Houston Texans linebacker and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Brian Cushing failed a performance-enhancing drug test last year. The offending substance: hGC, the female fertility drug that snagged Manny Ramirez last year.  Cushing tested positive back in September, but the news of all of this — and his suspension — is only hitting now.…

Tracy Ringolsby reports that Major League Baseball has issued a warning to the Phillies over allegations that they have been stealing signs. The latest: during Monday night’s game against the Rockies, bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer was seen using binoculars to look in at Rockies catchers. Meanwhile, Shane Victorino was seen in the dugout on the…

Reds 9, Pirates 0: Johnny Cueto tosses a one-hitter. He was one single and one HBP away from a perfect game, but the fact that he hit the same guy who got the single — Ronny Cedeno — probably made him feel better. Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 1: Who are you, Mr. hard-throwing, efficient…

Brad Lidge, who was unavailable Monday due to soreness in his surgically-repaired right elbow, was unhappy with the way he felt during a throwing session in Colorado on Tuesday, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. It’s discouraging news for a short-handed pen, but as of now, the Phillies don’t believe the stiffness is anything out…

According to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said that Jimmy Rollins should be activated from the disabled list during the team’s next homestand, which begins next Monday against the Pirates. Rollins has been on the disabled list since April 14 due to a right calf strain. He began…

The Rockies revealed after Monday’s game that Franklin Morales was unavailable due to a sore shoulder, and though the initial report made it sound like a minor problem, Morales landed on the DL on Tuesday with shoulder weakness. “We don’t want to push the envelope and risk a serious injury,” manager Jim Tracy told the…

Last year Chipper Jones threatened to retire before his contract ran out if he didn’t bounce back from his bad 2009.  So far this season he’s hitting 230/.402/.368 with two homers.  He says that’s good enough for him, however, and that he’s no longer considering hanging it up before 2012. What’s convincing him: his walk…

“It’s sort of good now that there is debris to be blown out there. It shows people are spending some money and buying food and drink and enjoying themselves.” – Dave Howard, Mets Executive Vice President for Business Operations when asked about all of the trash and debris that has been swirling around Citi Field…

Josh Beckett won’t start Friday after all. Boston’s struggling Opening Day starter sufferred back spasms while taking batting practice Monday in anticipation for games in National League parks later this month. Beckett, who has a 7.46 ERA after getting lit up by the Yankees last weekend, was originally pushed back from Wednesday to Friday so…

OK, now a more serious note about the Mariners’ team meeting. Ken Rosenthal is in Baltimore and is talking to Mariners’ players. Here’s Mike Sweeney: “We will support and fight and take a bullet for Ken Griffey Jr. if we have to. He’s our teammate . . . Nothing is going to divide this clubhouse,…

Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times just tweeted that the Mariners’ clubhouse is closed for a team meeting.  Let’s try to guess the meeting agenda: 1. Call to order; introductory remarks; coffee, donuts, Red Bull, Mountain Dew, assorted energy drinks to be served. 2. Guest speaker, Dr. Phillip P. Scheaf, Sleep Apnea Expert 3. Guest…

J.J. Hardy injured his left wrist sliding into third base on a triple that proved to be the game-winning run last Tuesday and this afternoon the Twins put him on the disabled list. Rather than replace him with legitimate prospect like Luke Hughes, Danny Valencia, or Trevor Plouffe the Twins have added to their amazing…

This is not a political or legal blog, so I will  keep my opinions about Elena Kagan’s fitness as a Justice to myself. But I at least figured that all of you should know that this is a picture of the person who will most likely be the next Justice of the United States Supreme…

Have left arm, will travel: the Chisox have signed Alan Embree to a minor league deal and assigned him to Charlotte. Embree, of course, began the year in the Bosox organization, but was let go by the team without throwing a pitch for the big club. Embree actually pitched 39 games for the White Sox…

Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star writes that Trey Hillman is basically a dead manager walking, with the only question being whether the Royals will fire him during the season or simply let his contract run out. I’m of the opinion that general manager Dayton Moore deserves a bigger share of the blame than…

This is truly terrible.  Padres’ pitcher Kevin Correia’s 22 year-old brother was killed in a hiking accident at Channel Islands National Park over the weekend. Correia obviously missed his Saturday start as he rushed to be with his family.  Today the Padres placed him on the bereavement list. A player on the bereavement list can…

MLB has suspended Astros center fielder Michael Bourn two games for “aggressive actions” that included making physical contact with umpire Alfonso Marquez during the ninth inning of Saturday’s game. Bourn angrily protested a close call at first base and in the process made what he described as “accidental” contact with Marquez, who immediately ejected him.…

Well, he did have it first. The team is being gracious enough, however, to include Tom Glavine in the ceremony this August 6th.  Glavine will also be inducted into the Braves’ Hall of Fame. Jacoby’s induction is apparently being delayed by politics and the usual kind of B.S. that tends to accompany these things. In…

There have been rumblings about this since February, but there will be an announcement later today in which the Jays-Phillies series currently scheduled for June 25-27th in Toronto will be moved to Citizens Bank Park in Philly due to interference from the G-20 summit, which is also scheduled in Toronto for that time. The technical…

Mark DeRosa is batting just .194 following offseason wrist surgery and hasn’t been himself since first suffering the injury in the middle of last season, hitting .224 with a .293 on-base percentage and .374 slugging percentage in 83 games. DeRosa is scheduled to be examined by a wrist specialist today after expressing his frustration with…