Betting Baseball Coaching Club

Wood throws off mound, hopes to return soon
Cubs closer Kerry Wood threw off the mound Thursday in his effort to return from a pesky blister that’s turned into an open sore, a day after his manager said he wasn’t close to returning. “I’m beyond antsy,” the All-Star pitcher said. “I mean, this is the damnedest thing I’ve ever seen as far as skin. I can’t explain it. Nobody here can explain it and we’ve been to several doctors and it just hasn’t gotten any better.

Deadline buzz

Astros acquire Hawkins from Yanks
Astros acquire Hawkins from Yanks The Astros have acquired right-handed reliever LaTroy Hawkins from the New York Yankees in exchange for Matt Cusick, the Astros announced minutes before the start of their game with the Reds on Wednesday night.

Tigers send Jones to 15-day DL
Tigers send Jones to 15-day DL The Tigers placed reliever Todd Jones on the 15-day disabled list Thursday while they await test results to determine the extent of his right shoulder injury.

John Lackey nearly no-hits Red Sox in 6-2 win

John Lackey came within two outs of a no-hitter, pitching the Los Angeles Angels past the Boston Red Sox 6-2 Tuesday night on a big day for the AL West leaders.

The Cubs‘ Carlos Zambrano pitches in the Cubs‘ 7-1 win at Milwaukee.

Carlos Zambrano outpitched fellow ace Ben Sheets again, and the Cubs scored five runs in the sixth inning to beat Milwaukee, 7-1, on Tuesday night, assuring they’ll leave town leading the NL Central.

Angels beat Dice-K, win 6th straight over Red Sox

Casey Kotchman and Torii Hunter homered in a six-run sixth inning and the Los Angeles Angels improved baseball’s best record with a 7-5 win over Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.

Castellini: No order to dump big salaries

TV Online Castellini: No order to dump big salaries CEO and president says Reds have talent, offers words of praise for Dunn and Arroyo with trade deadline looming.

Yanks get Pudge Rodriguez from Tigers
The Yanks have found their replacement for Jorge Posada, acquiring Ivan Rodriguez for Kyle Farnsworth. Ken Rosenthal has the latest.

Carpenter returns to mound, helps Cards romp

Astros overtake Reds in standings

Where the Astros finish in the National League Central standings remains to be seen, but they took one small step in the right direction on Tuesday after beating the Cincinnati Reds, 6-2. The Astros overtook …

Marlins beat Mets to tighten NL East race
Even without Manny Ramirez, the Florida Marlins‘ offense is pretty potent.

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/351162169″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Bloggin’ baseball: Pirates still a ways away
Sports Weekly continues its season-long series of Q&As with bloggers who cover teams in the news. This week, we check in on the Pittsburgh Pirates, who recently traded outfielder Xavier Nady and left-handed pitcher Damaso Marte to the New York Yankees for prospects.

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/350835142″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Quentin, ChiSox rout Twins to keep Central lead

Big Z beats Sheets, Cubs take first two in Milwaukee

Carlos Zambrano figured he’d have to be perfect against fellow ace Ben Sheets . The big Cubs right-hander often is when facing the Brewers .

Castellini: No order to dump big salaries

TV Online Castellini: No order to dump big salaries CEO and president says Reds have talent, offers words of praise for Dunn and Arroyo with trade deadline looming.

Diamondbacks‘ Davis almost perfect in win over Padres
With all that Doug Davis has been through this year, a perfect game would have been quite a bonus.

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/350280068″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Fantasy spin: Yankees hope Nady is solution
The Yankees acquired Xavier Nady from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’ll play just about every day, with perhaps an occasional day off to get time for Johnny Damon in left and Jason Giambi at DH.

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/350835143″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Sandberg among 2008 AFL coaches
Sandberg among 2008 AFL coaches

Yankees get Pudge from Tigers
Yankees get Pudge from Tigers The Yankees acquired 14-time All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the Tigers on Wednesday in exchange for right-handed reliever Kyle Farnsworth.

Rays bats heat up, finish road trip right
Rays buoyed to victory in East Edwin Jackson started off with a lead Wednesday, and a two-run fourth inning sealed it for the Rays starter, as Tampa Bay took the series in Toronto with a 3-2 win.

Wade assures Tejada he won’t be dealt
Tejada assured he won’t be dealt Amid rumors that the Red Sox were contacting the Astros regarding their interest in Miguel Tejada, Houston general manager Ed Wade assured Tejada on Monday that his spot is safe.

Yanks get Pudge Rodriguez from Tigers
The Yanks have found their replacement for Jorge Posada, acquiring Ivan Rodriguez for Kyle Farnsworth. Ken Rosenthal has the latest.

