Yankees' Posada on Disabled List for First Time  —  CLEVELAND — Jorge Posada seemed to be fighting back tears Sunday in the Yankees' clubhouse.  Posada is a proud catcher, honest with his emotions, and he had never been on the disabled list in his 13-year career.

Smoltz complains of sore shoulder after shaky outing  —  New York — If 20 strikeouts in his previous two starts seduced some into thinking John Smoltz might go on like this forever, Sunday served as a reminder that it can't.  —  Even the bearded Braves icon can't ignore pain and keep mowing down hitters in perpetuity.

Rocket and the country star  —  Roger Clemens allegedly had a 10-year romance with ...  Roger Clemens carried on a decade-long affair with country star Mindy McCready, a romance that began when McCready was a 15-year-old aspiring singer performing in a karaoke bar and Clemens …

Beckett is fuming about 20 straight … ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — So much for not making any excuses.  —  It is certainly true that the Red Sox have had a tough schedule to start the season.  Boston had a shortened spring training due to its opening series in Japan.

Delgado's explanation of the curtain call snub  —  Carlos Delgado says he has only taken two curtain calls in his life, when he hit four in one game several years ago and after he hit his 400th career home run.  He knew the fans were calling for one today, but he didn't feel it was the right spot.

Mets minor-league report  —  By popular request, the weekly Surfing the Mets minor-league report is back ... with a vengeance.  —  Mike Carp (pictured) wanted to get off to a hot start at Binghamton to prove he was a better player than his subpar 2007 numbers suggested.

Leyland goes to bat for slumping Sheff  —  Manager cites injury, tough pitching in defense of veteran DH  —  DETROIT — Tigers manager Jim Leyland defended his slumping designated hitter before Sunday's primetime game against the Angels.  —  Gary Sheffield, at age 39, has not had an ideal start to the season.

Alou's future uncertain with new setback  —  Oft-injured veteran outfielder to have tests on swollen left ankle  —  NEW YORK — A CT scan of the left ankle of Moises Alou administered on Friday provided inconclusive results, and now the immediate future of the oft-injured player …

Bush to keep starting, but in Triple-A  —  Sheets' return prompts Yost to option arm, avoiding long relief  —  MILWAUKEE - Had Ben Sheets been unable to pitch Tuesday in his scheduled slot, Milwaukee knew it would have Dave Bush on regular rest ready to fill in.

NEGATIVITY ALWAYS AT-BAT  —  THE 10th man played again today at Shea and it had nothing to do with reserve heroes for the day Raul Casanova or Nelson Figueroa.  —  For better or for worse - and to talk to a Met anonymously is to know they only think the worse - the negativity emanating from the Shea stands is a real part of the games.

Pirates Release Matt Morris  —  Unfortunately, there's no surprise here.  ESPN reports the Pirates have released Matt Morris.  As Tim noted last night, the Pirates had little choice and eating $10MM seems their best option.  According to ESPN, … There shouldn't be much interest for Morris.