Game 9: Yankees at Royals  —  YANKEES  —  Notes: Jorge Posada has been diagnosed with a shoulder strain according to the KC team doctor and should only miss a few days.  It doesn't look like a DL.  He had the MRI sent to Dr. James Andrews for confirmation and the Yankees will have their doctors look at it as well.

Marlins Notebook: Miller under orders to throw hard, not worry  —  WASHINGTON — Let it rip.  —  That's the order the Marlins have given to left-hander Andrew Miller, whose velocity hasn't touched 90 mph in either of his two starts this season.  —  The team said Miller's health is fine.

Boos taste sweet to Renteria … Fenway fans may have had a blast last night as they endlessly booed former Red Sox [team stats] shortstop Edgar Renteria, who now plays for the Detroit Tigers.  —  But Renteria did not get battered by the booing.  Instead, he turned it into a positive.

Duque out; Vargas on way in?  —  The Mets' patience with the fluctuating health of Orlando Hernandez finally ran out yesterday and the team is on the verge of signing Claudio Vargas to a minor-league contract to help fill the void, the pitcher's agent confirmed last night.

Knee has Castillo in tight spot  —  Luis Castillo sat out Wednesday night's game against the Phillies, a day after pulling himself after four innings with tightness in his right knee.  The second baseman speculated that the trouble isn't related to previous knee problems that led to surgery in October, and instead faulted the weather.

Indictment: Agents steered baseball players to doctor for performance-enhancing drugs  —  NEW YORK (AP)—A federal indictment unsealed Wednesday charged that unidentified agents for baseball players steered clients to a California physician linked in media reports to supplying Troy Glaus …

Indians sign young star Carmona to multiyear deal  —  The Indians have signed right-hander Fausto Carmona to a multiyear contract extension, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney is reporting.  —  The deal is guaranteed through 2011 with club options for 2012, 2013 and 2014.  No monetary terms have been disclosed yet.

Building ballpark is daunting  —  WASHINGTON - If a notion exists that the hard part is over now that financing is in place for a downtown Miami ballpark, Marlins President David Samson wants to clear it up.  —  The work may now be more gratifying, but it's certainly no easier.

Sprague admits use of Andro  —  Pacific baseball coach also used amphetamines  —  STOCKTON - One of Stockton's most accomplished baseball players said that during his 11-year playing career he took substances that have since been banned by Major League Baseball.

Chicago Cubs  —  But Sammy Sosa, the Cubs' career home run leader, remains an outcast to many of the same fans who used to cheer his majestic blasts and animated chest-thumping routine.  —  Sosa, who reached 609 career home runs last season while playing for Texas, is considering retirement …

Angelos says he hopes Nationals succeed  —  Orioles owner attributes record-low Camden Yards crowd to weather  —  Orioles owner Peter Angelos, who once fought to keep a team out of Washington, said yesterday that he hopes the Nationals are successful and doesn't mind if Orioles fans occasionally slip away …

Buchholz finds comfort in bullpen  —  At this time last year, Taylor Buchholz was in no-man's land.  Now he's a late-inning reliever, finally in his comfort zone.  —  “As a starter, I would have four days to think about pitching my next game, and by the time the game came around I would be mentally spent,” Buchholz said Wednesday.

Sisco undergoes Tommy John surgery  —  Left-hander will miss 12 to 24 months during recovery period  —  CHICAGO — Andrew Sisco underwent Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery on Monday in New York and will be out of action between 12 to 24 months during his recovery period.

Roberts appears headed for surgery, long rehab  —  (04-09) 20:41 PDT — Those who want to see younger players in left field will get their wish at the expense of very disappointed Dave Roberts, who appears headed for the operating room.  Roberts said he plans today to get a second opinion …

Dialing up all Hall of Famers for All-Star Game  —  Tributes and nostalgia have become an annual component of baseball's All-Star Game.  For this year's Midsummer Classic, scheduled for July 15 at Yankee Stadium, Major League Baseball has a particularly ambitious plan.