Blue Jays sign Rios for six, Hill for four  —  Rios' contract worth $64 million; Hill's includes three options  —  TORONTO — Timing is everything.  —  On Friday, when the Blue Jays arrived back at Rogers Centre for their home opener against the Red Sox, Toronto announced …

Game 4: Rays at Yankees  —  YANKEES  —  Notes: Thanks to Kevin Devaney for texting this in.  He also reports that Melky Cabrera had his hearing today and had his suspension reduced to two games.  So he will sit today and tomorrow. ...  Neither Betemit or Duncan have faced Andy Sonnanstine …

Pirates, Capps agree to 2 years, $3.05M  —  PITTSBURGH (AP)—Pittsburgh Pirates closer Matt Capps agreed Friday a $3.05 million, two-year contract that runs through 2009 and covers what would have been his first year of arbitration eligibility.  —  The Pirates and Capps discussed …

Jose Canseco still raging over 'roids  —  Admitted steroid user Jose Canseco pushes campaign against baseball in a sometimes edgy book signing in Chicago  —  A courtesy cup of black coffee was waiting for Jose Canseco on Friday when he arrived at his seat inside a downtown bookstore …

Tejada triple lifts Astros over Cubs 4-3  —  CHICAGO - J.R. Towles did a handstand after he was hit by a pitch in the second inning, then homered in the fourth.  —  Miguel Tejada added a go-ahead triple in the eighth inning as the Houston Astros beat the Cubs 4-3 Friday and sent Chicago to its third loss in four games.

Girardi ill, will miss tonight's game (updated)  —  Howdy, readers.  It's Anthony McCarron, pinch-blogging once again for our man Mark.  —  Here is some news: Joe Girardi is a “game-time” decision on whether he will manage tonight against the Rays because of an upper respiratory infection.

El Duque may fill in for Pedro  —  ATLANTA - Mets officials believe Pedro Martinez's injury really is a mild strain that will sideline him only until mid-May, so they're not inclined to seek any outside pitching help now.  Assuming Orlando Hernandez progresses well during a minor-league rehab assignment …

O's power past Mariners  —  R. Hernandez goes 3-for-4 with a home run; L. Hernandez drives in two runs  —  Ramon Hernandez is congratulated by teammates after his solo home run off Mariners pitcher Cha Seung Baek.  (Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr. / April 4, 2008)

Bill James thinks steroids fueled the Twins' two championships  —  Last night I was reading The Bill James Gold Mine 2008, enjoying the section on Atypical Seasons, which of course talked in great detail about Norm Cash (1961) and Darrin Erstad (2004), who overachieved more than anyone relative to their career numbers.

Reyes and Rollins are NL's Most Overrated Players  —  Determining who the most overrated players are is inherently difficult - and subjective.  Whose ability to rate players are we evaluating?  Fans, writers, hardcore fans, players, fantasy geeks?  Today I'm going to look at writers …

Keeping the Faith in the Power of Last Season  —  DENVER — Mayor John Hickenlooper stood on the corner of Blake and 21st Streets, across from Coors Field, reflecting the warmth brought by sunshine and the return of the Colorado Rockies, the defending champions of the National League.

Colon keeps pace in rotation berth bid  —  Red Sox righty breezes through five frames in Minors start  —  PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Bartolo Colon wouldn't bite.  —  Colon delivered a Major League performance Thursday night while pitching for the Pawtucket Red Sox in their International League opener against the Indianapolis Indians.

Tonight's game postponed; Pelfrey bumped  —  As expected, tonight's opener of the three-game series between the Mets and Braves has been postponed by rain.  It has been rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader on May 20 with the first game to start at 1 p.m.