will pull him before he tires instead of waiting till he gives up half a dozen runs.

Texas has Tommy Hunter starting for them, he's well known to all old CBC TV fans as host of the long running "Tommy Hunter Show". Can't wait for him to sing 'Travelling Man'. I've been wondering what he's been doing since his show was cancelled. I love references that only three people will get.....

Actually this Tommy Hunter is making his first major league start tonight. He's a right hander who's in his first full season of professional ball. He began the year at A ball but is now pitching in AAA Oklahoma. In five starts there he is 2-2 with a 3.24 ERA, 17 strike outs with 4 walks in 33.1 innings. He couldn't face a better team to make his major league debut. Most days I figure I could throw 6 scoreless innings against the Jays. Hunter is replacing Eric Hurley who has tendinitis.

It's a proud day at Blue Bird Banter....we got mentioned in SI.com's team power rankings.  Someone reads this??

I have to call attention to this story.....for those of us that suffered thru watching Victor Zambrano pitch as a Jay last year. It is hard to believe.

Texas is 1.5 games ahead of us in the Wild Card race, so we need to sweep this three game series.  Join us in the thread....I might be late but I'll be there.