Hall of Famer Rice criticizes Jeter to Little Leaguers  —  Buzz up!  —  BOSTON - For stoking the rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, this was almost too good to be true: Jim Rice, the former Boston slugger newly minted as a Hall of Famer, taking a shot at Derek Jeter

Dodgers' Jonathan Broxton says he's a little worn down  —  Closer is going through the dog days for the second year in a row.  —  Jonathan Broxton acknowledged that the wear and tear of the season is taking its toll on his mind and body.  —  “We've played 120 games already,” Broxton said.

PEDROIA'S EFFORT LEVEL LEAVES ROBBIE IN DUST  —  BOSTON — I formed a seven- man committee comprised of one NL GM, one AL GM, and five assistants — three NL and two AL — and posed this question:  —  If you could have Robinson Cano or Dustin Pedroia for the next five years, who would you take and why?

Sheffield: I never asked for a contract extension  —  problem making his mind known, be it to Mets management or the umpiring crew.  He'll get his money's worth somewhere.  —  Sheffield, who started in leftfield in Friday's 4-2 win over the Phillies, went 1-for-4 before getting thrown …

Crasnick: Oakland Athletics pitcher Justin Duchscherer has clinical depression  —  Oakland Athletics pitcher Justin Duchscherer has been diagnosed with clinical depression and will miss the rest of the 2009 season as he undergoes treatment for the condition, his agent said Friday.  —  Duchscherer

Billy Says No, Phillies Say No  —  Billy Wagner doesn't need the Phillies, and the Phillies don't need Billy Wagner.  —  The Mets, who are practically eliminated from postseason contention, put Wagner on waivers Wednesday for the possibility of trading him before the end of the season.

Laird and Romine confirmed for Fall League  —  Vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman emailed this morning with the full list of confirmed Yankees for the Arizona Fall League.  We already knew Ian Kennedy and Colin Curtis, but Newman added Austin Romine and Brandon Laird to the list.

Problem with Penny is hammered home  —  Penny for your thoughts.  Penny Hardaway.  Penny Marshall.  Three-penny opera.  Penny wise, pound foolish.  Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes.  —  Brad Penny.  —  Enough.  No need to pile on the guy.  Brad Penny is, after all, almost a .500 pitcher (7-8).

Thunder toss 10-inning one-hitter  —  Bush, four relievers combine on Trenton's 15th shutout  —  The Trenton Thunder's Eastern League-leading 15th shutout was unconventional, to say the least.  —  Paul Bush and four relievers combined on a one-hitter Friday night at Waterfront Park …

Santana … TORONTO(AP) Vladimir Guerrero and Juan Rivera homered, Ervin Santana won his fourth straight start and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-3 on Saturday.  —  Guerrero broke a 3-all tie with a solo shot in the sixth inning and Rivera provided some insurance with a two-run drive in the eighth.

Talk about Blanco returning is clear  —  Add catcher Henry Blanco to the short list of veteran free agents the Padres might be interested in retaining for the 2010 season.  —  “Henry has done a nice job, particularly as an example and mentor for our young Latin American players,” Padres General Manager Kevin Towers said last night.

Cubs' Piniella: I'm staying for 2010  —  With ownership issue settled, Lou intends to manage next year  —  LOS ANGELES — With news Friday that terms of the Cubs' sale to the Ricketts family were finalized, one of the next major orders of business followed quickly, with manager Lou Piniella telling …

Melvin not in selling mode  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Washington, D.C. - Despite the Brewers' free-fall out of the playoff race, general manager Doug Melvin told me Friday he has no plans to sell off players before September.  —  In a period of only 12 days …