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.

Owner, GM tell ChiSox to cut slip-and-slides, long hair  —  CHICAGO — Mark Buehrle was told to stop doing belly flops and slides on the tarp during rain delays.  A.J. Pierzynski and Joe Crede were ordered to get a trim.  —  Are those fun-loving World Series winning White Sox cracking down?

Kubel's fears realized with ticket to minors  —  Jason Kubel knew the news was coming, but that didn't make him feel better when he got it.  —  Twins general manager Terry Ryan told the reserve outfielder he was being sent to Class AAA Rochester.  —  Ryan broke the news to Kubel …

Padres-Rockies Preview  —  The Colorado Rockies pounded the San Diego Padres just over a week ago in a three-game sweep at spacious Petco Park.  Now the Rockies get another shot at them at Coors Field.  —  The Rockies continue their nine-game homestand Monday night when they meet the Padres in the opener of a three-game series.

Pujols puts on a show  —  His third HR lifts Cardinals in ninth  —  Albert Pujols gets a hug after blasting a walkoff homer in the ninth against the Reds.  (AP Photo)  —  ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols hit three home runs, including a winning drive that erased a ninth-inning deficit and put …

Griffey goes on DL with inflammation in knee  —  CINCINNATI — Ken Griffey Jr. went on the 15-day disabled list Monday night after a test found inflammation in a tendon behind his right knee.  —  The Cincinnati Reds center fielder missed his fifth straight game with the injury, getting a magnetic resonance imaging test instead.

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 …

Weaver's solid outing not enough  —  Bats quiet as Angels lose for third time in Baltimore  —  BALTIMORE — The problems began for the Angels early in Monday's game - and actually even before the game.  —  Juan Rivera felt some tightness in his rib cage during batting practice and got pulled from the lineup.

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?

Mailbag: What lies ahead for Nationals?  —  Beat reporter Bill Ladson answers Nats fans' questions … Do you believe that general manager Jim Bowden has destroyed team chemistry by giving up outfielders Terrmel Sledge and Brad Wilkinson for left fielder Alfonso Soriano?

Drese's MRI reveals flexor tendon strain  —  Righty will avoid surgery, could return in four to six weeks  —  Nationals right-hander Ryan Drese had an MRI on his right elbow and it was revealed on Monday that he has a flexor tendon strain and surgery is not needed.  Drese is expected to miss four to six weeks of action.

Notes: Maroth's elbow improving  —  Left-hander has 'slight bit of tenderness' after playing catch  —  DETROIT — As if Sunday wasn't a big enough performance for Mike Maroth, Monday made him feel even better.  —  Though Sunday's seven scoreless innings suggested Maroth was the picture of health …

Under The Knife  —  Pitch Counts and Complete Games  —  There's been a lot of talk about pitch counts recently.  Most of it centers on another unnecessary and overly simplistic dichotomy.  It's possible to advocate a progressive approach to pitcher usage and also want pitchers to complete games.

Kent Diagnosed With Concussion  —  A CT scan on Jeff Kent's head taken at Good Samaritan Hospital after he was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning was normal and the Dodger second baseman was diagnosed with a mild concussion and a bruise on the left side of his head.