Gagne surgery a success  —  Dodgers closer could return to action in two months  —  PHILADELPHIA — Friday morning surgery on Eric Gagne's right elbow nerve was termed a success by doctors and he could be back in action in two months, according to the Dodgers.

Theme for Martínez Could Be From 'Rocky'  —  On its own, the fastball that rammed into Jose Guillen's upper arm in the fifth inning last night was merely an errant pitch, one that got away from Pedro Martínez.  But by that point, Guillen had had enough.

Sheets strikes out five in rehab start for Double-A Huntsville  —  Sheets strikes out five in rehab start for Double-A Huntsville  —  PEARL, Miss. (AP) — Ben Sheets is getting back his confidence — and his fastball.  —  Regularly reaching the mid-90s on the radar gun …

Lee sets Saturday deadline for deal  —  If agreement isn't reached, talks will be tabled until postseason  —  CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee set a Saturday deadline to reach an agreement on a contract extension, saying if nothing is done he'll wait until after the season is over to resume talks.

Chacon and Bacon  —  One of the keys to the Yankees' success this year will be the performance of Shawn Chacon, who makes his first start of the year tonight against the Angels.  Much has been made out of the fact that Chacon's fantastic performance after being acquired by the Yankees last July …

Humidor griping steams up Rockies  —  With rolled eyes and shaking heads, Rockies pitchers found complaints about the humidor humorless.  —  After two games, the Diamondbacks and Rockies combined for 11 runs and no home runs, prompting grousing from Arizona players, who cited a handful …

Comcast Wants to Show Nats  —  Cable Co. Offers Plan To End Its Blackout  —  One day before the House Government Reform Committee holds hearings on why Washington Nationals games are not shown on Comcast, the cable carrier asked Major League Baseball to break its contract with the regional sports network that carries the team's games.

City got Yanked around  —  Yankee owner George Steinbrenner finally got what he has wanted desperately for years - a sweetheart deal from our city's political leaders for a new baseball stadium.  —  True, the final stadium plan that the City Council approved yesterday wasn't the big giveaway …

Lowry placed on DL after straining muscle in start  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Giants left-hander Noah Lowry was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained muscle in his right side Friday, a day after he was hurt in the second inning of his first start of the year.

Notes: Phillips' days with Tribe over  —  Infielder to net Indians cash or prospect from Cincinnati  —  CLEVELAND — The Indians found interest for Brandon Phillips from a handful of teams.  —  But it was clear from the time they designated him for assignment last Saturday that the value received …

Clement out to ground Birds  —  Boston (2-1) at Baltimore (2-1), 7:05 p.m. ET, Friday  —  He enters the season under the radar, the forgotten man in a rotation that includes Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield and David Wells.  —  But that suits Matt Clement just fine.  He just wants to pitch.

Gonzalez more than holding his own  —  While Klesko recuperates, his replacement thrives  —  SAN DIEGO — Eric Young is reluctant to say it, knowing that the last thing you want to do is burden a young ballplayer with unrealistic comparisons.  But the Padres' versatile …

Trachsel faces new-look Fish in opener  —  Florida (1-2) at New York Mets (2-1), 7:10 p.m. ET  —  Here come the Marlins, hardly the team the Mets knew and defeated 10 times in 18 games last summer.  None of that means much now.  —  "They're not the same team, we know that," David Wright said Thursday.

A trip through the blogosphere  —  We feel really bad about having not mentioned Aldo Coffee's excellent blog until now.  And we felt especially negligent because Aldo Coffee's blog was mentioned by the Kansas City Star: "Aldo Coffee, a single coffee shop in suburban Pittsburgh …

ON THE SNY  —  April 7, 2006 — ASIDE from its more obvious and solvable problems - the initial lack of cable and satellite clearance, the sudden disappearance of picture and/or sound, the misplacement of that darned sign that reads, "Technical difficulties, please stand by" - SportsNet New York has another problem.