Josh Beckett's golf round after missing start is further proof the Red Sox aren't his top priority  —  They took the beer out of the clubhouse, but nothing changed.  They switched the man in the manager's office, but he's no better.  The rot in the Boston Red Sox organization runs too deep …

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 …

Hamilton's deal possibly short, sweet  —  If you think outfielder Josh Hamilton will sign a contract that sufficiently protects the Texas Rangers from any injuries and relapses that he might suffer, think again.  —  Hamilton need not make concessions when he likely would receive a massive …

Know Your Enemy, pres. by Pepsi MAX: Marlins Edition  —  I got a chance to talk with Marlins blogger Michael Jong of FishStripes.com to get a sense of how Miami fans feel about their team heading into this series.  —  Vinny Cartiglia: The Marlins are on a great run, winning eight of their last nine, including seven straight.

PADRES: Cabrera's promotion on hold following arrest  —  If the Padres plan to promote minor-league shortstop Everth Cabrera, they might have to put those plans temporarily on hold.  —  The team confirmed on Thursday night that Cabrera, their Triple-A shortstop, was arrested in mid-March.

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.

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 …

People and Entities Out-Walking Albert Pujols  —  Pardon me for hitting this point again and again, but it's by far the most fascinating part of Albert Pujols' season so far.  Anybody can go into a home run drought; the difference between a home run and a flyout is, what, the width of a cuticle?

NY Mets' Ike Davis trying to shake early-season slump, begins with massive home run in Philadelphia vs. Phillies  —  Slumping or surging, slugger puts life first  —  Ike Davis needs to hit a few more big flies to break out of his early-season slump.  —  “Hey.”

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.

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 …