The Blue Jays have decided to send rookie outfielder Travis Snider to AAA to get him full time at bats. Snider played in 32 games for the Jays this season and he was 24 for 99 (.242 avg, .686 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 3 homers and 12 RBIs. Snider whiffed 25 times for the Jays but they expected that. Jose Bautista and Kevin Millar will likely both see bumps in playing time with Snider now playing in the minors. Bautista has played in 28 games this season for the Jays and he is 23 for 76 (.303 avg, .825 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 1 homer, 6 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He can handle the outfield defensively. When Adam Lind plays the outfield then Kevin Millar will get some extra P.T. Millar has played in 22 games this season for the Jays in which he is 22 for 75 (.293 avg, .809 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 3 homers and 14 RBIs. This kind of move signals that the Blue Jays think they are a legit contender in the A.L. East as they aren’t going to stick with youngsters who aren’t performing to their capabilities. Still, look for Snider to be back at some point this season for the Jays as he’s just too talented to keep on the farm.

Aaron Hill is making up for lost time. Last season he missed a large chunk of the season due to a very serious concussion. Hill has shown no signs of any problems stemming from last year’s injuries to this point. Hill has played in 45 games for the Blue Jays this season and he is 68 for 195 (.349 avg, .937 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 11 homers and 35 RBIs. The fact that Hill is hitting so many homers now shouldn’t surprise too many people as just two years ago he cracked 47 doubles and 17 homers. The Blue Jays need Hill to keep hitting like he is right now as he appears to be carrying the offense.

The Blue Jays have recalled 22-year old lefty Brett Cecil and 25-year old righty Robert Ray to replace David Purcey and Brian Burres who have both been sent to AAA. Cecil came into this season as the #3 rated prospect in the Blue Jays’ minor league system according to Baseball America. Cecil pitched in 42 games (41 starts) in his first two seasons in the minors for the Jays and he was 9-5 with a 2.41 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He also whiffed 185 batters in only 168 innings showing what kind of stuff he has. But, Cecil was off to a tough start this season for the Jays in the minors working in 4 games (all starts) at AAA in which he was 0-3 with a 8.31 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. Robert Ray has already made his major league debut earlier this week for the Jays. He worked 5 2/3 innings for the Jays allowing 4 hits, 3 earned runs, he walked 4 batters and whiffed 2. Ray has also started 2 games in A+AA ball this season in which he was 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Jays are really hoping that Cecil and Ray pitch a lot better than the demoted David Purcey and Brian Burres. Purcey started 5 games for the Jays this season and he was 0-2 with a 7.01 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. But, Purcey was way better than Burres who started 2 games for the Jays and was 0-2 with a 14.21 ERA and a 2.68 WHIP. The Jays couldn’t afford to be patient with Purcey and Burres so Cecil and Ray better pitch well early on if they want to stay in the majors.