LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 17: Roy Oswalt #44 of the Houston Astros pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 17, 2009 in Los Angeles...

Free-agency side dishes (before the turkey)

...go through a regimen of swimming, and the Astros expect that he'll be ready to go at full speed when spring training begins. New Houston manager Brad Mills and GM Ed Wade will...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 25, 2009

Curtis Granderson is a Big Tattletale

...aka The Juice Box) in Houston features a 90-foot incline known as Tal's Hill in centerfield and a flagpole in the field of play. Why did the Astros stop there and not complete...

Hale replaces Mills on Sox bench

DeMarlo Hale has been named the next Red Sox bench coach and Tim Bogar will coach third base.

Those who favored King Felix and Verlander

The AL Cy Young Award went more or less as expected, with the very deserving Zack Greinke of the Kansas City Royals running away with it, nabbing 25 o...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 18, 2009

The market for those coming off injuries

One problem with market inefficiencies is that, once they're identified, it's usually a matter of time before they disappear as more players bid up th...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 17, 2009

...TX, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Mark DeRosa (7) hits an RBI single against the Houston Astros in the fourth inning at Minute Maid Park

September 28, 2009: Houston Astros center fielder Michael Bourn (21) at bat during the game between the Houston Astros and the...

September 30 2009: Houston Astros Michael Bourn bats during the Philadelphia Phillies 10-3 victory over the Houston Astros at Citizens...

Chapman kept defection plans from kin

Aroldis Chapman simply left his room at the Domina Hotel in Rotterdam last July and went down to the lobby. The Cuban pitcher's defection during a tournament in the Netherlands lacked any of the drama a movie script writer would want.

Fontenot earns last spot in arbitration

Cubs infielder Mike Fontenot earned the last arbitration spot for players with between two and three years of major league service, beating out Orioles center fielder Adam Jones and Reds pitcher Micah Owings on a tiebreaker.

Rollins, Victorino win NL Gold Gloves

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins has won his third consecutive NL Gold Glove and Philadelphia Phillies teammate Shane Victorino has won for the second straight time in the outfield.

...St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday (15) follows through on a RBI double against the Houston Astros in the eighth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-US PRESSWIRE October 22, 2009...

News and notes from Latin baseball

While baseball fans, players and officials debated the merits of the increased presence of instant replay during Major League postseason games, replay...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 06, 2009

Obstacles to a World Series rematch

Charlie Manuel quoted a general after Game 6, in pronouncing that the baseball world has not seen the last of the Phillies. "I'll tell you something -...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 05, 2009