Lee doubles in go-ahead run in ninth in Cubs win

Derrek Lee doubled with one out in the ninth to score Alfonso Soriano and the Chicago Cubs rallied to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-4 on Monday night to take a two-game lead in the NL Central.

Cubs looking at lefty hitters, could add Ibanez
The Cubs, trying to cover every angle in their quest to win their first World Series in 100 years, are discussing trades for a left-handed hitter, including Mariners outfielder Raul Ibanez.

Cubs take Round 1

Derrek Lee doubled with one out in the ninth to score Alfonso Soriano and the Chicago Cubs rallied to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-4 Monday night to take a two-game lead in the National League Central.

Morneau helps Twins rally to beat White Sox 6-5

Justin Morneau’s bases-clearing double capped a five-run fifth inning and helped the Twins rally from four runs down to beat the Chicago White Sox 6-5 Tuesday night.

Giants, Dodgers jolted a bit by quake
Giants, Dodgers jolted a bit by quake An earthquake rolled through the area in the late morning Tuesday but aside from a frayed nerve or two, there was no damage to Dodger Stadium and the game between the Giants and Dodgers progressed without delay.

Bats bring Bucs series victory
Bats bring Bucs series victory Another game and another come-from-behind win for the Pirates. This time, it was a 6-4 decision over the Rockies at PNC Park on Tuesday night.

Twins creep closer to White Sox
Twins creep closer to White Sox Justin Morneau’s bases-loaded, three-run double in the fifth inning completed a four-run comeback, and the Twins went on to win, 6-5. Minnesota has taken the first two games of this pivotal late-July series to pull within one-half game of the division lead.

Lackey just misses no-no; Halos cruise
Lackey just misses no-no; Halos win John Lackey, hours after the Angels acquired slugger Mark Teixeira, came within two outs of pitching the eighth no-hitter in franchise history on Tuesday night at Fenway Park in a 6-2 victory over the Red Sox.

Johnson shines in winning first LA start
Johnson shines in winning first LA start Substitute starter Jason Johnson tossed six scoreless innings and the Dodgers scored twice in a controversial sixth-inning rally for a 2-0 win over the Giants on Tuesday night.

Tigers‘ offense carries load in victory
Tigers‘ offense carries load in victory Edgar Renteria and Gary Sheffield each provided two-run doubles and Brandon Inge added an insurance two-run homer, powering the Tigers past the Indians for an 8-5 win Tuesday night at Progressive Field.

Kotchman appreciated, Teixeira lauded
Kotch appreciated, Teix lauded Casey Kotchman was one of the sparkplugs of the Angels‘ offense that has helped propel them to baseball’s best record so far. But the players agree that exchanging him for Braves first baseman Mark Teixeira was a definite upgrade.

Ichiro notches career hit No. 3,000
Ichiro notches career hit No. 3,000 Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki needed only one pitch in his first at-bat Tuesday night to get his 3,000th career professional hit.

Moreno keeps promise to Angels fans
Moreno keeps promise to fans Don’t ever say Arte Moreno doesn’t keep a promise. The owner of the Los Angeles Angels had vowed to get “an impact bat” following each of his team’s quiet exits from postseasons, and his fans patiently waited. He did with the acquisition of Mark Teixeira to help Vladimir Guerrero (pictured).

Cabrera finds groove against Yanks
Cabrera finds groove against Yanks Daniel Cabrera got the boot in the eighth for hitting Alex Rodriguez, but not before he held down the Yankees while his teammates, led by Aubrey Huff’s four RBIs, packed on enough runs for the bullpen to hang on for the O’s third straight win.

Braves ‘numb’ after losing Teixeira
Braves ‘numb’ after losing Teixeira The Braves essentially concluded the 2008 season on Tuesday by bidding adieu to Mark Teixeira, who just one year ago was considered the switch-hitting first baseman who would enhance their World Series hopes over the course of at least two seasons.

Manny not likely to wind up with Phils
Manny not likely to wind up with Phils A team source laughed at the notion that the Phillies were the “front-runner” in the sweepstakes to land the enigmatic Red Sox slugger, as reported by SI.com.

Myers masters Nats in Phillies‘ win
Myers masters Nats in Phillies‘ win Bret Myers turned in an outstanding seven-plus innings in the Phillies‘ 2-1 win over Washington at Nationals Park.

Angels flying high in Major Leagues
Angels flying high in Major Leagues The best team in baseball acquired the best position player available prior to the Trade Deadline. The Angles’ acquisition of Mark Teixeira served notice to the rest of the league that it was serious about reaching the World Series this year.

