Chicago White Sox close to obtaining Manny Ramirez from Los Angeles Dodgers  —  The White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers may be closing in on a deal to send Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez to the South Side in exchange for minor league prospects.  —  The deal appeared to be close Wednesday …

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").

Rockies rally from 9-run deficit to beat the Braves 12-10  —  Through three innings, the best pitch thrown by a person in a Rockies' uniform was delivered by Ken Burns.  —  He was in town promoting the “10th Inning,” a follow-up to his landmark baseball film, when he fired a pregame strike to Miguel Olivo.

Martinez on DL at Triple-A Buffalo  —  NEW YORK — Three days after aggravating his surgically repaired right knee in a game at Triple-A Buffalo, outfielder Fernando Martinez landed on Buffalo's seven-day disabled list with right knee soreness.  —  Martinez, 21, was batting .253 for Buffalo …

Beltre: Ejection was uncalled for  —  So it turns out Adrian Beltre was ejected because he told umpire Dan Bellino that he wasn't talking to him.  —  After he struck out in the second inning, Beltre was talking to Felix Hernandez in the Seattle dugout, playfully telling him in Spanish that would hit a home run his next time up.

New York Yankees not targeting Hiroki Kuroda, GM says  —  TORONTO — General manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday that even though the pitching-depleted New York Yankees are engaged in a bitter division battle with the Tampa Bay Rays, he does not anticipate going outside the organization for help before the Aug. 31 waiver deadline.

Williams always on call  —  Sox GM taking bum rap for weekend personnel decisions as roster moves weren't appealing  —  We can agree Ken Williams laughing at a comedy club in Schaumburg on Saturday night while his White Sox were grinding through their longest day of the season in Kansas City looked bad.

Twins Claim Randy Flores  —  The Twins claimed lefty reliever Randy Flores off waivers from the Rockies, according to a press release.  The 35-year-old posted a 2.96 ERA with 5.9 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 in 27.1 innings for the Rockies this year, but the Rockies designated him for assignment last week.

Guerrero, Hamilton power Wilson, Texas past Twins  —  ARLINGTON, Texas—Vladimir Guerrero and Josh Hamilton homered in support of C.J. Wilson, who won his sixth consecutive decision for the Texas Rangers, in a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins in a matchup of division leaders Wednesday night.

Mariners win 4-2 to get a split  —  Game over: Mariners 4, Red Sox 2  —  Lowell singled but Nava grounded into a double play and Lowrie flied to left.  —  The Sox split and at best will gain only a half-game today, putting then 5.5 back as they head to Tampa.  —  Middle of the 9th: Mariners 4, Red Sox 2

Padres dominate Diamondbacks at home again  —  The Sports Network  —  San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Adrian Gonzalez's three-run blast capped an early offensive attack, and the San Diego Padres continued their home dominance over the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 9-3 victory at PETCO Park.

The Circumstances Which Led To Roy Oswalt Playing Left Field  —  I'm not really sure what I just witnessed tonight, but if you stick around I'll do my best to explain.  —  The Phillies began this evening's game playing in front of the largest crowd at CBP this season (thanks to Chooch bobblehead night) …