Amazin' Avenue, a New York Mets community

Also, water is wet.

Votto's sovereignty: if the traditional Triple Crown doesn't work out for him, Votto is still on pace to win the "Modern Triple Crown" -- championed by my friend Joe Posnanski over at SI.com... But even if the Reds' big bopper doesn't win either trifecta, the "Double Crown" Votto is chasing would still land him in some cool company. Also the Crown Victoria, Crown Regal and Crown Heights (sentence mine). Ready your Harangues: The Reds were trying to drum up interest in Aaron Harang, even though he's been on the disabled list for a month with back spasms. Harang figures to be a potential August attraction if he resembles any semblance of his former self.

"We can't talk about specific cases," MLB's vice president for public relations, Pat Courtney, told Rumblings. "But what we can say is that each DL placement must be supported by sufficient medical evidence, and it has to come from a highly qualified physician." In other words, the commissioner's office is reviewing every case. And doctors are signing every form. And the players in question, their agents and the union have to be on board with every trip to DL purgatory. * * * * Stark then goes on to dissect three specific cases: Chien-Ming Wang's hips, Oliver Perez's right knee, and Dontrelle Willis' anxiety disorder. There aren't a lot of definitely conclusions, although it's interesting how involved the commissioner's office is with the whole process. And might there be doctors for hire here? Via Baseball Musings, via Peter Abraham.

Hmm... I can think of one team that might be able to accommodate them. Though I'm sure Dave Dombrowski's already been on the phone with the World Champs. (via MLB Trade Rumors)