Madison Bumgarner

For 17 seasons, Derek Jeter has been the best reason to keep believing in baseball. His throwback approach has yielded daily excellence in the middle of the Yankees infield. He has kept life simple off the field, and that never seems to be a bad idea....

1. Rangers (1): How good of a team do you have to be to beat the Tigers when Miguel Cabrera hits three home runs? Texas did that after putting Ian Kinsler on the DL on Sunday. Alexi Ogando is another recent addition to the DL. 2. Cardinals (2):...

CINCINNATI — Hensley Meulens must be a very happy man. Throughout Game 3 of the National League Division Series, the Giants hitting coach was one timely hit away from the flight of shame home to San Francisco. Buster Posey and his teammates were...

SAN FRANCISCO — Twenty-seven seasons after their first game together, Jim Leyland was in the dugout, Gene Lamont the third base coach's box. Like spouses who gravitate to the far side of the house. But the two baseball men had cause to talk...

Before they became the best organization in baseball, the Giants were Barry Bonds' team. They seemed unable to break free from the flawed slugger for a long time, sticking with the disgraced star for six years after his record-setting 2001 season....

DETROIT — New on the job and with a potential playoff team on his hands, Brian Sabean went out to find as much pitching as he could. He targeted the team that had the most to give, and shocked the baseball world by landing Roberto Hernandez,...

SAN FRANCISCO — This is the time of year when baseball executives sift through the discard bin, looking for useful, inexpensive pieces that add needed inventory. They might bear down a little more than usual this week, as Ryan Vogelsong...

Talking baseball while wondering if Mark Cuban is serious about the Mavericks drafting Brittney Griner. 1. When Yu Darvish went out to work the ninth inning last night in Houston, he was facing three hitters who were looking for their first hits of the...

ST. LOUIS — If Jamie Moyer was watching Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Friday night, he must be planning his next comeback. On the biggest stage of his roller-coaster career, Barry Zito pitched in a way that showed why some...

ST. LOUIS — Six years. That's how long it has been since Barry Zito has pitched the kind of game he's going to need Friday night, and he hasn't been cryogenically frozen in the interim. He has been getting older, losing velocity off his fastball...

ST. LOUIS -- Talking playoff baseball while flirting from the doghouse, a la A-Rod. 1. Would the Yankees actually trade Alex Rodriguez to the Marlins? You better believe they would. Late last week, I proposed that the Yankees should deal Rodriguez to his...

When it comes to deciding who's going to play where defensively, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has loads of flexibility. Ty Wigginton can play first, second or third base. Laynce Nix can man left field or first. John Mayberry Jr. can go to any of the...