Former New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox manager Ralph Houk dies  —  BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox say former manager Ralph Houk has died.  He was 90.  —  Red Sox spokesman Dick Bresciani says Houk died in Winter Haven, Fla., on Wednesday afternoon.  The team heard from Houk's grandson, who lives in the Boston area.

CUBS IN BRIEF: Brenly's hat in ring; Trammell biding time  —  Unlike the last two managerial hiring processes for the Cubs, in which general manager Jim Hendry had a top candidate in mind early, he says he considers this one wide open as he begins looking for Lou Piniella's replacement.

Sox lose in 11 innings  —  Jenks blows lead as Mariners rally for 2-1 victory  —  Shortstop Alexei Ramirez holds on to the ball after colliding with Seattle's Ryan Langerhans, forcing him out at second base in the eighth inning.  (DEAN RUTZ, McClatchy-Tribune / July 21, 2010)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, manager Joe Torre disciplined by MLB for actions vs. San Francisco Giants Tuesday  —  Major League Baseball suspended Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw for five games and manager Joe Torre for one game Wednesday for intentionally throwing …

Sources: Oswalt wants guarantee  —  Roy Oswalt is asking for the Phillies, or any team that acquires him, to guarantee his $16 million option in 2012 before he would approve a trade, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.  —  And the Phillies, for now at least, are balking at that request.

Leyland unfazed by Boesch's struggles  —  DETROIT — Since the All-Star break, the Tigers' offense has sputtered.  No one is feeling the struggles more than rookie slugger Brennan Boesch.  —  Prior to the break, the rookie owned a .342 average with 49 RBIs and 12 home runs in his 65 games since …

Thumbing His Way Back Home … Before we talk about sacrifice, or phantom blackbirds, or the Chipper Jones Momentum-Turn Hypothesis, let me tell you about the time Bobby Cox demolished a toilet with one bare hand.  —  It happened at Shea Stadium.  Braves shortstop Darrel Chaney slid into home …

This trip to Safeco a tad dangerous  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  OAKLAND, Calif. - If you thought the Red Sox [team stats] offense looked like it was running on fumes against the A's, try not to shudder at what's coming up next: four games in Safeco Field.

The Cardinals are the front runners for Roy Oswalt  —  A major league source tells me that, contrary to what we've all been hearing for the past several days, the Phillies are not the front runners for Roy Oswalt.  The St. Louis Cardinals are.  —  In fact, the Astros have been talking …

Longoria, Rays edge O's to take series  —  The Sports Network  —  Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Evan Longoria homered, doubled and drove in the game-winning run with a walk, as the Tampa Bay Rays held on for 5-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles in the rubber match of a three-game set at Camden Yards.

Whitey Herzog and Garry Templeton ... a memorable clash  —  As Whitey Herzog takes his place among baseball royalty, one episode in his colorful career was especially prominent in putting him on a Hall of Fame path.  It also represents one loose end that has never been thoroughly tied down.

Pedro says no to return this season but '11 still a possibility  —  Pedro Martinez has decided he will not pitch this season but he has not closed the door to pitching again in 2011, said a source close to Martinez today.  —  Several teams expressed interest in making Martinez a second-half addition …

Fortunate 50: SI.com's annual list of top earning athletes  —  You can't stop them — you can only hope to re-sign them.  Extracurricular scandals, contract holdouts and ugly labor negotiations seem to have rocked professional sports more than any other point in recent memory.

Clint Hartung, Modest Giant, Dies at 87  —  Any ballplayer who makes it to the big leagues has achieved much and can be said to have succeeded beyond the expectations he generated in youth.  But Clint Hartung is largely, and perhaps unfairly, remembered as the exception to the rule.

Source: Mets close to Cordero deal  —  The Mets are close to signing reliever Chad Cordero to a minor league deal, a team source confirmed.  The deal is not yet official.  —  Cordero declared himself a free agent when the Seattle Mariners wanted to send him to Triple-A Tacoma.