On the Yankees beat

Hideki Matsui has been cleared to take live batting practice and will start today before the Yankees play the Tigers in a day-night doubleheader, general manager Brian Cashman announced after last night’s game was rained out.
The best-case scenario for the Yankees is that Matsui, who has been out since fracturing his left wrist on May 11, could be their designated hitter down the stretch and in the playoffs. With the minor-league seasons ending around Labor Day, there isn’t much time for a rehab assignment, and manager Joe Torre said he wouldn’t expect Matsui to be ready to play the outfield.
“I think it’s probably the safest thing to do for him as opposed to having him dive for a ball in the outfield,” Torre said of DHing.
Matsui, when asked how much batting practice he would need to get ready, said, “The more, the better.”
Torre said Gary Sheffield (wrist surgery) was to be examined this week and could be cleared to hit off a tee. If he isn’t cleared, Torre said, the chances of his playing this season are “remote.”