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Josh Thole "returns" from his "optional assignment" in "Bluefield"

By Minor Leaguer
Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

Five days ago, after catching R.A. Dickey's start against the Tigers, the Blue Jays optioned catcher Josh Thole all the way down to rookie-level Bluefield to make room for Drew Hutchison. They knew that the specialist knuckleball receiver would not be needed until the next Dickey start so they made sent him to a team whose season ended yesterday in order to exempt Thole from spending the mandatory 10-day minimum on his optional assignment.

The timing of Bluefield's last game could not have been better; it came just in time for Thole to be recalled before Dickey's start tonight against Cleveland. I doubt Thole actually went to West Virginia--he probably even stuck around Toronto to catch Dickey's side session--but he was actually on the Bluefield Blue Jays' active roster and was even given a number (#30).

Thole was added to the Blue Jays' expanded active roster, which is now at 30, and finds himself batting ninth behind Ryan Goins. Ben Revere continues his tenure as Toronto's leadoff batter. Compare the real lineup to Scott C.'s hopeful lineup from his game preview!

Minor League Promotions

The Bisons are playing their last home game today and are welcoming several new additions to their roster, with Chad Girodo, Melky Mesa, and Bluebird Banter's favourite real minor leaguer Johnny Anderson getting promoted from double-A New Hampshire.

Johnny wrote about his battle back from multiple serious injuries here two years ago and is really worth a read. His hard work and persistence finally got him to triple-A!

Hump Day in Lansing

It's the last Wednesday in the Lugnuts' regular season so all eyes will be on Humphrey the Camel's last appearance at Cooley Law School Stadium this season.

Oh, also Marcus Stroman will be starting against one of the Dodgers' top prospect, Grant Holmes. You can listen to the game for FREE by clicking on the link on the Lugnuts' website at game time (7 pm). If you've never heard Jesse Goldberg-Strassler call a game before, make this your first.

Red Sox Bests Blue Jays

The GCL Red Sox won 1-0 against the GCL Blue Jays to claim the 2015 Gulf Coast League championship banner today, winning two games in the best-of-three series. Boooooooooooooooooooooo.

UPDATE:

Mark Buehrle and David Price will be swapping their respective place in the Blue Jays rotation. With the off day on Thursday, Price will get to start on his regular rotation and Buehrle, who hasn't "felt the greatest" lately, will get an extra day's rest.

So looking forward, it means Price will also be starting in the first game of the four-game series at Yankee Stadium next week.

And Edwin Encarnacion has been named as the American League Player of the Month for August! This is the Blue Jays' first player of the month award winner of 2015, and is the second time Encarnacion has won it, first being May 2014. During months where Encarnacion is named Player of the Month, the Blue Jays are 42-15.

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