The dismantling of the Yankee empire  —  YES Network is the MVP of Steinbrenner's business empire, and it's for sale, report Fortune's Jon Birger and Tim Arango.  Will the team end up on the block too?  His son Hal says no.  —  NEW YORK (Fortune) — The New York Yankees' cable network …

Notes: Sosa shifted to bullpen  —  Mets hope right-hander can strengthen bridge to Wagner  —  MILWAUKEE — With their need for a late-inning, swing-and-miss pitcher unaddressed and the trade deadline passed Tuesday, the Mets have turned to the next logical source — their own rotation.

Baseball Gets Into Resale of Tickets  —  Major League Baseball once frowned on scalping, the resale of tickets among fans and sidewalk entrepreneurs.  On Thursday, professional baseball will announce plans to get into the business.  —  In a nod to the growing strength of Internet ticket exchanges …

Lies, Damned Lies  —  Baseball's New Underclass  —  In an essay for the forthcoming It Ain't Over—which you should all have in your hands in a week or so—I wrote about the permanent underclass of baseball teams that existed more or less continuously from the end of the deadball era to the start of World War II.

DAMON NOT SURE WHAT LIES AHEAD  —  Johnny Damon doesn't want to be traded, but he doesn't sound convinced the Yankees want him in their lineup - or even on their team.  —  He sat out last night's 8-1 victory over the White Sox, and he's still thinking and talking about last week's report that the Yankees were shopping him.

Phillips swipes two in unique way  —  Second basemen steals two bases in one play on Wednesday  —  WASHINGTON — Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips stole two bases on Wednesday in a very unorthodox fashion.  —  During the fourth inning of a 7-2 loss to the Nationals …

Potty-mouth Pete strikes out at camp for kids  —  Pete Rose may be the hit king, but he was no hit with some kids and parents at the U.S. Army Reds Legends Baseball Camp last week.  The man whose name symbolizes the best years of the Reds was the worst speaker on a great program - no contest.

Analysis: Why trade for Morris now?  —  Job security surely a factor for Littlefield in seeking another quick fix  —  Let this much be clear, in the aftermath of the Pirates' sudden, stunning acquisition of pitcher Matt Morris that made him the highest-paid player in franchise history:

Cubs win on wild pitch, move into 1st  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Matt Murton got the call to come back from the minors less than a week ago and already he's helped the Chicago Cubs climb into first place.  —  Murton raced home on Brett Myers' bases-loaded wild pitch in the ninth inning Wednesday night …

Dodgers were wise not to trade the future for the present  —  Not making a major deal before the trade deadline could be the smartest thing Colletti has done with the Dodgers.  —  Jorge Sosa.  Geoff Blum.  Dave Roberts.  Doug Mientkiewicz.  Orlando Cabrera.  Sal Fasano.  Alex Ochoa.

Mets' Perez is striking figure  —  There is the good Oliver Perez and the bad Oliver Perez.  —  The good Oliver Perez is the one who records strikeouts at a breathtaking pace between hurdles across the foul line.  The bad Oliver Perez is the one who self-destructs, losing his control and his head …

Revenge  —  The Chicago White Sox took out their frustrations on Roger Clemens, chasing him after 1 2/3 innings and eight runs.  After a perfect first, the White Sox collect nine hits and chase Clemens with the bases loaded and Karstens coming in.  Of course, the way the Yankees …

Sosa's role reduced to reserve  —  Rangers want to look at Botts as designated hitter  —  CLEVELAND — Sammy Sosa, fifth on baseball's all-time home run list and the Rangers' leader in RBIs, will ride out the final two months of the season as a reserve outfielder and occasional pinch-hitter.

Big Papi has good read on Santana's out pitch  —  Johan Santana, perhaps the best pitcher in baseball, vented publicly when the Minnesota Twins failed to bolster their roster at the trading deadlines.  —  Now Santana's former Twins teammate, Sox slugger David Ortiz [stats] …

Twins-Royals postponed on Thursday  —  Groundbreaking ceremony, game on hold after bridge collapse  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Thursday's Twins-Royals afternoon game has been postponed in light of the tragic I-35W bridge collapse that took place in Minneapolis on Wednesday night.