Sore shoulder won't keep Ramirez out of All-Star Game  —  LOS ANGELES - Hanley Ramirez proclaimed himself fit to play Sunday, but manager Fredi Gonzalez decided to give him the day off anyway.  —  Ramirez left Saturday's game after his second-inning at-bat with right-shoulder soreness.

Cards mourn loss of Ricketts  —  PITTSBURGH — With an inexhaustible passion for teaching and the people he taught, Dave Ricketts molded several generations of catchers for the Cardinals, friends and pupils said Sunday after learning the longtime coach had died early that morning.  He had turned 73 on Saturday.

Home run derby strategy goes deep for Sizemore  —  Headlining tonight's Home Run Derby, Grady Sizemore will take his American League-leading 23 home runs and compact swing to Yankee Stadium.  —  What many reporters wanted to know Sunday, though, is whether the Indians' leadoff man will come …

Some impressed, others disappointed in Futures Game … Last year at the All-Star break, the best prospect in the minor leagues was Arizona's Justin Upton.  He was on the U.S. roster for the Futures Game, put on a show in BP, homered in the game and was in the big leagues a month later.

Pettitte rips Yankees effort as bats flop  —  TORONTO - The Yankees bats made little noise Sunday.  Andy Pettitte, however, certainly pumped up the volume afterward.  —  With the Yankees seemingly already in All-Star break mode during Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays, Pettitte called out his team …

Celebration by Angels' Francisco Rodriguez leaves A's cold  —  Reliever's reaction after escaping a bases-loaded jam to secure his 38th save annoys some players in Oakland dugout.  —  OAKLAND — Francisco Rodriguez punctuated his major league-leading 38th save with a celebration …

Manny opens up  —  In a 6-minute 45-second interview that ran on Ch. 7's Sports Xtra Sunday night, Manny Ramirez talked about his future in baseball, his June scuffles with Kevin Youkilis and Jack McCormick, and even the call from inside the Wall last Wednesday.

NETWORKS IGNORE BALLPARK-TIX HIKES  —  ONE can understand, if not appreciate, why the story is not spoken during games on SNY and YES, networks owned by the Mets and Yankees, respectively.  —  But nothing prevents it from being told on national telecasts, those on Fox, ESPN and TBS, where the Mets and Yanks play almost every weekend.

Pelfrey leads Mets to ninth straight win  —  NEW YORK (AP)—Jerry Manuel insisted that the All-Star break was coming at a good time for the Mets.  A chance to rest a tired bullpen and maybe get some banged up guys back.  —  Then Carlos Beltran hit a three-run homer Sunday night …

Mystery in his mastery: Dice-K's results tough to peg  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  If it's bottom-line results that matter to you with baseball, then Daisuke Matsuzaka [stats] has to be on your short list of American League Cy Young Award candidates.

Castillo Set to Return, but to a Crowded Spot  —  With a team that has spent much of the season plugging holes in the roster, Mets Manager Jerry Manuel could be in a rare situation next week, at least when it comes to second base.  All of a sudden, it seems as if he is going to have options to choose from.

Ziegel: In amazing turnaround, they're all stars at Shea  —  Sunday night, the Mets won for the ninth straight time, 7-0 against the rocky Rockies.  They scored early and often, got huge home runs from the firm of Carlos and Carlos, fielded flawlessly, and Mike Pelfrey, who was 2-6, is now 8-6.

Pettitte: “We stink”  —  The Yankees had 32 plate appearances against A.J. Burnett and 25 of them were over in three pitches or fewer.  Only four of those were strikeouts.  —  Joe Girardi defended his players, saying Burnett was able to get ahead of them.