A’s impressed with Teixeira deal
A’s impressed with Teixeira deal While the A’s are in the process of getting younger and rebuilding, their neighbors to the south, the division-rival Angels, made a trade to acquire Mark Teixeira from the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. A’s players were impressed with the deal.

Dilbeck column: Jones has been a total disaster

They’re stuck now. Stuck with no place left to go, with only fingers to cross. Dodgers manager Joe Torre officially benched Andruw Jones on Sunday, pushing a sad story along its inevitable evolution.

Martinez returns to Mets after father’s funeral
Pedro Martinez was greeted with hugs and handshakes from teammates and manager Jerry Manuel in the New York Mets clubhouse Tuesday when he returned from the Dominican Republic after attending his father’s funeral. The right-hander said baseball has been an afterthought, but he’ll now make pitching a priority as he prepares to start Friday against the Houston Astros. “All the distractions were a little uncomfortable to deal with,” Martinez said, “but now I know he’s at peace.

FUNHOUSE: Ted being Ted
Manny Ramirez isn’t fan friendly, but he’s not alone. Blogger Michael Lemaire says the Splendid Splinter wasn’t always splendid.

Angels add power, nab Teixeira from Braves
A big offensive boost is headed Anaheim’s way. The Angels acquired slugger Mark Teixeira from the Braves on Tuesday.

Big names could move before deadline
Miguel Tejada. Greg Maddux. Edgar Renteria. Ken Rosenthal says major players could be moving before Thursday’s trade deadline.

Lackey loses no-hitter in 9th; Angels top BoSox

Mets‘ Maine has mild rotator cuff strain
New York Mets pitcher John Maine was diagnosed Tuesday with a mild strain in his right rotator cuff, and it’s uncertain whether he will make his next scheduled start. Maine came out of Monday night’s game at Florida after 4 1-3 innings because of pain in the back of his pitching shoulder. He returned to New York for an MRI exam, and he’ll rejoin the Mets when they arrive in Houston for a series that begins Friday. Maine’s next scheduled start is Sunday against the Astros. He is 9-7 with a 4.

Santana cruises, Mets beat Cards 9-1 to win series

Johan Santana gave the Mets exactly what they needed after a 14-inning marathon used up their bullpen. The two-time Cy Young Award winner pitched his seventh complete game, Fernando Tatis and Ramon Castro hit two-run homers and New York pounded Kyle Lohse and the St. Louis Cardinals 9-1 on Sunday to wrap up another successful homestand.

Santana (9-7) allowed six hits and a walk in winning for just the second time since June 1, a maddening stretch during which he was tagged with four losses and four no-decisions. He also scored a run and drove in another while throwing his first complete game since a shutout of the Mets on June 19, 2007, when he was with the Twins.

Rockies place Podsednik on 15-day DL
The Colorado Rockies have put outfielder Scott Podsednik on the 15-day disabled list because of a non-displaced fracture of his left pinky. The Rockies made the move Tuesday, retroactive to Monday. The team purchased the contract of outfielder Cory Sullivan in time for Tuesday night’s game against Pittsburgh. Right-handed pitcher Alberto Arias was designated for assignment. Podsednik was hitting .263 with one home run and 15 RBIs in 75 games for the Rockies with 10 stolen bases.

Phillies blast 5 homers in win

PHILADELPHIA Pat Burrell hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the fifth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies again rallied past the Atlanta Braves 12-10 on Sunday.

Yankees, Pirates finalize 6-player trade

Xavier Nady scored a run. Damaso Marte struck out David Ortiz in a key situation. And the Yankees won again.

New York finalized the trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, and Nady and Marte made their Yankees debuts in a 10-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

The former Pirates went from a team that was 48-55 and 12 games behind in the NL Central to one that is 58-45 with eight straight wins and a solid shot in the tight AL East race.

‘To be able to play for the Yankees is a big surprise for me,’ said Marte, one of the top left-handed relievers in baseball. ‘It’s exciting to be a Yankee. It’s unbelievable.’

Marlins rally to beat Mets 7-3
With another come-from-behind win, the surprising Florida Marlins are on the verge of erasing the New York Mets‘ lead in the …

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/349038661″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

David Sabino: Diamond Digits: Dog Days

Nomar Garciaparra has made a flawless return to shortstop, where he made five All-Star teams with the Red Sox from 1997-2003. AP As we enter the dog days of summer we see an old dog up to his old tricks, a …

Big Unit providing a boost, pitches D’backs past Giants
After spending the better part of July trying to climb over .500, the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks are now ensconced …

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/347944576″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

McCoy: Reds won’t trade big names at deadline

Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team.

