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Click here for the American League second-half previews. Washington Nationals Second-half key: What, other than monitoring Stephen Strasburg's innings limit? Despite injuries that limited Mike Morse, Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos (out for the yea...

And now a look at the National League. Click here for the American League second-half team previews. Philadelphia Phillies (57-34, +89 run differential) What needs to be fixed or accomplished in the second half? Although the Phillies finished ...

Philadelphia Phillies (34-20) It sounds odd and awfully nitpicky to say, but the Phillies could have been better. The big problem has been the offense, which has mustered a mediocre 91 OPS+ thus far. In fact, only three regulars have an OPS+ over 10...

The SweetSpot blog network weighs in with April's best surprises ... BeachyAtlanta Braves Simply put, the Braves' most pleasant surprise has been Brandon Beachy. At this time last year, Beachy was a virtually unknown prospect at Double-A Mississ...

The New York Mets are assembling quite the brain trust, don't you think? Paul DePodesta is leaving his role as executive vice president of the San Diego Padres to join general manager Sandy Alderson's front office with the New York Mets as a sp...

I'm sure you saw this story, as both Evan Longoria and David Price were dismayed by the many thousands of empty seats at Tropicana Field last night for the Brian Matusz Show. The Rays' attendance is one issue. But according to Ken Belson in the Ti...

Are the Diamondbacks going to do something about all those home runs? Nick Piecoro: Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall said the club is "looking at everything" in hopes of creating a neutral playing environment - or at least one that doesn't skew so hea...

I was looking at the National League standings this morning, and couldn't help noticing that the big things that were supposed to happen haven't happened. Not yet, anyway. In the National League East, the Phillies were supposed to have caught t...

As bad news for a contender goes, this could be a lot worse: San Diego Padres center fielder Tony Gwynn went on the disabled list Thursday with a broken bone in his right hand. Gwynn suffered the injury while fouling off a pitch in Wednesday's ...

Looks like Brian Sabean is adding to his collection of veteran DHs (which would be less odd if they used DHs in the league the Giants play in). Enrique Rojas: The Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants worked early Friday to complete a trade th...

San Diego Padres. June 25. First place. How? Sean Forman in the Times: The Padres are winning largely because of good starting pitching and phenomenal relief pitching supported by average or better defensive play at every position. In 2009, the y...

I appreciate Jake Peavy's frankness. Is he right about the Padres, though? The San Diego Padres have overachieved this season. They are 34-24, one game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. Jake Peavy, the team's former ace...

Worst record in the National League? Houston. And now they're going to lose their only player with more than two steals: Houston Astros outfielder Michael Bourn has been suspended two games for making contact with umpire Alfonso Marquez during a...

SportsUntapped.com looks at Brian Giles and sees an old man who should shift his attentions to pickleball (one of my favorite sports, by the way): Generally in the game of baseball, when men are pushing 40, it becomes time to hang up the cleats an...

Well, the Oakland A's just got a little better (or will, if everyone passes their physicals). So why am I not happier about it? After coming up short in a bid to sign free agent Adrian Beltre, the Oakland Athletics filled their third base void Frid...

A bit of non-news from Oakland: The A's squashed speculation that assistant general manager David Forst is in the mix to become the next general manager of the San Diego Padres. The A's said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press ...