Madden: Yanks still can't overcome their fear of unknown  —  They waited 5-1/2 hours in the rain to play a baseball game at Yankee Stadium Thursday night, and if you didn't know better, it could have been because the Yankees wanted no part of Craig Stammen.  —  It mattered not that the …

Yankees are in area, so they'll watch Pedro  —  The Yankees will watch Pedro Martinez throw a bullpen session Friday in the Dominican Republic, a person familiar with the situation confirmed.  But the club would be interested in signing the three-time Cy Young Award winner only to a minor-league contract …

Bugging Harold Reynolds  —  I like Harold Reynolds.  I mean, I don't really know the guy, but he seems to be a likable guy on television.  And friends who do know him tell me he's a very likable guy.  And one of my favorite baseball images is that of Harold Reynolds in the moments …

For Sox, could there be a Plan F?  —  This gets a little complicated, but there may be a way for the Red Sox to squeeze six starters into five spots for the balance of this season while benefiting every Boston starter over the long-term.  —  Let's call it Plan F (here are options A through E from an earlier column).

Huff's RBI single off K-Rod in ninth lifts Orioles over Mets  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — Aubrey Huff drove in the winning run with a ninth-inning single off Francisco Rodriguez, capping a two-run rally that carried the Baltimore Orioles past the New York Mets 5-4 Thursday night.

Bradley's Buzz: Glavine tells WAGA he won't pitch in 2009  —  Tom Glavine informed Buck Lanford of Fox 5 Atlanta on Thursday he won't pitch in 2009.  Via text message, Glavine wrote: “I'm not going to pitch or do anything in baseball until at least next year.”

Cubs GM Jim Hendry wouldn't hesitate to deal  —  Will the breakdown of negotiations over the Cubs sale result in a short-term return to the payroll flexibility the Cubs had the last two seasons?  —  It's probably too soon to tell, especially if the Ricketts family stays firmly in the picture …

Phils need to sharpen mental game  —  The Phillies lost another home game Thursday, their fifth of their homestand, their19th of the season, their second in less than 24 hours.  —  Coincidence?  —  Or justice?  —  “It's done,” Ryan Howard said.  “I'm pretty much tired of hearing about it.

Let the Pedro bidding begin; is change coming to Washington?  —  No Nationals disgrace ... not this week, anyway  —  Just when folks were starting to draw comparisons between the 1962 Mets and the current Washington Nationals, the Nationals jumped up and put on an excellent three-day display in the Bronx …

Dusty Ryan Called Up  —  Sources close to Dusty Ryan are reporting that The Tigers have called up the young backstop from Toledo to presumably replace Dane Sardinha as the backup catcher.  This is a welcome move as the Tigers have been starting Gerald Laird too much and I believe it has been affecting his offense.

Tigers Bench Magglio Ordonez Indefinitely  —  News comes from Tom Gage of the Detroit News that the Tigers are benching Magglio Ordonez indefinitely.  —  Ordonez hasn't been terrible with the average or plate discipline, but his power has disappeared.  His season line is .273/.347/.343 …

Arizona State ousts North Carolina with late outburst  —  OMAHA — Arizona State will get a chance at payback against Texas Friday because of Kole Calhoun and Josh Spence.  —  Calhoun drove in six runs with a grand slam and a double and Spence gave ASU enough starting pitching to overcome …

Dodgers sign 23 draft picks  —  The Dodgers announced their first batch of draft signings, highlighted by fourth-round pick Mario (aka Angelo) Songco of Loyola Marymount.  —  Rd./PickNamePos.DOBB-THt.  /Wt.SchoolScout  —  4/127  —  Mario Songco  —  OF  —  9/9/1988  —  L-R  —  6-0/190

Yankees reward fans for patience and understanding with free ticket offer  —  The New York Yankees announced that they are rewarding all fans with tickets for today's game vs. the Washington Nationals for their patience and support with a free ticket offer.  Please note that the Yankees …

New York Mets Team Report  —  INSIDE PITCH  —  Gary Sheffield served as the designated hitter during the Mets' six-game stretch in American League ballparks.  Now, he is due to return to the outfield.  —  Manager Jerry Manuel said he would have to strategically rest the 40-year-old veteran …