By passing on Derby, A-Rod comes up very small … NEW YORK — Paul O'Neill did what Yankees luminaries are supposed to do in Yankee Stadium on Sunday — pound a goose-bumpish home run deep into the Bronx ozone.  —  OK, so there's a minor technicality.  He hit it in the Legends & Celebrity Softball Game.

Sheets named NL starting pitcher  —  Right-hander will be first Brewers hurler to start All-Star Game  —  MILWAUKEE — Ben Sheets has been named the starting pitcher for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game.  —  Sheets will be the first Brewers pitcher to start a Midsummer Classic.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

Live Bait  —  Is Fernando Martinez the Mets' Future or a Bargaining Chip?  —  While the streaking Mets actively shop for a corner outfielder to replace the injured Moises Alou and Ryan Church prior to baseball's July 31 trading deadline, 19-year-old Fernando Martinez, who can be either …

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.

SWING AND A DISS BY REGGIE  —  FLAP OVER JEW CRACK  —  Hall of Fame slugger Reggie Jackson might have gotten himself into hot water with Jews - the Yankee legend was caught on tape uttering an unflattering stereotype while haggling over the price of a painting.

CBS set to replace Packer  —  Longtime college basketball analyst Billy Packer will not return to CBS next year and will be replaced by Clark Kellogg.  —  Facebook  —  AIM  —  bjackson@MiamiHerald.com  —  College basketball commentator Billy Packer, who has announced 34 consecutive Final Fours …