Orioles top Angels to snap 15-game Sunday skid
The Baltimore Orioles won their first Sunday game in 15 tries to end the majors’ longest skid on one day of the week since 2004 …

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/348329124″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Jays’ Burnett matches career high with 12th win
A.J. Burnett matched a career-high with his 12th win, Matt Stairs hit a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa …

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/349012507″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

What a relief: No deals are necessary for some contenders
As teams scramble to fill a perpetual need for relief pitching before Thursday’s non-waiver trade deadline, some contenders have …

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/349049042″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Tigers‘ season gets to a crucial series

DETROIT - With a 52-49 record, the Tigers are further above .500 than at any other time this season.

Indians starter mows down Detroit hitters Box Score

The nine men who made up Tigers manager Jim Leyland’s batting order last night were collectively batting .300 against Indians starter Paul Byrd.

Jays’ Burnett matches career high with 12th win
A.J. Burnett matched a career-high with his 12th win, Matt Stairs hit a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa …

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/349012507″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Dye goes yard to help White Sox rally past Tigers in ninth

Jermaine Dye downplayed the importance of the Chicago White Sox - Detroit Tigers series before it started, saying it was too early.

Dye goes yard to help White Sox rally past Tigers in ninth

Jermaine Dye downplayed the importance of the Chicago White Sox - Detroit Tigers series before it started, saying it was too early.

Span’s homer, Slowey’s shutout spur Twins past Sox

Kevin Slowey pitched a six-hitter, Denard Span hit his first major league home run and the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 7-0 on Monday night - striking first in this key AL Central series.

Dye goes yard to help White Sox rally past Tigers in ninth

Jermaine Dye downplayed the importance of the Chicago White Sox - Detroit Tigers series before it started, saying it was too early.

A’s done in by Royals, continue July swoon

A lack of offense wasn’t the main reason the A’s lost two of three games in their just-completed series with the Texas Rangers.

Lackey’s feeling it

Marathoners have the “wall.” Pitchers have the “dead-arm” phase. “I think most guys go through it,” Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher said.

Patterson gets shot at A’s leadoff spot

The A’s are giving another young player a look at the big league level, promoting utility Eric Patterson from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday.

Familiar feeling for Rockies

The Colorado Rockies are getting that look again. Garrett Atkins and Jeff Baker homered and drove in three runs, Ubaldo Jimenez turned in another terrific start and the Rockies pounded the Cincinnati Reds 11-0 …

Yanks C Posada opts for season-ending surgery

Jorge Posada will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, ending his attempt to return to the New York Yankees ‘ lineup for the team’s playoff push.

Twins score twice in 9th, rally past Indians 4-2

Justin Morneau decided he needed to try something different if he was going to get a hit off Rafael Perez.

Kansas City tops Tampa Bay

Billy Butler homered and drove in four runs, Kyle Davies picked up his first victory in more than a month and Kansas City beat Tampa Bay to salvage a split of their four-game series.

Angels beat Dice-K, win 6th straight over Red Sox

Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka delivers in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels during their MLB baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Monday, July 28, 2008.

Amid Manny Circus, Sox Welcome Angels To Town

While one ballclub has its respective division pretty much locked up, the other is still battling for positioning.

Lackey’s feeling it

Marathoners have the “wall.” Pitchers have the “dead-arm” phase. “I think most guys go through it,” Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher said.

Johnson pitches D-backs into San Francisco sweep

Randy Johnson tossed seven shutout innings to win his fourth straight start and the Arizona Diamondbacks completed their first sweep in San Francisco in seven years, beating the Giants 7-2 on Sunday.

Mariners end their losing streak and Jays win streak with 5-1 victory

Shaun Marcum worked through the Seattle Mariners unscathed for five innings before the wheels fell off in the sixth.

Patterson gets shot at A’s leadoff spot

The A’s are giving another young player a look at the big league level, promoting utility Eric Patterson from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday.

Padres‘ Maddux finally gets 351st win (AP)

If this was Greg Maddux’s last start with the San Diego Padres, he went out with his hard-earned 351st career victory and some love from the fans. Maddux beat Micah Owings and the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-5 on Monday night, snapping a career-worst, 14-start winless streak and passing Hall of Famer Phil Niekro for 10th place on the all-time strikeout list.

