Idiots reunion?  Sox put in claim on Damon … Could the Boston Red Sox be looking to recapture the magic of 2004 that brought an end to their 86-year World Series drought?  —  Detroit Tigers outfielder Johnny Damon confirmed to reporters Monday that he has been claimed on waivers …

Robert MacLeod  —  TORONTO — From Tuesday's Globe and Mail  —  Several hours before Monday's series opener against the New York Yankees, Jose Bautista went about his business in the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse - a routine that included some playful banter in Spanish with teammate Yunel Escobar …

Umpires should explain botched call  —  OK, WE'RE NOT going to revisit the ghost of Chico Ruiz.  —  This isn't 1964 and there are no indications that these Phillies are the type of team to let one setback mushroom into a pennant-crushing collapse.  —  In fact, the entire modus operandi …

Giants beat Reds to open key series of contenders  —  SAN FRANCISCO—Matt Cain ended a three-start winless stretch after being staked to an early cushion, Andres Torres hit a two-run homer and the San Francisco Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 11-2 on Monday night.  —  Aubrey Huff added a solo homer leading off the eighth.

Rob Dibble to Stephen Strasburg: “Suck it up”  —  The conventional wisdom on Stephen Strasburg's latest injury, whatever it is, was nicely summed up by Thomas Boswell on Monday: … For the unconventional wisdom, look no further than Rob Dibble, analyst for MASN by night, and radio host for SIRIUS XM's MLB Network Radio by day.

Study Finds Independent Bloggers “Least Trusted”, Likely Denied Press Credentials in Baseball  —  Independent bloggers represent the least trusted media type and are the most likely to be turned down for press pass requests, according to the first academic study to assess the sentiments …

Bud Selig statue to be unveiled Tuesday  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig's statue will soon join the likenesses of Hank Aaron and Robin Yount in front of Miller Park.  —  The Milwaukee Brewers are unveiling the bronze statue in a ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the stadium's Home Plate Plaza.

Sources: Manny likely to hit waivers this week  —  The expectation around baseball is that outfielder Manny Ramirez will be placed on waivers early this week, according to baseball sources.  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers could have put Ramirez on waivers on Monday but would not do so, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports.

Nationals put Strasburg on DL with forearm strain … Stephen Strasburg is going back on the disabled list.  —  There's a decent chance the Washington Nationals rookie phenom could be shut down for the season as a precautionary measure.  He had an MRI on Sunday but will have a second one later this week with dye.

Rays beat Angels 4-3, tie for 1st place in AL East  —  ANAHEIM, Calif.—B.J. Upton homered on the first pitch of the game from former Tampa Bay teammate Scott Kazmir and doubled home another run to help the Rays defeat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Monday night and move into a tie with the Yankees atop the AL East standings.

Helton lead Rockies over Braves 5-4  —  DENVER—Todd Helton's first four-hit game in more than a year included the tiebreaking RBI single off Jonny Venters in the eighth inning Monday night that lifted the Colorado Rockies to a 5-4 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Don't forget, Rocket soared before the fall  —  Let me tell you the story of Clementine.  —  Clementine is a 6-foot-tall white teddy bear that sits in a shed behind my house.  Clementine is 16 years old and a little worn around the edges.  The big bear is dirty, moth-ridden …