Wilkerson's still swinging  —  Since his introductory press conference, Brad Wilkerson and I have shared a special bond.  You might call it good, old-fashioned hate.  —  OK, hate might be a little strong, but he is, after all, a Florida Gator and I'm Johnny Georgia Bulldog.  It creates a little tension.

Notes: Hernandez placed on DL  —  Sore back sidelines starting second baseman; Matsui recalled  —  NEW YORK — The pained look on Anderson Hernandez's face said it all.  —  "Not good," Hernandez said, wincing.  "Bad."  —  Hernandez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday …

Boos, booze make for an ugly combo in Busch bleachers  —  The new spin coming from the mouths of some of the grumbling louts who have turned certain parts of Busch Stadium's bleachers into an X-rated sewer is that they are all a part of some slowly emerging class struggle.

Curt Schilling, RHP (3-0, 1.64)  —  Scouting Report:  —  Waechter followed up an unremarkable first start of the season at Toronto — when he allowed three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings — with a strong performance against the Orioles Thursday, allowing just one run in six innings.

We Got The Hits—Hits.  —  The Mets came out with a new theme song today, which like its title ("Our Team.  Our Time.") and the advertising slogan it accompanies ("The Team.  The Time.  The Mets."), celebrates terminal punctuation.  Our question: Can 45,000 fans rap all at the same time?

Hurler, wife pitched a few ideas  —  Red Sox pitcher Jonathan Papelbon and his wife didn't have nearly as much trouble choosing a wedding song last winter as he's had in finding the right music for his march to the mound this season.  —  "Me and my wife actually went through some songs …

Padres cap three-game set vs. Rockies  —  San Diego (5-8) at Colorado (8-6), 12:05 p.m. PT  —  With MLB.TV, the only place to watch the series finale, Chan Ho Park makes his second start of the season on Wednesday.  It's Park's first start at Coors Field since 2001 when he was with the Dodgers.

Baker pitches deal for ace  —  Says it may be time to extend Maddux  —  LOS ANGELES — Greg Maddux's future was on the mind of Dusty Baker before Tuesday's game at Dodger Stadium, and the question of how long the 40-year-old right-hander can continue to pitch was put to the Cubs manager.

Nationals close to finding new owner  —  Decision could be made as early as next week  —  A decision to choose the new owners of the Washington Nationals is coming down to its final days, with an announcement possible sometime next week, a source familiar with the negotiations said on Tuesday.

Johnson Doesn't Know What Hit Him  —  TORONTO, April 18 — Your team is down by four runs with one out in the top of the first inning.  When you finally come to bat, a future Hall of Famer will be facing you.  What are you thinking in the home dugout?  —  "You figure it's over," …

Notes: Guillen sore after taking BP  —  His left oblique still hurting, but he may play Wednesday  —  PHILADELPHIA — Outfielder Jose Guillen took three rounds of early batting practice on Tuesday afternoon and swung the bat freely, but he still felt some soreness in his left oblique …

Milestone for Gonzalez in win  —  Slugger becomes 21st player with 500 doubles and 300 homers  —  PHOENIX — Luis Gonzalez appeared in the postgame interview room wearing a Diamondbacks undershirt.  —  The uniform of the once skinny kid from Tampa, Fla., whose Major League dreams …

Right shoulder inflammation lands Colon on DL  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Los Angeles Angels placed right-hander Bartolo Colon, the AL's reigning Cy Young Award winner, on the disabled list Wednesday with inflammation in his throwing shoulder.  —  The move was made right before the game in Minnesota …

Notes: Sledge optioned to Triple-A  —  Center fielder steps down to get batting practice  —  DENVER — Terrmel Sledge stuffed his equipment bag on Tuesday afternoon at Coors Field and prepared for a trip back in time — a temporary one, he hopes — to the Minor Leagues.

25. B.J. Upton, SS, Tampa Bay Devil Rays (21)  —  The Devil Rays are employing people such as Ty Wigginton, Nick Green and Damon Hollins in their everyday lineup, so it's fair to speculate about why they're leaving B.J. Upton in Durham.  On the one hand, Upton's defense at shortstop …

On the Road with Jim Bowden  —  Reassurance is in order.  Suppan had a bad game.  It happens.  It's Supe; he'll work it out.  In the pitching preview I contributed over at Beyond the Boxscore, I called Supe the "'96 Honda Civic of pitchers," emphasizing his reliability and general lack of panache.

Order of selection announced for the 2006 First-Year Player Draft  —  The Kansas City Royals will have the first selection in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, to be held via conference call on June 6-7 in New York City, Major League Baseball announced today.

Prospectus Q&A  —  Matthew Silverman and Andrew Friedman … Baseball Prospectus: Matt, you've had experience doing M&A work with Goldman Sachs.  You've served as CFO of a real estate software firm.  How can you best apply those skills to running a major league ballclub?

Mariners Notebook: Eddie not blown away  —  Closer able to shake off dismal ending in Boston  —  Eddie Guardado got at least one good review after blowing Monday's game in Boston.  —  The Mariners closer's family was in the stands at Fenway Park and saw him surrender a two-out …

Notes: Hitters regroup with meeting  —  Kent returns to lineup; Nomar nears rehab assignment  —  LOS ANGELES — Manager Grady Little said there's no reason to panic over a four-game batting slump, but that didn't stop the staff from holding a hitters-only meeting before Tuesday night's game with the Chicago Cubs.