Posada to have season-ending surgery (AP)
If the New York Yankees are going to earn a 14th consecutive playoff berth, they’ll have to do it without Jorge Posada. The five-time All-Star catcher will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, ending his attempt to return to the lineup for New York’s postseason push. Posada has struggled with shoulder pain most of the season, weakening his throws and limiting his playing time behind…

Rangers SS Young fractures ring finger (AP)
Rangers All-Star shortstop Michael Young could miss up to a week after suffering a small fracture in his right ring finger Monday night against the Seattle Mariners. The team said Young is expected to be out of the lineup five to seven days. X-rays confirmed the fracture and he will be re-evaluated by doctors later in the week.

Angels beat Dice-K, win 6th straight over Red Sox

Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka delivers in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels during their MLB baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Monday, July 28, 2008.

Blake heads west in hurry

How anxious was Casey Blake to join the Dodgers? After being told of the trade, Blake flew across the country Saturday and was in the Dodgers‘ starting lineup, wearing uniform number 30, batting sixth, and …

Mad Dog Maddux finally gets career win No. 351

In Greg Maddux’s brilliant career, no win was harder to get than No. 351. Backed by big home runs by Khalil Greene and rookie Nick Hundley, the 42-year-old Maddux snapped a career-high, 14-start winless streak …

Twins score twice in 9th, rally past Indians 4-2

Justin Morneau decided he needed to try something different if he was going to get a hit off Rafael Perez.

Kansas City tops Tampa Bay

Billy Butler homered and drove in four runs, Kyle Davies picked up his first victory in more than a month and Kansas City beat Tampa Bay to salvage a split of their four-game series.

Yanks C Posada opts for season-ending surgery

Jorge Posada will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, ending his attempt to return to the New York Yankees ‘ lineup for the team’s playoff push.

Amid Manny Circus, Sox Welcome Angels To Town

While one ballclub has its respective division pretty much locked up, the other is still battling for positioning.

Byrd helps Indians shut down Tigers 5-0 (AP)

Paul Byrd pitched into the eighth inning and combined with Edward Mujica on a four-hitter, sending the Cleveland Indians to a 5-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night. Byrd (5-10) gave up four hits over 7 2-3 innings and didn’t allow a runner past second base. The right-hander struck out four, walked three and earned his second straight win after going 1-7 over a stretch of 10 starts.

Posada to have season-ending surgery (AP)
If the New York Yankees are going to earn a 14th consecutive playoff berth, they’ll have to do it without Jorge Posada. The five-time All-Star catcher will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, ending his attempt to return to the lineup for New York’s postseason push. Posada has struggled with shoulder pain most of the season, weakening his throws and limiting his playing time behind…

Short-handed Braves fall to Cards 12-3 (AP)

Albert Pujols drove in three runs, Braden Looper won for the first time in six starts and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the injury-riddled Atlanta Braves 12-3 Monday night. Joe Mather went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs for St. Louis, which had lost six of seven. Ryan Ludwick also drove in two runs. The Braves, struggling to stay in contention in the NL East, lost their third straight game on the…

Burnett wins 12th, staying with Jays (AP)

A.J. Burnett is off the trade market, and he’s just fine with it. So are the Toronto Blue Jays, who hope Burnett can pitch them into contention. Burnett (12-9) matched his career-high in wins, Matt Stairs hit a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays won for the sixth time in seven games Monday, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1.

Oswalt activated, will start Monday (AP)
The Astros activated ace Roy Oswalt from the 15-day disabled list and planned to start him Monday night against Cincinnati. Houston optioned right-hander Runelvys Hernandez to Triple-A Round Rock. Oswalt (7-8, 4.56 ERA) had not started since July 11 at Washington, when he re-aggravated a hip strain and left after one inning.

Angels use 6-run 6th to beat Red Sox 7-5 (AP)

Casey Kotchman and Torii Hunter homered in a six-run sixth inning and the Los Angeles Angels improved baseball’s best record with a 7-5 win over Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Sox on Monday night. Kotchman’s two-run homer gave the Angels a 3-2 lead. Hunter’s three-run shot drove Matsuzaka (11-2) from the game and equaled the total number of runs he had allowed in his previous five starts.

Gossage, Dick Williams join Hall of Fame (AP)

Even after his induction was complete and the crowd had wandered off, Rich “Goose” Gossage was still trying to come to grips with his new status as a Hall of Famer. “I still have to pinch myself to realize that I’ve had the type of career I’ve had,” said Gossage, after becoming just the fifth reliever enshrined at Cooperstown.

Losing at the numbers game

The speed gun flashed ”99” on one of newcomer Jeff Samardzija’s pitches Friday, a ringing number for the latest Cubs pitcher to make his debut this season.

Former A’s manager Williams entering Hall of Fame

That can’t be Dick Williams. No way. Look at that bobblehead, with no hint of white hair under the cap or on the mustache.

