Baseball briefs

Talks to resume today after day off

New York Baseball labor talks are scheduled to resume today, restarting the clock on negotiators trying to avert the sport’s ninth work stoppage in 30 years.

Owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association return to the table after brief discussions Saturday, hoping to re-establish dialogue and complete an agreement before players strike Aug. 30.

Talks are stalled on two economic issues: increased revenue sharing and the payroll tax owners deem essential to restrain player salaries.

The union has agreed to the concept of a tax but has proposed a much higher tax threshold and lower tax rate than owners will accept. The union views a payroll tax and revenue sharing as a salary cap by another name.

After the 1994 strike, which lasted 232 days, owners and players agreed to a luxury tax for the 1997, ’98 and ’99 seasons. But many owners considered the previous tax formula ineffective.

Rolen day-to-day with sore shoulder

Philadelphia All-Star third baseman Scott Rolen was not in the St. Louis Cardinals’ lineup Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies because of a sore left shoulder.

Rolen, traded to the Cardinals by the Phillies last month, said he was hurt during a series at Pittsburgh during the week. He is listed as day-to-day.

Albert Pujols started at third base Sunday for St. Louis.

Philadelphia was expecting its biggest crowd of the season thanks to a tribute to Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas and a bobblehead doll giveaway.

The crowd at Veterans Stadium booed Rolen loudly in the first two games of the series, his first trip to Philadelphia since the July 29 trade that sent him and Doug Nickle to St. Louis for Placido Polanco, Mike Timlin and Bud Smith.

D’Rays recall Gardner, option Colome to Triple-A

St. Petersburg, Fla. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays recalled right-handed pitcher Lee Gardner from Triple-A Durham on Sunday, and optioned Jesus Colome to the Bulls.

Gardner was 2-1 with Durham and led the International League with 25 saves in 45 games.

He pitched 3 2/3 innings and had a 4.91 ERA in four games with Tampa Bay earlier this season.

Colome, a right-hander, went 2-7 with an 8.03 ERA in 29 games for the Devil Rays.