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 …

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.

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.

M's win, will call Jones up Friday; hear audio  —  The game of the year for the Mariners was a thriller to the end, with Yuniesky Betancourt coming through in the 12th inning with a single through the left side off Justin Speier to give Seattle the 8-7 win in a three-hour, 51 minute marathon.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

Upton Called Up  —  Remember all those Ken Griffey comparisons scouts put on Justin Upton prior to the 2005 draft?  —  Like Griffey, Upton plays the outfield, and like Griffey, he went No. 1 overall when drafted.  And now, like Griffey, Upton will be just 19 years old when he makes his major league debut.

Frustrations mount for Brewers in loss  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Already fighting to stay in first place, the Milwaukee Brewers are now scuffling among themselves.  —  Catcher Johnny Estrada and manager Ned Yost nearly tangled in a dugout tunnel late in Thursday's 12-4 loss to the New York Mets, the Brewers' 10th defeat in 14 games.

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 …

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:

PEDRO START KO'D BY RAIN  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Pedro Martinez's much-anticipated debut wearing a St. Lucie Mets uniform was a washout yesterday, so now it's back to simulated games for the right-hander.  —  The plan calls for Martinez to face the Gulf Coast Mets today at 11 a.m. in simulated action.

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.

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 …