ROCKET'S SAD STARE  —  ACE CLEMENS ‘HEARTBROKEN’ BY VIDEO SNUB  —  By F. CARTER SMITH in Piney Point Village, Texas, and ERIC LENKOWITZ in NY  —  Estranged former Yankee Roger Clemens was “heartbroken” when his former team left him out of Sunday night's Stadium-farewell festivities …

Yankee Stadium thieves arrested … NEW YORK (AP) — New York City police say they arrested more than a dozen people for stealing pieces of Yankee Stadium during the 85-year-old ballpark's final game.  —  Police say 18 fans were charged with possessing stolen property.

Signs point to Red Sox retiring Johnny Pesky's number  —  The Red Sox [team stats] are about to break with their longstanding policy regarding the retirement of uniform numbers.  And it appears that longtime club fixture Johnny Pesky will be the first beneficiary.

Mets lose ground after loss to Cubs  —  New York 2 1/2 games behind Philly after Niese struggles  —  NEW YORK — At this juncture of the Mets' uneven 2008 season, optimism may be hard to come by.  They aren't playing well, their bullpen is struggling, and they are compromised at second base …

In L.A., Dodger blue turns Angel red invisible  —  How come no one's talking about that other local team, the one that glided into baseball's playoffs and isn't still trying to get in?  Chalk it up to marketing, Manny and a craftily low-key manager.  —  The best team in baseball isn't even the biggest story in its own city.

Hal says Yankees want Cashman back as GM  —  Yankees co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner says he has informed general manager Brian Cashman that the team wants him back next year.  (Newsday / Paul J. Bereswill)  —  The Yankees want Brian Cashman back as their general manager next year …

Interview - Tracy Ringolsby - Writer, Rocky Mountain News  —  Ask about Tracy Ringolsby, and you're liable to get different answers from different people.  —  To those that simply skim the Rocky Mountain News, he may be, “The guy in the cowboy hat.”  Ask another and you might get …

Fox's Zelasko apologizes for referring to ‘Tampa Rays’  —  Fox baseball pregame host Jeanne Zelasko has a message for Rays fans: She's sorry.  After often referring to the team as the “Tampa Rays” this season, Zelasko responded to criticism in several Times columns and e-mails she personally received over the weekend from Rays fans.

Nationals ‘miserable’ on, off field  —  Team in crisis  —  It began with genuine optimism.  The Washington Nationals entered the 2008 season with a new ballpark, a new crop of young talent and a feeling that this once-downtrodden franchise was moving swiftly on a rebuilding path.

Hitting coach revolving door continues to spin for Padres  —  Wally Joyner, a member of two Padres teams that reached the playoffs, has stepped down as the club's hitting coach.  Joyner gave his resignation letter to General Manager Kevin Towers on Monday.  —  “It bothers me a lot …

Latino Sox fans lost in lineup shuffle  —  Felipe Gomez, a Jamaica Plain barber, still wears his Red Sox cap, the bill crisp across his brow.  He still roots for his adopted hometown team, and he always looks forward to visits from such players as David Ortiz when they are in need of a haircut.

Gary Sheffield suspended four games, still vows revenge vs. Indians  —  Gary Sheffield, Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona and two other Indians were suspended Monday by Major League Baseball for the brawl that began in Friday night's Tigers-Indians game when Sheffield charged Carmona.

A Faustian bargain  —  Interesting question posed by the WFAN mid-morning crew of Evan Roberts and Joe Benigno.  Coming off last night's brutal 9-5 loss to the Cubs, would you sign on for a one-game wild-card playoff with the Brewers right now?  For fear of another September letdown …

To the finish, nothing comes easy for them  —  Baseball seasons are weird phenomena.  Brandon Moss saved Opening Day.  Remember?  —  The Red Sox soon will be in postseason play.  Some fans may think this is their birthright, but Terry Francona doesn't.  —  “It's a big deal getting to the playoffs,” he reminds us.

What Happened to Troy Tulowitzki?  —  After a fantastic, but somewhat surprising, rookie season last year, fantasy owners were ecstatic at the possibility of welcoming a new shortstop into the top 5 for seasons to come.  A scintillating 2nd half that included 15 HRs in just 294 ABs …

Midwest League Top 20 Prospects  —  Royals' Moustakas turns season around  —  Early on, 2008 looked like it would be a year that Mike Moustakas and the Burlington Bees would rather forget.  Moustakas opened the season at shortstop, which wasn't a good fit.