Healthy Smoltz may start Thursday for BoSox  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Boston's John Smoltz is healthy enough to make his next scheduled start on Thursday.  —  The Red Sox right-hander just doesn't know if it will be against the Florida Marlins or another rehabilitation assignment …

Cubs replace hitting coach Perry with Von Joshua  —  The Cubs' offensive woes have cost hitting coach Gerald Perry his job.  —  Perry, who has held the post the last two seasons under manager Lou Piniella as the Cubs won two National League Central titles, was let go Sunday by general manager Jim Hendry.

K-Rod escalates feud with Bruney  —  Mets' closer confronts reliever during BP before series finale  —  NEW YORK — The exchange of ideas, opinions and barbs between Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez and Yankees reliever Brian Bruney became more direct and, apparently, more heated on Sunday afternoon …

Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh interested in playing for Miami Heat  —  The Heat's interest in Chris Bosh apparently is mutual.  A friend of the Toronto power forward said Bosh has interest in playing for Miami, which would love to add him via trade this summer or free agency in 2010.

Sizzling Rockies win 11th straight  —  Nothing — not tornado warning sirens near Coors Field and certainly not the Seattle Mariners — can stop the Rockies these days.  —  They cruised past the Mariners 7-1 for their record-tying 11th consecutive victory Sunday afternoon.

Harper ready to give college try  —  16-year-old Las Vegas High baseball prodigy registers at CSN, plans to attain GED to speed draft eligibility  —  Bryce Harper, the baseball phenom from Las Vegas High School, has no future in high school.  An extraordinary player is ready to make an unusual move.

Yanks crush Santana to take Subway rubber game  —  After five of the most exasperating days of their season, the Yankees finally had enough.  —  The Bombers unloaded their frustrations on Johan Santana and the Mets Sunday afternoon, crushing their crosstown rivals, 15-0 …

Chavez to have back surgery - career in jeopardy?  —  **UPDATED** Eric Chavez is having a microdiscectomy, manager Bob Geren told reporters at AT&T Park.  A month ago, Chavez told me that because he already has had a microdiscectomy for a different herniated disk, another would leave his back too unstable to play baseball.

St. Louis Cardinals chairman says a big trade is not likely at this time  —  Seven months ago Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. convened a meeting of department heads to discuss an organizational worst-case scenario predicated upon diminishing attendance.  A 20 percent drop would render …

Calhoun's homer keys ASU's extra-inning win over UNC  —  OMAHA (AP) — After Arizona State's Josh Spence and North Carolina's Alex White tangled in a rare College World Series pitchers' duel, a bad break for the Tar Heels and a good swing of the bat by Kole Calhoun decided the outcome.

Angels' Jered Weaver wins again at home  —  He completes a sweep of the Padres with a five-hit shutout to improve to 5-0 at Angels Stadium, where he has a 1.01 earned-run average.  —  Jered Weaver might make a personal plea for the All-Star Game to be played at Angel Stadium a year early considering …

The Trevor Holder Selection  —  Good morning from the Trop.  I'll update everybody on the Manny watch a bit later this morning.  In the meantime, consider this a brief detour; I'd meant to post this yesterday.  I wrote a bit about Trevor Holder, the team's curious third-round pick.

Phils' top Draft pick signs, arrives in city  —  Dugan, son of Hollywood director, focused on baseball  —  PHILADELPHIA — Kelly Dugan joked that he hopes his baseball career isn't as rocky as his first trip to Philadelphia.  —  The Phillies are hopeful, too.