Dodgers call up Clayton Kershaw, at the expense of Esteban Loaiza  —  L.A. options Yhency Brazoban to Las Vegas and designates fellow right-hander Loaiza for assignment to make room for the hot-throwing lefty from Jacksonville who's due to start in the majors Sunday.

‘KISS OF DEATH’  —  WILLIE: OMAR ‘SHARPENING HIS MACHETE’  —  DENVER - Despite some encouraging words from his boss, Willie Randolph sounded like Dead Manager Walking today.  —  GM Omar Minaya made a surprise visit here Friday to give his embattled manager a tepid vote of confidence …

Yanks make good on Joba plan  —  Bombers club Mariners for second straight game in the Bronx  —  NEW YORK — This “Joba Plan” suddenly seems like an awfully smart idea.  —  The whole point of Joba Chamberlain converting from a starter to a reliever in the Major Leagues was so that he could help …

Indians place Carmona on DL with strained left hip  —  CLEVELAND — Fausto Carmona was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday by the Cleveland Indians because of a strained left hip.  —  Carmona was injured as he ran to cover first base in the third inning of Cleveland's 13-9 loss to the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

Yanks staying course in troubled waters  —  Team practicing patience with decisions made in offseason  —  NEW YORK — Dark storm clouds morphed into brilliant sunshine on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in the Bronx, but that same clearing still has not taken place for the Yankees' underwhelming opening act.

Promotion featuring Ortiz a shot to Yankees  —  Yankees voice concern over All-Star promotion  —  OAKLAND, Calif. - If David Ortiz got to call his shot in Yankee Stadium, he thinks he'd pick right field, with that inviting fence just 314 feet from home plate.  Asked if he'd try to go upper deck, Ortiz smiled.

Minor league pitcher traded for 10 baseball bats … McALLEN, Texas (AP) — During three years in the low minors, John Odom never really made a name for himself.  —  That sure changed this week — he's the guy who was traded for a bunch of bats.  —  “I don't really care,” he said Friday.

Instant replay would strip baseball of its soul  —  No instant replay, please.  Not in baseball, where breath-to-breath squabbles between umpires, managers, coaches and players are as much of the game's soul as the seventh-inning stretch, the national anthem and a box of Cracker Jack.  —  Quick.

Players slow to accept Major League Baseball's new speed rule  —  OAKLAND, Calif. - The Red Sox [team stats] got caught in a speed trap last night.  —  They were busted for going too slow.  —  Hitting coach Dave Magadan was ejected in the sixth inning of the Red Sox' 8-3 loss …

Rockies call up Seth Smith  —  Following injuries to infielder Clint Barmes, and outfielders Willy Taveras and Brad Hawpe, the Rockies have called up Triple-A prospect Seth Smith and are prepared to activate Ian Stewart for today's game against the Mets at Coors Field.

Mets at Colorado  —  Mets (22-24) at Colorado (19-29), 3:55 p.m.  —  Vargas (0-2, 4.76) vs. Francis (1-4, 5.87)  —  Important game for the Mets and Willie.  Lets see if Vargas can be the stopper Santana and Perez were not the last two games.  —  Mets Top 1  —  If anyone can get this team started it is Jose.

The Draft's Dirty Dozen  —  Even with just two weeks to go before the draft, and with plenty of college prospects seeing their season come to a close in the next few days, doing a mock draft is a bit of a silly exercise.  Still doing a mock draft on the day before the selections are made can be a fruitless endeavor.