He must have his reasons, but what are they?  —  So it's official: He really is an idiot.  —  I say this with no malice and all due respect.  “Idiot,” you must remember, was the title of Johnny Damon's 2005 best-selling autobiography (a work often compared with Tolstoy's “Anna Karenina” and Dostoevsky's “Notes From the Underground").

Astros outlast Phillies in 16 innings  —  PHILADELPHIA—The Houston Astros' wild 4-2 win over Philadelphia lasted 16 innings, over 5 hours, and saw Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt play left field and ground into the final out Tuesday night.  —  Oswalt became the first Phillies pitcher to play …

Selig honored with statue at Miller Park  —  MILWAUKEE — Allan H.  “Bud” Selig finally has a permanent place on the plaza outside Miller Park.  One of the other men so honored wonders what took so long.  —  “I honestly believe the first statue that should have gone up outside this stadium is Bud Selig's …

Marlins Get More for Their Money Than Mets  —  You have to wonder if the Mets, deep down, are more frustrated or inspired by the example of the Florida Marlins.  Year after year, the Marlins stay competitive in the National League East, getting extraordinary value for what they spend.

Few Have Played Shortstop at Jeter's Advanced Age  —  Before this season, it would have in some parts of the city been controversial to suggest that Derek Jeter is but a man, as prone to age and frailty as anyone else.  With three-quarters of the 2010 season in the books and the Captain …

Mailbag: Clay Buchholz can improve  —  Editor's note: Curt Schilling answers user questions in an occasional mailbag for ESPNBoston.com.  Click here to ask Curt a question for his next mailbag.  —  Q. Hey Curt, I'm glad you're doing this mailbag and we can always count on your honesty and experience.

Marlins' profits came at taxpayer expense  —  The swindlers who run the Florida Marlins got exposed Monday.  They are as bad as anyone on Wall Street, scheming, misleading and ultimately sticking taxpayers with a multibillion-dollar tab.  Corporate fraud is alive and well in Major League Baseball.

Torii Hunter doesn't have the cure  —  After 10-3 loss to Rays, Angels outfielder seems resigned to team's fate this season … ANAHEIM, Calif. — Torii Hunter still isn't comfortable running out to right field.  The 14-year center fielder, who made the move to right field to make room …

Skydiver gets stuck on Rangers Ballpark flagpole  —  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Just a bit outside.  —  A U.S. Army skydiver was left dangling on a flagpole at Rangers Ballpark after his parachute got entangled during a pregame jump Tuesday night.  —  The Rangers said the unidentified jumper …

Without big finish, Minaya could be out as Mets GM at year's end … Mets general manager Omar Minaya's job situation isn't nearly secure at season's end, despite what some misinterpreted as an iron-clad endorsement from team owner Fred Wilpon nearly three weeks ago.

Postgame: New plan for Leake?  —  Reds pitcher Mike Leake was hammered in his second relief appearance during the 16-5 loss to the Giants.  Leake entered in the fifth when it was 7-5 and let the game get away during a six-run inning.  —  Out of eight batters faced, Leake retired one.

Can the Mets make 2011 interesting?  —  Wait ‘til next year?  Bad contracts, Wilpons’ financial issues pose major hurdles  —  ESPNNewYork.com  —  The Bernie Madoff scandal is one reason the Mets' finances are under the microscope.  —  Man up, New York Mets fans.  —  It doesn't necessarily get better next year.

Joe Morgan's Confidence  —  I was watching the Scott Van Pelt Show this morning (yeah, I don't know why I was watching either), and I was, as always, excited that he had Joe Morgan phone in for an interview (as he often does).  —  Scott asked him about Jose Bautista's season-long power outburst.