Red Sox ask MLB to sub Youkilis for Ortiz on ballot … The Boston Red Sox have asked Major League Baseball to substitute hot-hitting Kevin Youkilis for David Ortiz as the team's first base entrant on the All-Star ballot distributed to other players, a gesture meant to help Youkilis' chances to help make the American League squad.

Patterson Is Still Getting Up to Speed  —  When Washington Nationals right-hander John Patterson returns from the disabled list — and there is no set timetable for such an event — he might do so as a different pitcher.  Patterson, who threw a bullpen session Tuesday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards …

Are Dunn's days with Reds numbered?  —  CINCINNATI — First baseman Joey Votto is learning left field at Class AAA Louisville.  Coincidence?  Who believes in coincidence?  —  The annual Adam Dunn trade rumor is circulating baseball this week.  Isn't he a left fielder?  —  "Unofficially?

Player Profile  —  Bobby Crosby  —  Bobby Crosby had some big shoes to fill when he was first brought up to the Athletics to take over at shortstop.  Miguel Tejada—the Most Valuable Player award winner and a productive player for Oakland over the years—had jumped ship to sign with Baltimore …

Cubs send Murton down, call Rapada  —  Outfielder needs regular at-bats; lefty should stabilize bullpen  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs called up reinforcements for the bullpen, adding left-hander Clay Rapada on Wednesday and sending outfielder Matt Murton to Triple-A Iowa where he should get some regular playing time.

Cubs end Mariners' five-game win streak  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Sean Marshall pitched eight strong innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat Seattle 3-2 on Wednesday night to snap the Mariners' season-high five-game win streak.  —  Mike Fontenot's two-run single with the bases-loaded in the fifth broke a 1-1 tie …

No help in sight for Seattle bullpen  —  The Mariners apparently will go with what they have Wednesday night in Chicago.  —  One night after using six of the seven members of an already weary bullpen to cover the final seven innings of a 13-inning 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs …

A's GM Beane gets seven-year extension  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Athletics general manager Billy Beane, the architect behind Oakland's four division titles since 2000, was rewarded with a seven-year contract extension Wednesday.  —  Team president Michael Crowley also received …

Verlander, at only 24, achieving greatness … Baseball news travels quickly in this age of cell phones and text messaging.  J.J. Hardy's lazy fly ball had barely settled into Magglio Ordonez's glove late Tuesday night when word of Justin Verlander's no-hit, 12-strikeout masterpiece …

Your Mostly Arbitrary Guide to The AL All-Star Ballot  —  It's that time of year again.  The season is more than a third over, the parks are crowded with sunbathers, the days are long, Roger Clemens is back in his firmament, and the smell of garbage has begun to drown out the smell of urine over on 7th Ave.

Crasnick: Starting 9 of needs for contenders  —  A power hitter.  A starting pitcher.  Bullpen help.  With the July 31 trading deadline slowly approaching, several contending teams need to fill major holes on their rosters.  Jerry Crasnick  —  • Rumor Central: Dunn on the block?

Japanese manager dissects Dice-K  —  Daisuke Matsuzaka dined Monday night with his former Seibu Lions manager, Osamu Higashio, and former teammate and current Colorado Rockies second baseman Kaz Matsui.  —  Before last night's 2-1 Red Sox [team stats] victory against the Rockies …

Alou not even close to return  —  LOS ANGELES - Don't expect Moises Alou too soon, Willie Randolph warned.  The left fielder remained in New York for further consultation with Mets doctors regarding his strained left quadriceps.  "He's not going to be playing anytime soon," Randolph said.

Sidewinders sold; Reno move likely  —  Tucson owner's pending sale pays him, partners $13.5 million  —  The Tucson Sidewinders are being sold and will likely relocate to Reno, Nev., after the 2008 season.  —  Sidewinders owner Jay Zucker confirmed to the Star a pending sale and told some staff members about it Monday.