Not in their backyard  —  Bonds doesn't hit his record homer against Dodgers, but Giants get to Tomko early and win the series  —  The Barry Bonds Traveling Circus packed up and left town Thursday night, its main attraction no closer to baseball's all-time home run mark than he was when the team pitched …

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 …

Beltre is making a statement as American League's best defensive third baseman  —  Adrian Beltre raced forward Wednesday night and met Vladimir Guerrero's chopper about 40 feet from home plate.  —  The Mariners third baseman scooped the ball off the grass with his bare right hand, and then he made the most impressive part of the play.

Oliver finds his groove, and more prominent role  —  Left-hander's strong pitching in June and July has earned him Scioscia's trust, and increased late-inning duty.  —  OAKLAND — It's easy to feel like a forgotten man in a bullpen that includes Francisco Rodriguez and Scot Shields …

A Deeper Look at the Possible YES Network Sale  —  Earlier today, an article published by Fortune (The dismantling of the Yankee empire (http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/01/news/ companies/yes_sale.fortune/index.htm?po stversion= 2007080206)) reported that the YES Network is up for sale …

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.

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.

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.

Notes: Miller settles into relief role  —  Marlins starter-turned-reliever is thriving out of the bullpen  —  MIAMI — Justin Miller has become a creature of habit.  —  When the starter-turned-reliever senses he's in line to come in the game, his schedule unfolds like clockwork …

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.

Daniels' duties aren't done yet  —  CLEVELAND - Finally spoke to Jon Daniels on Tuesday night after he'd gone into radio silence for a 48-hour period leading up to the trading deadline and I'm not sure who was more tired: me or him.  —  Well, Jon, how's that old saying go?  You can sleep when you are ....

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.