NL Baseball
Shea: Lincecum is nice guy - even to media
It's rare for a pitcher to address the media before a game he starts. Even an All-Star Game. Reporters know it and respect it. But San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum isn't ordinary, so he accommodated wave after wave of media in last Tuesday's pre-game, not blowing off anyone -- even the guy who asked about his hair.
No surprise.
Patton: Ramirez's return will send Pierre back to bench
Sunday night, Juan Pierre picked up three hits, two RBI, a run scored, a stolen base, led the Los Angeles Dodgers to victory over the Angels -- and got one day closer to a seat on the bench.
Knapp: Norris goes back to give back
Mike Norris has his baseball cards ready, tucked into his wallet, ready to cut through the doubts. He won 22 games in 1980, but now he is dealing with kids born long after he threw his last major-league pitch, and he knows that they can see only a 54-year-old man supporting himself with two canes.
Shea: Sosa joins the Gotcha Gang
Until Tuesday, Sammy Sosa never had what Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield had.
A paper trail.
Jenkins: A pitch for all to hit by ditching DH
One of the charms of my local elementary school is a spirited round of batting practice, first thing each Thursday morning, for the kindergartners and first-graders. It's a simple matter of lobbing Wiffle balls to kids with plastic bats, and I got to be the pitcher for a couple of years.
Ratto: Glavine another victim of baseball physics
Barry Bonds is surely bemused by the outrage expressed over the Atlanta Braves' treatment of Tom Glavine. Bemused, that is, in that "What, you were surprised that's how this works?" kind of way.
Stone: 300th win shiny bow on Unit's Hall career
For a few pitchers, their 300th victory pulled them out of the Hall of Very Good and punched a ticket to Cooperstown.
Pirates' trade of McLouth a stunner
The Pittsburgh Pirates have shipped away another All-Star, part of a long-recurring summer theme.
Ostler: Lots of reasons to vote for Manny
I just cast my All-Star Game vote for Manny Ramirez, even though he's on maternity leave.
Voting for Manny might seem a little nutty, but it's just me being me.
Ramirez is fourth in the voting among National League outfielders. My vote could put him in the starting lineup.
Ostler: Lots of reasons to vote for Manny
I just cast my All-Star Game vote for Manny Ramirez, even though he's on maternity leave.
Voting for Manny might seem a little nutty, but it's just me being me.
Ramirez is fourth in the voting among National League outfielders. My vote could put him in the starting lineup.
