Pirates, Alvarez agree to revised contract  —  Deal is pending physical, could quash MLB union's grievance  —  In a stunning reversal of a summer-long drama, the Pirates and top draft pick Pedro Alvarez last night agreed to terms on a revised four-year, major league contract worth a guaranteed $6,355,000 …

Night of Reflection for Sons of Two Yankee Greats  —  Hours before they ran onto the field to represent their fathers and pay tribute to Yankee Stadium on Sunday night, David Mantle and Billy Martin Jr. paid homage to two Yankees greats.  Mantle and Martin, along with their families …

Cubs aren't taking week off  —  The Cubs still have a magic number, and it's one.  —  One more victory assures the National League Central champs home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs, just one of the Cubs' remaining goals as they transition into playoff mode.

Orioles-A's Sept. 6 rainout will not be played  —  The Orioles have announced that their September 6 game against the Oakland Athletics, postponed due to rain, will not be played following a determination by Major League Baseball.  —  Fans holding tickets for the game …

NL East race being decided by relief pitching … It isn't September of 2007 that hangs over the Mets' psyches anymore.  It's their bullpen of 2008.  —  We've talked a lot this month about the Mets' 2007 nightmare.  But the more we watch this 2008 edition, the more we're convinced …

Save The Marlins!  —  Although the Florida Marlins have made progress in soaking residents for a publically funded new stadium, history says it won't happen.  Move the team and end a disgraceful MLB chapter.  —  A typical half-filled day at the ballpark for the Fish.

Cesspool scheduled for demolition  —  So, you may have heard, they just finished playing the last game ever at Yankee Stadium — once the home to the greatest organization in sports, a symbol of American excellence.  Back then, there was nothing preening about calling it The House That Ruth Built …

How Bad Is the Mets Bullpen?  —  It has been argued (by me) that overcoming a bullpen as terrible as New York's this season is a tribute to both the tremendous offensive talent and frontline starting pitching the Mets possess.  —  But as Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Braves demonstrated, the reverse is also true.

Evaluating April MLB Predictions (2008)  —  We did this last year, in a couple parts.  It quickly became obvious that the computer projections are much more accurate than those of ESPN's analysts; not at all surprising, considering the various methods used.

On Baseball: Phillies' payroll set to bulge  —  MIAMI - On Tuesday or Wednesday, the Phillies will set a franchise record for attendance, passing the mark of 3.25 million set in 2004, the year Citizens Bank Park opened.  —  The Phillies are drawing big because they have put a contending team on the field …

Ramirez named Marlins MVP; some say Cantu snubbed  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Shortstop Hanley Ramirez missed a fourth straight start Sunday but still had something to celebrate.  He received his second consecutive Marlins Most Valuable Player award, given out by the South Florida chapter of the Baseball Writers Association if America.

51s, Blue Jays ready to ‘make best of it’  —  Odd couple: Las Vegas matches up with Toronto for two-year affiliation  —  The 51s and Toronto Blue Jays have agreed on a two-year player development contract and will announce the deal today in a news conference at Cashman Field.

Northwest League Top 20 Prospects With Scouting Reports  —  The Spokane Indians dominated the short-season Northwest League on the field and on our Top 20 Prospects list.  The Rangers affiliate's 51-20 record was eight games better than any other club in the league, and the Indians led the circuit in runs (436) and ERA (3.46).