Ramirez, Ortiz lead 15-hit attack as Sox take finale
The David Ortiz-Manny Ramirez combo struck again though for the first time in a while shifting the focus from Ramirez’s talk about being traded by the Red Sox and helping to end the Yankees‘ eight-game winning streak with a 9-2 victory Sunday night.

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/348026897″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Rockies down Reds

From top to bottom, the Colorado Rockies‘ lineup is making up for lost time. Colorado piled up 15 hits in less than five innings off Homer Bailey, another offensive splurge that sent Jorge De La Rosa and the …

Webb leads D’Backs against Lincecum, Giants

A solid pitching matchup is on tap for tonight, when Brandon Webb leads the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks against Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants in the second test of a three-game series from …

Red-hot since trade, Sabathia takes aim at Cubs
The Milwaukee Brewers hope to continue reaping the benefits of early shopping Monday night.

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/348026900″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Braun propels Brewers into NL Central tie

Ryan Braun homered and drove in four runs, Bill Hall hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers grabbed a share of the NL Central lead with a 6-4 victory over the Houston Astros …

Ramirez would agree to trade, sees it as unlikely
Manny Ramirez would agree to a trade that would make both him and the Boston Red Sox happy, but said he doesn’t think the team will deal him. Four days before the non-waiver trading deadline, Ramirez said Sunday, “I’m tired of them. They’re tired of me.” The Red Sox have a $20 million option on him for next year. He spoke for less than two minutes in Boston’s clubhouse before the game with the New York Yankees.

Big Unit providing a boost, pitches D’backs past Giants
After spending the better part of July trying to climb over .500, the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks are now ensconced two games above the break-even mark, thanks to a weekend sweep of the San Francisco Giants.

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/348026899″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Yankees, Pirates finalize 6-player trade

Xavier Nady scored a run. Damaso Marte struck out David Ortiz in a key situation. And the Yankees won again.

New York finalized the trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, and Nady and Marte made their Yankees debuts in a 10-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

The former Pirates went from a team that was 48-55 and 12 games behind in the NL Central to one that is 58-45 with eight straight wins and a solid shot in the tight AL East race.

‘To be able to play for the Yankees is a big surprise for me,’ said Marte, one of the top left-handed relievers in baseball. ‘It’s exciting to be a Yankee. It’s unbelievable.’

Braun blasts Brewers past Astros, into tie atop NL Central
Ryan Braun homered and drove in four runs, Bill Hall hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers …

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/347104783″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Pitcher charged with assault gets released from jail
Peoria Chiefs pitcher Julio Castillo was released from jail Saturday, one day after he was arraigned on a charge of felonious assault for hitting a fan in the head with a thrown baseball.

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/347146979″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Rodney takes over closing duties
Rodney takes over closing duties While the Tigers continue to look for bullpen help, they made a major internal change in the relief corps on Sunday. Fernando Rodney has replaced Todd Jones as Detroit’s closer for the time being.

Braun excelling at plate, in field
Braun excelling at plate, in field Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun has lived up to expectations with the bat, including a recent surge of late-inning home runs that have played greatly in Milwaukee’s recent winning ways. Such heroics have completely obscured Braun’s acclimation on the other side of the ball.

Complete Trade Deadline coverage

Pedro may return next weekend
Pedro may return next weekend After Saturday’s 14-inning affair, the Mets‘ pitching staff was overtaxed. But it could get a boost with the return of Pedro Martinez.

Dodgers activate Sweeney from DL
Dodgers activate Sweeney from DL The Dodgers activated pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney from the disabled list prior to Sunday’s game against the Nationals and optioned infielder Andy LaRoche to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Gossage, Williams represent throwback era at Hall induction
Rich “Goose” Gossage and Dick Williams, one playing and the other managing in an era where hatred was real and intimidation was a vital part of the game, represented old-school baseball Sunday at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/347787807″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Leyland showing faith in Granderson
Leyland showing faith in Granderson If the Tigers rebound from their slow start and make the postseason, it will materialize with Curtis Granderson leading the charge from the leadoff spot — regardless of the opposing pitcher.

Dempster impressed by Marlins
Dempster impressed by Marlins Former Marlins Opening Day starter Ryan Dempster, who is now an All-Star with the Cubs, has been impressed by Florida’s young starters.

Emotions high for Williams, Gossage
Emotions high for Williams, Gossage Dick Williams and Rich “Goose” Gossage said their primary concern for Sunday’s induction ceremony at the National Hall of Fame is to keep their emotions in check.

