Eye On Baseball

Once again on Friday, the rest of the baseball world was held hostage to the self-loathing, self-importance that can only be the world surrounding the Boston Red Sox.

We've all understood the ESPN has solid itself out to the new Evil Empire, turning Baseball Tonight into NES(P)N, but now MLB Network is joining the show.

Even though MLB Network -- which usually does a good job of showing teams other than the Red Sox and Yankees -- was televising Stephen Strasburg's third start, we got a slow music, fuzzy focus on the good times and bad times from Tom Verducci. Verducci, who is usually above such hyperbole, called the Red Sox fans' reaction a "referendum" of Ramirez's 1,083 games with the Red Sox.

And then, with two outs in Washington and a runner on third, we get a cut in to Andre Ethier's at-bat in Boston, just so we could get all of the Manny overreaction. Of course, Either grounded out, so we got another break in when the second inning started in Boston.

So what was the result? Well, about what you'd expect from a crowd of 37,000 or so -- a little bit of everything. There were cheers from people in Red Sox garb, more from those who braved Fenway in Dodger gear, some boos, an aborted "Man-ny" chant, camera phones taking crappy pictures, some guy with a smirk with a sign about steroids who isn't nearly as clever as he thinks he is. In the end, the Boston fans had an opportunity to show why they think they're the center of the baseball universe -- and unfortunately much of the baseball world once again obliged.

And in the anticlimactic moment of the night, Ramirez swung at the first pitch and lined out to center.

Oh, and Roger Clemens is at the game. Be still my heart!

-- C. Trent Rosecrans

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter.

The Twins have activated second baseman Orlando Hudson from the disabled list in time for Friday's game against the Phillies. Hudson was back in the lineup, batting second and grounded out in his first at-bat since going on the DL with a sore left wrist. To make room for Hudson, the team put pitcher Jose Mijares on the family medical emergency list. Mijares flew to Venezuela following Thursday's game.

The Twins are 29-20 with Hudson in hte lineup this season and 9-8 without him.

-- C. Trent Rosecrans

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter.

The Rockies said they have no timetable for the return of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who was placed on the 15-day disabbled list with a broken left wrist on Friday.

Tulowitzki was hit on the wrist by Twins reliever Alex Burnett in Thursday's game and an X-ray on Friday revealed the fracture.

The Rockies are expected to move second baseman Clint Barmes to short to try to make up for Tulowitzki, the Rockies leading hitter. Tulowitzki was hitting .306/.375/.502 with nine home runs and 34 RBI.

Colorado called up infielder Chris Nelson to replace Tulowitzki on the roster.

-- C. Trent Rosecrans

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter.

By Tim Hudson's own admission, the Braves of recent years haven't exactly been tough. But that's changed.

"[Opponents] know that we’re no pushovers. The way we pitch, the way we play defense, we put together good at-bats, we don’t throw away many at-bats," Hudson told David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . "I just think we have a little bit of a different personality out there on the field, and it shows in the kind of games that we play and the kind of games that we win.

"We’re a tough, gritty team."

O'Brien went on to mention that the clubhouse is different from days past. Instead of a smattering of voices talking about their golf game, now everyone is included, watching TV and making fun of each other.

A big reason for the change in attitude belongs to Eric Hinske and Brooks Conrad.

Hinske, the 2002 Rookie of the Year has settled in to being a good complementary piece on a contender. It's rare for a bench player to be considered someone who can make a difference, but Hinske has three straight AL pennants (Red Sox, Rays, Yankees) and two rings to prove it. He's joined by Conrad, a 30-year-old rookie making the best of his chance.

Says O'Brien: "Conrad isn’t going to be an All-Star and might never be more than a major league backup, but he’s a lot like Hinske -- plays to win, leaves it all on the field, takes nothing for granted, hustles at all times -- and his teammates love him and feed off his energy and positive attitude."

Atlanta is currently in first place, a half-game ahead of the surging Mets. They boast the best run differential in the NL -- and best outside the AL East -- at +61.

Hinske adds, "It’s a bunch of good dudes on this team, a bunch of guys who come out ready to play, who work the right way. We know it’s a long season, but we’re having fun."

If there's one thing the last few years have taught fans -- and that Hinske has seen firsthand -- it's teams that get along and have fun that you can count on to make noise in the postseason.

-- Evan Brunell

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter.

Suck it world!

U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

Sure, it's just a draw against Slovenia, but the rest of the world has soccer and Koman Coulibaly and we've got baseball and Jim Joyce.

Put aside the fact Joyce's reliever mustache is manlier than anything any non-American can grow, but he's also man enough to admit his mistake. Soccer referees have that silly Madonna head mic, but still remain silent.

We all know the story of Joyce and the way he dealt with his blown call. He manned up and admitted it.

Then there's Coulibaly. If you're one of those who doesn't want to hear about soccer, you should just so you can tell the rest of the world where to put their red card. So, for you, here's what happened. The United States was down 2-0 to Slovenia before scoring two goals in the second half to tie the game.

In the 86th minute (of 90), Landon Donovan placed a perfect free kick to Maurice Edu, who made the play and apparently put the U.S. up 3-2. Instead, Coulibaly whistled a foul .

On who?

"I'm not sure what the call was," said Donovan, the team's captain. "He wouldn't tell us what the call was."

Donovan added: "It was the guy's first World Cup game, maybe he got caught up in the moment."

