Phillies' Ibanez lands on disabled list  —  Outfielder, slumping recently, sidelined by strained groin  —  PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies placed outfielder Raul Ibanez on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday morning with a strained left groin and recalled outfielder John Mayberry Jr. from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take his place.

Red Sox Richer Yet For Having Penny  —  Red Sox starter Brad Penny, left, react after a great defensive play by third baseman Mike Lowell as they head to the dugout after the fifth inning of Wednesday night's game against the Marlins at Fenway Park.  At one time, Penny and Lowell were teammates on the Marlins.

Trade strategy for Nats?  —  With nearly 100 games to go in the season, the Washington Nationals' hope of anything but abject failure is already slim.  That's not just a present reality, though.  It's also a possible mandate for a trading strategy this summer.

Yankees appear to have old Wang back  —  It's possible that Wednesday, under this very byline, the idea was floated that the Yankees losing even one game to the awful Nationals would be virtually inexcusable.  —  Well, now that the Yankees have indeed fallen to Washington, I'd like to amend that statement:

Rhodes, hero of '54 Series, dies  —  Dusty Rhodes, the incorrigible New York Giants free spirit who became the improbable hero of the 1954 World Series, died Wednesday in Las Vegas after a variety of illnesses, including diabetes and emphysema.  He was 82.  —  The Alabama-born Rhodes …

Q&A: Paul DePodesta  —  I first met Paul DePodesta on May 13, 2005 at a Cal Poly-Long Beach State game at Blair Field in Long Beach.  Paul, who was in his second year as the General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, joined area scout Bobby Darwin in the row directly in front of me.

The top trade-bait nominees in major league baseball  —  Buyers should include the following players on their pre-deadline shopping lists  —  There are six weeks left until the trading deadline, and the shoppers are out there.  They're scribbling their lists.  They have their carts.

It's Family Hour With A Kinder, Gentler Buzz Bissinger  —  Your Deadcast guest this week is Pulitzer Prize winner, author, and noted horsef**ker Buzz Bissinger, and he's still got some f-bombs in his pocket.  He was Artie Lange before Artie Lange was Artie Lange, you know.

Strained groin forces Halladay onto DL  —  Ace feels tightness in bullpen session; Downs also out  —  PHILADELPHIA — Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay will be placed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday, adding another arm to the club's list of walking wounded.

New York Mets lefty Oliver Perez throws three scoreless in rehab  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New York Mets left-hander Oliver Perez is getting back on track.  —  Perez, on the disabled list since May 7, threw 48 pitches in three shutout innings of an extended spring training game Thursday at the Mets' rehab facility.

Lou Piniella looking at changes for struggling Chicago Cubs … CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs just fired their hitting coach, and now, more changes are waiting on deck.  —  Tired of watching his team flail away at the plate, manager Lou Piniella is ready to “make some tough decisions” …

Vizquel ties coveted career hits record  —  Equals Aparicio with 2,677, most by Venezuelan native  —  ARLINGTON — Rangers fans can be pretty happy with Wednesday night.  Their team beat the Astros, 5-4, on a 10th-inning walk-off hit, former Ranger Ivan Rodriguez broke a Major League record …

Tampa Bay Rays talking with pitcher Pedro Martinez  —  DENVER — Pedro Martinez is talking about the Rays, but they're not saying anything about the veteran pitcher.  —  And it still appears unlikely they'll be getting together anytime soon.  —  Martinez, 37, told the Associated Press …

Owner's suite being named for Bush  —  Private ceremony honoring 43rd president set for Thursday  —  ARLINGTON — The Rangers are renaming the owner's suite at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington after President George W. Bush.  —  Bush, the 43rd president of the United States …

Darr double in 12th gives Arkansas 4-3 win  —  OMAHA (AP) — Andrew Darr doubled in the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning and Arkansas, which had been down to its last strike in the ninth, rallied to defeat Virginia 4-3 in the College World Series on Wednesday night.