Hey Yankees, I got some free advice for you guys  —  The Yankees have won six straight games since the All-Star break, and at 56-45, they're at their high-water mark for the season.  —  They flicked aside the Twins yesterday, 5-1, at Yankee Stadium, allowing them to fully enjoy their day off today …

Nats GM says Cordero will hit market  —  Bowden reveals intention to non-tender injured closer  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The offseason is a little more than two months away, but the Nationals have already decided that reliever Chad Cordero will be non-tendered.  The news comes two weeks after Cordero had shoulder surgery.

Soriano's return sparks Cubs' bats  —  Lee homers, Johnson hits slam in Lilly's 10th victory of year  —  PHOENIX — Alfonso Soriano is back, and although he had one of the Cubs' 10 hits in a 10-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night, his return was a big boost.

Wilpon: I screwed up firing  —  Fred Wilpon said he learned something from firing Willie Randolph.  And it is this: The next time he fires a manager he'll do it in the light of day, when reporters are not sleeping.  —  Wilpon talked about his “lesson” in the studio of his SportsNet New York …

Enough already  —  The Yankees are in town for a weekend series, and this would be a nice time to retire the stupidest chant in the world: Yankees suck.  —  Now, before you go all Hank Steinbrenner on me, hear me out.  —  I don't like the Yankees.  I never did, though as a kid I liked …

Going, Going, Gone ... Berserk: Pine-Tar Bat Incident Revisited  —  Twenty-five years later, it remains one of baseball's most riveting images: George Brett, eyes bulging with rage, bolting out of the visiting dugout at Yankee Stadium, intent on enacting a most primal impulse.  He wanted to kill the ump.

POSADA DECIDES TO DELAY SURGERY  —  Jorge Posada and the Yankees confirmed what was reported in Wednesday's Post: The All-Star catcher needs right shoulder surgery that will require six months to recover from.  But Posada wants to see if two weeks of rest will allow him to help as a designated hitter/first baseman.

N.Y. Yankees in the market for a catcher  —  TRADEWINDS  —  YANKEES BUZZ  —  Word as of Wednesday afternoon was that the Yankees were looking everywhere for a catcher.  Worried that Jose Molina might not be built to hold up the rest of the way as an everyday starter …

Inside Pitch: Braves may be sellers  —  Atlanta in an intriguing situation as Trade Deadline looms  —  One of the triggers in the final week of this year's midsummer trade session is in the hands of a perennial buyer: the Atlanta Braves.  —  Year-in, year-out, the Braves have been buyers …

Pedro will miss Fri. start following father's death … SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — New York Mets right-hander Pedro Martinez was headed back to the Dominican Republic following the death of his ailing father.  —  Martinez's father, Pablo Jaime, died early Thursday at age 79 …

Not just a box score  —  Last week's item about blogging minor leaguers included some excerpts from San Diego Padres farmhand Dirk Hayhurst's “Non-Prospect Diaries” at Baseball America.  I had tried to reach Hayhurst without success before writing it, but he got in touch after the item appeared …

Ask the Booth: What's a long swing?  —  Keith Hernandez dips into the e-mailbox  —  When someone says that a player has a short or long swing what does he mean?  — Ned in Huntington, N.Y.  —  What makes someone like Ryan Howard strike out so much while he still seems to hit home runs at an alarming rate?

Bartman turns down $25,000 offer for autograph  —  ROSEMONT, Ill. — Steve Bartman has refused yet another offer to cash in on the moment he became the most famous — or infamous — Chicago Cubs fan in history.  —  Bartman friend Frank Murtha says that Bartman won't accept an offer of $25,000.

Do veteran players ‘know how to win’?  —  It was my first sabermetric argument.  At least, the first one I remember.  The year was 1984, and my beloved Mets were battling the Cubs for the NL East division lead.  I had a buddy who felt that the Cubs were going to take it …

Fuentes seals another win for Rox  —  Despite trade rumors, Colorado's closer continues to shine as he ties the franchise record for saves.  —  The Denver Post  —  Rockies closer Brian Fuentes earned his 102nd career save Wednesday afternoon and set a franchise record by retiring …