Girardi gives Bruney yank despite ejection  —  Here's a window into how it works when a manager is ejected - when Joe Girardi, who was thrown out of Sunday's game in the fifth inning, was asked about Brian Bruney's rocky ninth inning of relief, Girardi perhaps let slip who was still calling …

The overlooked stars of the season  —  Zack Greinke is battling for the Cy Young Award, and that standing has hoisted him out of the second division and into the national conversation.  Similarly, Mark Reynolds of the Diamondbacks has mashed so many monstrous home runs that he has managed …

Brian Urlacher out for the season with wrist injury  —  Brian Urlacher is out for the remainder of the Bears' season after dislocating his right wrist, the linebacker said Monday.  Lovie Smith will address Urlacher's status during his afternoon press conference Monday.

Guzman to NY, Claggett DFA, Kennedy to SWB  —  In a move that seemed to catch every player in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees clubhouse offguard, the New York Yankees called up speedy outfielder Freddy Guzman this morning.  To make room for Guzman on the 40-man roster …

Martinez leads Phils to doubleheader sweep  —  Buzz up!  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Pedro Martinez  —  was pushing 130 pitches and the tying run stood on second base when manager Charlie Manuel came out to the mound for a chat.  —  Pull Pedro?  —  With the way the Phillies bullpen has been struggling, not a chance.

Baltimore Orioles decide to shut down rookie hurler Brian Matusz  —  BALTIMORE — Pitcher Brian Matusz is being shut down by the Baltimore Orioles, who are wary of overextending the rookie left-hander in his first professional season.  —  “It's the right thing to do for Matusz and it's …

Ichiro sets MLB record on infield grounder  —  Mariners star reaches 200 hits for ninth straight season  —  ARLINGTON — Ichiro Suzuki stands alone on another Major League pedestal, getting there on Sunday night with one of his specialties — an infield single.

Chicago Cubs have their way with also-rans like Cincinnati Reds  —  But against top teams, they struggle  —  Derrek Lee watches his home run in the seventh inning.  (Paul Beaty, Associated Press / September 13, 2009)  —  Today's lesson is about the theory of relativity, baseball-style.

MRI reveals NY Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks does not have Lisfranc joint injury in left foot … The Giants and first-round pick Hakeem Nicks received good news Monday, when an MRI exam revealed that the Lisfranc joint in the receiver's injured left foot was not damaged …

Nationals grind out rain-shortened win  —  Lannan produces solid effort  —  The baseball season is a 162-game grind, both physically and mentally, and it's all the tougher to endure when inclement weather is thrown into the mix.  —  So games like Sunday's 7-2 rain-shortened victory …

The Rise Of Center Field  —  I don't know if you've noticed or not, but there are a lot of really good center fielders in baseball right now.  There is so much talent in center field that we could be seeing the dawning of the greatest group of talent to ever play the position at the same time.

Better Baseball Tiebreakers  —  Major League Baseball has always been particularly inept when it comes to their tiebreaking rules.  Amazingly, for the first few years of the wild card, no rules were in place at all as to what happens when various multi-way ties occur in division and wild card races.

Worst-slugging cleanup hitters  —  Check out the worst slugging percentage by 4th-place hitters for each team (stats through last Thursday...sorry...wrote this one a little early.)  —  Rk HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS  —  2  —  KCR  —  8  —  51  —  43  —  130  —  .211  —  .278

Beckett and Lester a formidable duo  —  Buzz up!  —  BOSTON - This is coming from Billy Wagner  —  , who was a teammate of Johan Santana  —  and has seen plenty of CC Sabathia  —  of the Boston Red Sox, Wagner said, “is probably the best lefty in baseball right now as far as stuff.