City police arrest 4 in theft of Ripken's No. 8 statue  —  Overnight incident at Camden Yards captured on surveillance video  —  Two barricades surround the remaining base of a statue commemorating the number of retired Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr. The No. 8 statue was stolen overnight …

Joba awaits playoff role  —  If the Yankees finish with the best record in the American League, they'll get to choose which division series schedule they would play, and that could determine whether Joba Chamberlain pitches in the bullpen or the rotation in October.

Discovering Derek is scout's honor for Groch  —  Dick Groch still has the reports he filed as a scout watching Derek Jeter play in high school.  They read: “Five-tool player, blue-chipper, a Yankee,” Groch says.  Groch wrote that Jeter would “come into Yankee Stadium, compete at a championship level with high performance.

Astros correct Valverde's age mistake  —  GM Wade said closer's birth date listing was paperwork error  —  HOUSTON — Astros general manger Ed Wade said Wednesday a discrepancy in paperwork led to closer Jose Valverde being listed at two different ages in the team's previous two media guides.

Rockies' Marquis shines on despite struggles  —  All-star puts stop to his struggles with strong start; Rockies 19 over .500  —  The Rockies limped into Tuesday night's game against the Cincinnati Reds with two of their top sluggers straining to stand upright, their lower backs protesting with pain.

Beltran doubles, just misses slam in return  —  On a bruised right knee,  —  Carlos Beltran still made a giant leap forward last night, when he returned to the Mets' lineup after an 11-week absence and showed that he's not far away from regaining his All-Star form.  Maybe just a few feet short.

Bumgarner solid, but Giants lose ground  —  San Francisco falls three games back in Wild Card race  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Tuesday was a good day for the Giants' future.  Their present-day prospects, however, dimmed somewhat.  —  Making a surprise start for Tim Lincecum …

Swisher's walk-off give Yanks 90th win  —  Jeter remains three hits behind Gehrig with latest hitless game  —  NEW YORK — With 47 home victories, just one shy of their total from last season, the Yankees have already ensured that the inaugural season at the new Yankee Stadium has witnessed a fair share of thrilling moments.

On That Stuff  —  Justin Verlander.  A.J. Burnett.  Ubaldo Jimenez.  These are the names that make scouts salivate.  Why?  One word.  Stuff.  —  Two components determine how nasty a pitcher's stuff truly is: velocity and movement.  We've had radar guns to track the league's hardest throwers …

How NY Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher got his groove back  —  NEW YORK — It was the middle of November and I was in Northern Virginia, trolling Redskins practice looking for stories to write for my old paper.  Nick Swisher was at his dad's house in Parkersburg, W.V., trying to figure out what had gone wrong and how to fix it.

Hank Steinbrenner staying silent this season  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Remember Hank  —  Steinbrenner?  —  How can't you?  —  The chain-smoking oldest son of George Steinbrenner catapulted himself into the spotlight late in 2007, after another early Yankees departure from the postseason.

Dustin Pedroia gets chatty with homers  —  Big talk by mighty mite  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  Last night's 10-0 laugher was finished early enough for the Red Sox [team stats] to enjoy a few yuks as the game progressed.  —  Dustin Pedroia [stats] …

Cards approach DeRosa about 2010  —  MILWAUKEE — General manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday that the Cardinals have significant interest in retaining pending free agent Mark DeRosa and that he has made known the club's position to the player.  —  “Recognizing where we are …

Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky  —  Todd Drew's seats from Yankee Stadium II.  Now resting comfortably on Marsha Drew's deck down south.  —  I am honored to announce that Todd Drew's Lasting Yankee Stadium Memory has been selected by Leigh Montville to be in The Best American Sports Writing 2009 (due out next month).

Cure for baseball fever is potion No. 9  —  Take a look at players who wore it and records tied to it  —  Nine has at least as much significance in baseball as any of its countless cousins — and more than most.  Nine men on a side, if only in the National League.