Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?  —  FOX Sports baseball insider Ken Rosenthal created a bit of a stir yesterday with his four-part article/expose on the Nationals, which was not sensationally titled in the least ("National Crisis").  Robothal presents a lot of information to process …

Cramp puts a crimp in Lester's latest tuneup  —  PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Jon Lester was probably going to be optioned to Triple A Pawtucket after last night's final rehab start against Indianapolis anyway.  But if there was any hesitation on the part of the Red Sox' brass, it was likely dispelled …

Lieber For Farnsworth?  —  At this point, the rumor appears more speculation than actual confirmed talks between the Yankees and Phillies.  But plenty of folks see the logic in a Jon Lieber for Kyle Farnsworth swap, including Peter Abraham.  —  The Yankees find themselves with a rotation of Mussina …

Yankees, Hurting, See Culprit: The Fitness Coach  —  It was a normal day for most of the people in the Yankees' clubhouse here on Wednesday.  Some players watched video of their swings, others studied crossword puzzles or talked on cellphones.  Only the ashen, somewhat anonymous figure in street clothes observed a different routine.

Pirates Notebook: McLeary coming to replace Wasdin  —  Right fielder Ryan Doumit just misses making a running catch on a foul ball hit by the Cubs' Aramis Ramirez yesterday at PNC Park.  —  Marty McLeary will be promoted today to take John Wasdin's place in the Pirates' bullpen.

Future Shock: Unpaid Hazards by Kevin Goldstein  —  Unpaid Hazards  —  In Sunday's draft notebook, I characterized Missouri State southpaw Ross Detwiler as a "safe and solid pick."  For saying so, I got taken to task by a reader, who asked just how safe any pitcher can really be.

Baseball Economics Roundtable - May 2007  —  Baseball is awash with revenues these days.  From lucrative television deals at the national and local level, to MLBAM's steady stream of money, to satellite radio deals, naming rights, and new or redeveloped stadiums going online, owners are bathing in the green stuff.

Oliver wields arm & hammer  —  Perez fans 10, gets 2 hits in Mets win  —  Oliver Perez already was out of his element, standing on first base in the fourth inning yesterday.  The young lefthander is at home on the mound, not the basepaths, so he gets a pass for what came next.

Perez Trade Ranks as One of Mets' Best  —  Is there any pitcher in baseball more liable to inspire someone to punch a wall than Oliver Perez?  —  Generally, you can tell how good a pitcher is by how well he repeats his delivery.  The next time you're at the ballpark watching a really good pitcher …

Report: Yanks starter Pavano to visit Dr. Andrews  —  The black and white of the pinstripes is more like dominoes these days because that's how the Yankees are falling.  —  It seemed the injury news could not get any worse but a New York Times report on Wednesday said that starter Carl Pavano plans …

Put a lid on it, Tom!  But please, make it a Sox lid  —  Say it ain't so, Tom!  —  The ever-vigilant paparazzi snapped New England Patriots [team stats] QB/QT Tom Brady [stats] sashaying through the streets of New York City yesterday shamelessly sporting a New York Yankees cap!

Stark: Rumblings and Grumblings  —  Reyes could steal 100 bases, but he won't … Our favorite Mets speed demon, Jose Reyes, is on pace to steal 106 bases.  It says so right there on his ESPN.com player card.  —  There are 20 teams right now that aren't on pace to swipe that many.

Prospect Q&A: Chase Wright  —  Chase Wright was a part of baseball history at Fenway Park on April 22, although not in a way he'd have preferred.  Making the second appearance of his big league career, the Yankees lefthander gave up home runs to four consecutive Red Sox batters in the third inning.

Was the 1990s Home Run Production Out of Line?  —  In the last five years, baseball fans have read and heard a lot of commentary from politicians and the media about what a travesty the home run totals have been since the mid-1990s.  The average fan, having heard this mantra so much, has come to believe it is true.

Tigers interested in free-agent pitcher Lawrence  —  The Tigers are one of three teams interested in free agent Brian Lawrence, according to agent Page Odle.  —  Odle said Wednesday that the right-hander could decide where to sign by this weekend.  —  Lawrence was cut Monday by the Colorado Rockies …

Is David All Wright Again?  —  Met fans have been wondering what's wrong with Mr. Wright, actually booing their Golden Boy Monday as his funk deepened.  But over the last two days, he's looked as comfortable as he has at the plate all year, and could be getting hot again.  —  By BRIAN LEWIS