Under The Knife  —  I'm hitting the road for the rest of the week, another in my summer travels.  UTK continues, due to the magic of the internet.  So let's get right to this today—no long intro and not even a powered by.  Just injuries:  — This is one you do not want to see, especially if you're a Twins fan.

Cirillo suggests balls at Coors Field waterlogged  —  DENVER — Illegal, waterlogged baseballs are the real reason runs are harder to come by at Coors Field nowadays, Milwaukee infielder Jeff Cirillo suggested Tuesday.  —  Cirillo said that on Monday he compared a baseball from Milwaukee …

Sheffield willing to switch to first with Abreu's arrival  —  NEW YORK — Gary Sheffield embraced Bobby Abreu's arrival with the New York Yankees, saying he would shift to first base if needed.  —  "I gave him a hug.  I wanted him to feel welcome," Sheffield said Tuesday after Abreu reported …

Sox can't catch a break  —  They lose to Indians — and also will lose Varitek, who needs knee surgery  —  There's a vacancy sign on the captain's chair in the Red Sox clubhouse.  That doesn't bode well for them on a night when they lost, 6-3, to the Cleveland Indians and fell into a virtual tie …

48 Responses to "Tommy Not So Terrific"  —  I think, maybe, you send Tom on vacation for a week or two.  I'm FAR more interested in watching Pelfrey and Maine pitch than I am Tommy at this point.  The rest couldn't do him any worse than throwing him out to be slaughtered.  —  Very true.

Ramirez outta here?  —  Internet report suggests he could opt out of contract  —  The Cubs weren't worried about an Internet report that said the organization has received "indications" Aramis Ramirez will opt to become a free agent in November, though the possibility exists Ramirez could leave.

For Cuban Players, a Waiting Game  —  The sports agent Gus Dominguez, who has represented 38 Cuban defectors, sees a better day coming for baseball players on the island now that an ailing Fidel Castro has ceded power to his brother Raúl after more than four and a half decades of restrictive rule.

Dukes Heads Home  —  As the Devil Rays' world turned this week, it looked like the news would be good for the talented prospects at Triple-A Durham, with B.J. Upton getting his long-awaited promotion to the big leagues.  —  It didn't take long for things to turn sour again, however …

Prospectus Hit List  —  Rk  —  Team  —  Overall W-L  —  Week W-L  —  Hit List Factor  —  Trend  —  Another sweet week for the Tigers as they pad their lead by two more games; their Postseason Odds are at 97.8 percent.  Still, it's an underwhelming deadline as they come away with just the requisite lefty bat in Sean Casey.

Where are the fans?  —  Despite success, attendance jump is small  —  The Reds begin a 10-game homestand tonight, leading the National League wild card race by 1 game and on track for their first winning season since 2000.  —  But while the team's unexpected success has resulted …

USC's Brandon Ting tested positive for steroids  —  USC safety Brandon Ting tested positive for steroids last winter and would have been ineligible this season before deciding to quit the football team with his twin brother, Ryan, according to multiple sources.

Should We Be Blaming Sanchez?  —  Chris Mad Dog Russo is going off on WFAN about Duaner Sanchez's decision to go out at 2 am to get food and later suffering a season ending accident.  —  I really can't believe what I'm hearing-maybe young guys do look for trouble, I did when I was in my 20s.

Familiar Faces Lift Nationals Past S.F.  —  After Deadline, Team Makes Do: Nationals 4, Giants 1  —  Livan Hernandez used to do this all the time.  He pitched seven innings every time out, baffled batters with his ridiculously slow curveball, shrugged his shoulders as he walked off the mound, as if to say, "Hit that!"