Inge takes issue with lack of respect  —  Third baseman has problem with comments about Rogers  —  ST. LOUIS — Brandon Inge spent the day in his hotel room, clicking channels, and it didn't take long for him to get clicked off.  —  ESPN.  CNN.  FOX News.

Delgado tops Mets' surgery list  —  First baseman, three others go under knife  —  New York Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado, catcher Paul Lo Duca, right-hander Aaron Heilman and infielder Chris Woodward had successful surgery Monday.  —  Delgado had surgery on his right wrist because of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Top Candidate Withdraws  —  Citing Family, Girardi Won't Seek Nats' Job  —  Former Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi, considered for weeks the favorite to become the next manager of the Washington Nationals, took his name out of consideration for the job yesterday, saying it was a decision based …

Mischief on the Mound: An Abridged History  —  The moment of truth for Jay Howell in 1988.  Howell's glove had pine tar on it.  —  Major league pitchers have a long history of shenanigans, doctoring baseballs with such substances as sandpaper, thumb tacks, emery boards, pine tar and saliva.

Francona's trip to Japan is off  —  Manager hospitalized with a foot infection  —  ST. LOUIS — The Red Sox sent out word last night that Terry Francona, who last week had agreed to replace Ken Macha as manager of a team of major leaguers going to Japan next month for a series of exhibitions, has withdrawn.

2006 Minor League Free Agents  —  The following is the list of minor leaguers who have been declared free agents following the 2006 season, as provided by Major League Baseball.

Nelson De La Rosa, 38, Actor and Good-Luck Charm for Red Sox, Dies  —  Nelson De La Rosa, the diminutive actor who became a good-luck charm for the Boston Red Sox during their victorious 2004 World Series run, died at a hospital in New York on Sunday.  He was 38.

Prospectus Matchups  —  Breakin' the Law  —  Mon dieu!  You would think nobody in baseball ever cheated before to hear folks carrying on about Kenny Rogers and his dirty hand.  Remember: this is a game with a long history of players and teams doing untoward things to get the upper...er...hand.

Mailbag: Benson-Maine deal analyzed  —  Beat writer Spencer Fordin answers Orioles fans' questions  —  Do you think trading John Maine for Kris Benson was a good deal?  I understand Benson is a reliable innings eater, but Maine seems to have much more potential to contribute to the Mets in the future.

Sutton won't be coming back  —  Brewers' play-by-play announcer said he will pursue other interests  —  dwalker@journalsentinel.com  —  Daron Sutton, play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers since 2002, will not return for the 2007 season, the team announced Monday night.