Bonds to be discussed as Yankees brass meets  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Barry Bonds in pinstripes?  If nothing else, the New York Yankees plan to talk about it.  —  Yankees officials gathered for high-level meetings at their spring training complex Thursday, a day off for the team before it begins an important three-game series at Boston.

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 …

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.

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 …

Report: Mavs' Cuban among finalists to buy Cubs  —  NEW YORK — Tribune Co. is inviting at least three potential buyers who each submitted bids for the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field near or above $1 billion to participate in a second round of proposals, according to a person involved in the process.

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 …

Brewers not pursuing Sherrill  —  I've seen a lot of national reports in recent days that indicate the Brewers are interested in trading for Baltimore closer George Sherrill, so I called general manager Doug Melvin to see what's going on.  —  Melvin said he has not engaged the Orioles …

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?

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 …