Brewers fire Yost, promote 3B coach Sveum as interim manager  —  MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers fired manager Ned Yost on Monday in the midst of a late-season slump that has jeopardized the team's chances of making the playoffs for the first time since 1982.

Jorge Posada: Joba should stay in bullpen and Pudge Rodriguez has to go  —  In a taping of “CenterStage” for YES on Monday, Jorge Posada laid out some strong expectations for himself and the Yankees for next season.  —  But his most blunt and interesting answer came in a word-association segment near …

Astros balk at ‘Wrigley North’ series  —  MILWAUKEE — The decision to move two of the three Chicago Cubs-Houston Astros games affected by Hurricane Ike to Miller Park was a hot topic of debate Sunday night.  Was it fair to make Houston play the Cubs in what's often referred to as “Wrigley North?”

Game 150: White Sox at Yankees  —  YANKEES (79-70)  —  WHITE SOX (83-65)  —  Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 1.29) has not faced any of the Chicago hitters.  —  Mark Buehrle (13-11, 3.88) vs. the New York hitters.  —  Notes: Joe Girardi is sitting Cano for not hustling yesterday. ...

Mets' NL East lead down to one-half game  —  WASHINGTON (AP)—Mets manager Jerry Manuel's voice was soft and steady.  His words were strong.  —  Manuel was New York's bench coach in September 2007, so he knows full well what this team went through then, and he was not pleased Monday night …

Joba's mother talks about her son and her life  —  Joba Chamberlain's mother talks about the pain of separation, her son and her life.  —  Apartment No. 1 in this brick building is a shrine to Joba Chamberlain.  —  Baseball jerseys from the Yankees and Huskers hang in a line on the living room wall …

Betemit lifts Yanks to third straight win  —  Seventh-inning double the difference; Aceves has quality start  —  NEW YORK — Considering the quality of their competition — the White Sox are fighting for a division crown — the Yankees certainly seemed to fit the role of a contender on Monday.

Rumor: Ricketts Will Land Chicago Cubs  —  File this under rumor...  Word on the street is that Thomas Ricketts and the Ricketts family are the winning bidders for the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field, and a 25 percent stake in ComcastSports Chicago.  Thomas Ricketts is the chief executive …

Twins to name new stadium Target Field  —  The Target Corp. got the rights to name the field under a 25-year partnership agreement.  —  The Minnesota Twins have reached an agreement in principle on a 25-year partnership with Target Corp. that includes the right to name the team's new ballpark Target Field, the team announced today.

Jonathan Papelbon not too concerned  —  Struggles not getting to closer  —  In yesterday's 4-3 win over Toronto, Red Sox [team stats] closer Jonathan Papelbon [stats] recorded his 38th save of the season, one better than last year's career high.  —  While the end result was positive …

ON BURRELL, BLANTON & EYRE  —  So much to talk (and write) about after the Phils' 7-3 win in the opener, and the nightcap already is underway here at the Bank, where fans are waving rally towels and cheering madly, just like last September.  Without further ado, then, a few notes: