News
 | September hasn't hounded the Braves, a silent winter hasn't fazed them and the dynamics of a changing division haven't daunted the
More» Heyward clears the bases with a double |
 | As Bryce Harper gets older, more polished and more refined, the numbers will come. Right now, he's a spectacle. Maybe the best spectacle in baseball.
More» Harper hits his first career home run |
 | Called up on Mother's Day from Triple-A Fresno, Charlie Culberson took the field for the Giants at the age of 23. Culberson is a promising player who is being given an opportunity to display his craft as a second baseman on baseball's biggest stage.
More» Culberson records his first career hit |
 | Before John Axford hurriedly departed Miller Park with his pregnant wife on Friday, moments after blowing a save for the first time in his past 50 opportunities, he left a handwritten note for interested members of the media on the chair in front of his locker.
More» Axford strikes out two in 1-2-3 ninth |
 | The 25,000 fans who walked away from Saturday's Nationals vs. Reds matchup did so with a one-of-a-kind souvenir tucked under their arms.
More» |
 | Who is the best closer in baseball? Mere weeks ago, this question would have engendered the closest thing to 100 percent consensus that you'll find in a game so analyzed, scrutinized and fractionalized.
More» Papelbon earns 10th save of the year |
 | With 18 home runs, Josh Hamilton has three more than Barry Bonds did at this point when he set the single-season record of 73 in 2001. But he hasn't lost any of his aggressiveness to protect himself.
More» Rangers have some fun during the rain delay |
 | The night the Cardinals honored future Hall of Famer Tony La Russa was one of those games Tony wouldn't have enjoyed. The side note to the affair goes back to the final days of last July's Trade Deadline.
More» Furcal goes 4-for-5 with a run scored |
 | The way Will Middlebrooks is hitting and playing defense, the Red Sox will have a decision to make when Kevin Youkilis returns from injury.
More» Middlebrooks doubles home two in the first |
 | Josh Hamilton had another monster game on Friday. If you're keeping score, that's eight home runs in a mere 18 at-bats and 17 in 33 games. Just when you think you've seen something he can't possibly top, he does something else.
More» Hamilton goes 3-for-4 with two home runs |
 | Covering the Cardinals during the Tony La Russa era was never boring. He could be prickly, pushy, combative and condescending, but he was also accommodating, thoughtful, fascinating, and endlessly entertaining.
More»La Russa's No. 10 to join list of retired uniforms |
 | Josh Beckett has been paid like a true ace. The four-year, $68 million extension he signed in 2010 was in the ace range for the market at that time. But his performance hasn't always lived up to the expectations, and neither has his behavior.
More» Valentine talks about Beckett's rough night |
 | There must have been five or six other times this season when Angels manager Mike Scioscia watched a game like the one on Saturday and thought the worst finally was over and his team was about to begin a sprint to the postseason.
More» C.J. fans four over 5 2/3 solid innings |
 | From perfect games to four-homer games, and from two position players pitching in the same game to a team beginning a game with three straight homers, rare feats have been common thus far this season.
More» Orioles go back-to-back-to-back in first |
 | The members of the youthful, powerful and altogether successful Nationals starting rotation -- Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler -- all rank among the top 20 hardest-throwing starters in the NL. Together, they've compiled a staff ERA worthy of the dead-ball era.
More» Strasburg fans 13 over six solid innings |
 | Two hundred million dollars won't necessarily buy you wins. But it sure can buy you a lot of margin for error. If there's a difference between the rosters of the two favorites in the American League East this year, it's that. When the Yankees have to do without Brett Gardner, or find themselves enduring a slump by Robinson Cano, they can churn right along. When the Rays have to go even a short time without Desmond Jennings and Evan Longoria, they feel it in a big way.
More» Cano gives Yanks lead with two-run home run |
 | Doug Melvin loves talking about the game, debating trades and free-agent signings. He keeps detailed records of players in every organization and includes a large number of people in his decision-making processes.
More» |
 | The Phillies are breathlessly waiting for the return of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, but it's a long shot that their presence will propel the five-time National League East champs back to the postseason.
More» Manuel on lack of execution in loss to Mets |
 | As all of pinstripe-dom rushes to fret over whether David Robertson has the "closer mentality," whether he's up to handling the pressure of the ninth inning, remember that Robertson is an excellent pitcher, but not a perfect one.
More» Joyce blasts go-ahead three-run shot in ninth |
 | He's on pace for more than 40 home runs and more than 200 strikeouts, which can only mean one thing: Adam Dunn is Adam Dunn again.
More» Dunn crushes a two-run homer for early lead |
Mike Bauman has been a national columnist for MLB.com since 2001 and has covered Major League Baseball for 28 years.
Barry M. Bloom has been a national reporter for MLB.com since 2002 and has 35 years of experience covering sports.
Hal Bodley, who joined MLB.com as senior correspondent in 2008, has covered baseball since 1958 and offers insight on MLB.com and MLB.com/Live.
Anthony Castrovince has been a reporter for MLB.com since 2004.
Fred Claire was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1969-98, serving the team as Executive Vice-President and general manager.
Larry Dierker played in the Major Leagues for 14 seasons and guided the Astros to four National League Central titles in five seasons as manager from 1997-2001.
Peter Gammons joined MLB.com as columnist in 2009 after almost 22 years with ESPN. He has been named National Sportswriter of the Year three times.
Alden Gonzalez is the Angels beat writer and a columnist for MLB.com. He's been with the company since 2008.
Richard Justice, who joined MLB.com as an executive correspondent in 2011, has covered Major League Baseball for 33 years and offers his insight on MLB.com and MLB.com/live.
Jenifer Langosch covers the Cardinals for MLB.com. She covered the Pirates from 2007-11.
Matthew Leach has worked for MLB.com since 2001 and was the site's Cardinals beat reporter from 2002-11.
Terence Moore has covered a variety of sports for more than three decades and contributes columns to MLB.com.
Marty Noble is a senior member of the Baseball Writers Association of America and editor of SCOREBOOK, the annual journal of the BBWAA's New York chapter.
Bernie Pleskoff has been a professional scout for the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners.
Jesse Sanchez has been a reporter for MLB.com since 2001 and has covered Major League Baseball for 12 years.
Lyle Spencer has been a reporter for MLB.com since 2005, covering the Padres and Angels. He has covered Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist since 1971.
Mitch Williams, an analyst for MLB Network, played 11 Major League seasons, pitching for six teams, including the 1993 NL champion Phillies.
Meggie Zahneis, winner of the 2011 Breaking Barriers essay contest, earned the job of youth correspondent for MLB.com in the fall of '11.
