Mariners should seriously consider pulling trigger on any Chone Figgins deal with Atlanta  —  Going to try to write this without ticking everybody off.  By now, most of you know that Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones is out for the season.  We discussed, prior to the trade deadline …

San Francisco Giants acquire Jose Guillen from Kansas City Royals for player, cash  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have traded outfielder Jose Guillen to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for a player to be named later and cash considerations.  —  Guillen

Papelbon, Sox suffer tough loss to Jays  —  Closer allows three runs in ninth for sixth blown save of season  —  TORONTO — When Jonathan Papelbon walks off the mound in the ninth inning of a tie game, you know it has been an exceedingly tough day for the star reliever.

Mets organization shows a lack of backbone  —  Only the most naïve among us believed the Mets would finish their season in quiet desperation.  That would've been too much to ask of this broken franchise.  Instead, Francisco Rodriguez spent Wednesday night in jail after allegedly pummeling …

Phillies shock Dodgers with 4 runs in 8th and 9th  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The biggest challenge for Carlos Ruiz was escaping a Philadelphia Phillies barrage.  —  His game-winning, two-run double in the ninth inning capped a frantic rally from seven runs down and topple the Los Angeles Dodgers , 10-9, on Thursday night.

Prospect Hot Sheet: Aug. 13  —  Team: Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (International)  —  Why He's Here: .520/.556/1.000 (13-for-25), 6 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 4 SO  —  The Scoop: When Montero was hitting under .220 early in June, many worried that he had suddenly regressed at the plate.

San Diego Padres ace Mat Latos learns to trust his teammates — and himself  —  Once-brash 22-year-old ace has learned to trust his Padres teammates, himself  —  SAN DIEGO — On a late July day in Cincinnati last season, a grouchy Heath Bell headed toward his locker when he heard Padres …

Baldelli headed to Durham  —  Word from Port Charlotte tonight is that OF/DH Rocco Baldelli is taking his comeback attempt to Triple-A Durham.  —  Baldelli hit .283 for the Class A Stone Crabs in 12 games, and finished strong, going 3-for-4 on Thursday, and drawing his first walk.

Pushing the Dodgers' Matt Kemp issue closer to brink  —  During a season in which a shrugging Matt Kemp has been benched and berated, somebody has finally stepped to his defense.  —  It is a giant step that could eventually lead him out of town.  —  Dave Stewart, Kemp's agent …

POLL: Is Mariano Rivera the greatest pitcher in baseball history?  —  Mariano Rivera is 40 years old, still pitching extremely well, and is first in baseball history in ERA+.  Among active pitchers, he's ranked first in ERA, WHIP, H/9IP, K/BB, HR/9IP, WPA, and fielding percentage.

Nolasco, Stanton lead Marlins past Nationals 5-0  —  WASHINGTON—Ricky Nolasco rebounded from a rough start by taking a shutout into the seventh inning, Mike Stanton homered for the second consecutive game, and the Florida Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 5-0 Thursday night to complete a three-game sweep.