D-backs’ bats awaken to sink Giants
D-backs’ bats awaken to sink Giants The D-backs rallied for three runs in the eighth inning to beat the Giants, 5-3, Saturday night in front of 37,094 at AT&T Park.

Hafner’s transfer a procedural move
Hafner’s DL transfer a procedural move Travis Hafner’s move from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list Saturday is no cause to panic. Pronk’s prognosis is still the same. Simply put, general manager Mark Shapiro said, it was a “paper move.”

Hunter hammers O’s in Angels victory
Hunter hammers O’s in Angels victory The Angels defeated the Orioles, 11-6, on Saturday, backed by two home runs from Torii Hunter and shots from Casey Kotchman and Juan Rivera. Jon Garland earned the win.

Man falls from escalator at Shea
Man falls from escalator at Shea A man was seriously injured after falling more than 25 feet off a Shea Stadium escalator on Saturday night, the Mets announced, and was taken to an area hospital.

Dodgers acquire 3B Blake from Indians (AP)

Looking for an upgrade at third base as they make a push for the playoffs, the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Casey Blake from the Cleveland Indians for two minor leaguers Saturday. The Indians, who also sent cash to the Dodgers as part of the trade, received catcher Carlos Santana and right-hander Jonathan Meloan.

Williams reflects on interesting career
Williams reflects on interesting career As Goose Goosage was answering a question at Saturday’s press conference, a cell phone rang. It happened to belong to the person sitting next to him, Dick Williams, who will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday along with Gossage.

Padres use home run barrage in win
Padres use home run barrage in win The Padres offense pounced on Pirates starter John Van Benschoten on their way to a 9-6 win over the home team on Saturday night.

Gossage anticipates emotional day
Gossage anticipates emotional day As his induction into the Hall of Fame neared, Rich Gossage talked incessantly about his expectations that it would be an emotional day and his hopes of being able to maintain his composure.

New Yankee Nady in lineup vs. Sox
New Yankee Nady in lineup vs. Sox The Yankees completed their trade for outfielder Xavier Nady and left-handed reliever Damaso Marte on Saturday, immediately inserting Nady into New York’s lineup for an afternoon game at Fenway Park.

Lowe shuts down Nationals
Lowe shuts down Nationals Derek Lowe tossed eight one-hit innings while Matt Kemp and Nomar Garciaparra homered off former Dodgers pitcher Odalis Perez in a 6-0 win over the Nationals Saturday night.

Manny back in lineup against Yankees
Manny back in lineup against Yankees With controversy swirling in the air — as it often does around Manny Ramirez — the Red Sox’s left fielder pronounced himself fit to play on Saturday after missing the last two games with right knee soreness.

Pujols’ 14th-inning long ball beats Mets
Pujols’ 14th-inning homer wins it Albert Pujols’ two-run shot off Aaron Heilman in the 14th inning gave the Cardinals a 10-8 win over the Mets at Shea Stadium on Saturday night.

Complete Trade Deadline coverage

Dye goes yard to help White Sox rally past Tigers

Jermaine Dye downplayed the importance of the Chicago White Sox - Detroit Tigers series before it started, saying it was too early.

Indians acquire Reyes from Cardinals
Indians acquire Reyes from Cardinals After trading Casey Blake to the Dodgers for two Minor League prospects, the Indians acquired right-handed reliever Anthony Reyes from the Cardinals in exchange for Double-A Akron reliever Luis Perdomo.

Pitcher charged with felony assault after minor league brawl
A minor league pitcher accused of throwing a ball that hit a fan during a bench-clearing brawl was charged with felonious assault. …

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/346808507″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Dodgers acquire Casey Blake from Indians

The Cleveland Indians have traded third baseman Casey Blake and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor leaguers, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Dodgers hope to keep pace in series with Nationals

The Los Angeles Dodgers will try to stay within striking distance of the top spot in the National League West when they open a three- game series with the Washington Nationals this evening at Dodger Stadium.

Pelfrey, Delgado lead first-place Mets past Cards
Mike Pelfrey looks nearly unbeatable right now, and so do the New York Mets.

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/346279376″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Hamilton, Davis rally Rangers to rout of A’s
Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer to reach 100 RBI for the season and the Texas Rangers overcame a five-run deficit to beat the …

MlbAl-TopStories/~4/346360678″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Sports spat letters

The Giants aren’t going anywhere. They should put Tim Lincecum on the trading block.

Top Marlins

Despite a number of key injuries, manager Lou Piniella and the Chicago Cubs have found a way to stay on top of the NL Central.

