Yankees' Offense Is All Wet in Kansas City  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When Johnny Damon walked to lead off Wednesday's game, the Kansas City Royals' first baseman, Ross Gload, greeted him this way: “Man, you guys are dropping like flies.”  —  Damon bantered a little about the thigh injury …

Tribe signs Carmona to long-term deal  —  Young right-hander's contract could last seven years  —  CLEVELAND — Fausto Carmona's first full season in the Indians rotation saw him win 19 games and finish fourth in the American League Cy Young Award voting.  —  Where can Carmona go from there?

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.

Phillies lose without injured Rollins  —  NEW YORK (AP)—The Philadelphia Phillies looked lost without Jimmy Rollins.  —  Last year's NL East champions played a painfully sloppy game minus their MVP shortstop, and Mike Pelfrey gave the Mets' injury-riddled pitching staff an encouraging boost in New York's 8-2 victory Wednesday night.

Baseball Is Again Linked to Steroids  —  Player agents in Major League Baseball referred clients to a doctor in California who illegally wrote prescriptions for performance-enhancing drugs, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday by federal authorities.

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 …