RICCIARDI ON HALLADAY  —  Talked to Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi.  He also will be a guest when I co-host “The Show” this afternoon from 4-6 p.m. on Sirius 210/XM175.  He made these 10 points in our phone conversation about the potential of trading Roy Halladay:

BLUE JAYS RELEASE RYAN, ACTIVATE DOWNS  —  The Toronto Blue Jays gave reliever B.J. Ryan his unconditional release and activated left-hander Scott Downs from the 15-day disabled list and on Wednesday.  —  Ryan, 33, had appeared in 25 games this season, posting a 1-1 record with just two saves and an ERA of 6.53.

Sources: Rockies, BoSox explore trade options  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX.  —  add this  —  The Rockies have discussed a Garrett Atkins-for-Takashi Saito trade with the Red Sox …

Kershaw twirls more zeroes in Dodger romp  —  As they say in the news biz, “We have a developing story.”  And it's not about Manny Ramirez.  —  Clayton Kershaw pitched six shutout innings in the Dodgers' 8-0 blanking of the New York Mets.  — In his past five starts …

Strike three for Lenny Dykstra: Former Met files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection  —  It's strike three - and Chapter 11 - for Lenny Dykstra.  —  The one-time Mets hero, facing divorce, foreclosure on his mansion and a multitude of lawsuits, filed for bankruptcy protection in California, his attorney said Wednesday.

Bartolo Colon of Chicago White Sox missing with Triple-A start scheduled Thursday  —  CHICAGO — Right-hander Bartolo Colon, whose whereabouts had been uncertain a day earlier, is now expected to join the Chicago White Sox's Triple-A team in Charlotte and make his scheduled injury rehab start Thursday, a spokesman said.

How the Nats Lost Last Night  —  Yesterday evening, I wrote that one of the reasons you have to keep watching this baseball team every night is because of the chance “that you'll see something the universe has never seen before.”  That was well-timed.  —  “In a weird, out of body experience way …

KAWAKAMI, BRAVES TOP CUBS IN RUBBER MATCH  —  Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Casey Kotchman hit a solo homer and Kenshin Kawakami pitched six strong innings, as the Atlanta Braves got by the Chicago Cubs, 4-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

Lowrie activated, optioned  —  Jed Lowrie was activated today, and was immediately optioned to Lowell to get his at bats in tonight.  With Lowrie's rehab stint ending on Friday, the Sox needed to make a move to allow him to continue to get at bats in the minors.  Lowrie had options, so that was the easiest way to go.

RODRIGUEZ SHUTS DOWN PIRATES AS ASTROS ROLL  —  The Sports Network  —  Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Wandy Rodriguez threw his first shutout of the season as the Houston Astros took a 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the finale of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park.

If fans don't boo Manny, why should the media?  —  Outrage over drug use doesn't matter to people who see it as only a game  —  Manny Ramirez may be a drug cheat in the eyes of media members and baseball diehards, but the casual fans could care less, writes Mike Celizic.

Earl Weaver … “TEAM SPEED?  GET SOME BIG#$@&*%$*!  WHO CAN HIT THE #$@&*%!  $* BALL OUT OF THE PARK!”  —  On a Saturday afternoon in mid-March, the most irascible manager in the history of the Baltimore Orioles is watching an Orioles pitcher get pasted, one hitter after another.

BLS Live Blog: A chat with Philadelphia's Shane Victorino  —  BLS Note: Earlier today, we were joined by Shane Victorino  —  for a little live chat that included topics like the chances of Roy Halladay  —  becoming a Phillie, Shane's favorite restaurants in Las Vegas and his take on Jon & Kate Plus 8.