Baseball After the Boss  —  George Steinbrenner transformed the economics of America's pastime.  Now with his health declining, who will take over the New York Yankees and what will it mean for the sport?  —  The gates have finally opened.  —  For more than a month …

A Promising Day for Martínez  —  Pedro Martínez took the mound in a simulated game Thursday morning at Tradition Field expecting to throw about 45 pitches in his bid to return to the Mets this season.  He ended up throwing 67 and saying the process proved therapeutic.

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.

Brewers lose, nearly tangle in tunnel  —  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.

Phils outslug Cubs, gain series split  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  CHICAGO (AP) - Pat Burrell homered and Jayson Werth drove in four runs Thursday as the Philadelphia Phillies had 16 hits and beat the Chicago Cubs 10-6.  —  Starter Kyle Lohse, acquired in a trade Monday with Cincinnati, lasted only one inning in his Phillies debut.

Maddux would rather not surrender No. 755  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — Greg Maddux would prefer to avoid becoming part of history.  —  Maddux is scheduled to start for the San Diego Padres on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series against Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

The Greatest Choke In The History of Man Kind  —  What if...imagine this with me, don't call me a idiot yet, if, if, Barry didn't break the record.  Oh my Lord what if.  Can you imagine?  My gosh it'd be amazing.  It would hands down, undeniably be the greatest choke in the history of man.

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 …