Ballbug: Defensive Numbers — Today, we're going to talk at some length … (Joe Posnanski)

Mets' Francisco Rodriguez arrested after allegedly punching father-in-law, charged with assault — Francisco Rodriguez is arrested after allegedly punching his father-in-law Wednesday night. After the tussle, an unidentified family member is taken from Citi Field (below) in an ambulance.

Discussion: New York Post, Amazin' Avenue, ESPN, HardballTalk and Yahoo! Sports

Police: New York Mets' Francisco Rodriguez charged with assault on father-in-law … NEW YORK — Police say New York Mets reliever Francisco Rodriguez was charged with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, after an altercation with his father-in-law at Citi Field.

Discussion: Mets Today, Mets Merized Online and Long Live Shea Stadium

Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:

Rodriguez to be charged with assault — Involved in altercation with father-in-law on Wednesday night — NEW YORK — Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez was taken into custody late Wednesday night and will be charged with third-degree assault following an altercation with a family member, according to multiple published reports.

Discussion: New York Times and Faith and Fear in Flushing

Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:

Post Game: Rockies 6 Mets 2 — The Mets (56-57) lost to the Rockies (59-54) by the score of 6 to 2. — Angel Pagan hit a two-run HR to start the game. — Jon Niese pitched seven scoreless innings... again. — Francisco Rodriguez watched from the bullpen as Manny Acosta …

Discussion: Amazin' Avenue

Wall Street Journal:
Francisco Rodriguez Arrested After Dispute Following Game

Discussion: My Summer Family

Sports Illustrated:
Mets closer Rodriguez charged with assault

Discussion: Fanhouse MLB Blog

Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:

Giants Acquire Mike Fontenot — San Francisco is 2,100 miles away from Chicago, but Mike Fontenot didn't have to go far at all when the Giants acquired him today. The Cubs are in San Francisco, so all Fontenot had to do was walk from the visitors clubhouse to the home clubhouse.

Discussion: MLB.com, MLB Daily Dish, GoatRiders of the Apocalypse and Yahoo! Sports

Burrell's homer lifts Giants over Cubs — The Sports Network — San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Pat Burrell hit the tie-breaking solo homer off Jason Berg leading off the bottom of the eighth inning, lifting San Francisco to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs.

Discussion: McCovey Chronicles

Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:

Pieces come together for Red Sox — Fill-ins deliver in big way — TORONTO - On July 31, the Red Sox [team stats] stated their case that they were going to sink or swim with the players they had. — With the pages on the calendar flipping by, the Sox' hard-scrabble …

Discussion: Red Sox Monster, Over the Monster, Boston Globe, MLB.com, Yahoo! Sports and The Joy of Sox

Discussion: The Bottom Line and Yahoo! Sports

TSN.ca:
Marcum, Blue Jays take another shot at solving Red Sox

Discussion: Canadian Press and Baseball Prospectus

James Hall / MLB.com:
Cecil's next start pushed back to Saturday

Discussion: Batter's Box Interactive …

Kentucky Post:

200 treated for heat-related issues Wednesday — CINCINNATI - Around 200 fans were treated for heat problems Wednesday during the Cincinnati Reds/St. Louis Cardinals game at Great American Ball Park. — The game time temperature was 93 degrees, but it was much hotter in the concrete stands.

Discussion: Associated Press

ESPN:

Notes, Stats, and Trends … ARLINGTON, Texas — Once Marcus Thames finally put the New York Yankees ahead, there was no way Mariano Rivera was going to have a repeat performance. — One loss in Texas was enough for the longtime Yankees closer. — Thames hit a long homer in the eighth inning …

Discussion: Boston Herald, ESPN and BBTF's Baseball Primer …

Discussion: Pinstripe Alley, NY Daily News, MLB, BronxBanterBlog.com and Associated Press

Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:

Torre sticks with Gibbons over Kemp to start — Dodgers manager rides hot hand for second straight day — PHILADELPHIA — Former Dodgers second baseman Orlando Hudson will look at Joe Torre's lineup for the first two games against the Phillies and know exactly what center fielder Matt Kemp is going through.

Discussion: True Blue LA

Discussion: True Blue LA and Fanhouse MLB Blog

Joe Posnanski:

Defensive Numbers — Today, we're going to talk at some length with John Dewan, owner of “Baseball Info Solutions,” and a man who has gone to greater lengths than just about anybody in America to study baseball defense. But before we get to John and some talk that is likely to start arguments …

Discussion: Nationals Journal and THE BOOK

Associated Press:

Bergesen pitches 2-hitter, Orioles beat Indians — CLEVELAND—Brad Bergesen pitched a two-hitter for his first win in nearly three months and the surging Baltimore Orioles beat the Cleveland Indians 3-1 Wednesday night. — The Orioles won their fourth in a row and moved to 8-1 under new manager Buck Showalter.

Discussion: Let's Go Tribe! and Camden Chat

TSN.ca:

Danks dominant as White Sox down Twins — The Sports Network — Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - John Danks stifled Minnesota over eight frames and Carlos Quentin highlighted Chicago's offense with a two-run homer, as the White Sox upended the Twins, 6-1, in a key American League Central matchup.

Discussion: Twinkie Town and South Side Sox

TSN.ca:

Braden goes the distance to help A's down Mariners — The Sports Network — Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Dallas Braden threw his fourth complete game of the season — and of his career — while Mark Ellis doubled three times and drove in as many runs in helping the Athletics salvage their three-game series with the Mariners, 5-1.

Discussion: Athletics Nation

Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:

Gomez ready to begin rehab assignment — MILWAUKEE — Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez, sidelined since being beaned on Aug. 2 in Chicago, will begin a Minor League rehabilitation assignment on Friday at Triple-A Nashville. He expects to return to active duty for the Brewers one week later.

Bernie Wilson / Associated Press:

Correia, Hairston Jr. lead Padres to 8-5 win — SAN DIEGO—Kevin Correia took a one-hit shutout into the seventh inning and Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a two-run home run to lead the San Diego Padres to an 8-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.

Discussion: Gaslamp Ball