Jay Bruce was excited to be featured on Sunday's Great American Ball Park giveaway, a cereal bowl and spoon set that was distributed to the first 8,000 kids age 14 and younger.

As elusive as bullpen consistency has been this season, teams have maintained their standard methods of employing their relievers. As much as the game has evolved, bullpen usage appears to have reached a state of stagnation.

In 2002, it all got started by an unlikely source named David Eckstein. On April 28 of that season, the Angels shortstop hit the first of the season's eight walk-off grand slams.

For six straight years, Derek Jeter has earned the fan vote to start at shortstop for the American League in the All-Star Game. He couldn't play last year because of an injury. This year, the 37-year-old is on a mission to once again merit the starting nod and his numbers are serving as quite the campaign tool.

The judge in the Roger Clemens federal perjury trial on Monday denied Clemens' legal team's request to strike Andy Pettitte's testimony, according to wire reports from Washington.

The 2012 “Diamonds & Dreams” presented by Chevrolet will award new baseball fields each week for up to 12 weeks through July 22.

The Cardinals gave left-hander J.C. Romero his unconditional release and recalled right-hander Eduardo Sanchez from Triple-A Memphis on Monday, the team announced.

Who is the best closer in baseball? Mere weeks ago, this question would have engendered the closest thing to 100 percent consensus that you'll find in a game so analyzed, scrutinized and fractionalized.

As a new week dawns in Major League Baseball, fans, players, and, most of all, American League pitchers, have to wonder: Can anything slow down Josh Hamilton?

A glowing example of the impact sports can have on the lives of others can be found in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where severely impoverished kids have learned the game of baseball with a little help from the outside world.

A strong bullpen is often the lynchpin of a World Series winner. However, a number of title hopefuls have faced a troubling turn in their relief corps. Could those early woes cost clubs like the Red Sox, Tigers, Angels and Marlins a shot at October glory?

Nelson Cruz hit a grand slam and the Rangers knocked out 19 hits behind Neftali Feliz's six solid innings en route to a 13-6 win over the Angels on Sunday and a series victory. Cruz and Elvis Andrus each had four hits.

With 18 home runs, Josh Hamilton has three more than Barry Bonds did at this point when he set the single-season record of 73 in 2001. But he hasn't lost any of his aggressiveness to protect himself.

Each day, MLB.com selects one player from each game whose performance stands out. Here are the May 13 Mane Men of the Day.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton and Reds first baseman Joey Votto both hit walk-off grand slams on Mother's Day, the first time in 14 years the feat was accomplished twice in one day.

Joey Votto hit three home runs on Mother's Day, but none was more important than the grand slam that had the Reds walking off with a dramatic 9-6 come-from-behind victory.

The last of three straight walks was capped by an eight-pitch duel between Austin Jackson and Grant Balfour, ending with a bases-loaded walk that drove in Brennan Boesch for the difference in a 3-1 Tigers victory to split a four-game series against the A's.