Mets' test is to Brave best  —  Early risers ready for old pros  —  For two weeks now, the Mets have had it all.  From great starting pitching to super-productive hitting to strong play off the bench and out of the bullpen, they have been baseball's best team.

Giants trainer Conte subpoenaed to testify in probe  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The head athletic trainer for the San Francisco Giants was told to appear before a federal grand jury investigating whether Barry Bonds lied about his connection to the BALCO steroids scandal.

Pirates Notebook: La Russa discards last year's messes  —  Tony La Russa yesterday could offer no reason why any animosity should have existed between his St. Louis Cardinals and the Pirates last season.  —  Not when he examined the issue at its root, that being the spikes-up slide …

Euphoria engulfs Fenway: Loretta walkoff homer stuns Mariners  —  At nearly the exact moment that Robert Cheruiyot entered Kenmore Square yesterday afternoon en route to a record-setting Patriots Day victory in the Boston Marathon, a roar went up from about a block-and-a-half away …

Strained rib cage for Floyd  —  Cliff Floyd, already frustrated by a slow start, now has to cope with the possibility of missing time.  He suffered a left rib-cage strain while running the bases last night in the Mets' 4-3 win over the Braves.  —  Floyd led off the fourth inning with a double …

Nationals GM Bowden arrested, charged with DUI  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals general manager Jim Bowden was arrested and charged with driving under the influence while in Florida during his team's series against the Marlins last weekend.  —  The Nationals released a statement from Bowden …

Fouled-Off Bunts: Case Of The Mondays Edition  —  Lots of little things to catch up on... Here goes....  Ryan Drese left Friday night's game with a damaged Ulnar Collateral Ligament.  UCL typically means Tommy John, which would essentially mean the end of his career.

At tipping point of game, Cabrera stands his ground  —  Half the time he looks like a future All-Star.  Half the time he looks like a future minor leaguer.  We're left with one question to ponder: Can an arm suffer from multiple-personality disorder?  —  If you were worried about Daniel Cabrera …

Notes: Small getting closer to return  —  Righty throws four scoreless innings in hamstring rehab outing  —  TORONTO — Aaron Small took a big step toward a return to the Yankees on Monday, throwing four innings in an extended Spring Training game in Clearwater, Fla.

SHEA STADIUM  —  Queens, N.Y.  —  Opened: 1964  —  Capacity: 57,045  —  Average Ticket Price: $23.66  —  Average Cost of Concessions and Souvenirs: $90.49  —  Pluses:  —  Subway, bus and ferry all offer cheap and traffic-free (in the case of the subway and ferry) access to the stadium; plentiful parking in on-site lot.

Wily and woolly adventure: Pena has more woes with glove  —  In the field, at least, Wily he ain't.  After all, he tends to hand out extra bases like Halloween candy.  —  The Red Sox did not acquire Wily Mo Pena for his glove, however.  Pena proved that again yesterday in a 3-2 Red Sox win during …

Notes: Kent shaking off plunking effects  —  Robles promoted, Ross reassigned; Nomar nears return  —  LOS ANGELES — Jeff Kent survived his Sunday night beaning, but not unscathed.  —  "I've been hit in the head a few times," said Kent.  "That one hurt.  I should have retired.  One pitch too late."

Barmes, Sullivan go by don't-walk plan  —  Cory Sullivan never was concerned with OBP, only reaching MLB.  Clint Barmes never has looked patient with a bat in his hands.  His style is reminiscent of a pirate pillaging a city.  —  As the top two hitters in the Rockies' order, they have sprinted out to a strong start.

For the Rangers, a staff to lean on  —  Reliable starting pitching helps build clubhouse trust  —  SEATTLE - Maybe they are no longer the Texas Strangers.  —  There's nothing like a little quality starting pitching to bring a team full of newcomers together.  Well, nothing except a lot of quality starting pitching.

Big hit was just what Wilkerson needed  —  SEATTLE - Brad Wilkerson definitely needed a confidence boost at the plate.  He finished Sunday as the major league leader in strikeouts, with 23 in just 13 games.  —  Wilkerson got a lift in his final at-bat against the A's.