Out: Crisp has broken knuckle; no timetable given for return  —  The two-paragraph release issued by Red Sox physician Thomas Gill yesterday, and the equally brief comments general manager Theo Epstein made, indicated only that Coco Crisp has a nondisplaced fracture at the base of his left index finger …

Nationals Can't Close Out Astros  —  HOUSTON, April 10 — When the ball finally settled into Brandon Watson's glove, he wasn't in the position he intended, and the ensuing throw home was more a faint hope than a true chance of gunning down the runner.  So it was that just before Watson's …

Green Monster and Manny  —  Each baseball season brings new books about the national pastime.  Some are stats-driven, a la Bill James's sabermetric specials.  Some go deep on hardball heroes and seasons past.  A few take swings at the game itself — none more mightily than ''Game of Shadows …

Mets detail stadium financing  —  New York Mets executives gave financial details of their new stadium proposal during a city council hearing Monday, although the team has yet to satisfy demands from the council's Queens delegation to win their support.  —  In a six-hour hearing …

Derrek Lee agrees to new five-year, $65M deal  —  CHICAGO — NL batting champion Derrek Lee and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a $65 million, five-year contract, a deal expected to be announced Tuesday.  —  "It's fairly likely something will be worked out," agent Casey Close said Monday.

Braves call up hard-throwing Aussie  —  ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Braves shuffled their bullpen again Monday night, farming out Joey Devine and calling up hard-throwing Australian Peter Moylan.  —  Devine, promoted just last week from Triple-A Richmond, had two awful appearances for the Braves.

Chat with Randolph opened eyes  —  Mets outfielder Floyd has found motivation to gut out injuries  —  NEW YORK — As Cliff Floyd prepared to leave the Mets clubhouse Saturday afternoon, Willie Randolph pulled him aside.  Manager and left fielder discussed the circumstances of the rain-interrupted weekend …

Crisp's star on the rise  —  Coco Crisp is shopping his idea for a new reality show to television networks.  The program, which mixes the elements of dating-themed programs with the reward opportunities of a game show, is tentatively titled, "May/December."

Peek at the Week: Griffey's groove  —  Junior's recent success at Wrigley is noteworthy  —  Chicago was "My Kind of Town" for crooner Frank Sinatra, and Wrigley Field has been a friendly confine for Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. lately.  —  When the Reds open a three-game series …

Matthews' return to Rangers is looming  —  Struggling Nix could find himself without roster spot  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. - Gary Matthews Jr. played center field and went 3-for-3 for Triple-A Oklahoma on Monday and could be back in a Rangers uniform Friday.  —  How the club gets him on the roster could become quite a ticklish situation.

Recognition comes early for Atkins  —  Play against Padres nets third baseman NL's weekly award  —  PHOENIX - Garrett Atkins epitomizes the Colorado Rockies.  —  He is easily overlooked.  —  But he would like to think he's ready to get some attention.  —  Chalk up a notch of notoriety for Atkins on Monday.

After Stormy Offseason, Nationals Lack Electricity  —  The Washington Nationals' home opener this afternoon against the New York Mets will have little of the momentum that accompanied last year's debut, when Washington turned out to hail the return of baseball to the nation's capital after an absence of more than 33 years.