Yankees sign Sidney Ponson  —  The Yankees just announced that they have signed right-handed pitcher Sidney Ponson to a Triple-A contract.  Presumably, this means Ponson will report to Scranton, but it would seem likely that he'd get a shot in the Yankees' major-league rotation soon.

Randolph Says He Paid Price for Minaya's Closure  —  Omar Minaya faced the news media Tuesday afternoon for the first time since the Mets' bizarre midnight firing of Manager Willie Randolph and two of his coaches.  —  The real point of the news conference was for Minaya to take the Mets' ownership …

M's meet to discuss Sexson's future  —  A source within the organization says team is planning to release the first baseman soon.  —  SEATTLE — Struggling first baseman Richie Sexson's time with the Seattle Mariners could end soon.  —  One day after general manager Bill Bavasi was fired …

New Yankee Stadium to have Hard Rock Cafe  —  NEW YORK (AP) — A Hard Rock Cafe will open in the new Yankee Stadium.  —  The 7,000-square-foot restaurant will operate year-round in right field when the park makes its debut next season, the two organizations announced Wednesday.

Mariners' pick for GM will reveal path  —  This was a man who had finally reached the limit of his patience, and seemed ready ...  Howard Lincoln's eyes were flashing fire on Monday.  —  This was a man who had finally reached the limit of his patience, and seemed ready — indeed, aching — to try a new way.

Sox matinee today  —  Today is a day to soak in the Celtics win, but the Red Sox have some unfinished business in Philadelphia this afternoon as they try to take the rubber game of a three-game set with the Phillies.  —  The Sox will send rookie Justin Masterson (3-1, 2.90 ERA) to the mound in 1:05 p.m. start.

Chatting with Sandy Alderson (Part 3)  —  This is the third of a three-part interview (Part 1 is here; Part 2 is here) with San Diego Padres CEO Sandy Alderson.  Big thanks to Mr. Alderson for taking time out of his busy schedule to make himself available, and also to his assistant …

Cubs call Murton back up, but only as trade bait?  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Cubs recalled Matt Murton from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday and sent Eric Patterson back down, though they may just be showcasing Murton for a possible deal.  —  “We hated to send Patterson out, we really did,” manager Lou Piniella said.

Reuniting Zito with old coach makes sense  —  (06-17) 20:09 PDT — Rick Peterson was Barry Zito's pitching coach through the pitcher's best years in Oakland.  Now that Peterson is unemployed, would it not make sense for the Giants to hire him as a special instructor to work with Zito and help right him?

Just why is Ichiro back in right field?  —  Just while we have a moment here this morning, I'd like to ask the following question:  —  What in the world is Ichiro Suzuki doing playing right field again?  —  When Jeremy Reed was injured midway through 2006, the club experimented with all sorts …

Woods set to have season-ending knee surgery  —  Tiger Woods has decided to have surgery on his left knee, which will end his 2008 season.  —  Woods said on his Web site that he will have surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament.  He also wrote that he needs time to rehabilitate …

Is MLB's Diversity Keeping Advertisers Away?  —  When The Biz of Baseball ran its roundtable compilation entitled, State of Major League Baseball - 2008, we got 30 responses from a broad range of people that cover the sport.  None of the panelists consulted one another, yet topics intersected.