Surgery on Youkilis set for tomorrow  —  loading video...  (please wait a moment)  —  Requires Adobe Flash Player  —  Terry Francona said Kevin Youkilis will have season-ending surgery tomorrow on his right thumb tomorrow in Cleveland.  Dr. Thomas Graham, who examined the first baseman today, will perform the surgery.

Bad call helps Phils beat Marlins 5-4  —  MIAMI—The sharp grounder in the ninth inning skipped over the third-base bag, an apparent game-winning hit for Gaby Sanchez and the Florida Marlins.  —  Third-base umpire Bob Davidson saw things differently.  He ruled the ball foul …

Interview: Pedro Martinez  —  Photo by dbking, used with a Creative Commons license  —  Future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez, who enjoyed one of the great peaks of any pitcher in baseball history, recently agreed to take a few questions from me.  He did so as part of the Gillette Fusion ProGlide Summer Job program.

Greinke doubts Royals' rebuilding plan will bear fruit soon  —  Zack Greinke isn't sure he wants to endure the growing pains he knows are coming as the Royals gear up for another youth-based rebuilding plan.  —  It matters little that growing optimism surrounds numerous prospects currently …

Yankees not very bossy  —  They're in first, but fire is lacking  —  Team Checkbook — and I say that with all due respect — has not had as easy a time maneuvering itself into its current spot in the American League East a half-game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays as you might imagine.

SABR 2012: in Twin Cities  —  News from this week's SABR convention, at the annual business convention, SABR big wigs decided that the 2012 convention will be in Minnesota.  Start planning, people.  We can all stay at Aaron Gleeman's House That Blog Built.  —  (Wait, 2012?  What about 2011?

Hinske snaps 0-for-17 streak with homer  —  ATLANTA—Eric Hinske snapped an 0-for-17 hitless streak with a tiebreaking, sixth-inning home run off Tim Lincecum to help the Atlanta Braves to a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night.  —  Alex Gonzalez hit a two-run homer …

Braves take series win, but Medlen injured  —  Chipper, McCann, Melky homer; starter hurts right elbow  —  ATLANTA — Releasing some of the frustration created by his club's recent offensive woes, Brian McCann extended his mastery of Mike Pelfrey and homered in the same game as Chipper Jones for the first time in more than a year.

Webb gives up on starting in '10, eyes 'pen  —  PHOENIX — Time is running out for Brandon Webb to see any game action and the D-backs' ace has given up on the notion of starting a game this year.  —  “I think starting is now out of the question,” he said.  “Starting is unrealistic.”