Edes: Beckett's postgame defiance says it all  —  His weak performance and postgame comments show he doesn't care, either … BOSTON — Josh Beckett has chosen sides.  —  On one side, everyone who cares so much about the Red Sox that they are even personally affected by the death of a public address announcer.

Last-place Phillies: Buyers or sellers?  —  I don't care what Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. says — I'll believe his team is a seller when I see it.  —  But know this:  —  According to major league sources, at least one club — the Toronto Blue Jays …

Alvarez leads Blue Jays over Twins  —  Henderson Alvarez pitched seven strong innings to win his third straight start for the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-2 over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.  —  Alvarez (3-2) stretched his scoreless streak to 17 innings before second baseman Kelly Johnson's …

The Next MLB Commissioner  —  A generation of fans, players, and front office personnel have only known one commissioner.  Bud Selig has been in office for two decades, longer than anyone since the sport's first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis.  —  But at some point …

7,999 and counting  —  Tonight will be the 8,000th game in Mets history.  Provided the Marlins get a hit, it will also be the 8,000th straight game without a no-hitter.  —  Whatever opinion you may have of this odd streak, every Mets fan seems to have their own close call story.

This time, losing a series vs. Cubs no disgrace  —  CHICAGO - We've come to expect such perennial failure from the Chicago Cubs that to lose a series against them feels like a major disappointment to the fans of any contending team.  —  But the fact of the matter is, the Braves …

Orioles hit 5 HRs in 6-5 win over Rangers  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — The Orioles became the first AL team to open a game with three straight home runs, and Baltimore added two more long balls against Colby Lewis en route to a 6-5 victory over the Texas Rangers in a doubleheader opener Thursday.

Sources: Nationals, Angels have talked about Bourjos  —  The Nationals and Angels have had preliminary discussions about a trade that would send center fielder Peter Bourjos to Washington, major-league sources told FOXSports.com.  —  The Royals, Diamondbacks and Blue Jays also have checked on the availability of Bourjos, sources say.

CC Sabathia finally outpitches David Price, Yanks beat Rays  —  NEW YORK - CC Sabathia outpitched David Price for the first time in six career matchups between the All-Star lefties, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson homered and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 Thursday night.

Nationals end slide as Strasburg K's 13 Pirates  —  PITTSBURGH — Stephen Strasburg struck out a season-high 13 over six innings and the Washington Nationals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over Pittsburgh on Thursday night.  —  Roger Bernadina and Adam LaRoche both homered …

The Stats Go Marching In  —  All About Velocity  —  Cooling off the radar guns … Everyone likes looking at radar guns.  —  I love finesse pitchers and junkball artists, probably because they look the most human to me.  Nevertheless, my eyes gravitate toward the velocity reading after Aroldis Chapman throws his heater.

MLB may pick off fake-to-3rd, throw-to-1st move  —  NEW YORK (AP) — A pickoff move that's been part of baseball strategy for years might get picked off next season.  —  Major League Baseball is poised to eliminate the fake-to-third, throw-to-first trick that teams routinely use.