As for Yadi and Laird—I’m sad to see this story. But I have to think that this sort of thing happens more often than we know, on lots of teams. These guys spend a ton of time together in a stressful environment during the hottest part of the year; of course there are going to be conflicts, and most of them are going to simmer down pretty quickly, as I hope this one will too.

I demand you stop spreading common sense and start rumor-monging along with everyone else!!!!!

We can’t have everyday reality interfere with our superior knowledge of everything that happens behind closed doors.

Cubs fans just don’t know when to give it up, unless it’s a playoff series.

One of the issues was the five-game suspension handed down to catcher Yadier Molina for a beef he had with umpire Rob Drake a couple of days before in Milwaukee.

Another touched on an animated argument catchers Gerald Laird and Molina got into at the team hotel, the Ritz Carlton in Fort Lauderdale, Beach, Fla., late Wednesday night after the club’s late arrival from Milwaukee.

No punches were reported to have been thrown in the dispute, which quickly was mediated by teammate Albert Pujols.

“It was a long hot day,” said La Russa, referencing the conditions for Wednesday’s 10-5 loss at Milwaukee. “And when you talk about a long, hot day, there’s frustration. But there wasn’t anything. They hugged each other. They’re friends.

“It’s just one of those things that happens. It’s a long trip. There was no fight. They just got into an argument a little bit.”

Laird, who played for the suspended Molina and went hitless in four at-bats Thursday, said: “It was just a disagreement. Long day. It’s a long year. When you spend a lot of time with these guys, obviously you’re going to have disagreements.

“Two guys disagreeing about something and that’s about it. We’re friends. We get along real well.”

It’s gotta be 1 and 2 right?

I’m sorry.

Hey — just brainstorming here.