In his most offensive maneuvers this season, the career-long hit machine was involved in altercations with a teammate and the club's traveling secretary.

As this was being written, Manny was being Manny some 27 points lower than his career batting average.

Things figure to be different in the second half when Manny is Manny behind Papi.

The proof has been supplied by the Tampa Bay Rays, whose combined big-league payroll number may not cover the left side of the Yankees' infield.

The target promoting this awareness was Sox GM Kenny Williams.

If Guillen manages to stay employed and presides over enough victories to reach the dugout-genius section at Cooperstown, his may be the first induction speech on seven-second delay.

Ned is lurching toward a bit of redemption, however, thanks to the recent efforts of imported rookie Hiroki Kuroda and the (so far) refusal to part with top prospects in a trade that would swing the balance of (ahem) power in the already-winnable NL West.