Jerry Remy takes leave to recover from cancer surgery  —  NESN announced Wednesday that Red Sox color commentator Jerry Remy is taking an indefinite leave of absence to fully recover from the effects of cancer surgery.  —  “I want to focus on completing my recovery so that I can return …

CLEVELAND INDIANS  —  Baseball News, Schedule, Pictures, and More  —  Cleveland Indians promote Matt Herges, option Rafael Perez to Columbus  —  BOSTON — Matt Herges joined the Titanic of bullpens and he was glad to come aboard.  —  The Indians purchased Herges contract from Class AAA Columbus …

Pitchers Drafted in Top 10: Not a Reassuring History  —  The Nationals have the Nos. 1 and 10 overall picks in the draft on June 9.  So, I thought you folks would enjoy having the definitive FACTS on what has happened in 44 years of drafting to help you form your opinions.

Rockies cruise past Giants 11-1  —  Like some harmonic convergence, all the planets lined up for the Rockies on Wednesday night at Coors Field.  The cosmic result was a peaceful, easy, 11-1 romp over the Giants.  —  In earning his second victory of the season, Ubaldo Jimenez pitched as if he were back in the World Baseball Classic.

Pena powers Rays with homer in the 10th to beat Yankees  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Pena homered leading off the 10th inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays survived a sudden downpour and Mark Teixeira's late, tying double to beat the New York Yankees 4-3 on Wednesday night.

Perez DL'd, Niese To Start Friday  —  Oliver Perez will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with patella tendinitis, according to Omar Minaya, who talked with reporters following the game.  —  Taking Perez's spot on the 25-man roster will be Jonathan Niese, who will make his first start of 2009 on Friday.

Press Box Layoff: How the Baltimore Sun Fired Me  —  Full disclosure: the first two times I was given stunning news about my newspaper job - in 1986 at the about-to-merge St. Petersburg Evening Independent, and in 1991 at the about-to-be-defunct National Sports Daily - I didn't get it face-to-face either time.

Proctor shut down after suffering setback  —  Right-hander will visit Dr. James Andrews next week  —  MIAMI - Scott Proctor just can't catch a break with his right elbow.  —  The 32-year-old right-hander, who had surgery this offseason, was limited to just one Grapefruit League appearance this spring and …

Brewers bring too much Braun, grand slam pounds Reds  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Ryan Braun began his career night with a grand slam off Cincinnati's starting pitcher, then completed it with a two-run single off the Reds' shortstop.  —  The Milwaukee Brewers followed Braun's lead and rolled …

Midweek Med Report  —  The Yankees pushed Posada to the DL after a recurrent hamstring strain (above, but close to, a previous recent strain) showed enough damage on the MRI that the doctors were worried about the integrity of the area, and a possibly significant tearing/re-tearing risk.

Rookie Comes a Long Way for Blue Jays  —  Carl Pavano endured four injury-plagued years in which he gave the Yankees very little for their $39.95 million.  —  So far he has been a big bargain for the Cleveland Indians.  —  Pavano pitched his third strong game in three weeks …

Astros call up Arias, designate Smith for assignment  —  The Astros have called up pitcher Alberto Arias and designated infielder Jason Smith for assignment.  —  Arias provides support for a bullpen that leads the National League having pitched 96 1/3 innings through 27 games.

EXCLUSIVE: Steven Soderbergh To Use Animated Bill James Character In ‘Moneyball’  —  Steven Soderbergh is making a big push toward realism in his new movie, “Moneyball,” adapted from the best-selling Michael Lewis book that followed the Oakland A's and their general manager Billy Beane …

Masterful: Santana strikes out 10 as Mets shut out Phillies 1-0  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Johan Santana extended his dominant start to the season, striking out 10 in seven innings of two-hit ball, and the New York Mets scratched out a run Wednesday night on Pedro Feliz's throwing error for a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Anderson's first 3 RBI carries Braves over Marlins  —  MIAMI (AP) — Twice Garret Anderson put the Atlanta Braves ahead, and the second time they stayed there.  —  Anderson's first three RBI this season helped the Braves end a four-game losing streak Wednesday by beating Florida 8-6.

Taylor making progress one start at a time  —  Florida (15-12) vs. Atlanta (11-15), 7:10 p.m. ET  —  MIAMI — Graham Taylor was a different rookie pitcher in his second start at Wrigley Field.  Don't believe him?  Just look at the tape, he said.  —  “It's completely different if you put …

Castro, Wright back Livan as Mets top Braves  —  ATLANTA - So who are these Mets?  The soft, smiling do-gooders as characterized by their own general manager last weekend?  Or the serious, take-care-of-business grinders who swept the Braves out of Turner Field in this two-game mini-series?

Meet the New Nats.  Same as the Old Caps.  —  In the bottom of the 11th inning of a 10-10 farce of blunders at Nationals Park yesterday afternoon, a shroud was put over the field.  Okay, a tarp.  At the sight of the Nats and Astros bullpens, the sky had laughed 'til it cried.