The Dodgers file for bankruptcy  —  A mere three days before the payroll comes due — payroll that Frank McCourt can't meet — the Dodgers have filed for bankruptcy, reports Richard Sandomir.  With that, the legal game begins.  —  Obviously the situation is fluid, and more details will stream …

Quade doesn't let Castro off hook for lack of hustle  —  Cubs manager says ‘it better not happen again’  —  Mike Quade watches batting practice behind the second base screen before the game.  (Peter G. Aiken-US PRESSWIRE, US PRESSWIRE / June 26, 2011)  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. …

Longoria beats hitting slump barehanded  —  HOUSTON — Evan Longoria ditched his batting gloves on Friday night and went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.  He said he'd continue to bat barehanded on Saturday night.  —  “I guess I'll keep doing it until it starts hurting too much, or it stops working,” Longoria said.

Troy Tulowitzki swings once, connects twice for basehit  —  An otherwise standard 8-3 victory by the New York Yankees over the Colorado Rockies did feature one unusual moment on Saturday afternoon.  It's what you see pictured above and in the video below.  Two different images of the same Troy Tulowitzki …

Blue-Eyed Players Hit Just Fine in Day Light  —  Josh Hamilton thinks his eye color is the cause of his hitting problems during day games, and at least one optometrist agrees with him.  After initially thinking it was just talk, the idea that there could be some scientific explanation …

How the Nationals keep winning  —  Tonight in Anaheim, Davey Johnson will inherit a team that, despite Saturday's blip, has seemingly forgotten how to lose.  They have won 18 of 25 games since May 31 - the best record in baseball - despite scoring two runs or fewer in eight of those wins, including Sunday's 2-1 win over the White Sox.

Wild pitch gives Mariners wacky win over Marlins  —  SEATTLE (AP) — Rookie Dustin Ackley led off the top of the 10th inning with a double, then raced home with the go-ahead run when Florida reliever Steve Cishek threw a wild pitch during an intentional walk giving the Seattle Mariners a wacky 2-1 win over the Marlins on Sunday night.

Elias Rankings Update  —  After the season the Elias Sports Bureau will take all players over the 2010-11 period, divide them into five groups for each league, and rank them based on various statistics.  Then each player will be labeled a Type A, B, or none.

Braun and Brewers Arrive Together  —  MILWAUKEE — The savior of the Milwaukee Brewers was born in California in 1983, the first of 28 consecutive years in which the franchise has not won a playoff series.  He grew up playing shortstop, following players like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez …

Romero, Blue Jays sweep Cardinals 5-0  —  Ricky Romero threw a four-hitter for his second career shutout and helped break it open with his first career hit as the Toronto Blue Jays whipped the St. Louis Cardinals 5-0 Sunday for a three-game sweep.  —  J.P. Arencibia homered and Yunel Escobar …