Pirates take chance on Bell in second round  —  Add another bat and two pitchers in rounds 3-5  —  PITTSBURGH — Before the 2011 First-Year Player Draft began, Josh Bell sent a letter to the Major League Scouting Bureau advising teams not to draft him, because the Jesuit High School slugger …

Harper's arrogance is just what baseball needs  —  Baseball's greatest villain is an 18-year-old minor leaguer with a heinous mustache, an equally off-putting mullet and the scent of someone who emptied a bottle of Eau du Arrogance all over himself.  —  And you know what?  He's exactly what the sport needs.

Red Sox closer Papelbon banned for 3 games  —  NEW YORK — Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon has been suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed amount in the aftermath of Saturday's ejection by plate umpire Tony Randazzo.  —  MLB announced it was banning Papelbon on Tuesday because of …

Jake Peavy headed back to DL  —  CHICAGO — White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy is headed back to the disabled list with a strained right groin.  —  The team hasn't made it official, but Peavy said before Tuesday's game against the Mariners that he's talked to general manager Ken Williams.

Rockies OF Fowler goes on DL with abdominal strain  —  DENVER—The Colorado Rockies have placed slumping outfielder Dexter Fowler on the 15-day disabled list due to a left abdominal strain.  —  To take his place, the team purchased the contract of outfielder Charlie Blackmon from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Teixeira hit by pitch on knee, exits game  —  NEW YORK — Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira left Tuesday's game against the Red Sox after being hit on the right knee by a first-inning Jon Lester pitch.  —  Teixeira fell to the ground in obvious pain after the drilling, lying on his back at home plate for several moments.

Jeter would ‘love’ to reach 3K hits while at home  —  NEW YORK — Derek Jeter said he would “love” to reach 3,000 hits on the New York Yankees current 10-game homestand.  Jeter is 14 hits shy of becoming the first Yankee to reach the mark.  —  “I would love to do it here,” …

Agent: Ramirez won't give up no-trade clause  —  Although the Chicago Cubs may consider a youth movement if their struggles continue, the agent for Aramis Ramirez says the veteran third baseman isn't inclined to drop his no-trade clause.  —  Ramirez is in the final year of a five-year, $75 million contract.

Year after debut, Strasburg focuses on health  —  SAN FRANCISCO — A year ago on Wednesday, Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg made his Major League debut against the Pirates and what a debut it was.  He pitched seven innings, allowed two runs on four hits and struck out 14 batters.

In-depth: How moving walls impacts HRs  —  After one year as CEO of the San Diego Padres, Sandy Alderson made the above change to the wall in right-center at Petco Park during the 2005-06 offseason.  —  Sandy Alderson makes measured rather than rash decisions.

Jim Leyritz writes of DUI ordeal in book  —  CINCINNATI — Few feats are more invigorating for a major league baseball player than hitting a home run that turns the World Series around for his team, especially when that team is the New York Yankees.  —  Jim Leyritz, a graduate of Turpin High School …

D-backs' Vasquez, Gibson handed suspensions  —  Major League Baseball handed down suspensions to D-backs pitcher Esmerling Vasquez and manager Kirk Gibson for their involvement in Sunday's intentional throwing incidents between the Nationals and the D-backs, the league announced Tuesday afternoon.

Player Q&A: Jose Reyes talks focus, Wright & Tejada  —  Last week, MetsBlog's Rich Coutinho talked with Reyes for a one-on-one conversation about keeping focus on the field; missing David Wright; staying healthy; and the development of Ruben Tejada; which you can read here:

Stark: Key players performing well below expectations  —  Scouts try to pinpoint reasons for struggles of Danks, Jimenez, Uggla, Soria, others  —  With every day that goes by in this crazy season, we can't help but ask: Is there a more confusing sport than baseball?  —  Curling, maybe?