Union to file grievance regarding Alvarez; status of contract in dispute  —  The Major League Baseball Players Assocation today will file a grievance against the commissioner's office regarding the Pirates' signing of first-round draft pick Pedro Alvarez, according to two sources.

Red Sox land Kotsay from Braves  —  Veteran adds depth to Boston's outfield with Drew on DL  —  ATLANTA — Mark Kotsay awoke on Wednesday morning and suddenly found himself in the thick of a pennant race.  —  The Braves have traded Kotsay to the Red Sox in exchange for Minor League outfielder Luis Sumoza.

GIAMBI IS A NO-GO ON THROW  —  You snooze, you lose.  —  Or maybe Jason Giambi really was awake and just afraid a throw home might produce an uglier result than holding the ball.  —  Whatever the case, Giambi helped gift-wrap a run for the Red Sox in the fifth inning last night …

So, Yankee Stadium Takes This No Moving During “God Bless America"-Thing Rather Seriously  —  Remember a little over a year ago when George Steinbrenner, inflated with patriotic fervor, imposed a laughable rule that instructed security officials to ban anyone from “excessive movement” …

Holliday now in running to achieve 30-30 season  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Holliday has great vision, but even he never saw 30-30 in his future.  —  With a month remaining in the season, the Rockies outfielder possesses a legitimate shot at becoming only the 32nd player in major-league history …

ALEX PERSONIFIES TEAM'S FAILURES  —  THE crowd stood, cheering and chanting.  “Let's Go A-Rod” morphing into “Let's Go Yankees.”  It was the seventh inning.  But it was more than the seventh inning.  It felt like a whole season was on the line.  —  And like a flyball that will find …

Arizona Fall League Rosters  —  Quick analysis of who has the most to prove this fall  —  Rosters for the Arizona Fall League have been announced.  To get you ready for the Fall League, we've singled out some players who are using their trip as a last tune-up for the big leagues …

Struggling reliever Pinto rehabbing in Jupiter  —  ATLANTA — Left-handed reliever Renyel Pinto has pitched in 122 games with the Marlins the past two seasons but he will spend the next week trying to help Class A Jupiter make it to the Florida State League playoffs.

Torre might have made a difference  —  NEW YORK - Joe Torre wouldn't have made a difference in how this Yankees season has gone, would he?  —  Would he?  —  Alex Rodriguez would still have missed 20 games.  Hideki Matsui would still have missed 50.  Jorge Posada and Chien-Ming Wang would still have been gone even longer.

Why Do the Sabermetric Teams Stink in 2008?  —  Intern Bill investigates.  —  David Pinto up at the terrific Baseball Musings had a post up a few days ago pointing out that the “Sabermetric Teams,” the clubs that feature statistical baseball analysis for their front office decisions, are not doing too well this year.

Pirates fume after blowing late lead to Cubs  —  Hansen's three walks in row lowlight excruciating 14-9 loss  —  Say this for the Pirates: They are playing some seriously wretched baseball these days, the very pits of which was the 14-9 loss to the Chicago Cubs last night at PNC Park …

Most players, skippers in favor of replay  —  Those on the field agree use should be limited to home runs  —  HOUSTON — For most of the season, instant replay was accepted by most baseball people as an inevitable part of the sport's future, but few could have guessed it would be implemented this quickly.

Tonight's lineup vs. Phillies  —  Few additions to the earlier post:  — Argenis Reyes was indeed the player sent to Triple-A New Orleans to make room for Nelson Figueroa, who was summoned to help out a weary bullpen after Tuesday's 13-inning loss.  — The Mets have Ricardo Rincon back after loaning him to the Mexican League.

Phillies make roster move  —  First baseman Andy Tracy's stay with the Phillies was short-lived.  —  The Phillies designated him for assignment today and purchased the contract of pitcher Andrew Carpenter from Double A Reading.  —  Carpenter is being called up largely because the length of last night's game leaves the bullpen thin.