01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, April 22, 2006

Bob Sheppard returned to the public address microphone at Yankee Stadium last night after missing opening day for the first time since 1950.

Sheppard threw out his artificial hip on April 10 and was replaced for the opening three-game series against Kansas City by longtime backup Jim Hall.

"You heard that strange voice -- any voice other than his is a strange voice -- it didn't seem like it was Yankee Stadium," New York manager Joe Torre said.

Fans applauded when Sheppard was put on the right-center field videoboard to the tune of "Welcome Back" before the start of the third inning. The camera stayed on Sheppard as he announced: "No. 18, Javy Lopez, designated hitter, No. 18."

ROUNDUP

REFUTING FORBES: Major League Baseball objected to Forbes magazine's financial analysis of the industry, which said 25 of the 30 teams had operating profits last year. "Forbes has never had access to financial information from major league baseball or the individual clubs," Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president of labor relations, said in a statement yesterday. "The estimates published in the current issue of the magazine materially misstate the financial performance of the industry as a whole and of the individual clubs." In its May 8 issue, which was released Thursday, Forbes said the only teams with estimated operating losses in 2005 were the New York Yankees ($50 million), Boston Red Sox ($18.5 million), New York Mets ($16.1 million), Florida Marlins ($11.9 million) and Los Angeles Angels ($2.6 million). Forbes also estimated each team's revenue and debt, and gave its figures for estimated franchise values.

NIX DEMOTED: The Texas Rangers sent struggling outfielder Laynce Nix to Triple-A Oklahoma yesterday and purchased the contract of outfielder Adam Hyzdu. Hyzdu hit .304 (14-for-46) with two triples, four home runs and 10 RBI in 14 games for Oklahoma. He hit .341 (15-for-44) with three homers in 26 spring training games with the Rangers.

DESIGNATED BY ROCKIES: The Colorado Rockies designated right-hander Zach Day for assignment yesterday and called up Miguel Asencio from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Day, 27, is 1-2 with a 10.80 E.R.A., allowing 13 runs over 6 1/3 innings his last two starts. The Rockies have 10 days to trade him, release him or send him outright to the minors.

LEE ON DL: The Chicago Cubs put first baseman and reigning N.L. batting champion Derrek Lee on the 15-day disabled list before last night's game in St. Louis. Lee suffered two broken bones in his right wrist in a collision at first with the Dodgers' Rafael Furcal Wednesday night. He will be in a cast for six weeks and could miss two months, another blow to the Cubs who are already without pitchers Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. The right-handers are on the disabled list rehabbing shoulder injuries.

A'S MAKE MOVE: The Oakland Athletics recalled right-hander Chad Gaudin from Triple-A Sacramento yesterday to boost their ailing bullpen. The A's optioned outfielder Bobby Kielty to Sacramento only a week after calling him up. They needed another pitcher at least through last night's series opener against the Los Angeles Angels.

SURGERY FOR MILLER: Cleveland Indians right-hander Matt Miller will have surgery to repair a strained right flexor tendon Wednesday and probably will not pitch again this season. Miller, 34, was injured in a game Wednesday in Baltimore and left in the sixth inning. He was limited to just one appearance after the All-Star break last year because of a strained tendon in his right elbow.