A-ROD COULD PLAY SHORTSTOP  —  IF JETER'S OUT, CASHMAN SAYS IT'S A SOLUTION  —  KANSAS CITY — If Derek Jeter has to go on the shelf due to a left quad injury, the Yankees aren't afraid of shifting Alex Rodriguez from third base to shortstop, a position he played very well in Seattle …

A's Harden scratched from Tuesday start  —  (04-08) 04:00 PDT Toronto — The A's have scratched Rich Harden for tonight's game in Toronto with back soreness, specifically in the lat area.  —  The injury is believed to be minor and it might have been the aftereffects of the long flights to and from Japan last month.

Sox ring in home season with a 5-0 win over Detroit  —  BOSTON - The Red Sox [team stats] trotted out the champions of Boston's past to celebrate their latest World Series win, with Hall of Famers Bobby Orr and Bill Russell among those carrying their sports' trophies onto the Fenway field to join the two won by the Red Sox.

Phillies beat Mets in final Shea opener  —  NEW YORK (AP)—Carlos Delgado and the New York Mets botched the final Shea Stadium opener the same way they squandered that big lead in the NL East last year.  —  April or September, doesn't seem to matter.  The Mets can't find a way to hold off Philadelphia.

Cordero says Brewers blew chance  —  I just talked with Francisco Cordero and he said the Brewers blew their chance to keep him as their closer by not agreeing to talk about a contract extension last spring.  —  Cordero, who set the club record with 44 saves in 2007, signed a free-agent deal …

Feliciano arrives late, Castillo leaves early  —  Here's a postgame recap of some pertinent issues:  —  Pedro Feliciano was unavailable because he arrived at the ballpark in the seventh inning.  Feliciano had permission from the Mets to go home to Puerto Rico for a family issue after Sunday's game in Atlanta.

Posada may be headed for DL  —  Trouble is mounting for the Yankees.  Jorge Posada will have an MRI here tomorrow and could be headed for the disabled list with a sore right shoulder.  —  “Dead,” Posada said when asked his shoulder felt.  —  Talks will be held tonight and don't be surprised …

News: El Duque gets MRI in NYC  —  Orlando Hernandez returned to New York for an MRI today, after experiencing pain, again, in the same foot that bothered him early in spring training and which initially forced him to the disabled list.

Runoff to determine Mets' new 8th inning song  —  The Mets will have a runoff to determine their new eighth-inning sing-along tune.  —  The organization received 5 million votes on its Web site after inviting fans to choose from among 10 selections to potentially replace Sweet Caroline.

Ex-Oriole McLemore mentors Jones  —  Players attended same high school in San Diego; O's could add 13th pitcher  —  ARLINGTON, Texas - Mark McLemore first called Adam Jones in June 2003 on the day Jones was drafted by the Seattle Mariners.  They are 21 years apart, but the two were from …

AL-best Orioles win sixth straight  —  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)—Aubrey Huff and the Baltimore Orioles are certainly enjoying the new season.  And surprising a lot of people.  —  “We've already had more fun than at anytime last year,” Huff said after Baltimore's sixth straight victory …

Mariner Meltdown on the Mound  —  The Seattle Mariners dropped their fourth game in a row Monday afternoon to fall to 2-5, completing their being swept at the hands of the Orioles—the Orioles—by losing their third bullpen game in the season's opening week.

Rodriguez might need stint on DL  —  Los Angeles (5-3) vs. Cleveland (3-4), Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. PT  —  Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez had one of his worst outings in recent memory on Monday night, blowing a save against the Indians by allowing three runs in one-third of an inning.