Walter Reed controversy sure does raise issues  —  This Walter Reed controversy lives on, two days after Carlos Beltran, Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez declined to join their teammates in a visit to the military hospital.  This is actually a fascinating event, and it has blown up because it touches …

Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field could become pitchers' haven with humidor  —  The fine reputation Chase Field has enjoyed among major-league hitters could change with the flip of a climate-controlled switch.  —  The Diamondbacks are considering storing their baseballs in a humidor next season …

This is too big a disaster for even Joe Torre to take one for the team  —  So Joe Torre fell on his sword.  That's what good soldiers do, of course, and Torre is nothing if not the good soldier.  —  Torre took responsibility for the Dodgers' disappointing season prior to Wednesday's game in San Diego …

MLB On Pace to Have Lower Attendance Than Last Season  —  Major League Baseball is on pace to have attendance down slightly from last season's total of 73,418,529, the fifth highest attended season in MLB history, but down from record numbers the year prior.

D-backs get Gorgen to complete Qualls deal  —  Right-handed reliever will be assigned to Triple-A Reno  —  PHOENIX — The D-backs acquired pitcher Matt Gorgen from the Rays on Thursday as the player to be named in the deal that sent reliever Chad Qualls to Tampa Bay just prior to the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Twelve Thoughts: Rockies' Dynamic Hitting Duo, Next Dodgers Owner?  —  Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is moving up my MVP ballot.  —  Yeah, he isn't hitting much on the road, but Gonzalez, a five-tool talent, is having a home season for the ages.  And on the road, he's an asset defensively and on the basepaths.

New York Yankees' Andy Pettitte began minor league rehabilitation start Thursday night by breezing through Double-A hitters as he works his way back from groin injury  —  TRENTON, N.J. — New York Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte began a minor league rehabilitation start Thursday night …

Yankees top prospect Montero out with ankle injury  —  Yankees top prospect Jesus Montero will miss the remainder of Scranton/Wilkes Barre's playoff series against Columbus after undergoing a procedure on his ankle Wednesday night.  —  The heavily-hyped catcher suffered a bone bruise and decided to have the discoloring scraped out.

Washington Nationals' future lineup likely won't include Adam Dunn  —  Adam Dunn is done in Washington.  —  All season, the Nationals have had an internal debate over a classic question of baseball theory: Do the synergies a 40-homer cleanup hitter brings to a lineup outweigh the damage done …

Expanding the postseason  —  Two more wild-card teams would add drama, create incentive to finish in first place  —  Theoretically, Bud Selig couldn't ask for a better September plot line than this:  —  The two best teams in baseball, rampaging down the stretch, neck and neck …

Best NL Record Would Benefit Phillies in NLDS  —  The Phillies have a half-game lead over the Braves in the NL East and the best record in the league.  —  They obviously have plenty of incentive to win their fourth consecutive division title and finish with the best record in the league …

Dungy revisits Ryan comments, discusses Bush Heisman  —  NBC's Tony Dungy joined Dan in New Orleans to talk about the upcoming season.  Here are some of his takes ...  — Dungy revisited his issues with Rex Ryan's language on Hard Knocks.  “It wasn't personal,” Dungy said.

The Yankeeist Interview with Alex Langsam of the Pittsburgh Pirates' Front Office  —  I'm incredibly pleased to present one of the most exciting interviews in Yankeeist history, as I recently had the opportunity to talk with Alex Langsam, who currently works in the Pittsburgh Pirates' front office …

Jose Lima likely died of heart failure  —  ORLANDO, Fla. — The autopsy report for Jose Lima suggests that the former major leaguer probably died of heart failure and reveals there was no trace of illegal substances in his system.  —  “Now Jose will be able to rest in peace,” Lima's widow …

Duensing shines as Twins up Central lead  —  Minnesota has 5 1/2 game advantage over White Sox  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins were fortunate to somehow miss facing Zack Greinke for most of his Cy Young Award-winning year in 2009.  They had to face the Royals ace just twice last season …

Morgan to plead his case on Friday  —  WASHINGTON — On Wednesday morning, Nationals center fielder Nyjer Morgan was eating a fruit cup by his locker when he was reminded that he will have a hearing with league officials on Friday at 10 a.m. ET at Nationals Park.

Angels Beat Tribe in 16 Inning on Mathis' Sac Fly  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jeff Mathis drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 16th inning and the Los Angeles Angels got home runs from Mike Napoli and rookie Peter Bourjos in a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night …