Pirates need to make decision on Russell  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on MLB on FOX.  Follow him on Twitter.  —  The Pirates, like many perennial also-rans, seem to exist in their own universe …

Arroyo homers, leads Reds over Dodgers 7-1  —  CINCINNATI—Hitting.  Pitching.  Defense.  Bronson Arroyo did it all.  —  The lanky right-hander hit the first of Cincinnati's three homers off rookie John Ely, pitched seven innings and completed three double plays while covering first base Thursday …

Ramirez Explored Exemption to Drug Policy  —  Around the time Major League Baseball suspended Manny Ramirez for violating its drug program last season, his representatives told officials in the commissioner's office that they planned to file for permission to use a banned drug that would boost his testosterone levels.

Mets have eyes set on arms … Baseball Tonight Live … Touch 'Em All

Suspended Torrealba rails against ump  —  Catcher is appealing his 3-game suspension  —  The suspension of Yorvit Torrealba had been issued, and while the Padres are appealing to have the length of punishment cut down, their catcher was making the kind of personal appeal that could have the opposite effect.

Cupid strikes: Mariners bullpen catcher marrying woman he spotted in stands  —  Jason Phillips grabbed a baseball, scribbled his phone number on it, got the woman's attention and tossed it to her.  And for the rest of the game, he was left to wonder how she'd respond.  —  The courtship started in a bullpen, of all places.

Angels may have to go looking for shortstop because of injuries  —  With Maicer Izturis is on the disabled list and Erick Aybar possibly joining him, General Manager Tony Reagins keeps open option of trade or free-agent signing.  —  With Maicer Izturis on the disabled list and Erick Aybar possibly …

Maddon: OF Matt Joyce “pounding on the door pretty loudly”  —  It is certainly not lost on the Rays how well OF Matt Joyce has been doing in Triple-A Durham.  —  Joyce, recovering from an elbow strain that has sidelined him in spring training, is hitting .343 with the Bulls, having reached base in his last 10 at bats.

Rangers looking to add high-end hurler  —  Club could target big names like Lee, Oswalt  —  MIAMI — The Rangers are calling many clubs and inquiring about starting pitching.  That includes Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee, according to industry sources.  —  There is nothing imminent on any front …

Cubs close to signing first-round pick  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs have agreed to terms with first-round pick Hayden Simpson, pending a physical, and the right-handed pitcher could sign this weekend.  —  Simpson, who was the 16th overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft out of Southern Arkansas …

Yanks ban vuvuzela pests' instrument of torture  —  Those vuvuzela horns may be all the rage at the World Cup in South Africa, but the Yankees won't let fans toot, toot, toot for the home team.  —  When “bleacher creature” Anthony Zachariadis wailed on one of the plastic horns at Tuesday night's game …

O's have chips to play at Trade Deadline  —  Wigginton, Millwood most likely to be dealt to contenders  —  SAN DIEGO — As June hits the midway-marker, the steady flow of trade rumors picks up steam and general managers around baseball make inquiries and begin to delve into the inventories of organizations.

Scioscia's in favor of scrapping baseball's postgame scrum  —  The season-ending injury via postgame party is threatening to become an epidemic in Southern California.  First, the Los Angeles Angels lost star first baseman Kendry Morales  —  for the season when he broke his leg celebrating his game-winning grand slam on May 29.

Rare Documents: MLB Constitution and By-Laws Now Available Online  —  THE BIZ OF BASEBALL HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH HARD TO FIND DOCS  —  Two of Major League Baseball's rarest documents have now been published within The Biz of Baseball's document archive.  —  A searchable version of the last update …

Stephen Strasburg: 'I'm not the face of the franchise'  —  It feels like much, much longer, since he's crammed in a franchise-shifting debut, 22 strikeouts, an appearance on Letterman, a request from the Hall of Fame and the cover of Sports Illustrated.  But Stephen Strasburg has been a major leaguer for nine days.

Selig awards 2012 All-Star Game to Kansas City  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig says the 2012 Major League All-Star Game will be played in Kansas City.  —  Selig made the formal announcement Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium, following through on a promise he made four years ago.