UMPIRE RUNGE APOLOGIZES TO MANUEL  —  Umpire Brian Runge apologized to Jerry Manuel yesterday, one day after he bumped and ejected the manager.  —  Manuel said Runge apologized when he brought out the lineup card at the beginning of the game.  —  “He had spoken to his father [Paul Runge …

Newman on Melancon: “He could stay there all year”  —  Mark Newman understands the desire to see Mark Melancon in big league pinstripes, but player development is a game of patience, and Newman is willing to wait.  With a 1.57 ERA through 11 Double-A games, Melancon has fans calmoring for a call-up …

Angels' Joe Saunders making the most of his opportunity  —  The left-hander is 11-3 with a 3.03 earned-run average.  —  Mike Butcher thinks Joe Saunders has “that little swagger in a good way,” the kind of confidence that makes the Angels pitching coach think the left-hander …

Breaking down the draft: Picks 18-26  —  Today, we continue our draft review series by breaking down picks 18-26.  In Part 1, we broke down a number of players in the top half of the first round, and in the THT draft primer, I laid out a few ground rules and also provided scouting reports on some of the draft's top prospects.

Interleague certainly a significant part of the schedule  —  There's nothing quite like interleague play — if you're C.C. Sabathia, whomping a 440-foot home run in your only chance all year to swing the bat.  —  And there's nothing quite like interleague play — if you're the Kansas City Royals …

Bombers ride express train to Series  —  PITTSBURGH - Six weeks later, the subway has changed course.  —  When the Yankees and Mets played in mid-May, the Bombers were reeling and the Mets pounced with two wins in the Bronx, part of a five-game losing streak that dropped the Bombers to a season-low 20-25.

Fernando Martinez Selected For Futures Game  —  Minor League Baseball announced today that Binghamton Mets outfielder Fernando Martinez has been chosen to participate in the 10th Annual All-Star Futures Game next month at Yankee Stadium.  —  It is the second straight Futures Game selection for Martinez …

OK, I'm Convinced: K.C. Should Sign Barry  —  Here's why 12-game losing streaks stink: The Royals have won 10 of 11, they have made mincemeat out of the Senior Circuit, they are again showing off some of the better young pitching around, and they are STILL digging out of the wreckage.

Hudson Valley Hooey  —  A year or so ago, I implored many of my colleagues in the print and digital media to spend some time in the classroom, as I did as a adjunct Professor Of Journalism at Five Towns College in 2006-07.  At the time I explained that in addition to “giving back” …

Giese stuck in Pittsburgh  —  PITTSBURGH — The Yankees' plan to fly Dan Giese home ahead of the team tonight was foiled by severe thunderstorms.  —  Giese, who is slated to start the first game of a two-stadium, Subway Series doubleheader Friday, went to the Pittsburgh airport late Thursday afternoon …

A 1,030-word speech from Paul Lo Duca  —  After last night's game, Paul Lo Duca held court with a few reporters.  You might call it an interview, but it seemed more like an impassioned monologue.  I didn't have time last night on deadline to transcribe the full Lo Duca soliloquy, but I do now …

Athletics' Harden Ks 11, beats Phils 5-0  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Rich Harden deliberately didn't rear back and throw as hard as he could against the Phillies.  —  The result: a career-high 11 strikeouts.  —  Harden was dominant over eight innings, allowing two hits to lead the Oakland Athletics over Philadelphia 5-0 Thursday.

Dodgers to go to six-man rotation  —  Torre to keep Stults in the mix after complete-game shutout  —  LOS ANGELES — It can't be said that Joe Torre won't push the envelope.  —  After Eric Stults' complete-game shutout Wednesday night, the Dodgers manager said he would go to a six-man rotation until …

Matsui still hobbled … PITTSBURGH (AP) — New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui remained out of the lineup — and the batting cage — with a sore left knee Thursday and will be re-examined Friday by team doctors.  —  If he is cleared to play, Matsui could be the designated hitter …

Pirates Notebook: Reliever acquired; Barthmaier coming up  —  The Pirates did find outside pitching help, as expected, but it was not for the ailing rotation.  —  Instead, general manager Neal Huntington added another power arm to the bullpen by acquiring Denny Bautista from Detroit for Class A reliever Kyle Pearson.