Red Sox-Yankees rivalry dead: How to fix  —  The Red Sox/Yankees rivalry is dead and baseball has helped kill it: Eighteen meetings a year at four hours each has watered down the product to the point of overkill and taken the starch out of things.  These games have become overdone and overblown, almost meaningless.

Mets' Murphy, Reyes on DL; Tejada, Baxter up  —  The New York Mets placed shortstop Jose Reyes and first baseman Daniel Murphy on the disabled list Monday, a day after both left Sunday's series finale against the Atlanta Braves with injuries.  —  Murphy suffered a Grade 2 strain …

Tigers Extend Dombrowski, Leyland  —  The Tigers announced that they have agreed to extensions with president and general manager Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland, whose contracts were set to expire after 2011.  Dombrowski's extension runs through 2015, while Leyland's extension covers the 2012 season.

Zobrist vs Fielder: A Position Adjustment Primer  —  Yesterday on Twitter, Buster Olney had some thoughts on WAR, and specifically, the way it values middle-of-the-diamond players compared to first basemen.  A few selections from his comments: … There were a few others sprinkled in there as well, but you get the general point.

Strasburg pushes limits in rehab assignment  —  The camera looking down into Municipal Stadium sent out a pixilated version of reality.  All of Stephen Strasburg's(notes) pitches looked linear: no bend, no dip, no dive, no tilt.  Just fast and slow, a miserable way to judge any pitcher …

Cards notes: Freese expected to return Tuesday  —  • Once Cardinals head athletic trainer Greg Hauck received the go-ahead from Major League Baseball sometime during Sunday's game with Florida, third baseman David Freese was cleared to return to action.  That action probably will be Tuesday night at home against Milwaukee.

Polanco returns to Philly for MRI on left hip  —  Trip to disabled list possible; availability vs. Dodgers in question  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Placido Polanco left AT&T Park long before Sunday's series finale against the Giants.  —  He had a flight to catch.  —  Polanco returned to Philadelphia for an MRI exam scheduled for Monday.

Rangers To Release Arthur Rhodes  —  The Rangers have put Arthur Rhodes on release waivers and he'll be a free agent Wednesday, according to Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (on Twitter).  The Rangers had designated the left-hander for assignment last week.

Hypnotist helps Bochy and staff quit dipping  —  SAN FRANCISCO—Ask Bruce Bochy if he has a dip and San Francisco's skipper offers up a standard response: “I don't do that anymore.”  —  Bullpen catcher Bill Hayes answers the same way.  Equipment manager Mike Murphy, too.

No second-guessing here on Phils' trades  —  THE MAGIC formula that has propelled the Phillies from contender to World Series winner to baseball superpower, is 17=5.  —  Seventeen minor league prospects (one still to be named) exchanged as needs arose for five extraordinary All-Star talents.

Giavotella hits 1st major league HR, Royals win  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Johnny Giavotella's debut was a dream come true.  —  Giavotella hit his first major league home run and doubled as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-3 on Sunday.  —  “It does feel surreal,” Giavotella said.