Padres beef up security after syringe tossed at Bonds  —  SAN DIEGO — In light of Monday's syringe throwing incident, another security measure was put in place for Tuesday night's game at Petco Park, which was rained out, after a syringe came flying out of the stands toward Barry Bonds.

Gooden sentenced to year in prison for drug use  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Former baseball star Dwight Gooden was sentenced Wednesday to a year and a day in prison for violating probation by using cocaine.  —  The 41-year-old pitcher was serving three years of probation for speeding away from a police officer during a drunken driving stop.

Song belongs to Met-tallica  —  Billy, not Mo, entered as the first 'Sandman'  —  Not only should the Mets play "Enter Sandman" when closer Billy Wagner takes the mound at Shea, the manager of Metallica says they should turn up the volume.  —  "Frankly, they could have played it louder …

No joshing — it was ugly  —  Game 2 was one to forget  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Not much life in this one.  Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield fell behind, 4-0, before recording an out, new catcher Josh Bard forgot how many outs there were in the first inning of the second game of the year, and the Sox lost to the Rangers, 10-4.

Nats Believe Replay Is Worth Another Look  —  NEW YORK, April 4 — It was in plain view on ESPN's "SportsCenter" and the evening news.  It was on in the visiting clubhouse at Shea Stadium, where various Washington Nationals players looked at a video image on a computer screen, then walked away, disgusted.

Notes: Gagne drops appeal  —  Dodgers closer to serve two-game suspension from 2005  —  LOS ANGELES — After undergoing an MRI exam described as prearranged, Eric Gagne informed the Commissioner's Office on Tuesday that he would drop his appeal and immediately begin serving a two-game suspension held over from last season.

Angelos to testify on Nats' TV deal … WASHINGTON // A congressional committee has invited Peter Angelos to testify at a hearing Friday on problems with the Washington Nationals' television deal, and the Orioles owner said he plans to show up and provide his version of why so few Nationals games are available to many fans.

A dazzling debut for new Busch  —  Minor Leaguers give stadium a test run  —  ST. LOUIS — The freshness and sparkle of the new Busch Stadium was on full display on a clear, cool and calm Tuesday evening as the venue's first game finally took place.  Judging by the buzz and conversation flowing throughout …

"In The Best Interests of Baseball?"  An interview with author Andrew Zimbalist  —  I recently read "In The Best Interests of Baseball?  The Revolutionary Reign of Bud Selig", and was given an opportunity to interview author Andrew Zimbalist on the book, as well as on the current state of some economic topics in the game.

The schedule is a Major undertaking  —  There's more than 2,400 games and only 181 days to play them  —  The Longest Season.  The long and winding road, through the dog days of summer, into October.  The grind, plain and simple.  And, of course, the proverbial "marathon."

Offense not so Lee-pendent  —  CINCINNATI — One of the many encouraging signs for the Cubs during their season-opening 16-7 victory Monday against the Cincinnati Reds was that first baseman Derrek Lee did very little offensively and still came away with two RBI.