Steady Mussina Gives Yankees a Needed Lift  —  ARLINGTON, Tex. — He ended last season mopping up a playoff loss, and he started this season with uncertainty.  If Mike Mussina had not been signed for $11 million, the Yankees probably would not have wanted him back.  —  But there is a reason the Yankees had agreed to pay him.

Manny Mania takes over LA  —  LOS ANGELES - Manny Mania is all the rage in Southern California.  —  Manny Ramírez is crushing the ball.  He says he wants to finish his career in California.  The Dodgers are getting ready to market Manny caps complete with dreadlocks.  The local media love Manny.

Postgame notes: Hughes set for 85 pitches Tuesday … The slider I thought I saw in the third inning was just a cutter with a lot of movement.  —  My own ignorance of the Phil Hughes arsenal aside, the guy pitched pretty well tonight.  His fastball touched 95 four times in the first inning, and regularly sat 93-94 most of the night.

Tired Pettitte still set to start  —  Andy Pettitte says he feels well enough to pitch, but there are those within the Yankees organization that believe the lefthander may be suffering from some fatigue in his pitching arm.  —  According to a source with knowledge of the situation …

Eric Hosmer, Scott Boras, and the Royals' quest to get better  —  In another world from here, in Farmington, N.M., Eric Hosmer is living out an amateur career that's pretty close to perfect.  —  He plays for the Midland Redskins, a baseball powerhouse that's the amateur equivalent of the New York Yankees …

Wins overshadow lack of homers  —  PHILADELPHIA - Take your pick as to the more amazing aspect of this week's series against the Phillies: That the Marlins failed to hit a home run in one of the most home run-friendly parks in baseball or that they did so and still won two of three.

Morton, Braves beat Diamondbacks  —  Promising rookie pitches seven scoreless innings for third win  —  Phoenix — The Braves don't score many runs when rookie Charlie Morton pitches, or lately when just about anyone pitches.  Thursday, they scored enough.  —  Barely.

Brewers in thick of pennant race  —  Club enters August with postseason hopes ablaze  —  MILWAUKEE — The Green Bay Packers hope their saga is over.  The Milwaukee Brewers hope theirs is just beginning.  —  With Brett Favre headed to New York, Packers fans can focus on football and Brewers fans can focus on another pennant race.

Answer Man: Mike Mussina talks New York, Orioles, economics  —  Before they go and tear down Yankee Stadium, the Answer Man had to get in at least one Q&A on the hallowed baseball grounds.  The victim was Yankees ace/smart guy Mike Mussina, who sat on the historical Bronx Bombers bench to talk …

Cubs trade Eyre to Phils for local product  —  The Cubs were able to get something for Scott Eyre after all.  After designating the veteran lefty reliever for assignment Tuesday, they were able to deal him to the Phillies today for Class A righty Brian Schlitter, a resident of Park Ridge and a graduate of Maine South High School.

Owners to discuss blackout solution  —  Baseball's territorial blackouts, the scourge of so many frustrated television and streaming-video viewers, will be eliminated for the 2009 season if Major League Baseball's executive council follows suggestions president Bob DuPuy plans on presenting next week.

Video: Interview with Giuseppe Franco  —  Last week on MetsBlog, I wrote a post about having seen the infamous Giuseppe Franco in front of his Beverly Hills salon, while on vacation in California the previous week.  —  The next day, Giuseppe e-mailed me saying he had seen my post, he was flattered and so we struck up a phone call.

Yankees' Pudge hurts knee in collision at plate  —  ARLINGTON, Texas - The Yankees took yet another injury hit last night when Ivan Rodriguez went down with a bruised right knee that leaves his status as day to day.  —  Rodriguez, who was acquired last week from the Tigers …

Red Sox put in claim for Giles; clock is ticking to stike a deal  —  Now that the Red Sox have put in a claim for Padres right fielder Brian Giles, what are the chances that the two teams work out a trade?  —  It could come down to whether Giles finds a salary increase enticing enough …

Ramirez homers again, Dodgers beat Cards  —  ST. LOUIS (AP)—Clayton Kershaw went right after St. Louis Cardinals hitters who had put up 15 runs the previous two games.  It turned out to be the perfect game plan.  —  The 20-year-old rookie worked seven dominant innings and Manny Ramirez homered …

Trade made  —  Orioles reliever Chad Bradford has been assigned to the Tampa Bay Rays, via a waiver claim.  In exchange, the Orioles will receive a player to be named later.  —  That's how much times have changed in the AL East.  The Rays are acquiring a veteran reliever for the stretch drive.