Thomas, released by Blue Jays, returns to Oakland  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — The Big Hurt is coming back to the Bay Area.  —  The Oakland Athletics agreed to terms with designated hitter Frank Thomas, who was released Sunday by the Toronto Blue Jays to become a free agent after becoming disgruntled about his playing time.

Marlins Notebook: Manager says Badenhop needs to believe  —  ATLANTA — The Marlins have told rookie right-hander Burke Badenhop to “trust his stuff,” and not worry about contact when he makes his third start in the majors tonight.  —  “He walked five and that's not him,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said about the last outing.

It's Show time for Masterson  —  Though he has yet to throw a pitch above Double A, Justin Masterson will get that chance this afternoon.  In Boston.  —  With the team cycling through pitchers at an impressive rate - they have scratched two straight starters hours before game time …

Ryan wan't to avoid ‘knee-jerk reactions’ to Texas Rangers' bad start  —  rdurrett@dallasnes.com  —  Rangers president Nolan Ryan said Wednesday that he's disappointed and surprised at how the club has played but doesn't want to make any “knee-jerk reactions.”

Harper: Mussina proves that less is Moyer  —  CHICAGO - In the home dugout Wednesday afternoon, someone asked Ozzie Guillen how his White Sox would go about beating Mike Mussina Wednesday night.  —  Guillen made a face as if caught completely off guard.  —  “He's still pitching?”  —  Ouch.

Don't drink the water!  —  Two signs on the doors leading from the visitors' clubhouse at U.S. Cellular Field to the first-base dugout read, “NO BOTTLED WATER ON THE BENCH.”  —  What's this?  Athletes can't drink water?  Even in the humid Chicago summers?  —  Here's the explanation I got:

Breaking news: Harold Reynolds joins SNY  —  Harold Reynolds, formerly of the Alaska Goldpanners, Seattle Mariners and ESPN, and currently of MLB.com, has joined SNY as a part-time studio analyst, the network will announce this morning.  —  Reynolds will make his debut Friday night on the pre …

Santana does it all as Mets end three-game slide  —  Mets pitcher Johan Santana rounds first base after hitting a double against the Nationals in the sixth inning of Wednesday night's game in Washington.  (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais / April 23, 2008)  —  WASHINGTON - Read into this whatever you want, but the

Hoffman blows Maddux's bid for 350th win  —  SAN DIEGO (AP)—Trevor Hoffman didn't second-guess the pitch that cost him another blown save and Greg Maddux another shot at win No. 350.  —  Bengie Molina homered on a changeup from Hoffman with one out in the ninth to tie the game at 1 …

Buried David Ortiz jersey nets $175K for charity  —  BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox jersey secretly buried under the new Yankee Stadium in an attempt to “curse” the Yankees sold for $175,100 in a charity auction.  —  The Jimmy Fund, a cancer charity, didn't immediately reveal the name …

Cubs get 10,000th win, need 10 innings vs. Rockies  —  DENVER - Most of the first 9,999 victories in Cubs history were fairly easy compared to Wednesday night's 10,000th at Coors Field.  —  In fitting fashion for a team with as much wacky history as the Cubs, they mounted a ninth-inning comeback …

Old-school Jocketty values positivity  —  Reds' new GM known for evaluating talent, making deals  —  CINCINNATI — To anyone who has followed Walt Jocketty's career, the scenario he undertook on Wednesday should sound pretty familiar.  —  About 13 years ago, in the fall of 1994 …

Cole Hamels can't bring it home  —  MILWAUKEE - These are the moments Cole Hamels lives for.  —  These are the opportunities he expects to seize.  —  Hamels wanted the ball in the eighth inning last night at Miller Park.  He thought he had earned that chance, and manager Charlie Manuel felt the same way.

Homers help Miller to first win  —  Ramirez, Jacobs go deep in opening frame to back lefty  —  ATLANTA — Home run totals keep rising for the upstart Marlins.  —  Hanley Ramirez and Mike Jacobs each went deep in the first inning, providing Andrew Miller with enough support to hold off the Braves …

Yanks' Rasner Waits for Chance, but Isn't Sitting Around  —  CHICAGO — The Yankees' commitment to young starters has been tested so far, with Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy combining for an 0-5 record and a 9.20 earned run average.  But a much less heralded prospect is quietly dominating for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.