Quentin needs surgery on wrist, likely done for '08  —  Carlos Quentin's season appears to be over as the White Sox left fielder and MVP candidate suffered a fractured right wrist that will require surgery Monday, according to sources.  —  It's not certain how Quentin suffered the injury …

No big free agents in '09  —  ADDITIONAL NOTE (9:51 a.m.): Some of you are shocked and accused me of burying the lede when I mentioned lower down that Chuck Armstrong had blocked the Washburn deal.  I guess this just didn't surprise me, since Armstrong said the day of Bill Bavasi's firing …

Sweep revenge in sight for Mets?  —  Eight.  That's how many wins in a row the Phillies posted against the Mets to close last season and contribute to one of the greatest collapses - or comebacks, depending on your perspective - in baseball history.  —  Now, the Mets have a chance for payback.

Pedroia Surprise MVP Candidate  —  BOSTON — With every hit, the chants grew louder at Fenway Park.  —  By the time the Red Sox finished their homestand with a victory over the Orioles Wednesday, cries of “MVP, MVP” reverberated each time Dustin Pedroia stepped into the batter's box.

Overworking the Workhorse: Risk or Reward?  —  With every pitch Mike Pelfrey throws Friday night against the Phillies at Shea Stadium, the pitching coach Dan Warthen will be one of the more fidgety people in the Mets' dugout.  Even if the 24-year-old Pelfrey pitches effectively, with little stress …

Orioles' Trembley to return as manager in 2009  —  BALTIMORE — Dave Trembley will get another chance to coax a winning season out of the Baltimore Orioles in 2009.  —  The Orioles announced Friday that they will bring Trembley back next season, exercising an option that was in the contract he signed last year.

See Ya!  Demolishing Yankee Stadium, Carefully  —  New York City is looking for demolition companies that think they can tear down Yankee Stadium without damaging any of the seats or other pieces that might be sold to collectors.  —  The razing of the famous ballpark is scheduled to start …

Minor League All-Star Team  —  Matt Wieters headlines our team of top prospect performers  —  C Matt Wieters  • Orioles  —  In The Year of the Catcher, the 6-foot-5 Wieters rose above the rest.  Sure, switch-hitting Carlos Santana (Indians) nearly led the minors in both runs scored and RBIs …

Pettitte's future up in the air  —  The smart money early this season would have been on the Yankees re-signing one of their veteran starting pitchers - Andy Pettitte - while saying thank you and so long to the other, Mike Mussina.  —  With just a few weeks left in the season, the odds have shifted.

The Coolest Squirrel Ever, Wreaks Havoc On An Entire Inning Of Baseball  —  This video via Franky at Denseland just had me rolling this morning.  A squirrel got loose on the field during the ninth inning of the White Sox- Indians game yesterday and proceeded to amaze and entertain for most of the frame....

La Russa expects commitment from club  —  Cardinals manager Tony La Russa (Chris Lee/P-D)  —  PHOENIX — Just over three weeks remain in the first installment of his two-year contract.  Tony La Russa says he likes his team and likes his job.  —  But with the Cardinals listing toward …

Wild Schedule  —  The Brewers lost their fourth game in a row, falling to the Padres 5-2.  Every starter in the Milwaukee lineup collected exactly one hit, but they could not string them together.  This against a pitcher, Shawn Estes who spent three months recuperating from a broken thumb …

Twins end road trip with loss to Jays  —  Team falls 1 1/2 games behind White Sox in AL Central  —  TORONTO — It was a road trip the Twins had been dreading all season.  —  Their longest such trek in 39 years, the Twins endured 14 games in 15 days, across four different cities …

Martis outpitched in Nats debut  —  Rookie labors through five innings; Belliard strains groin  —  ATLANTA — Nationals right-hander Shairon Martis and catcher Luke Montz made their Major League debuts on Thursday night against the Braves, marking the first time in franchise history …