Bullpen betrays Yankees in Chicago  —  Rally after pair of rain delays spoiled on single off Chamberlain  —  CHICAGO — Joe Crede's run-scoring single off Joba Chamberlain in the bottom of the ninth inning was the game-winner on Thursday for the White Sox, who handed the Yankees rookie …

Brian Bruney and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day  —  Here is what happened to Yankees reliever Brian Bruney on Thursday:  —  * He had a magnetic resonance imaging exam on his injured right foot, which the Yankees fear has two torn ligaments and which will probably put him on the disabled list.

Sheffield gets third cortisone shot  —  Veteran consdiering retirement as worst case scenario  —  DETROIT — Gary Sheffield received three cortisone shots last year as he tried to play through a midseason shoulder injury that sapped his offense down the stretch.  He has now received three cortisone shots this week.

Ex-Ray Dukes cleans zoo cages, shortens probation  —  TAMPA — To get his misdemeanor probation cut short by five months, former Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes spent 25 hours during the past week cleaning out cages and mopping at Lowry Park Zoo.  —  Attorney Grady Irvin and a team official …

Pelfrey's mouthpiece a distraction for opponents  —  Last Sunday night, as a national television audience watched Mike Pelfrey tangle with the Phillies on ESPN, the question probably came up a million times among viewers from Sacramento to Sioux City.  —  “What the heck is that guy chewing on?”

Nearly perfect, Cliff Lee dazzles again as Tribe sweeps Royals  —  KANSAS CITY, MO. — The Indians completed Thursday's doubleheader sweep behind undefeated left-hander Cliff Lee and an out-of-nowhere homer by David Dellucci.  —  Lee, who has not allowed a run in the last 21 innings, beat the Royals 2-0 on a three-hitter.

Guillen: Derek Jeter ‘the perfect man’  —  About an hour before Ozzie Guillen called him “the perfect man” and “the best thing ever in the game,” Derek Jeter found a few minutes to chat about his future place of work.  —  Yankee Stadium is going, going ... a few months from being gone.

Phillies sit slumping Howard  —  MILWAUKEE - Ryan Howard was frustrated.  —  He angrily whipped his bat toward the visitors' dugout after he struck out twice in four at-bats Wednesday in a 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.  He sat quietly in front of his locker …

Prospectus Hit List: Millstones and Milestones by Jay Jaffe  —  Easy As 1-2-3: The Arizona offense is second in the league in scoring (6.1 runs per game) and EqA (.282), and is getting the bulk of the attention, but the pitching staff has been even better, yielding an NL-best 3.8 runs per game.

Reds don't want to rush Bailey, Bruce  —  Pitcher, outfielder developing, growing at Triple-A Louisville  —  CINCINNATI — Two-fifths of the Reds' rotation hasn't been getting it done.  The offense has sputtered as some hitters have been slow to heat up.  —  Help is only a phone call away …

Cook supplies cure for Rockies' slump  —  The right-hander gives up four hits in eight innings and retires 16 in a row, cooling off the Cubs, 4-2.  —  The Denver Post  —  Aaron Cook has become the Rockies' terminator.  —  The big redhead has been called upon three times this season …

Backwards year  —  Ok, so I slept on it, and I'm not so ranting and raving this morning.  But I do maintain that people need to start thinking positive.  There is so much good about the team, so much to look forward to, but a booing stadium in April is not going to make the team start winning.

DeShawn, LeBron and Soulja Boy in Game 3  —  Well, that was different.  Crowd made a bit of noise.  Wiz made a bit of noise.  Gilbert jumped up on the scorer's table before the game even started, waving his rally towel and making a bit of noise.  And Soulja Boy got up on the big screen and made some noise.

Young MLB players seem to lean toward secure deals  —  AROUND THE Texas Rangers, it's known simply as The Talk.  —  Talented young second baseman Ian Kinsler heard it from All-Star shortstop Michael Young.  Young got it from veteran outfielder Rusty Greer.

Richardson gets his chance with Saltalamacchia's call-up  —  Every clubhouse needs a player who keeps a positive attitude, even when he sits on the bench most of the time.  RedHawks reserve catcher Kevin Richardson is that guy.  The 27-year-old usually backs up Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the Rangers top catching prospect.

Dodgers announce stadium improvement plan  —  LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers unveiled a four-year upgrade plan for Dodger Stadium on Thursday that owner Frank McCourt said amounts to a new home for the team built around the nearly 50-year-old core of the old.