Seattle Mariners fire hitting coach Jeff Pentland  —  TORONTO — This could be seen as an effort to upgrade the offense.  Or an effort to sacrifice a lamb.  —  Either way, Seattle Mariners' batting coach Jeff Pentland was fired Monday morning.  —  Pentland became the first member …

Testimony on Steroids in Baseball Is Questioned  —  When baseball and union officials appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on March 17, 2005, they presented figures that showed that baseball's two-year-old testing program had substantially reduced the number …

Percival's return to bring tough choice  —  Closer coming back Friday; Rays must decide who will go  —  ARLINGTON — Troy Percival is due to return from the disabled list on Friday, which sets up Rays management with having to make a tough choice regarding whose place Percival will take on the roster.

Manny, JD, Papi, Lester and the NBA Finals.  —  Gabby texting (not a boy btw), Gehrig watching the Celtics dancers and Dad explaining to him, well, dad things....  Manny hit's 500, wow. 500 of anything means you're good.  Be it walks, hits, runs, anything, but 500 home runs …

How well can we project team defense and other UZR data...  I am going to present each team's total UZR so far in 2008 along with what I would have projected given each player's number of games played:  —  Runs are total runs saved or cost, as of Saturday, June 7.  They are not “per 150 games.”

Should Astros get Sidney Ponson?  —  Would you like to have Sidney Ponson?  —  Let's face it, folks, the Astros need pitching.  And Ponson can pitch.  —  The Texas Rangers just let go of him because they deemed him a “disruptive force” in the clubhouse.  He also has two DWI's in his past, and you all know what I think about that.

Josh Willingham hopes for return in a week; Dan Uggla on record pace  —  MIAMI GARDENS - Left fielder Josh Willingham, out since late April with a strained lower back, was encouraged after taking batting practice on the field before Sunday's game.  —  Willingham said he hoped to begin …

Rookie pitcher Ryan Tucker excels in debut as Marlins beat Reds 9-2  —  MIAMI GARDENS — When pitcher Ryan Tucker told friends he was getting called up to the major leagues, the congratulations came first.  But the teasing wasn't far behind, especially when they realized the third batter …

In a Forced Conversion, the Pitch Count Is the Boss  —  When the ascetic-looking gent with No. 42 on his back enters the game, maybe it doesn't matter how the Yankees arrived at this propitious moment.  —  When the entire stadium quivers to the ominous chords of “Enter Sandman,” that means the Mariano Rivera era is still going strong.

Does Bill James Belong in the Hall of Fame?  —  By now the unlikely story is legend.  A night watchman at the local pork and beans plant questions baseball's “book” - its long-held assumptions and practices - and produces revolutionary research.  Rather than being satisfied with the usual staple …

TV viewers cut off from end to Angels' game  —  A communication error is blamed when Channel 13 goes from broadcast to movie, 'Smilla's Sense of Snow,' at 5 p.m., right before A's dramatic walk-off grand slam by Ellis to win, 7-3.  —  OAKLAND — Heidi, meet Smilla.  Smilla . . . Heidi.

Fresh relievers will be in demand for pennant races  —  The Cubs and several other contenders are testing the endurance of their bullpens, which could spell trouble, Ken Rosenthal says.

Marlins Notebook: Hanley Ramirez heating up  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Ken Griffey Jr. hasn't homered in more than a week since hitting No. 599 on May 31.  Hanley Ramirez hit two Sunday, giving him five in his past five games.  —  At this pace, can Ramirez catch Griffey?  —  “It's too early for that,” Ramirez laughed.

Melvin ejected after umps overturn homer call … PITTSBURGH (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin was ejected Monday after the umpires reversed their call and took a home run away from Mark Reynolds against Pittsburgh.  —  An inning later, the benches and bullpens emptied …

Bowden keeping track of Nats' house  —  Washington (25-38) vs. San Francisco (27-35), Sun., 1:35 p.m. ET  —  WASHINGTON — Before Saturday's game against San Francisco, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden touched base with reporters on a number of housekeeping topics regarding the team.

Good News: Mets Score More Than a Run.  The Bad News: Don't Ask.  —  SAN DIEGO — Willie Randolph handled the Mets' first three losses to the Padres reasonably well.  He lamented what went wrong, praised what little went right and expressed hope that tomorrow, yes, tomorrow, would be the day it all got better.