strained oblique grief counseling and Game 56 Open Thread: June 4, 2006  —  it's like i keep saying: you can beat the cardinals this year, but you still can't beat . . . .  . . . um . . .  . . . . .(cough).  —  the official word on albert's injury is "right oblique strain"; prognosis is 2 to 6 weeks on the shelf, maybe longer.

Lack of runs hurts Wakefield  —  Sox lineup unable to get going off Tigers pitchers  —  DETROIT — If anyone has a right to bemoan his lack of luck this season, it's Tim Wakefield.  All the knuckleballer seems to do is keep the Red Sox in games, and then have a loss to show for his effort.

Notes: Mound meeting a Leyland no-no  —  Manager: Second closer-catcher discussion may have hurt team  —  DETROIT — A meeting on the mound did not lead to a meeting of the minds.  —  After Todd Jones' second loss in four days, manager Jim Leyland came to his defense, saying his closer has done a good job on the whole this season.

Yankees' S O S's Continue: Two More Are Sick or Sore  —  BALTIMORE, June 3 — The Yankees' spiral of illness and injury continued downward Saturday, when two more players were unable to perform against the Orioles in the second game of a three-game series at Camden Yards.

Replacement Yankees Are Winning Like the Real Thing  —  BALTIMORE, June 3 — As he left the Yankees' clubhouse after a 6-5 victory against the Orioles on Saturday, Alex Rodriguez wore a pink shirt emblazoned with a movie title: "House of the Dead."  —  The humor was macabre and certainly appropriate.

Prior close to being ready  —  Throws strong 5 innings, takes extra tosses in bullpen  —  PEORIA — Mark Prior was so efficient Saturday night he had to finish his second rehabilitation start in the bullpen.  —  The 25-year-old Cubs right-hander completed five innings for the Peoria Chiefs …