'09 starts anew for Sox righty Daisuke Matsuzaka  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  There are forgotten men, and then there's Daisuke Matsuzaka [stats].  —  For a while it looked like Harry Lime or Keyser Soze would appear at Fenway Park [map] before Matsuszaka …

Jeter deserving of AL MVP Award  —  Yankees captain's campaign more than simply numbers  —  If Albert Pujols is a slam-dunk to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award, Derek Jeter is not too far behind to take the American League MVP Award.  —  When Jeter passed Lou Gehrig's record …

Yankees promote speedster Guzman  —  Move gives Bombers another basestealing threat in the outfield  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees can tell from looking at Freddy Guzman's career statistics that he knows how to run.  With an eye toward October, they'd like the chance to see it up close.

Holliday, bullpen help Cardinals sink Marlins  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Holliday (FSY) drove in three runs to top 100 RBIs for the third time in his career and the St. Louis Cardinals' bullpen rescued struggling Todd Wellemeyer (FSY) in an 11-6 victory over the Florida Marlins on Monday night.

Chicago Cubs beats Milwaukee Brewers 2-0  —  Ryan Dempster superb on mound; Derrek Lee homers  —  Derrek Lee watches his home run against the Brewers in the fourth inning.  (Paul Beaty, Associated Press / September 14, 2009)  —  When the Cubs began their season on April 6 in Houston …

It's over!  Rays end 11-game skid, knock off Orioles  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — Having finally rid themselves of an embarrassing losing streak that ended their playoff hopes, the Tampa Bay Rays can turn their attention toward concluding the season on a positive note.

Tigers capitalize on errors, rally to beat Blue Jays  —  DETROIT (AP) — Marco Scutaro's (FSY) second error of the game allowed Brandon Inge (FSY) to score from second base in the bottom of the 10th inning, and the Detroit Tigers rallied to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Monday night.

Cincinnati (65-79) vs. Houston (70-74), 7:10 p.m. ET  —  CINCINNATI — Word of Juan Francisco's power has spread with every promotion, and now it will be on the bench at the Reds' disposal.  —  The only question is how many chances Francisco, a left-handed-hitting third baseman …

Posnanski on ‘The Machine’  —  Some people root for baseball teams.  I root for baseball books, for two reasons.  One, a fair number of my friends have written baseball books, so rooting for a book is like rooting for a friend.  And two, I've written a few books myself …

Joba Rules not for you  —  YOU hate the restraints on Joba Chamberlain.  You flip on the Yankees game and are aggravated that Alfredo Aceves is out there in the middle innings, which means Joba again is being treated like a delicate vase.  —  You don't care that Chamberlain does …

Mets' aim: Use last 18 to improve  —  Jerry Manuel insists there is still some redeeming value in a season that has 18 games remaining, beginning with a Pat Misch-Tommy Hanson matchup Tuesday at Turner Field in Atlanta.  —  Still, it's a stretch to find meaning beyond curiosity …

Papelbon enters Cy Young debate  —  Sox closer looking invincible again in last month  —  BOSTON — The question took Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon off guard.  Did he think he should be part of the Cy Young conversation?  —  “I don't know man, how many times has a closer won the Cy Young, once?”

Retool the Mets?  That's ridiculous!  —  ATLANTA — The call keeps coming from angry e-mailers, even angrier talk-radio hosts and callers and, in one mystifying case, an otherwise respected national baseball writer.  —  The general line of thought: Blow up the Mets!  Break up the core!

Reynolds not worried about strikeout totals  —  Slugger focused on helping D-backs with homers, steals  —  PHOENIX — Mark Reynolds knows what most people want to talk to him about.  —  “Everyone always wants to ask about the strikeouts,” he said.  —  So let's get that out of the way first.

Nats' Desmond making most of his call-up  —  Infielder's start rates among best ever in majors  —  Ian Desmond had plenty of time to contemplate his first week in the big leagues and everything that would entail, perhaps more than most gifted minor league prospects who dream of reaching the top level.