Astros GM says Clemens situation is 'status quo'  —  Houston Astros general manager Tim Purpura denied a report on Tuesday that Roger Clemens had picked a team for 2006, saying the situation was "status quo."  —  Clemens' agent, Randy Hendricks, and Astros' owner Drayton McLane also denied the report.

Sheff may go on DL yet again  —  DETROIT - Just as the Yankees thought Gary Sheffield was getting healthy, they find out he may be heading right back to the disabled list.  —  Sheffield was frustrated and despondent last night as he exited Comerica Park, stopping only briefly to talk with the Daily News and one other reporter.

Notes: Soriano fifth in All-Star voting  —  Washington outfielder on pace for 55 homers, 107 RBIs  —  PHILADELPHIA — The latest National League All-Star voting results are out, and Nationals slugger Alfonso Soriano ranks fifth among outfielders behind Andruw Jones, Carlos Beltran, Jim Edmonds and Ken Griffey with 273,373 votes.

Mets promote top prospect Milledge  —  Nady placed on disabled list after undergoing appendectomy  —  NEW YORK — Another piece in a puzzle that the Mets hope one day will lead to years of long lasting success arrived at Shea Stadium in unexpected fashion Monday evening.

Pitching weakness could undermine team's potential  —  The Phillies surveyed their mangled pitching rotation yesterday, spun the organizational wheel, and announced that lefthander Eude Brito would be the latest answer to the musical question "Why Aren't There More Arms to Hold Me?"

Marlins sink talk of trade  —  DETROIT - There was plenty of speculation yesterday that the Yankees, Phillies and Marlins were working on a three-way deal that would put Pat Burrell in pinstripes, send Dontrelle Willis to Philadelphia and stock the low-budget Marlins with prospects, but the trade talk was quickly shot down.

Rivera Buys the Yankees Some Time to Regroup  —  DETROIT, May 30 — An unwritten rule of managing is never use your closer in a tie game on the road.  The theory is easy to understand: if you get a lead, you will need someone to preserve it.  You might as well save the closer.

Pirates Notebook: Next up?  A platoon in right ... maybe  —  Could Jeromy Burnitz and Craig Wilson platoon in right field?  —  On April 4 in Milwaukee, Pirates manager Jim Tracy was asked that question and answered authoritatively: "Make sure you're aware of this: This is not a platoon situation with Jeromy Burnitz.

Walking Cabrera can be damaging to a pitcher's ERA  —  · Check out how many intentional walks the Giants have issued and you'll get a good sense of what manager Felipe Alou thinks of them.  —  "I don't like intentional walks," Alou said, after putting up four fingers when Miguel Cabrera came …

Kazmir Deal Is a Debt the Mets Still Owe  —  Four out of every five days, the Mets are a resurgent franchise, flush with charismatic leaders and bankable stars, hailed for their progressive thinking and bold strategy.  —  But on the fifth day, when Scott Kazmir takes the mound for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays …

Padres ride Young's gem past Rockies  —  Right-hander delivers eight innings of one-hit ball, K's eight  —  SAN DIEGO — With late life on his fastball, and curveballs, sliders and changeups that kept hitters off balance, Chris Young put it all together on Tuesday night …

Injuries make AL East a three-team race  —  NEW YORK — Of all the turning-point moments built into a season, the Blue Jays officially added Monday's 7-6 win over the Red Sox to the list — and not because of how they scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, or that it inched …

Sinking feeling  —  D'backs ace Webb needs only one pitch to dominate  —  One pitch.  It is arguably the filthiest pitch in baseball.  Brandon Webb's devastating sinker dives like a swimmer off a high board.  Like Mariano Rivera and his cutter, Barry Zito and his curve and Brad Lidge and his slider …