Francoeur wants to stay put as trade deadline approaches  —  It was Bastille Day so, naturally, Frenchy was in a feisty mood Thursday before the Royals opened their post-break schedule with the first of four weekend games against the Minnesota Twins.  —  Specifically, yes, of course …

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 …

Clemens gets out of a jam  —  Mistrial is Rocket's biggest victory ever  —  Call it the biggest win of Roger Clemens's career.  —  The Rocket won 354 games in the big leagues.  He won 192 games for the Red Sox, still a franchise record (along with Cy Young, which is somehow fitting).

Postgame notes: “I've been thinking about my leg too much”  —  After tonight's game, Joe Girardi compared Bartolo Colon to Derek Jeter.  Both have a hard time admitting when they're hurt.  —  Colon has told the Yankees that he has recovered from a strained left hamstring …

Coors Field rolls out Wok in the Park, the first food truck inside a baseball stadium  —  ​The latest food truck to hit Denver will either have you shaking your head because the craze has gone mainstream, or nodding it for the same reason.  —  On Thursday, Aramark Corporation …

Owner Jeffrey Loria will consider Jack McKeon to manage Florida Marlins in 2012, promises changes to minor league system  —  Owner Jeffrey Loria just spoke to Marlins beat writers at Wrigley Field and offered his first public comments since June.  —  I'll have a story up later.

Game 91: Red Sox at Rays  —  Hey, the Red Sox are playing again.  Here are the lineups:  —  RED SOX (55-35)  —  Ellsbury CF  —  Pedroia 2B  —  Gonzalez 1B  —  Youkilis 3B  —  Ortiz DH  —  McDonald RF  —  Saltalamacchia C  —  Navarro LF  —  Scutaro SS  —  Pitching: LHP Andrew Miller (3-0, 3.57)

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?”

Beltran, Reyes are top names for unpredictable trading season … The trading season began rather bizarrely, with the Mets rushing to trade Francisco Rodriguez, their star high-priced closer with the scary vesting option, a new agent and a missing no-trade list.

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 …

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.

Chipper progressing well after knee surgery  —  ATLANTA — Third baseman Chipper Jones has responded well since his right knee surgery last Saturday and will begin hitting off a tee Friday at Turner Field.  —  “[I] went out and threw a little bit just now [and] felt fine,” Jones said during Atlanta's workout Thursday.

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.