Breaking News: A-Rod on disabled list  —  The bad news keeps coming for the Yankees.  Alex Rodriguez has been placed on the disabled list.  He has a Grade 2 quadriceps strain.  —  “We have to get him right,” GM Brian Cashman said.  —  So much for the sunny prediction before the game that Rodriguez would be out only a day or two.

Improvised staff can't be a Texas Rangers strength  —  More than a year ago, Ron Washington convinced owner Tom Hicks and general manager Jon Daniels that he would take whatever resources were given to him and inject a positive, can-do approach to a club and an organization that seemingly had become mired in negativity.

Schneider released from hospital  —  Mets catcher Brian Schneider was released from the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan this morning after spending nearly a week there with a staph infection in his left thumb.  —  Looking fit despite what he called “a very scary situation,” …

After nicking Halladay, Youkilis tips his cap  —  Given the great admiration Kevin Youkilis has for Roy Halladay, his two-out single in the ninth inning to beat him last night, 1-, felt extra special and left Youkilis and the Red Sox with a feeling of accomplishment in the first game of a homestand …

Ticket prices steep for MLB All-Star game  —  Want to go to the baseball All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium?  Be prepared to dig deep into your pockets - if you manage to score a ticket in the first place.  —  A ticket to the 79th Midsummer Classic on July 15 will set you back at least $150 …

Tulo's injury latest twist  —  Mutiple mishaps end with Atkins playing second base and backup catcher Iannetta at third.  —  The Denver Post  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Sometimes reality is weirder than fiction.  —  A disappointing season became painful over the course of four hours Tuesday.

WRIGHT ON TIME  —  The Mets survived a sub-par Johan Santana outing and an even shakier bullpen performance last night.  —  David Wright's RBI single in the 11th inning gave the Mets a 5-4 victory over the last-place Pirates and boosted their win streak to three after Santana struggled at home again …

Report: Smoltz willing to return to Braves' bullpen  —  John Smoltz, who dominated the National League as a closer for 3½ years, is willing to return to the Atlanta Braves' bullpen when he returns from the disabled list, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Of Jimmy Olson, Spittle And The Dying Of The Light  —  Here's the important thing to remember about Buzz Bissinger, and whatever the heck happened on “Costas Now” about two hours ago: Buzz is not alone.  Sure, he might be metaphorically alone, raining spittle on the imaginary demons that clearly haunt him.

Marlins fall short vs. Dodgers  —  Fish erase early deficit, but Kent delivers in the ninth  —  MIAMI — The Marlins rallied, and they also made three highlight-reel defensive plays, which featured plenty of grittiness and emotion.  But in the end, it wasn't enough.

Step aside Yankees Universe and Red Sox Nation … Welcome to the future of the American League East.  —  The Orioles are in first place, percentage points ahead of the Red Sox.  Boston, hanging on to its dynasty by its fingernails, is the only thing standing between Baltimore and the fast-rising Tampa Bay Rays.

Jet-settin' Clemens & his bevy of beauties  —  Roger Clemens hung out with several attractive women in his baseball career, including beauties in California and Boston and a former Manhattan bartender named Angela Moyer.  —  Clemens, 45, flew the women around the country on his private jet …

Let's trust Piniella on this one  —  Some of the best Chicago sports stories concern guys who aren't in uniform.  —  With the Bears it's the quarterback they don't have yet.  —  With the Bulls it's the coach they haven't hired yet.  —  With the Blackhawks it's the free agents they haven't signed yet.