Derek Jeter, Yanks talk about Posada  —  Jorge Posada's decision to take himself out of the lineup turned into a major media conflagration over the weekend, but it appears that the New York Yankees have quickly worked through a brushfire with Derek Jeter.  —  Club officials were unhappy …

Red Sox put Lackey on DL with strained elbow  —  BOSTON — About seven minutes before Monday night's game, the Boston Red Sox announced that John Lackey has been placed on the disabled list because of a right elbow strain and Scott Atchison has been called up from Pawtucket.

Coffey plays catch day after getting hit  —  WASHINGTON — A day after being hit on the right elbow by a line drive off the bat of Marlins infielder Emilio Bonifacio, Nationals reliever Todd Coffey played catch and hopes to pitch in a game by Tuesday.  It's a matter of getting all of the swelling down in the elbow.

Wright has stress fracture in lower back  —  David Wright has a stress fracture in his lower back, GM Sandy Alderson said.  —  Wright had an MRI on his ailing back Monday at the Hospital for Special Surgery.  —  Alderson said the team will get a second opinion from another back specialist …

Ex-Reds COO Allen to aid Schieffer, Dodgers  —  John Allen, former chief operating officer of the Reds, has been selected to assist Tom Schieffer, recently appointed monitor of the Dodgers by Commissioner Bud Selig, in the oversight of the business, finances and day-to-day operations of the Dodgers and its related entities.

Santos proves a quick-change artist  —  The stories all start the same.  They were out of chances and at dead ends and couldn't let go.  Baseball does that.  It sinks its hooks into a player and seduces him and convinces him that life without the game isn't much of a life at all.  —  And so Sergio Santos

Hinske comes up big as Braves defeat Astros  —  ATLANTA — Fredi Gonzalez wouldn't accept credit for bringing Eric Hinske and Joe Mather off Atlanta's bench to start against the Astros.  —  “That was the only option we had,” the Atlanta Braves manager said.

Houston Astros Are Sold to Local Businessman  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane announced Monday that he has agreed to sell the team he has owned for 19 years to a group led by local businessman Jim Crane, the man who tried to buy the team three years ago.

Get this: Albert Pujols is starting at third base tonight  —  Here's a good way to tell that Tony La Russa is back in the saddle: following a bad weekend, the Tinker-a-tron has been set to “ludicrous” and Albert Pujols is starting at third base.  —  Now, of course Pujols came up as a third baseman …

Idea from a reader: Show Lackey support  —  A reader sent this e-mail over the weekend and it seemed like a worthwhile thought to share: … For those who haven't heard, John's wife has been battling breast cancer since the winter.  He has been wearing a pink bracelet in support of her when he pitches.