Wright's Fast Start at the Plate Has the Mets Off and Running  —  A week into the season, David Wright does not consider the M.V.P. chants premature.  They are, he said in his aw-shucks sort of way, completely ludicrous.  —  "I think we have some legitimate M.V.P. candidates on this team …

Finger may keep Crisp on sideline  —  BALTIMORE — The optimistic spin on Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp before yesterday's 4-1 victory over the Orioles, a game in which he was replaced by Adam Stern, was that the finger injury he suffered Saturday would not stop him from being ready for Opening Day tomorrow at Fenway Park.

Patterson goes for series split  —  Washington (2-4) at Houston (4-2), 2:05 p.m. ET  —  After dropping two of three over the weekend, the Nationals hope to split the four-game series as they take on the Astros at Minute Maid Park on Monday afternoon.  —  John Patterson will take the mound for the Nationals.

Rockies' Sullivan ties MLB triples record  —  Cory Sullivan had a case of triple vision for the Colorado Rockies.  Sullivan tied a major league record by hitting two triples during a seven-run fifth inning, helping Colorado rout the San Diego Padres 10-4 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Strike 1 for new Shea plan  —  DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF  —  The Mets' amazin' new stadium plan just got thrown a curveball.  —  The City Council's finance committee is threatening to cancel a hearing on the stadium following a secret 41/2-hour meeting between members …

Ex-Baseball Player Billy Hitchcock Dies  —  OPELIKA, Ala. — Billy Hitchcock, a major league infielder during the 1940s and '50s who went on to manage three teams, died at 89.  —  He died Sunday, according to Auburn, where Hitchcock led the university to its first bowl game and its first Southeastern Conference baseball title.

Notes: Young Marlins yearning for home  —  Uggla looks forward to getting to know newborn son  —  NEW YORK — On the road since March 31, the Marlins are eager to return to South Florida.  —  If the road trip has seemed exceedingly long, that's because it has been.

Clutch double gives Wilkerson a boost  —  Despite leadoff man's .188 average, Showalter not planning change  —  ARLINGTON - Perhaps no one needed to drive in the winning runs Sunday more than leadoff hitter Brad Wilkerson.  —  It has not been a good start for Wilkerson.

Kinsler's beginning is almost dreamlike  —  Rookie Surpris  —  ARLINGTON — Ian Kinsler projects the raw sort of joy that you would expect from a rookie who is living his dream of being a major league baseball player.  —  But even his most inspired fantasy did not prepare him for his first week with the Rangers.

Goin' Deep: Procedural rules  —  Once a month, "Going Deep" will go interactive, giving you the opportunity to get your questions about baseball's procedural rules answered.  If you have questions you'd like considered for next month's Q&A, send them to newbergreport@sbcglobal.net, and please include your name and city.

Willis, stadium deal key issues for Marlins  —  In the opinion of several general managers, it's practically a given that the Marlins will trade left-hander Dontrelle Willis before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.  —  Marlins president David Samson, however, calls such a deal "highly unlikely."

Jones suffers sprained ankle, twisted knee  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Atlanta's Chipper Jones went down with a sprained right ankle and twisted right knee Sunday when the third baseman charged in on Mike Matheny's slow roller in the eighth inning of the Braves' 6-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants.