News From Left Field

Luis Castillo’s game-ending dropped pop-up recalls a similar error by Brant Brown that nearly cost the Cubs the 1998 wild card.

The contract negotiation between the Nationals and first overall pick Stephen Strasburg could force baseball to reform its draft process.

Today Randy Johnson could become just the 24th pitcher to win 300 career games, a milestone first reached in 1888 by Pud Galvin, regarded as the first player to use a performance-enhancing drug.

Khalil Greene and Joey Votto were placed on the disabled list last Friday for social anxiety disorder and “stress-related issues,” respectively, joining Zack Greinke and Dontrelle Willis as prominent major leaguers to be sidelined by mental issues.

A fan’s online campaign to vote suspended drug user Manny Ramirez into the All-Star game ridicules baseball’s steroid policies and All-Star voting procedure.

With the NCAA baseball tournament starting Friday, the use of potentially doctored composite bats has been called into question.

Ryan Church, who missed third base while trying to score Monday, joins players such as David Justice and Fred Merkle who missed a base in a key situation.

After years of complaints from fans who believe World Series games end too late, Major League Baseball and Fox have agreed to move up the start of games by more than a half hour.

Instant replay, which was used for the first time Wednesday night to overturn home run calls, has had little effect on the game since being implemented by MLB last August.

Baseball suspended Manny Ramirez today for testing positive for a banned substance. Ramirez denied using steroids, and reports suggest he used a women’s fertility drug.

After rows of field-level seats were empty during the opening home stand at new Yankee Stadium, the Yankees have cut ticket prices in premium seating areas by as much as 50 percent.

The Yankees and Mets have played before lackluster crowds in the opening home stands of their new ballparks.

The Red Sox blame the WBC for an injury to Daisuke Matsuzaka, but overall the tournament has not caused a rise in injuries.

Major League Baseball is honoring Jackie Robinson today on the 62nd anniversary of his first major league game.

Though it has experienced some technical problems to start the season, MLB continues to lead other sports in its use of technology to attract fans.