Farnsworth knocks Rocket's travel clause

New York reliever Kyle Farnsworth thinks no one on the Yankees, not even Roger Clemens, should be allowed to leave the team when they aren't pitching.

Farnsworth was on Chicago's 670 AM The Score yesterday morning when he first criticized the so-called "family plan" clause in Clemens' 1-year, $28 million contract that allows the righthander to leave the team for personal matters when he's not pitching.

Farnsworth reiterated his beliefs in the clubhouse before the Yankees' 4-1 loss to the White Sox.

"As far as a teammate and a player, I think everybody should be here whether they're pitching or not," he said. "You don't see guys who are hurt not sit on the bench. They're always there."

Even so, Farnsworth doesn't think it will be a problem and didn't foresee any clubhouse tension over preferential treatment for one of the game's greatest pitchers.

"It's just an opinion of mine. I don't think it's a concern at all," he said. "You guys asked my opinion about it and I gave it."

Clemens, 44, could join the Yankees rotation against the Blue Jays on May 28 or 29 or at Boston on June 2 or 3.

"Whether it's going to cause a problem, we'll see," Farnsworth said. "I don't think it will. We're all professionals here and we know how to go about our jobs. As far as friction, he's going to be here to help this team win. That's the only thing that everybody is worried about."

Meanwhile, Clemens spent almost 4 hours working out at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., a day before his first minor league start.

The seven-time Cy Young Award winner is scheduled to throw 45 to 60 pitches for Class A Tampa tonight.

Clemens could join the Yankees after a scheduled start next week with Double A Trenton.

* The White Sox activated catcher Toby Hall from the 15-day disabled list. He dislocated his right shoulder diving for a ball while playing first base in a spring training game March 25.

* Devil Rays centerfielder Rocco Baldelli went on the 15-day DL with a hamstring strain.

* Texas Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock is day-to-day with a knot behind his right shoulder.

* At Oakland, Scott Elarton got his first victory since last July and Mike Sweeney had a pair of hits to lift the Kansas City Royals over the Athletics, 7-4.

Elarton (1-0) gave up four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings, getting his first win since July 16 at Detroit. The righthander missed the final 71 games last year and the first 36 this year because of shoulder surgery.

* At Boston, Julian Tavarez (2-4) allowed a run on four singles and four walks in seven innings, and Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis drove in a run each as the Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers, 2-1, in the opener of a day-night doubleheader. Mike Maroth, the Tigers' scheduled starter, was scratched because of illness and replaced by righthander Zach Miner, who was recalled from Triple A Toledo earlier in the day.

In the nightcap, Eric Hinske, starting in rightfield for the injured J.D. Drew, slammed his chin into the ground making a spectacular, run-saving catch in the fifth, and hit a go-ahead homer two innings later to give the Red Sox a 4-2 win and a doubleheader sweep.

* At Chicago, Jon Garland limited New York to a run and six hits over seven innings and Jermaine Dye homered and had four RBI as the White Sox beat the Yankees, 4-1.

* At Kissimmee, Fla., Delmon Young's two-run homer in the 10th inning lifted the Tampa Bay Devil Rays over the Texas Rangers, 8-6.

* At Seattle, Vladimir Guerrero homered and drove in three runs as the Angels beat the Mariners, 7-3.

* At Cleveland, Fausto Carmona (5-1) threw a four-hitter and Victor Martinez and Ryan Garko homered in the seventh inning to lead the Indians, 2-0, over the Minnesota Twins. It was the first career shutout and complete game for Carmona. *