Orioles reliever Jim Johnson was examined today by Dr. James Andrews and has been diagnosed with “a small tear in his right elbow.” Andrews advised Johnson to rest for at least 8-10 weeks, but Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun reports that “if things don’t improve in four weeks he could be facing season-ending Tommy…

As per my usual Thursday afternoon routine, I’m going to be on the Paul and Tom Show at at HotStove.com at 2pm.  Today’s topics will include the whole Ken Griffey Jr. sleeping/media shunning affair, other pressing baseball topics of the day and, if form holds, a good bit about 1980s NWA wrestling. Space Mountain, baby.

The filming site of the movie “Field of Dreams” — cornfield ballpark and all — is up for sale: The movie site, located northeast of Dyersville, has been officially listed, according to owners Don and Becky Lansing. The listing encompasses the movie site, which includes the baseball diamond, a two-bedroom, 1 1/2-bath house, six outbuildings…

One of the hottest hitters in baseball before landing on the disabled list with a hamstring injury late last month, Nelson Cruz avoided a setback during a brief rehab assignment at Triple-A and is expected to rejoin the Rangers’ lineup tomorrow. Cruz told Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com that his time on the DL was “tough”…

If I asked 100 of you that question, 97 would say Albert Pujols and three of you would say Derek Jeter, after which you’d tell me that the Yankees Rule!!11!!one!!! But what if it’s someone else?  Someone like . . . Chase Utley.  That’s defensive expert John Dewan’s, view of things.  Warning: it’s a statty…

Freddy Sanchez finally looks close to rejoining the Giants following knee and shoulder surgeries, going 3-for-5 with three doubles in the first two games of his rehab assignment at Single-A. Bruce Bochy said Sanchez could be cleared to come off the disabled list as soon as next Wednesday if he avoids a setback while moving…

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. Other men paint their portly naked torsos proclaiming themselves “Die Hard Cardinals Fan.” Best part: the words on his back are printed pretty clearly, which suggests that he has a wife or a girlfriend help him with this getup…

I missed this in the recaps, but file this under “wow, that wouldn’t have happened a year or two ago.” In the seventh inning of the Dodgers-Diamondbacks game, A.J. Hinch decided to intentionally walk Andre Ethier with two men on in order to load the bases for Manny Ramirez. And it wasn’t like they were…

As expected, Carlo Beltran began his running program on Monday and, according to Newsday, he’s apparently pain-free: “Thank God there’s no pain . . . It’s a learning process for me to start running again, so right now I’m thinking about how to make it perfect. Today was the first day I ran and didn’t…

David Ortiz struck out looking in the ninth inning of yesterday’s Sox-Jays game.  I’ve seen Ortiz roll his eyes and grumble about calls before, but he’s not known to be a whiner or anything.  He went absolutely nuts after strike three, however, and when you watch the video, you’ll agree that he had a case. …

The Mariners are talking to some reporters. MLB.com’s Jim Street, for instance, and he reports that, according to the team, Milton Bradley isn’t likely to rejoin the club until late next week. Bradley is on the restricted list so he’s not traveling with the Mariners.  Don Wakamatsu says, however, that “I think everything is going…

“I asked if I could start wearing his underwear. But he said no.” – Washington Nationals’ Craig Stammen on teammate Tyler Clippard’s MLB-leading seven wins. The rose goes in the front, big guy. (thanks to Wooden U. Lykteneau for the heads up)

Derek Holland went 8-13 with a 6.12 ERA in 138.1 innings as a rookie last season, but the 23-year-old southpaw resumed dominating at Triple-A to begin this season and shut out the Mariners for six innings Wednesday night after replacing the injured Matt Harrison in the rotation. For the long term Texas’ hitter-friendly ballpark is…

From today’s Tacoma News-Tribune Mariners-Orioles game story by Larry LaRue: For the second day, none of the players would talk to The News Tribune in the wake of a players-only meeting that followed a report that Ken Griffey Jr. was napping in the clubhouse during a game last week. Are there any grownups working for…

Last week ESPN ran a slow-motion clip of Bengie Molina getting thrown out at the plate in a Giants-Marlins game as, bascially, the game’s only highlight on that night’s SportsCenter. What’s more, they slowed the clip down and set it to music meant to evoke “Chariots of Fire,” mocking Molina’s lack of speed.  As he…

Nationals 6, Mets 4: Roger Bernadina was 3 for 5 with two homers — including the game-winner — and had a sweet grab in right field. And did Rob Dibble really say — in dialect — “that boy’s good!” after his ninth inning homer?  Why yes, he did. Oy. Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 2:…

Nationals prospect Stephen Strasburg, now stationed at Triple-A Syracuse, threw six innings of no-hit ball on Wednesday night against the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.  He allowed just one walk and struck out seven batters before reaching his pitch limit of 80.  (Well, actually 79). Not bad.  Not bad at all.  Strasburg, 21, has now fired 12…

Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that the Yankees have agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Tim Redding. Redding, 32, was released by the Rockies on Wednesday afternoon and fielded offers from the Dodgers and several Korean teams before finally agreeing to terms with the Yanks late Wednesday evening.  He spent the…

Angels left-hander Scott Kazmir has been nothing short of disappointing through six starts this season, with a 2-3 record, 6.82 ERA and 1.78 WHIP.  On Wednesday, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, Angels manager Mike Scioscia decided to reevaluate his spot in the starting rotation with an hour-long closed door meeting. “We…

There was no collision involved, but Melvin Mora and Carlos Ruiz were both forced from the Phillies-Rockies game Wednesday after getting hurt on the same play in the seventh inning. Mora, who was playing second, was injured stretching from the base to receive a throw from third on a potential triple-play ball from Ruiz. He…