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This is an article that focuses on the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team and how they are finding talented players in the minor league system. April afternoon at the ballpark in Syracuse, N.Y., Russ Adams did what he was supposed to do. It's all part of the plan laid out by the team's general manager, J.P. Ricciardi(J.P. Ricciardi): building a farm system on smart draft choices and not breaking the bank in the process. With a payroll hovering around US $50 million a year, Toronto is like a four-cylinder Honda pitted against a couple of NASCAR heavies: the Boston Red Sox with a US $127-million payroll, and the New York Yankees with US $184 million. The Blue Jays have taken that strategy further, focusing on drafting solid college players rather than high-school phenoms to fill their minor league rosters. Sitting in the dugout while the steady thwack of batting practice balls ricocheted around the near-empty Syracuse stadium, Bush, 24, credited his college years with helping him cope with the pressures of pro ball.

Profiles John Kuhn, the president, general manager and part-owner of the London (Ontario) Werewolves professional minor league baseball club. Examples of the marketing ideas that Kuhn has come up with to get people interested in minor league games; Success of Kuhn's marketing gimmicks.

Examines how Ottawa, Ontario fans are embracing minor-league baseball. Popularity of the Ottawa Lynx baseball club, the Montreal Expos' Triple A affiliate; Choice of the `Lynx' name; Lynx management strategies; Question of how Lynx can carry their success into the future.

Highlights the Ottawa Lynx Triple-A baseball team, owned by local businessman Howard Darwin, which plays in an open stadium in Ottawa before an average of more than 9,300 fans. The costliest ticket is $8.40, the stadium has great sightlines and real grass, and the ball players are approachable and nice. Different kinds of people in the city; Organist a newspaper columnist who plays what sounds like roller-rink arrangements; Minor league baseball in other Canadian cities.