Braun’s homer in 9th leads Brewers to 4-3 win

Ryan Braun and the Milwaukee Brewers are on quite a roll. The left fielder hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to cap his second straight four-hit game and lift Milwaukee to a 4-3 victory over …

Mets win, extend East lead to 2 games (AP)

Mike Pelfrey looks nearly unbeatable right now, and so do the New York Mets. Pelfrey won his seventh consecutive decision and Carlos Delgado homered again, sending the NL East leaders to a 7-2 victory over the slumping St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. Jose Reyes added a two-run triple and Endy Chavez had four hits for the surging Mets, who have won 14 of 17.

Diamondbacks-Giants Preview

The Arizona Diamondbacks are atop the NL West, but that could quickly change. They open a 10-game road trip against division opponents with a three-game set versus the San Francisco Giants on Friday.

Athletics host Rangers in battle for 2nd place in AL West

A battle for second place in the American League West begins tonight at Oakland’s McAfee Coliseum, where the Athletics take on the hard-hitting Texas Rangers in the first of three consecutive clashes.

Surgery to end season for Jays’ McGowan (AP)
Blue Jays right-hander Dustin McGowan will have season-ending surgery Thursday to repair fraying of the labrum in his shoulder. McGowan, who is 6-7 with a 4.37 ERA in 19 starts, has not pitched since leaving a July 8 game against Baltimore after four innings, saying that the ongoing pain had become too much to bear.

Johnson’s grand slam helps Cubs win series finale over D’backs

Reed Johnson had three hits, including a grand slam in the eighth, and the Chicago Cubs routed the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-6 on Wednesday night.

Stumbling Phils return home to battle Braves

Philadelphia just dropped two of three to the New York Mets to lose control of the NL East lead and is 1-4 over its last five games.

Diamondbacks-Giants Preview

The Arizona Diamondbacks are atop the NL West, but that could quickly change. They open a 10-game road trip against division opponents with a three-game set versus the San Francisco Giants on Friday.

American League Angels score 14, lead West by 10

Jeff Mathis had four hits with a career-high six RBIs, including his first grand slam in the majors, and Casey Kotchman had a career-best five hits for the AL West-leading Angels in a 14-11 victory over the …

Yankees acquire Nady, Marte from Pirates

The New York Yankees got a win over their biggest rival, and two of the most coveted players on the trade market.

These teams have hard decisions to make
Some teams have a dilemma on their hands as the deadline approaches. Dugout Central is here to help with these suggestions.

Hamilton reaches 100 RBIs, Rangers win (AP)

Josh Hamilton piled up RBIs throughout the first half and reached 100 for the first time in his career Friday night. The Texas Rangers slugger is ready to add to his impressive total, too. Hamilton hit a two-run homer to reach the century mark in his 99th game of the season and Texas overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Oakland Athletics 14-6.

Lee earns 14th win, Indians top Twins (AP)

Cliff Lee’s season of redemption rolls on. Lee, who at this time one year ago was packing his bags for the minor leagues, stayed on pace to become Cleveland’s first 20-game winner in 34 years and the Indians ended an eight-game losing streak inside the AL Central by holding off the slumping Minnesota Twins 5-4 on Friday night.

Astros snap Brewers’ 8-game win streak (AP)

Wandy Rodriguez gave up only one run to the Milwaukee Brewers over six innings. Houston’s bullpen was even better the rest of the way. Rodriguez dominated the Milwaukee’s potent lineup before turning it over to the bullpen, and Houston snapped the Brewers‘ eight-game winning streak with a 3-1 victory Friday night.

Mets win, extend East lead to 2 games (AP)

Mike Pelfrey looks nearly unbeatable right now, and so do the New York Mets. Pelfrey won his seventh consecutive decision and Carlos Delgado homered again, sending the NL East leaders to a 7-2 victory over the slumping St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. Jose Reyes added a two-run triple and Endy Chavez had four hits for the surging Mets, who have won 14 of 17.

Yankees acquire Nady, Marte from Pirates (AP)
The New York Yankees got a win over their biggest rival, and two of the most coveted players on the trade market. Not a bad way to begin the weekend. Stocking up for a run at the pennant in their final 60 games, the Yankees acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and left-hander Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates and beat the Boston Red Sox 1-0 Friday night for their seventh straight win.

White Sox beat Tigers on Dye’s HR in 9th (AP)

Jermaine Dye downplayed the importance of the Chicago White Sox-Detroit Tigers series before it started, saying it was too early. Dye changed his tune a bit after hitting a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift Chicago to a 6-5 win over Detroit on Friday night. “A big game for them getting back into the race and we stole one,” Dye said.