Notes: Mock undergoes knee surgery  —  Righty hopes to compete for job in starting rotation in 2007  —  WASHINGTON — Garrett Mock, one of the players acquired from Arizona in the Livan Hernandez trade on Aug. 7, had left knee surgery on Saturday and is expected to make a complete recovery and be ready for Spring Training.

So Here's the Deal, New York  —  He seems a decent enough, industrious enough man, this Alex Rodriguez.  —  After an 11-game trip that concluded 3,000 miles from home, his teammates trudged to a waiting jet last Sunday night.  Rodriguez, who'd had two hits and 14 strikeouts in his previous 20 at-bats …

Notes: Valverde takes over as closer  —  Julio's struggles convince Melvin bullpen change is in order  —  WASHINGTON — Jorge Julio, who bombed as the Baltimore Orioles' bullpen stopper last year and was traded twice before assuming a similar role with the Diamondbacks, has been replaced as closer by right-hander Jose Valverde.

Nagging injury delays Street's return  —  A's notebook  —  OAKLAND — A's closer Huston Street was eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday.  —  As Street said, "That's not going to happen."  —  Street's strained right groin wasn't supposed to sideline him longer than his allotted time on the DL …

Notes: Rottino starts, gets hit  —  Racine native's single sets up three-run rally in eighth  —  cgardner@journalsentinel.com  —  Racine native Vinny Rottino made his first major-league start on Sunday, hitting seventh in the Milwaukee Brewers order and playing at third base in their 10-3 loss to the Florida Marlins.

Pirates Notebook: Chance to catch Cubs a humble prize  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  ST. LOUIS — For the first time since, oh, the third week of April, the Pirates will have cause to look at those Central Division standings today.  —  They are 1 1/2 games behind …

AL Central race takes top billing this week  —  Your weekly look ahead to what's in store for baseball fans ...  There's more riding on this for Minnesota, but it's still a vital series all around.  At present, the Tigers lead the rough-and-tumble AL Central by 4 1/2 games over the White Sox …

Red Sox lacking punch  —  They lose, but will get reinforcements tonight  —  Remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto, which delayed the start of yesterday's game by 68 minutes, packed a bigger wallop than the Red Sox lineup in their 6-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Cabrera in good company  —  Miguel Cabrera has never heard of Mel Ott or Ted Williams.  That comes as no great surprise, because a lot of major leaguers are in the dark when it comes to the history of their sport.  —  But Cabrera might want to start digging into his sport's past as he continues …

Hendrickson Not Worried  —  A day after making his first relief appearance since 2002, Mark Hendrickson said he did not think he was in danger of losing his spot in the rotation despite winning only once in 11 starts with the Dodgers.  —  Hendrickson, who pitched the eighth inning Saturday …

Roethlisberger has surgery to remove appendix  —  By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  Steelers starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had an emergency appendectomy today and will miss the season opener Thursday against the Miami Dolphins.  —  Roethlisberger was absent …

Howard hits No. 50, adds Nos. 51, 52  —  Phils slugger has most homers by a second-year player  —  PHILADELPHIA — Nos. 50, 51 and 52.  —  That sums up Ryan Howard's day at Citizens Bank Park, or at least the first game of Sunday's doubleheader split with Atlanta.

Notes: Lind makes impression  —  Outfielder overcomes nerves as he makes big-league debut  —  BOSTON — It was his first day in the Majors, so Adam Lind wanted to make sure he made it to the ballpark.  To avoid getting lost, Toronto's rookie outfielder caught a cab with Blue Jays hitting coach Mickey Brantley.