New York Yankees players will be in the American League lineup for the All-Star Game in Detroit. They are, left to right, Red Ruffing, Joe Gordon, Bill Dickey, Charlie Keller, and Joe DiMaggio. Former second baseman Gordon was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee on Monday Dec. 8, 2008, while another panel shut out the likes of Joe Torre, Ron Santo and Gil Hodges. Gordon, a nine-time All-Star and five-time World Series winner with the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians, was picked by a 12-member committee that only looked at players who started before 1943. (AP Photo, File)" align="left" border="0">

Joe Gordon joined former teammates Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig and Bob Feller in the Hall of Fame. For the likes of Joe Torre, Jim Kaat and Ron Santo, it was another shutout. Gordon was elected Monday by a 12-member Veterans Committee composed of Hall members and historians that studied pre-1943 players.

Saltalamacchia update

Jarrod Saltalamacchia will meet with Dr. James Andrews on Monday to receive a second opinion on his strained right elbow. Saltalamacchia hopes Andrews will confirm the original diagnosis on the elbow so Saltalamacchia can go back to work. He’d like to begin a rehab program as soon as possible. Once his arm is healthy, Saltalamacchia will head to the Dominican Republic to play winter ball for the first time.

"What they’ve given me is good news and I hope he tells me the same thing,"Saltalamacchia said."What they’ve given me is good news. It all depends on how I heal. We’re just hoping in six weeks I can play."

Jennings makes plans

Jason Jennings, who has been on the disabled list since May 2, will start throwing again Sept. 19. It will be the first time Jennings has thrown since undergoing flexor tendon surgery on his right arm for the second time in two seasons. He will initially throw from 45 feet and then extend from there. Jennings, who will be a free agent, knows how important it is to show teams that he’s healthy.

He also wouldn’t mind playing for the Rangers again in 2009.

"I’m in a much better position this year coming back from injury because I have three extra months,"said Jennings, who was 0-5 in six starts."I’d love to come back here. I love the team. I love the guys. I love the direction we’re going. But it’s not up to me."

Hamilton in rare air

Josh Hamilton and his 121 RBI are in elite company. Hamilton is just the second player in the past 55 years to have at least 120 RBI in his second season, joining Albert Pujols in 2002.

There are only 16 players who have accomplished the feat, and the list includes the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Eddie Matthews and Ralph Kiner.

"It’s good to have accomplishments like that,"Hamilton said."It helps my confidence. It kind of reaffirms to myself that I can play at this level and hopefully do it for a while."

Feldman still in plans

Scott Feldman’s last start was Saturday and he’s not in the starting rotation for the series against Boston. That doesn’t mean the right-hander is through, though. Feldman is being skipped to save him from piling up innings. But when the Rangers begin a road trip Tuesday in Seattle, Feldman is expected to pitch in the back end of that trip, which concludes with a three-game series in Oakland.

Briefly

Kevin Millwood has been named the Rangers’ pitcher of the month for August. Marlon Byrd was tabbed the hitter of the month.

Vicente Padilla will throw a bullpen session Friday in his efforts to start either Tuesday or Wednesday.

MINNEAPOLIS—The injured groin of Kevin Millwood passed yet another test Wednesday, and Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington said the right-hander could be activated from the 15-day disabled list in time to start the opener of the next homestand May 30.

Washington and pitching coach Mark Connor put Millwood through a battery of fielding tests, which included covering first base. Millwood said everything went“great,”and Washington didn’t notice any problems.

“He’s doing everything now what he’s required to do,”Washington said.“He moved pretty well. It’s just a part of the process.”

Millwood will throw a bullpen session Thursday, and the coaches will determine if he needs to make a rehab start this weekend.

Mathis on Sunday

Allowing nine runs during his first major-league start Tuesday did not cost Doug Mathis a second start.

Ron Washington said the right-hander will take the mound Sunday at Cleveland after a closer look at TuesdayÂ’s outing revealed that it was better than the statistics might indicate.

Three of the nine runs Mathis allowed were unearned, and Washington said the Twins received some good fortune by getting hits on some quality pitches from Mathis.

“There were a couple of plays that if we had made, it would have made a difference also,”Washington said.“We felt like the linescore was skewed a little bit, and he deserves another chance.”

Catalanotto ailing

Chris Shelton, a right-handed hitter, was at first base against Twins right-hander Nick Blackburn as platoon partner Frank Catalanotto recovered from a stiff back.

Ron Washington said CatalanottoÂ’s back had stiffened overnight and that he was available only as a pinch-hitter. The rigors of playing on artificial turf will likely keep Catalanotto out of the lineup Thursday in the series finale.

Two milestones for Hamilton

Josh Hamilton was treated to a historical nugget on his 27th birthday Wednesday. He reached 50 career RBI in the American League faster than any player league history.

His solo homer Monday game him 50 in 45 games, topping the former record of 46 games shared by Joe DiMaggio and Carl Everett. Hamilton bumped his total to 51 in the ninth inning Tuesday.

DiMaggio and Everett went on to make the All-Star team in 1936 and 2000.

Briefly

Right-hander Luis Mendoza estimated that he threw 30 pitches during a bullpen session. But tape had been applied over the blister on his right middle finger, and his return from the disabled list remains uncertain. WednesdayÂ’s effort was to keep his shoulder healthy.

Chris Shelton’s diving, first-inning stab Tuesday earned him top-play honors onSportsCenter, but Ron Washington didn’t learn of it until just before Wednesday’s game.“I don’t watch ESPN after we lose,”he said.

New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui, right, of Japan, runs toward home to score on a single by Robinson Cano (not shown) as Baltimore Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez looks on at left during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, in Baltimore. The Orioles won, 10-9 in ten innings." align="left" border="0">

On a night in which Alex Rodriguez entered his name next to Joe DiMaggio in the Yankees record book, New York formally ended its run of first-place finishes in improbable fashion. Rodriguez hit his 54th homer, drove in four runs and scored twice Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles. But a rare blown save by Mariano Rivera and Boston's win over Minnesota ruined New York's bid to claim the AL...

New York Yankees' Andy Pettitte delivers a pitch in the first inning of the Yankees 8-3 win over the Boston Red Sox in their baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, Wednesday, May 23, 2007. " align="left" border="0">

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