Abandoned Playground  —  Something about the way the sun hits Shea in late afternoon when almost everybody's gone home appeals to me.  Probably because it reminds me of the playground at East School.  That's where I did most of my balling, if you could call it that, in my youth.

Matsui feeling grand against A's  —  Slugger's birthday slam supports Pettitte's gem in Oakland  —  OAKLAND — Hideki Matsui celebrated his birthday in style, providing a very special gift for the Yankees.  —  Matsui's sixth-inning grand slam lifted New York to a 4-1 victory on Thursday …

Lowell hits slam, Red Sox beat O's 9-2  —  BOSTON (AP)—The differences between big David Ortiz and bland J.D. Drew are striking.  So are the similarities.  —  The streaking Drew kept filling the hole left by Boston's injured slugger on Thursday night when he hit a two-run homer and a double …

Pain finally subdues Martinez  —  Catcher to have surgery on right elbow, miss six to eight weeks  —  CLEVELAND — Victor Martinez had played through a left hamstring strain since Opening Day and right elbow inflammation for more than a month.  —  Finally, the pain got to be too much.

Phillies' Moyer goes to 9-0 vs. Marlins  —  MIAMI (AP)—By now, even Jamie Moyer doesn't understand why he has such mindboggling success against the Florida Marlins.  —  “Got any answers?” he asked.  —  The Marlins surely don't, not against the Phillies' veteran lefty.

Inoa, 16, at head of Latin American prospect class … Less than a month after Major League Baseball's first-year player draft comes the big auction for Latin American prospects.  No draft slot is necessary.  Just bring loads of cash and make your best pitch.

SNY talks fairly, quietly about Mets  —  Sure, baseball gets mocked here for its glacial pace and out-sized role in Big Town media.  —  But this week's operatic events in Flushing were a reminder of what the fuss is about — a sport whose melodrama unfolds daily over an insanely long season, starring a familiar cast of characters.

You gotta believe, Regis says  —  TV personality has been Marlins' biggest fan this season  —  MIAMI — When others doubted, Regis believed.  —  Since the start of the 2008 season, TV icon Regis Philbin has stated that the Marlins are a team to watch.  —  The enthusiastic Philbin …

Rick Sutcliffe is concerned for Erin Andrews' skirt in Chicago  —  Watch the Lassoed clip here.  —  To recap: Ms. Andrews was wearing a top that she described as “spelling bee yellow.”  She then said she was wearing the color for ol' Sut, who is currently battling cancer, before throwing it back up to the booth.

Bill Conlin offends more people, gets suspended from DNL  —  Philadelphia Daily News writer Bill Conlin is at it again.  Whatever “it” is.  —  Every blogger's favorite columnist was suspended “pending further review” from being a panelist on Comcast SportsNet's nightly sports gab-fest, Daily News Live.

Rash of injuries to key players torments teams  —  Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren can't help but wince each time his phone rings these days.  —  “This is unbelievable,” Wren said Thursday from his overactive cellphone.  “I've never seen anything like it.  It's been one thing after another.

Cubs Beat Braves on Hit Batsman  —  CHICAGO — Jeff Ridgway hit pinch-hitter Reed Johnson with the bases loaded in the 11th inning and the Chicago Cubs beat the reeling Atlanta Braves 3-2 Thursday.  —  The Braves have lost six straight and can't seem to win away from Turner Field.