Jays unfairly ripped by media for Halladay negotiations; more notes … The Blue Jays came out of the trading deadline with the best pitcher in baseball, not only for the rest of this season but also next, and yet the consensus among media pundits was to assign them to the “losers” column in their unofficial scorekeeping.

Longoria's homer in 13th leads Rays past Red Sox 4-2  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Boston could only keep Evan Longoria's (FSY) bat silent for so long.  —  Tampa Bay's All-Star slugger struck out four times, yet continued his torrid hitting against the Boston Red Sox with two homers Tuesday night …

Back Issue Shuts Down Glaus Indefinitely  —  NEW YORK — Third baseman Troy Glaus will not be returning to a minor-league rehab anytime soon and his prospects for playing at all this season may be in jeopardy after a bulging disc in his lower back failed to respond to a recent series of injections.

First Round Update  —  Twenty of the 32 first-rounders remain unsigned today, 13 days before the Aug. 17 deadline.  At the same point last year, all but 11 of the 2008 first-rounders had agreed to terms.  —  No first-rounder has signed since Louisiana State outfielder Jared Mitchell …

Atkins leads Rox past Philly  —  PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies, those big bad bullies of the East Coast, those defending champions, seemed intent on putting a big hurt on the little team from the Mountain time zone.  —  More than 45,000 Philly fans were roaring at the first pitch …

Hank Aaron: Release 104 names on 2003 PED list, reinstate Rose  —  PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Hank Aaron wants the list of players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003 to be released.  —  In a wide-ranging interview Tuesday night with the Associated Press …

Bats cool off as Angels lose to White Sox  —  Angels have only five hits, but defense and the bullpen also have a hand in defeat.  —  Reporting from Chicago — We interrupt this offensive onslaught to bring you a dose of reality for the Angels: Their booming bats came tumbling back to earth Tuesday night …

Minor League Update  —  Just confusing  —  Drew Stubbs, OF, Reds (Triple-A Louisville)  —  Monday's stats: 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB  —  So the Reds keep throwing Willy Taveras out in centerfield pretty much every day, despite the fact that he's pulling off the rare double treat …

Does God Think Using Steroids Is Wrong?  —  If I'm lucky, when I ask my undergraduate students why you shouldn't punch a stranger in the face, I hear “because it's wrong” rather than “because I'd get in trouble.”  In either case, though, that question is enthusiastically answered.

Derek Jeter for MVP  —  This is a guest post by Rebecca from This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes.  —  His .322 average leads all Yankees, and small sample size doesn't apply — only one other player has amassed more plate appearances this season.  —  His .396 OBP is by far the highest among starters.

Upset stomach sidelines LA's Hudson  —  Castro steps into starting lineup for Dodgers vs. Brewers  —  LOS ANGELES — Less than 90 minutes before the Dodgers' game against the Brewers on Tuesday night, team officials announced that second baseman Orlando Hudson would miss the game because of an upset stomach.

New York Yankees' Ian Kennedy throws off mini-mound  —  TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees right-hander Ian Kennedy, still recovering from an aneurysm, threw 25 pitches off a mini-mound Tuesday and hopes to play in minor league games before the season ends.  —  Kennedy had surgery May 12 …

Castillo convicted for throwing at fan  —  DAYTON, Ohio — A judge has convicted a minor-league pitcher of injuring a fan when he threw a baseball during an on-field melee in Dayton last year.  —  Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Connie Price found Julio Castillo guilty Tuesday …