Doubting Big Papi gets old  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  TORONTO — A blog post on the indispensable baseball-reference.com caught the eye the other day: “David Ortiz [stats] is having the greatest season by a 35+ DH in history.”  —  The numbers are compelling.

San Francisco Giants update: Brandon Belt will play winter ball after all  —  SAN DIEGO — Brandon Belt wasn't excited when Giants officials broached the subject of playing winter ball.  But the rookie had a change of heart after meeting with manager Bruce Bochy on Wednesday.

Joe Morgan to lead Oktoberfest chicken dance  —  Reds great and Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan will lead the annual World's Largest Chicken Dance at Oktoberfest next Saturday.  —  Morgan, a 10-time All-Star and MVP in 1975 and 1976 when the Reds won back-to-back World Series titles …

Great photo: Tony La Russa shakes maracas for Carlos Santana  —  ¡Oye como va!  It's not hard to make out the blurry figure with his arms raised behind the percussionst.  That's St. Louis Cardinals skipper Tony La Russa providing a little backup for legendary musician Carlos Santana(notes) at a recent show.

Morgan takes his taunting of Cardinals to Twitter  —  DOWNTOWN  • Shortly after Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols offered up a complimentary view of Nyjer Morgan as a talented player who “sometimes goes a little overboard,” the Milwaukee Brewers center fielder had something to say about Pujols on Twitter.

Chase Utley out at least two days  —  PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley will miss at least two games with what his team believes is a “very mild concussion,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Wednesday night.  —  Utley

Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Pena making a case to stay with Cubs  —  Reds baserunner Edgar Renteria is tagged out at the plate by Cubs catcher Koyie Hill as he tried to score from third base on a fly ball off the bat of Yonder Alonso to end the seventh inning as the Chicago Cubs …

Jason Isringhausen wants to pitch in '12  —  New York Mets reliever Jason Isringhausen will be sidelined for at least a few days with a herniated disk in his lower back that is pinching the sciatic nerve and causing tingling in his right foot.  —  But the 39-year-old reliever …

Alex Presley making waves atop order for Pirates  —  PITTSBURGH—Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Alex Presley hasn't let a little nerve damage stop him from having a breakthrough season for the Pirates.  —  The 25-year-old Presley is batting .314 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 33 games …

Dodgers rule out Andre Ethier for the season with knee injury  —  Andre Ethier backtracked a bit from his comments last month suggesting the Dodgers were making him play through a knee injury, but manager Don Mattingly just announced that Ethier has been shut down for the season.

The Continuing Story of Bungalow Phil  —  While his pitch count gently weeps.  (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)  —  As noted in the the Tuesday night game recap, Phil Hughes' continued inability to authoritatively shut down hitters after reaching favorable pitchers' counts …

Newberg Report: Buckel up to challenge  —  Right-hander sees results upon joining Hickory rotation  —  Part 22 in a season-long series projecting a hypothetical 25-man roster made up solely of prospects from the Rangers' Minor League system.  —  Player comparisons are usually predictable.

Padres Win Shrinks Giants' Playoff Hopes  —  SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Pitcher Aaron Harang foiled San Francisco's plans of maintaining momentum in the chase for a playoff berth by leading the San Diego Padres to a 3-1 victory over the Giants on Wednesday.  —  The defending World Series champions …