Cuban baseball player defects  —  Dayán Viciedo, a promising 19-year-old third baseman, wants to play baseball in the major leagues.  —  Facebook  —  AIM  —  El Nuevo Herald  —  Cuban baseball's brightest star, Dayán Viciedo, has escaped from Cuba and is now in Miami …

Chipper out with slight tear in leg muscle  —  Third baseman hopes he will be able to return soon  —  ATLANTA — Chipper Jones was held out of Sunday afternoon's lineup with a right quadriceps strain that he hopes won't force him to miss more than just a few games.

Why do I keep using OPS?  —  In a comment to my latest “weekly” stat review for the Reds, Bluzer politely critiqued my use of OPS (and, by extension, PrOPS).  OPS is certainly not a great statistic.  For details on some of the arguments made against it, check out Patriot's fine assault on it here.

Pen writes story of Texas Rangers' frustrating loss to Rays  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  ARLINGTON - Maybe it's the result of all those innings they had to pitch early in the season.  Maybe it's due to the encroaching summer heat.  Maybe the constant shuffling of bodies has played a part.

Rays' Gomes drops appeal of five-game suspension  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — OF/DH Jonny Gomes dropped his appeal and served the first game of his five-game suspension Saturday as the Rays began taking their punishment for last week's brawl, a process that will leave them short-handed …

Cash: Hank's behind me  —  Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed yesterday that Hank Steinbrenner has officially expressed an interest in retaining his services beyond 2008, when his current contract expires.  There have been no official negotiations, but Cashman stressed that he isn't looking to leave the Bronx.

Hawpe's slam sinks Brewers  —  Forget about a fire sale for the Rockies.  —  With Brad Hawpe back, the only heat being felt in the Rockies' dugout is coming from Hawpe's bat.  —  With one mighty swing in the first inning Saturday night at Coors Field, Hawpe crushed the first grand slam …

Ailing Young extends hitting streak to 22 games  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  ARLINGTON - Playing despite a broken left ring finger, shortstop Michael Young wasted no time extending his hitting streak to 22 games Saturday by lining a single to left in his first at-bat.  —  But how long Young can keep it up is uncertain.

FIX OF THE TRADES  —  YANKS CAN WIN NOW IF THEY DEAL NOW  —  THE Yankees are trapped between objectives.  They are the $200 million-plus team that is playing or tomorrow.  They are doing onthe- job training - and restraining - of young pitchers while targeting World Series victory No. 27 in 2008.