Jeffrey Loria's message after odd hire: 'A Marlin isn't a flounder'  —  The telephone started ringing in the early morning, from former players, managers, baseball executives, all with the same response.  —  “This is a joke, right? “Tell me this is a joke. “Come on, they can't be serious.”

Baseball by the numbers: White Sox' ‘D’ still needs improvement  —  BY JOHN GROCHOWSKI  —  For the Sun-Times  —  Entering this season, White Sox fans hoped they would see improved defense from their team.  With Dayan Viciedo (minus-17 last season in Fielding Bible runs saved as listed …

Bruce Chen Announces Retirement  —  Lefty Bruce Chen has announced on Twitter that he will retire from professional baseball.  Chen, 37, was designated for assignment by the Indians on Saturday.  —  Chen struggled through 6 1/3 innings in two starts this year for Cleveland, permitting nine earned runs.

Yankees' Alex Rodriguez relates to Nationals' Bryce Harper on and off the field  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — It's hard to imagine what it must be like to be Bryce Harper.  —  Sports Illustrated cover boy at 16, No. 1 overall pick at 17, Rookie of the Year at 19.

Hamels Pitches Phillies Past Rockies 4-3 for 6th Straight  —  DENVER — Cole Hamels pitched efficiently into the eighth inning and Odubel Herrera broke a tie in the sixth with a two-run double as the Philadelphia Phillies won their sixth straight game by beating the Colorado Rockies 4-3 Monday night.

Mets recover to win in 14th after squandering another Harvey gem  —  The Mets defeated the Cardinals 2-1 in 14 innings Monday at Citi Field in the opener of the four-game series between division leaders.  —  John Mayberry Jr.'s bases-loaded infield single in the 14th won it for the Mets …

Oakland Snaps 4-Game Losing Streak With 2-1 Win Over Houston  —  HOUSTON — Brett Lawrie hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the sixth, and the Oakland bullpen combined for 4 2-3 scoreless innings as the Athletics snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night.

Kendrick will miss the Phillies  —  Kyle Kendrick has already looked at the upcoming schedule.  —  He will not pitch in any of the four games the Phillies will play at Coors Field this week.  And, barring a rainout or schedule change, he said his turn in the Colorado Rockies rotation …

Mets will promote OF Darrell Ceciliani from Triple-A  —  OF Darrell Ceciliani will be promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas and join the Mets for Tuesday's game, the team announced after Monday's game.  —  The team did not announce a corresponding roster move, though ESPN's Adam Rubin speculates …

They've become the no-go Dodgers  —  When Maury Wills starred for the Dodgers half a century ago, Dodger Stadium came alive every time he reached base with “Go, go, go!”  —  Wills stole a then-record 104 bases in 1962 and led the National League in stolen bases for six consecutive years.

Red Sox Outright Allen Craig  —  The Red Sox announced this afternoon that first baseman/outfielder Allen Craig has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A, meaning that he is no longer on the club's 40-man roster.  —  That Craig cleared waivers unclaimed isn't necessarily a surprise …