Brett Lawrie - the name the Jays dare not speak  —  TORONTO— From Friday's Globe and Mail  —  Well, now the Toronto Blue Jays have gone and done it.  Mentioned the kid's name again, on Thursday night.  Talked about how they'd like to see Brett Lawrie in the majors in August, before the rosters expand.

After K-Rod trade, Mets may close by committee with Bobby Parnell, Jason Isringhausen, Pedro Beato  —  It did not take long to replace Francisco Rodriguez - in the Mets' clubhouse at least.  As the team reconvened for the first time since its former fiery closer was shipped off to Milwaukee …

Lupica: Rocket off on technicality  —  Roger Clemens didn't get vindication Thursday when the judge at his perjury trial, Reggie Walton, declared a mistrial because of a bad mistake by the prosecution.  He didn't clear his name, or settle his score with Congress or the government.

Quade gets airport security treatment  —  Cubs manager undergoes full check before getting clearance  —  Cubs manager Mike Quade pitches during batting practice before a game against the Marlins at Wrigley Field.  (Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune / July 14, 2011)

Rangers doing all the right things  —  Payoff for sound approach should come to defending AL champs  —  You hear it from one general manager after another, one manager after another, one scout after another.  —  “How can the Rangers not be running away with the American League West?”

Epstein won't rest on laurels as Deadline nears  —  BOSTON — With the All-Star break coming to an end, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein will be looking at his team with a microscope over the next two-plus weeks, trying to identify what moves he might be able to make before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Big changes afoot for MLB  —  Baseball is often described as the most staid of our major sports.  But if that's truly the case, why are so many decidedly progressive proposals still scattered about the bargaining table between Major League Baseball and the players' union?

Padres' bullpen meltdown leads to Giants' 6-2 win  —  SAN DIEGO - Aubrey Huff hit a tying homer off All-Star closer Heath Bell leading off the ninth inning and Mike Fontenot brought in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the 12th, helping the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants beat …

Sources: Rangers have asked about Marlins' pitching  —  The Rangers have checked in with the Marlins about their pitching but no names have been exchanged, major-league sources say.  —  The talks are “not far along,” one source said, but there is a good fit between the clubs.

10 steps to keep Bucs' success  —  The Pirates emerge from the All-Star break Friday in Houston four games over .500, one game out of first place and 34 victories shy of ending an 18-year losing streak, with 10 sellouts at PNC Park, two starting pitchers owning ERAs below 3.00, another owning 11 wins …