Bruney and K-Rod's war of the words  —  The Yankees look forward to reliever Brian Bruney's expected return from the disabled list on Tuesday, but even before rejoining the team, the righthander set off some Subway Series fireworks in Trenton Saturday.  Bruney ripped Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez …

Penny gets his two cents in on Girardi  —  PHILADELPHIA - Brad Penny responded with a verbal brushback to Joe Girardi's accusation that he intentionally hit Alex Rodriguez with a pitch, saying the Yankees manager should worry about doing his job and not about how Penny pitches.

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.

Howie Kendrick's demotion is not a message  —  Manager Mike Scioscia says it is not intended as a perform-or-else edict to other Angels.  —  Howie Kendrick's demotion to triple-A Salt Lake after Friday night's game did not come with a produce-or-else edict for the rest of the Angels, Manager Mike Scioscia insisted.

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.

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 …

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.

Angels reliever Scot Shields to miss rest of season  —  Right-handed veteran opts for surgery on his ailing left knee.  —  Saying it was something he needed to do to become 100% by next season, Angels reliever Scot Shields said today he has opted for season-ending surgery on his troublesome left knee.

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.

Nieve nixes Yankees as Mets rebound with 6-2 victory  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Injury fill-in Fernando Nieve earned his first major league victory in three years, Omir Santos drove in three runs and the New York Mets bounced back from a heartbreaking loss, beating the Yankees 6-2 Saturday.

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.

Royals place Crisp on disabled list  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Coco Crisp [stats] was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a sore right shoulder, joining six other Kansas City Royals on the injury list.  —  Crisp played in just five games since May 26 and does not have an extra-base hit since a May 14 triple against Baltimore.