Mets beaming with confidence  —  NEW YORK — Maybe this is some crazy, alternate universe that's swallowed up New York.  The Mets rule the National League, if not the city itself, while the Yankees are losing just as often as they win in April.  —  Sure, it's a dozen or so games, a small sample.

Delgado, Brian add up  —  3-run shot helps rook to 2nd 'W'  —  Carlos Delgado took a sip of water.  Then, after a delay, he finally popped out of the dugout to take his curtain call (no prodding from Julio Franco required).  —  "I didn't think it was for me," Delgado said.  "It's always loud."

Marlins place OF Jeremy Hermida, RHP Carlos Martinez on DL  —  OF Matt Cepicky selected, RHP Randy Messenger recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque  —  MIAMI — The Florida Marlins today announced they have placed outfielder Jeremy Hermida (right hip flexor) and right-handed pitcher Carlos Martinez …

Whiz kids  —  Fireballing Beckett blazes trail for Sox with his third win of the season  —  On two occasions this season Josh Beckett has pressed his right cleat against the rubber to see a runner on third base with only one out.  The result: four batters faced, four Ks, zero runs.

Up or down?  That's the question for Pie  —  Cubs must decide if 21-year-old prospect is ready for the big time, writes Paul Sullivan  —  PITTSBURGH — When Dusty Baker brought up Felix Pie's name Saturday night as a possible replacement for injured outfielder Angel Pagan …

Yanks Stop Road Woes With Homers and Wang  —  MINNEAPOLIS, April 16 — Calmly and with barely a moment of thought, Yankees Manager Joe Torre considered the question as he sat in the visitors' dugout early Sunday afternoon: Had he ever been as agitated about a loss in April as he was about Saturday night's 6-5 defeat?

Many clubs enjoying returns from DL  —  Cubs' Prior, Wood expected to soon follow Sheets, Burnett  —  Filers rushing to meet Monday's midnight deadline to get their 2005 tax returns filed aren't the only ones eyeing a return.  Several teams are in line for a welcome return of their own …

Long time to reach Trevor time  —  ATLANTA - Trevor Hoffman exhaled.  The reliever was relieved.  —  Finally, the closer got a change to save a game, and he got it done despite allowing two singles with two outs in the ninth inning yesterday.  —  "It's nice that it's over," …

New Mets song "Our Team.  Our Time." to play at Shea during 2006 season  —  Song debuts tonight when Mets meet Braves; TJS Marketing Group and Breakthru Productions record new rallying cry playing off of 2006 Mets marketing slogan  —  FLUSHING, N.Y. — The New York Mets today announced …

Cardinals notebook: Edmonds may miss series in Pittsburgh  —  Edmonds may miss series in Pittsburgh  —  Manager Tony La Russa does not expect center fielder Jim Edmonds to play in the three-game series that starts today at Pittsburgh, and instead "we'll have him ready for Chicago (the following series)."

Fuson realizes the value of walks  —  ATLANTA - How many games will Padres minor league teams win this year?  —  Grady Fuson declined to predict, but the first-year farm chief is confident about one element of offensive performance: "I guarantee that you will see our walks go up at every level."

New Home of the Mets: Jackie Robinson Field?  —  When it comes to baseball, I bleed New York Mets orange and blue (and sometimes black.)  Always have and always will.  But something upset me this week.  —  The Mets organization announced plans to break ground this summer on a new ballpark in Queens, set to open up in 2009.

A-Rod rips three hits after ripping self  —  MINNEAPOLIS - Alex Rodriguez is usually cool and composed, but in the moments after Saturday's loss his frustration was evident.  Despite knocking in what would have been the winning run if the Yankees hadn't blown a lead in the ninth inning …

Papelbon has heater, stays cool  —  He has his own theme music now.  ''Bodies," by Drowning Pool.  —  '' 'Let the bodies hit the floor,' something like that," Jonathan Papelbon said yesterday after stuffing the Seattle Mariners with another 1-2-3 ninth in a 3-2 Red Sox victory.