"The Indians hope that including highly regarded pitching prospects Drew Pomerantz and Alex White in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade will be more like the White Sox's Jake Peavy deal (they traded their top two pitching prospects in Clayton Richard and Aaron Poreda) than the Rangers' Lee Mazzilli trade in 1982. That one cost them Ron Darling and Walt Terrell for Mazzilli, who labeled left field "an idiot's position" after being asked to move from center. …

Two thumbs up to the Brewers' Casey McGehee for hitting three home runs Wednesday after the father of a 7-year-old asked him to hit a home run for his son. …

When Tony La Russa ordered Jason Motte to plunk Ryan Braun Tuesday, he was letting Albert Pujols know he will protect him when teams throw up and in against him. If La Russa stays in St. Louis for 2012, he wants Pujols there too. …

Stephen Strasburg begins his comeback for real Sunday in Hagerstown, Md. He's had a textbook rehab to this point, but the Nationals will hold their breath until he's once again blowing away big-league hitters, which will probably happen during a Nationals homestand Sept. 5-11. …

Dan Uggla's resurgence has been blunted by the continuing slump of Jason Heyward, who is turning into a platoon player for the Braves. He's hit .233 since coming off the DL in mid-June. …"