Seven things must happen for path to postseason  —  The object, former Red Sox manager Jimy Williams was fond of saying, is to play in the cold twice: once in April and once in October.  —  The Red Sox have played pretty good baseball since April and, now, with summer settling in …

Failure?  The Possibility Exists  —  It may be a fallacy, this notion that the Yankees have a mandate to win a championship every season.  For five years, they have not done it.  And what has changed?  —  Joe Torre is still the manager.  Brian Cashman is still the general manager.

Astros fire Gaetti, promote Berry from minors  —  HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros shook up their slumping offense Wednesday night by firing hitting coach Gary Gaetti.  —  The Astros have the second-worst batting average in the National League and their run totals (408) ranks 23rd in the majors.

Second half begins with a game — of 20 questions  —  PITTSBURGH — All-Star break?  What All-Star break?  —  Let's get going with the second half of the season.  You've got questions, we've got answers ...  1. Will Detroit keep playing .675 ball?  —  No. But that's not a knock on the Tigers …

This Rangers edition needs additions  —  It wasn't so much the moment when Michael Young drilled the triple into right-center field that would win the All-Star Game for the American League on Tuesday night.  —  It was a minute or two later when, the inning over, Young ran down the dugout steps …

Ruined Friendship Could Imperil Bonds  —  The former best friend and business partner of Barry Bonds has told federal investigators that Bonds was a heavy steroids user and flew into "roid rages," his lawyer, Michael Cardoza, said yesterday.  —  The man, Steve K. Hoskins, 44, of Redwood City …

Reds Bloggers Roundtable (July 2006 edition) Part I  —  It's time once again for that most celebrated of blogging traditions, the Reds bloggers roundtable.  Eight of us got together in a virtual setting on Monday night, to discuss the state of the Reds.  The parts of the discussion …

On Letterman, Mets' David has Wright stuff  —  David Wright became a baseball star in the first half of this season.  During the All-Star break he went supernova.  —  Wright capped his break, in which he finished second in the Home Run Derby, started in his first All-Star Game and hit …

Roger Clemens Award Chat: July 12  —  Moderator: The four finalists for the Roger Clemens award, given to the top college pitcher in the country, will be available to answer questions beginning at 4 p.m. ET.  Ask your questions for Rice's Eddie Degerman, Washington's Tim Lincecum …

Empirical Analysis of Bunting  —  Baseball analysts have been near universal in their condemnation of the overuse of the sacrifice bunt.  While acknowledging it as the correct strategy in a small number of cases, most feel that any gain in moving players around the bases is more than offset by giving up an out, the "clock" in baseball.

Wills advocates lost art  —  It is an old-time baseball staple that has become something of a lost art.  —  Of course, in today's modern game, there is good reason.  —  If chicks dig the long ball, they definitely don't dig the bunt.  —  Nothing glamorous about laying one down.

Big Hurt sues 2 of Sox's doctors  —  Claims foot fracture missed in diagnosis  —  Former White Sox slugger Frank Thomas alleges in a lawsuit he filed Wednesday that two of the team's doctors failed to detect he had broken his foot in 2004—an injury that subsequently led to his departure from Chicago.

Nationals Are Ready For Their Makeover  —  Team Weighing Moves Before Trade Deadline  —  The group of Washington Nationals who leave tonight for Pittsburgh and the post-all-star break portion of their season are little more than a ragtag bunch who have, by their manager's estimation, underachieved.