FanPost

Minor League Playoff Hopes

Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

The time of year has arrived when disappointed baseball fans turn their attention to hockey or football. Or, in the case of truly devoted fans: the minor leagues. Yes, even if the stars of your favourite major league team are MIA with mysterious injuries, traded to the loathsome Yankees, or have simply fallen off the face of the earth, there's always a player or team down on the farm to give a glimmer of hope that next year will be better.

With this in mind, here is a rundown of the playoff hopes for each of the Blue Jays minor league teams, as well as a heads up on a few players to watch for in the box scores.

Buffalo Bisons - AAA - International League

Record: 58-65

MLB.com Blue Jays Top 30 Prospects: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1), Anthony Alford (5), Reese McGuire (20), Jonathan Davis (21), Rowdy Tellez (29)

Final Game of the Regular Season: Sept. 3

Playoff Outlook: With two weeks remaining in the season, the Buffalo Bisons find themselves 15.5 games behind the division leading Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The Bisons have already been eliminated from playoff contention.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats - AA - Eastern League

Record: 68-53

MLB.com Blue Jays Top 30: Bo Bichette (2), Cavan Biggio (9), Hector Perez (11), T.J. Zeuch (15), Santiago Espinal (23), Forrest Wall (25), Jordan Romano (28)

Final Game of the Regular Season: Sept. 3

League Playoff Format: In the Eastern League, the top two teams in each division qualify for the playoffs.

Playoff Outlook: The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are close to clinching a playoff berth, although they are still in a battle for first with the Trenton Thunder. Presently, the Fisher Cats are 2.5 games ahead of the Thunder, and 10.5 games ahead of the third place Rumble Ponies.

Dunedin Blue Jays - High A - Florida State League

Record: 31-26

MLB.com Blue Jays Top 30: Nate Pearson (4)*, Kevin Smith (6), Logan Warmoth (17), Riley Adams (30)

Final Game of the Regular Season: Sept. 2

League Playoff Format: The Florida State League season is divided into two halves, with the winners of the North and South Divisions in the first half, and the winners of the North and South Divisions in the second half, reaching the playoffs.

Playoff Outlook: After missing the first half title with a slow start to the season, the Jays were in a fight for the North Division second half crown. However, upon stumbling to a 2-12 record in their past 14 games, the Jays are now 6.5 games behind the first place Clearwater Threshers.

Lansing Lugnuts - Low A - Midwest League

Record: 31-25

MLB.com Blue Jays Top 30: None. Though I'd suggest watching for Chavez Young, Samad Taylor, and Maximo Castillo

Final Game of the Regular Season: Sept. 4

Playoff Format: In the Midwest League, a total of 8 teams make the playoffs. The top two first half teams in the both divisions qualify for the playoffs, and the top two teams in the second half in both divisions qualify for the playoffs.

Playoff Outlook: The Lugnuts were the second place team in the Eastern Division in the first half, guaranteeing themselves a spot in the Midwest League playoffs.

Vancouver Canadians - Short Season Ball - Northwest League

Record: 15-9

MLB.com Blue Jays Top 30: Griffin Conine (16), Sean Wymer (26)

Final Regular Season Game: Sept. 3

League Playoff Format: Four teams in the Northwest League qualify for the playoffs. The North and South Division first half champions are guaranteed a playoff berth, as are the North and South Division second half champions.

Playoff Outlook: After mission out on the North Division first half crown by just one game to the Everett AquaSox, the Canadians currently lead the second place Spokanes by 2 games.

Bluefield Blue Jays - Rookie - Appalachian League

Record: 36-22

MLB.com Blue Jays Top 30: Eric Pardinho (7), Jordan Groshans (8)

Final Regular Season Game: Aug. 29

League Playoff Format: The Appalachian League playoff teams are determined using records from the full season. The top two teams in the East Division and the top two teams in the West Division face off in the first round of playoff action.

Playoff Outlook: The Bluefield Blue Jays are in second place in the Appalachian League East, 1.5 games behind the Princeton Rays, and 6.5 games ahead of the Danville Braves.

GCL Blue Jays - Rookie - Gulf Coast League

Record: 22-25

MLB.com Blue Jays Top 30: Miguel Hiraldo (14), Leonardo Jimenez (24)

Final Regular Season Game: Aug. 25

League Playoff Format: Four teams make the playoffs: The first half winners from each division, and the second half winners from each division.

Playoff Outlook: The GCL Blue Jays finished the first half of the season in second last place in the FSL North Division, and are at the bottom of the standings in their division for the second half, 10 games behind the GCL Tigers West. The Jays elimination number is 3.

DSL Blue Jays - Rookie - Dominican Summer League

Record: 38-27

MLB.com Blue Jays Top 30:

Final Regular Season Game: Aug. 25

League Playoff Format: Milb.com does not provide playoff procedures for the DSL, but it would appear that the top team in each division makes the playoffs.

Playoff Outlook: The DSL Blue Jays sit second in the DSL Baseball City Division, 5.5 games behind the DSL Diamondbacks1 squad. The Jays' elimination number is 2.

Editor's Note: This is a FanPost written by a reader and member of Bluebird Banter. It was not commissioned by the editors and is not necessarily reflective of the opinions of Bluebird Banter or SB Nation.