Jeter has earned monument at new Yankee Stadium  —  At this stage of his career, which is to say his prime, there is only one question left about Derek Jeter: monument or plaque?  —  A person couldn't help getting in a historical mood, what with the Yankees playing their final Opening Day …

Sox travel well  —  Lester, Ortiz spark third win over A's  —  OAKLAND, Calif. - Josh Beckett is still in Florida.  Curt Schilling is stuck on an exercise bike.  David Ortiz doesn't have any pages left in his passport for new customs stamps, and there's still one country left before the Red Sox can fall into their own beds.

Bondy: Perez throws life into Mets  —  MIAMI - Oliver Perez has his very good days, his very bad days.  If he were a network program, he would be “Saturday Night Live.”  —  But on an evening when the Mets received the lousy medical update on Pedro Martinez's strained hamstring they expected …

Marlins Notebook: Andino's joy turns to relief  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Robert Andino says he'll always have fond memories of his first career home run, even if the aftermath was scary.  —  As Andino was circling the bases after his game-winner Tuesday night, an intruder was trying to break into his house in Kendall.

Silva sparkles in debut  —  Newest M's starter gives up only one run to Rangers  —  Erik Bedard and Felix Hernandez set the bar high, and Carlos Silva knew it wouldn't be easy to clear it in his first start as a Mariner.  —  “I want to be part of this thing,” Silva said.  “I don't want to be on the side.

With the game on the line, I want ...  Since the dawn of time, men have been vexed by the singular most puzzling question: Ginger or Mary-Ann?  On the one hand, you have the obvious and more sizeable option; on the other hand, you have a prima facie somewhat less appealing choice …

Cardinals fans take flight  —  ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Cardinals fans love to tell anyone who will listen how they're the smartest in baseball, and on Wednesday night they may have proven it.  —  They knew better than to show up and watch this team.  —  Oh, the Cardinals won …

Beltran on lost HR: Replay it again!  —  MIAMI - Carlos Beltran already wanted instant replay in baseball.  Now, he's adamant.  Beltran was deprived of an apparent fifth-inning homer when the original call was overruled, seemingly in error.  The outfield wall is topped by a yellow line and a railing.

Big Hurt not hurt by Joba's theatrics  —  There was a time earlier in his career when Frank Thomas would've taken umbrage at Joba Chamberlain whirling around and pumping his fist after striking out the future Hall of Famer to end the eighth inning of the Yankees' 3-2 victory on Opening Night.

Real Fans Love the DH  —  What do the following have in common?  Sandy Koufax, Lefty Grove and Dazzy Vance.  Right, they were all truly awful hitters.  What about these three?  Harmon Killebrew, Ralph Kiner and Hank Greenberg?  Right again.  They were all mediocre to poor fielders.

M. Giles agrees to sign with Dodgers, learn new position  —  A day after an unusual about-face, veteran infielder Marcus Giles seems to have changed his mind again and apparently is headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers to play third base for their Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas, after all.