Sal Fasano will punch you, fine you and take your iPad after checking your "Face Book"

The Sons of Sal can't say "swag," either, but that's old news as we talked about in this interview. This list is posted in the clubhouse, near the food spread and on the bulletin board for everyone to see. If you ever wondered about player expectations here in Double-A -- and the evolving landscape of social media facing today's athletes -- the Fasano Edict pretty much covers everything. At least the important stuff. Tonight's music selection was up to Chad Jenkins. Personally, I think it's a pretty good list, though we need some clarification on facial hair (Sal Fasano Bobble Stache Night is June 24). Others on Twitter seem to love it. Click on the picture to enlarge:

Thursday night notes

RHP Sam Dyson hit 97-mph on Wednesday, the hardest pitch thrown by a Fisher Cat all season. RHP Chad Jenkins (disabled list) will throw one more bullpen session and likely return to the starting rotation. Said his arm felt great after yesterday's 'pen. What was the issue? "Probably just me freaking out. I was a little extra sore after one start and got a little nervous. I guess I just needed some rest," Jenkins said ... Switch-hitter Mike McDade homered from both sides of the plate in Wednesday's doubleheader. That was an ugly day for the Fisher Cats, swept by Portland. The Fisher Cats could have won the first game but somehow John Tolisano didn't score from first base (with two outs) on a high fly ball to CF that surprisingly dropped. McDade walzed into second base for a double. Tolisano only made it to third. Sal Fasano on the play: "He was running hard. It wasn't really high enough to get from first to home. By the time it dropped and bounced right into the center fielder's hands, John was just getting to third. It was a tough one because it was only a 150-foot throw by that time. We made more mistakes early in the game."


Brian Bocock was thrown at home plate after Fasano got too aggressive in the third-base coaching box. "With Bocock, I probably should have held him. And (Brad) Glenn not scoring on a ball hit off the wall by (Brian) Jeroloman. A lot of things could have gone better. Bad first game," Fasano said after the 7-6 loss to Portland ... Fasano has done a poor job managing and motivating this team. I've never seen so many Fisher Cats not run hard to first base on routine grounders and pop fly balls. 

Sal Fasano talks development, swag

Sal Fasano: "In the developmental ranks, you hope to have interchangeable parts because you’re going to need 40 or more guys to win. It’s a never-ending process of trying to get players to fill in, execute and have success.”

Fisher Kitties are on the bus

Fisher Cats owner Art Solomon will say a few words and the 2011 Eastern League championship banner will be unfurled at the team's home opener Thursday night. NH went 3-3 on the trip to Trenton and Reading. A.J. Jimenez threw out 4 of 5 base stealers (I just hate saying "would-be base stealers") and picked off a runner. My story on A.J. here. Brad Glenn hammered the team's first homer of the season, and my 7-year-old old predicts Glenn will lead the Fisher Cats in HRs this season. It's Chad Jenkins vs. Jason Marquis in the lid-lifter at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. NH manager Sal Fasano is the "Man Behind the Mustache," a great headline written by colleague C.J. McCarthy.

"The first part of the year is always fun because you always feel like you have a chance to get kids better, get them to the big leagues and develop them the way you think they should be -- and hopefully win a championship at the end of the year. It's the best time of the year for me," Fasano said.

Looking back at 2011

Today we're reflecting on the 2011 baseball season, a year of the mustache (Sal Fasano), the masher (Jose Bautista) and the misfits (Toronto's bullpen). Did you know the Blue Jays had the worst save percentage in the AL? The 'pen blew 25 of 58 save opportunities, including a fivespot from Jon Rauch. 


At Double-A, the Fisher Cats welcomed Fasano, whose team posted a 77-65 record and proceeded to beat Reading and Richmond in the postseason. Fasano's first Double-A victory went down in history, filed under bizarre and unbelievable. NH and Trenton, after combining for 13 errors in two games, kept fans guessing when switch-hitter John Tolisano faced switch-pitcher Pat Venditte with the game on the line. Tolisano, batting right-handed, jumped on Venditte's lefty fastball and nearly homered to left field for an 8-7 walk-off win. Venditte threw both left-handed and right-handed in the ninth inning. Switch-hitting Mike McDade doubled and scored the winning run.

Fear the 'Stache. All Sal Fasano does is win championships in Double-A.

"You might want to look that one up," Fasano said. "I remember Greg Harris for Boston could pitch with both hands, but I don't know if he ever won or lost a game against a switch-hitter. That's quite a story."

Blue Jays minor-league staffers in limbo

The whole Red Sox managerial search, which has been a complete debacle, has left a ripple effect throughout Toronto's farm system. Tory Lovullo remains a longshot to succeed Terry Francona in Boston, but until the Sox hire a manager, the Jays don't know if they'll need to replace Lovullo as first-base coach. Also, if Gene Lamont gets the job, Lovullo may join him as bench coach. Anyway, the inside word is that Bobby Valentine is the Red Sox ownership's choice.

Meanwhile, Sal Fasano and others don't have their assignments for 2012. The Double-A Fisher Cats manager won't be named for at least another week, though Sal is the logical choice to return if he doesn't move up. New Hampshire's pitching coach will be Tom Signore, who joined the Fisher Cats in 2009-10 before a stint in Vegas.

Monday Blue Jays Notebook

     I have a hunch the Red Sox will hire Dale Sveum as their next manager, and the highly respected Torey Lovullo will stay with the Blue Jays in a coaching capacity. I would expect Sal Fasano to return as manager of the Double-A Fisher Cats, though the Blue Jays and Sal himself tell me nothing has been finalized. The New Hampshire club does need a new pitching coach since Pete Walker will be the Jays' bullpen coach in 2012. Perhaps Tom Signore returns to Double-A to guide the Jays' top prospects. "Siggy" did excellent work with Kyle Drabek, Luis Perez, Marc Rzepczynski and others in 2010.


     Elite prospect Drew Hutchison is working out four days per week at Toronto's minor-league complex in Dunedin, Fla. Asked about one area of improvement for Hutch in 2012, he said, "Just try to get my slider more consistent every time out."

Drew Hutchison made a big impression at Double-A, going 3-0 (1.20 ERA) with 21 strikeouts and two walks. MiLB photo

      Southpaw reliever Frank Gailey, who held lefty batters to a .131 average at Single-A, continues to work on his bread-and-butter: swooping breaking balls and sneaky fastballs from a lower arm slot. "To me, that's the one thing I'm working on, a lower-arm slot. I have to learn it able be able to throw all my pitches from there, anytime, for strikes and prove I'm the guy to put in there in all key situations," Gailey said.


     RHP Nestor Molina looks to crack the Toronto rotation. He will. Full disclosure: love this kid. His stuff is electric. Great personality. Positive influence on everyone around him. And you know what else? He always says "Thank you for the interview" after talking with him. 


     "I'm going to try and do my best. Not going to change anything and work hard and try to get my best pitches. I don't think I need to change anything because I had a good season last year doing my things," said Molina, whose numbers were ridiculous at AA: 1 ER through 22 IP, 33K, 2W.