The same could be said of Joyce, but afterwards, Joyce said he blew the call and took responsibility. FIFA issued a statement that Coulibaly had no comment on his call, he hid behind the governing body of soccer.

Officiating any sport isn't easy, especially at its highest levels. Athletes are better than ever and making split-second judgements are never going to be easy, especially with millions of people watching in high definition around the world.

The difference is how you deal with messing up, whether it's how a pitcher reacts to giving up a home run, a goalkeeper bouncing back from a bad goal or an official missing the call.

In baseball, Joyce stands as an example of what we want in sport and in the justice system -- a little accountability. Soccer officials aren't perfect and neither are umpires, but we've got Joyce and his glorious facial hair on our side. So no matter what else happens in South Africa, we have reason to stand tall and make asses of ourselves across the globe.

U-S-A! U-S-A!

-- C. Trent Rosecrans

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter.

As if people needed reasons to stay away from Marlins games, there's another -- vuvuzelas.

The scorn of the World Cup is making its way stateside, as the Marlins will give the first 15,000 fans to Saturday night's Marlins-Rays game at Sun Life Stadium plastic horns.

Oh, they're not exactly vuvuzelas, but they're pretty close, Marlines VP for annoyance Sean Flynn told the Palm Beach Post .

"They're not as buzzing as vuvuzelas, but they're loud," Flynn told the paper.

The horns may seem even louder when the sound bounces off empty seats, the Marlins are last in baseball in average attendance, getting 16,182 per game in 35 home games.

-- C. Trent Rosecrans

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter.

The Baltimore Orioles are making previous managerial experience a priority in their search for a new manager.

Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated reports that the Orioles have bandied around former Orioles manage Davey Johnson's name, but an interview may not happen. Heyman says that Johnson is happy in his current position as an advisor with the Nationals and as manager of USA baseball, while some Orioles officials feel that it is not appropriate to look to the past as a solution.

Johnson helmed the Orioles during their glory days in 1996 and 1997, compiling a cumulative 186-136 record. He won the World Series as manager of the Mets in 1986. He hasn't managed in the majors since a two- year stint with the Dodgers ending in 2000.

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has interviewed former Indians manager Eric Wedge and former Mets manager Bobby Valentine in a search MacPhail says may take the entire season or longer. MacPhail is also expected to interview Mets scout Bob Melvin, formerly of the Mariners and Diamondbacks. Buck Showalter will also speak to MacPhail.

Valentine has been one of the most sought-after managers in recent years after returning from a successful stint as manager of the Chiba-Lotte Marines from 2004-09. He has 13 years experience managing in the majors and took the Mets to the World Series in 2000. He has turned down other managing opportunities and seems to be waiting for the right situation. MacPhail admits that may not be Baltimore.

"Let's be honest, I'm not sure this gig's for everyone," MacPhail told Heyman. "We may have more interest in some guys than they have in us.''

Melvin and Showalter may not be as picky. Melvin was expected to be the successor to Jerry Manuel in New York before the Mets' recent turnaround that sees them a half-game out of first place, but Melvin certainly wants to get back into managing and was a catcher back from 1989-91 with the O's.

Showalter is an accomplished manager with the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Rangers on his resume. His tenure with the Yankees proved he can build up a team in a big city with George Steinbrenner breathing down his neck. He also has experience assembling a team from the ground up, being Arizona's first manager. Unfortunately for Showalter, his final year with both teams was the year prior to each team (1996 for New York, 2001 for Arizona) winning the World Series.

"He got the Yankees going, and he got Arizona going,'' a baseball executive pointed out to Heyman. "He's known as a control freak. But maybe they need some control over there.''

The Orioles are currently 30 games under .500 at 18-48 and are on pace to lose 118 games. Whoever takes the O's over will have quite a tall task on their hands, albeit with clear talent. Brian Matusz and Chris Tillman are future frontline starters while the offense boasts Adam Jones and Matt Wieters among its young nucleus.

-- Evan Brunell

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter.

The Texas Rangers aren't letting their bankruptcy issues derail their quest for an AL West title.

Rather, the Rangers are willing to acquire high-salaried players if it means getting a frontline pitcher, according to MLB.com .

"We've had some preliminary discussions with clubs," said assistant general manager Thad Levine. "But to compel teams to move this far ahead of the [July 31st] trade deadline, it would take a very attractive package. We're still in the inventory stage and the information-gathering stage rather than the execution phase."

MLB.com noted that the Rangers are in on Roy Oswalt as well as Cliff Lee, expanding the number of known Lee suitors to four.

If the pending sale of the Rangers is approved to the Chuck Greenberg/Nolan Ryan group before the trade deadline, the Rangers would be able to take on payroll. However, if no sale has occurred, Texas will have to make sure any trade either decreases payroll or stays steady. To entice another team to take on a high-salaried player, the Rangers would likely have to offer additional prospects.

Making trades with cost-saving motivations is risky. The Dodgers swapped prospect Carlos Santana to the Indians two years ago for third baseman Casey Blake and had to surrender Santana in exchage for Cleveland eating most of Blake's remaining deal at the time. Now, Santana is one of the best catching prospects in the game who just made his major league debut while Blake is 36 years old.

The Rangers are suffering from a dearth in starting pitching. Rich Harden and Derek Holland are working their way back from injury , and Texas has had to alter its plans to make Brandon McCarthy a reliever.

Acquiring Lee, Oswalt or another top-flight starter would certainly make a significant difference in the AL West race, where Texas leads Los Angeles by 2 1/2 games.

-- Evan Brunell

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter.