Union Plans Grievance to Aid Chacon  —  Shawn Chacon cleared waivers and was released yesterday by the Astros, five days after a physical altercation with GM Ed Wade in the clubhouse.  —  Michael Weiner, the general counsel of Major League Baseball's Players Association, said the union planned to file a grievance today.

Chavez plans return for Angels opener  —  Oakland (44-37) at Los Angeles (49-33), Monday, 7:05 p.m. PT  —  OAKLAND — A day after saying he was “befuddled” and “concerned” regarding the sore right shoulder that forced him to sit out his team's weekend series against the Giants …

Yanks Come Home and Go Quietly  —  Jason Giambi's tongue danced around the corners of his mouth Monday as he legged out his first triple in nearly six years.  The capacity crowd appreciated the 270-foot sprint by the 37-year-old slugger, cheering him on as if he were running for a gold medal.

MADONNA AND A-ROD?  —  Whoa.  The next issue of OK! magazine, out tomorrow, contains a story that claims stripper-loving slugger Alex Rodriguez and African child-loving singer Madonna are (maybe) having an affair.  “Madonna and A-Rod—Sexy New Friends,” reads the headline.  From the story:

Bon Jovi to play free All-Star Week show  —  Legendary rockers to play for 60,000 in Central Park on July 12  —  NEW YORK — Mayor Michael Bloomberg listed from his podium the names of the great performances in Manhattan's Central Park, from Bruce Springsteen to Elton John to Dave Matthews Band to ... Simon and Garfinkel?

Report: Manny sorry after shoving Red Sox official  —  The Red Sox are confident it wasn't Manny just being Manny.  —  Manny Ramirez has apologized for pushing the team's traveling secretary to the ground in the visitors clubhouse during a confrontation Saturday in Houston, according to a report in The Providence Journal.

Mariners Notebook: Rowland-Smith taking role seriously  —  Aussie treating tonight's spot start like audition  —  A 24-month absence from the starting rotation has only whetted Ryan Rowland-Smith's appetite, so he refuses to view his first major league start Tuesday as merely an emergency outing to spell a paper-thin rotation.

Former Red Sox GM, Pittsfield mayor face ethics charge over Series tickets  —  Former Sox general manager Daniel Duquette was raked over the coals by Red Sox fans for failing to get the team to the World Series.  Now he is embroiled in a state ethics controversy for allegedly selling Pittsfield …

Griffey's HR in 9th lifts Reds over Bucs  —  CINCINNATI (AP)—Darren Baker hasn't yet learned the distinction between old and vintage.  —  The 9-year-old son of Reds manager Dusty Baker playfully called Ken Griffey Jr. old on Monday, then watched the 38-year-old outfielder end the game with a swing that was as sweet as ever.

Raissman: Andy in the Hall?  Buck injects doubt  —  On Saturday, Joe Buck offered evidence that Fox's upcoming telecast of the All-Star Game from Yankee Stadium might not be a midsummer night fantasy void of reality.  —  With the Mets batting in the fifth, and Andy Pettitte dealing for the Yankees …

Capuano visits teammates in Arizona  —  Rehabbing left-hander hopes to pitch for Brewers next year  —  PHOENIX — Chris Capuano, on the disabled list and nearly two months removed from his second Tommy John left elbow reconstructive surgery, has not thrown a baseball for seven weeks and will not for at least seven more.

News: Phillips DFAd, Tony Armas Jr. Promoted  —  The Mets have designated Andy Phillips for assignment, and will promote RHP Tony Armas Jr. from Triple-A New Orleans to start tomorrow's game against the Cardinals.  —  RSS 2.0 You can skip to the end and leave a response.  Pinging is currently not allowed.

Mariners game at a glance  —  THE SCENE: First-pitch temperature was 77 degrees, and there was a solid crowd of 30,179 at Safeco.  You knew the Canadians were in the house when there was a loud roar on a Marco Scutaro single in the first inning.  —  STAR OF THE GAME: Roy Halladay pitched …

Okajima's woes could sound call for relief … HOUSTON — The more Hideki Okajima struggles, the more the Red Sox' interest in Colorado's Brian Fuentes might grow.  —  Okajima came into Friday night's game, and after recording two outs, gave up a long homer to Reggie Abercrombie …