Bonds Gets Two Closer  —  Time, as measured by Barry Bonds's pursuit of Hank Aaron's all-time home run record, has seemed to slow down and speed up this year in ways that defy physics — short bursts of power that push Bonds closer to history, and lengthier stretches of drought that leave him looking frustrated and old.

A-Ram powers Cubs past Diamondbacks  —  This is how well things are going for the Cubs right now: No matter who plays, where they bat and whatever the conditions, it comes out a W.  —  No doubt about it, manager Lou Piniella is on a hot streak.  —  Put 5-foot-8-inch, 170-pound Mike Fontenot in the lineup's third spot?

Pirates bottom out, 2-1  —  Drop to last place as slide hits seven  —  Home again.  —  It seemed just about the only missing piece to the Pirates' precipitous plunge, one in which they have fallen short in all seven games since the All-Star break.  But there it was in the standings …

Notes: Padilla on schedule to return  —  Righty to pitch two innings on Tuesday at Double-A Frisco  —  ARLINGTON — Vicente Padilla, on the disabled list with right triceps irritation, will throw a bullpen session on Saturday and then a two-inning (30-35 pitches) game at Double-A Frisco on Tuesday.

And Moore  —  In the second roster move Friday, the Cubs placed Daryle Ward on the 15-day disabled list with a badly strained right calf muscle and recalled Scott Moore, who started at first base.  Moore has played mostly third base at Iowa and some left field while hitting .266 with 16 homers and 61 RBIs in 90 games.

Losing ace alters team's trading strategy  —  ATLANTA — Another 10 weeks without Chris Carpenter in their starting rotation hit home for the Cardinals on Thursday night.  A team barely contending now confronts a harsher reality.  —  The Cardinals may remain buyers rather than sellers …

Memorabilia company sues Big Papi for $1M  —  NEW YORK (AP) — A sports memorabilia company sued Boston Red Sox baseball star David Ortiz for $1 million Friday, claiming he breached a contract by failing to autograph a required number of items and appear at "meet-and-greet" events.

Valentin breaks leg by fouling off pitch  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — New York Mets second baseman Jose Valentin broke his right leg when he fouled off a pitch Friday night in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  —  Valentin was forced to immediately leave the game and was diagnosed with a fractured right tibia.

Fan robs Cabrera with hat grab  —  MIAMI (AP) — Florida Marlins fan David Fridkin might have robbed his favorite player of an extra-base hit Friday night.  —  With the Marlins leading Cincinnati 4-2 in the sixth inning, Miguel Cabrera hit a drive to deep right field.

Drew's stock continues to plummet  —  BOSTON — Thanks to a nagging hamstring strain, J.D. Drew was not in the lineup last night, which may have been just as well for Drew.  —  For the first time this season, Drew became the target of fans Wednesday night, a repository for their frustration …

So that's what's wrong with Craig Hansen...  This entry was posted on 7/19/2007 10:16 PM and is filed under uncategorized.  —  Very interesting and telling comments from Peter Gammons during his weekly Thursday segment with Mike Felger on the 890 ESPN's Mike Felger Show Thursday afternoon …

SCOUTS FLOCK INTO STADIUM  —  The Yankees continue to talk to the Dodgers about utilityman Wilson Betemit, but the Dodgers are also chatting with the Royals about reliever Octavio Dotel, whom they like a little bit better than Scott Proctor.  —  The Dodgers had scout Mark Weidemaier at Yankee Stadium yesterday.

Notes: Sutton discusses homer chase  —  Announcer respects Bonds, but questions make him worried  —  WASHINGTON — On April 8, 1974, Dodgers left-hander Al Downing became part of history when he gave up Hank Aaron's record-setting 715th home run at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

Teixeira not easy to deal  —  PLAYER OF THE DAY  —  Mark Teixeira 1B, Texas Rangers  —  A franchise-caliber player just a year ago, Mark Teixeira has astoundingly become the guy the Rangers (a) want to move and (b) can't.  His production has slipped this season, and he's due to become a free agent after 2008.