Kevin McClatchy's letter to fans  —  Dear Pirates Fans:  —  Today I announced that I will be stepping down as the Chief Executive Officer of the Pittsburgh Pirates at the end of the 2007 season.  —  A decision of this personal and professional magnitude is not something you make overnight.

Neifi Perez first to be banned for stimulant  —  The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced on Friday that infielder Neifi Perez of the Detroit Tigers has been suspended 25 games, effective immediately, for testing positive for a banned Stimulant in violation of Major League Baseball's …

Local Yankees release pitcher  —  MOOSIC — Rain hammered PNC Field on Thursday, cancelling the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees' series finale against the Pawtucket Red Sox after a rain delay of an hour and 15 minutes.  —  While the steady downpour fell outside the stadium …

Buehrle packs. . . for good?  —  It was a very strange scene at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the White Sox clubhouse.  At the very moment general manager Kenny Williams strode into a meeting with manager Ozzie Guillen and coaches, ace pitcher Mark Buehrle was carrying a large box to his locker.

Maine helps Mets strike back  —  John whiffs nine & wins 10th to end skid  —  HOUSTON - John Maine isn't an All-Star.  He'll have to settle for being the Mets' stopper.  —  Maine took a scoreless effort into the eighth to notch his 10th victory and Ricky Ledee and Ramon Castro …

Raburn on the rise  —  Ryan Raburn, the best all-around hitter at Triple-A Toledo this season, will join the Tigers today, according to a member of the organization with knowledge of the team's plans.  —  Raburn, 26, was removed for a pinch hitter during the Mud Hens' 10-7 loss to Louisville on Thursday night.

Nats agree to deal with '07 top pick  —  Bowden: Detwiler could possibly make debut this year  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals agreed to terms with left-hander Ross Detwiler, the sixth overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, on Thursday.  Detwiler will get a $2.15 million signing bonus.

Bush celebrates birthday at RFK  —  Day before turning 61, President watches Nats-Cubs game  —  WASHINGTON — President George W. Bush celebrated his birthday on Thursday at RFK Stadium, but the party was a secret to the 22,594 in attendance.  —  The President, who turns 61 on Friday …

Under The Knife  —  Deep in the Heart  —  I'm making my annual trip to Newberg Night at ... well, what is the Rangers stadium called these days?  (You know, with the All-Star Game in the telcom stadium nom du jour, the commoditization of naming rights is becoming bothersome for reasons of consistency rather than anticommericalism.)

Johnson back on DL but hopes to return soon  —  SAN DIEGO Josh Johnson has every expectation of pitching again this season.  Based on what the Marlins' medical personnel have told him, he has no reason to think otherwise.  —  Wednesday, Johnson left his start after five shutout innings …

Adding injury to insult  —  Hall forced out after severely spraining ankle during Brewers' loss  —  Pittsburgh - Bill Hall didn't realize how high he had jumped.  —  Trying to rob Pittsburgh's Ryan Doumit of a home run in the second inning Thursday afternoon at PNC Park …

Cubs holding at 11 pitchers—for now  —  Gallagher latest call with Petrick down  —  WASHINGTON — Manager Lou Piniella got the long reliever he was searching for Thursday when the Cubs called right-hander Sean Gallagher back up from Triple-A Iowa.  —  But the Cubs remained at 11 pitchers …