Red Sox dealing with threat  —  Beef up security for Tampa Bay trip  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  HOUSTON - The Red Sox [team stats] and Major League Baseball have dispatched security teams to St. Petersburg, Fla., for the next three days due to a recent threat made against the club's players.

Holly Hill's Brett Gardner called up to New York Yankees  —  Don't believe dreams can come true?  —  Just talk to Brett Gardner.  Because, Sunday afternoon, Gardner's big-league dream came true when Scranton/Wilkes-Barre manager Dave Miley called him into his office and informed …

INSIDE PITCH  —  Second baseman Dan Uggla said his sprained left ankle felt better Sunday but chances are he won't return to action until Thursday at the earliest.  —  Uggla left Saturday's game in the fourth inning after he took a hard turn toward second base on a single then lost his footing and stumbled in the dirt.

Padres organization soon could reach crossroads in woeful season  —  A week ago, Sandy Alderson was waffling.  He was wiggling.  He was waiting.  Rather than pick a pigeonhole he might later wish to leave, the Padres' Harvard-trained CEO cleverly characterized his ballclub not as buyers or sellers …

Girardi: Kennedy has to earn his way back  —  Did you know that Ian Kennedy was activated off the disabled list on Wednesday?  He was - and at the same time was optioned to Single-A Tampa.  —  Kennedy has to prove himself all over again in the eyes of Brian Cashman, Joe Girardi and Dave Eiland.

Examining Omar Vizquel  —  When a 41-year-old shortstop goes 1-for-his-last-32, is it not fair to wonder if he has reached the end of the line?  Is he just in a slump or is it something bigger than that?  —  The player in question is Omar Vizquel.  To try and answer the above questions …

An Interview with Darrell Rasner  —  Following my interview with agent Matt Sosnick, I asked Matt if it would be OK to interview one of his players.  Being in New York and sucker for the low-down from one of the less-heralded players, I checked if the Yanks Darrell Rasner would be amenable.

Notebook: Top pick nears deal  —  KANSAS CITY — The Cardinals are close enough to finalizing a deal with first-round draft selection Brett Wallace that negotiations could conclude during the seven-game home stand that begins tonight against the New York Mets, according to sources familiar with the process.

Oakland Wins Inoa Sweepstakes  —  Athletics expected to announce signing Wednesday  —  The agent for Michel Inoa, the top Dominican Republic pitching prospect of the last decade, has told other clubs not to bother when the July 2 international signing period opens Wednesday.  —  That ship has sailed.