Swisher learning the ropes in outfield  —  New York (80-48) vs. Chicago (64-65), 1:05 p.m. ET  —  NEW YORK — Long before Robinson Cano launched a game-winning pellet into the sky over Yankee Stadium on Friday night, Nick Swisher made it possible by unloading a slippery seed to home plate with deadly accuracy.

Scattered thoughts  —  In another move, the Orioles announced that they've traded Ryan Freel, and he wasn't in the organization anymore.  They just couldn't resist.  —  Seriously though, I wouldn't get too shook up about the Orioles surrendering the player they obtained from the Cubs for Freel.

Rays send message with trade  —  Golly, I sure didn't see this one coming:  —  The Los Angeles Angels, looking to bolster their rotation for the last five weeks of the season and in October, acquired leftt-hander Scott Kazmir of the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.  —  “This is a surprise.

The reason isn't clear, but Manny Ramirez isn't right  —  (Doug Pensinger / Getty Images / August 27)  —  The Dodgers slugger is missing in action again in a loss at Cincinnati.  —  He used to own this kind of moment, circling it with his giant swing, swarming it with his giant smile.

Wilpon Addresses Doubts Over Madoff Losses and Mets  —  Fred Wilpon, the Mets' principal owner, tried Friday to temper concerns that he and his team had been scarred financially by the losses caused by a vast Ponzi scheme run by his former friend Bernard L. Madoff.  He said he had no intention of selling the team.

A setback for Wakefield  —  Tim Wakefield has been scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday against the Rays because his back is acting up.  He will be evaluated on Monday.  —  Wakefield went on the disabled list in July when he woke up in Texas feeling pains in his back …

Jake Fox's grand slam lifts Cubs over Mets  —  Jake Fox hit his first career grand slam, Milton Bradley extended his hitting tear and the Cubs beat the New York Mets 11-4 on Saturday.  —  Fox finished with a career-high five RBIs.  His bases-loaded homer finished Mets starter Bobby Parnell …

Red Sox rally for rain-delayed win over Toronto  —  BOSTON—J.D. Drew had two hits, including an eighth-inning double that put David Ortiz in position to score the tiebreaking run, and the Boston Red Sox rallied from a pair of deficits to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Friday night.

Hanson, Braves no match for Phillies' Howard  —  Philadelphia — When Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen return to their Buckhead apartment next week, the Braves rookies will have one more thing to talk about.  —  How to pitch to Phillies slugger Ryan Howard.  Or, how not to.

Twins Designate R.A. Dickey For Assignment  —  According LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins have designated right-hander R.A. Dickey for assignment in order to clear roster space for newly acquired reliever Ron Mahay.  —  Dickey, a knuckleballer who turns 35 in October …

Yankees win 10-0, move 33 over .500  —  As I blogged earlier, thanks to a heads up from Pete, the Yankees are now 81-48, putting them 33 games over .500 for the first times since Sept. 26, 2006.  That isn't all that is of interest from today.  Here's the rest:

Rosenthal's Full Count Video: Penny, Harden, Lidge  —  Rumor machine Ken Rosenthal has a new Full Count Video up at FoxSports.com.  Let's dive on in...  - The outcome of this weekend's games could determine which team the recently released Brad Penny signs with.

Russell benches Doumit in Pirates' 8-6 loss  —  Duke shelled for seven runs in 19th loss in a row at Miller Park  —  MILWAUKEE — What happened on the field in the Pirates' 8-6 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers was not really the news last night, and not just because it resurrected …

Wright antsy but cautious  —  CHICAGO — Given two weeks to mull it over, David Wright now says the Mets were right to be so cautious with him.  —  The All-Star third baseman looked none the worse from his Aug. 15 concussion as he rejoined the Mets here this morning for batting practice …