Diamondbacks-Padres Preview  —  With Mike Cameron having joined the lineup and Josh Barfield showing promise, the San Diego Padres hope to get their offense rolling as they open a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday at Petco Park.  —  Cameron made his debut for the Padres …

Milton goes on DL after knee surgery  —  WASHINGTON — The Cincinnati Reds acquired outfielder Cody Ross from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a player to be named Monday and designated infielder Tony Womack for assignment to the minors.  —  "I'm happy to find a home, especially with the Reds …

Under The Knife  —  Break Out the Grill  —  Lance Berkman suggested that the recent explosion of numbers confirms what many of us knew; pitchers were benefiting from steroids more than hitters were.  The problem with this theory is that you have to accept two facts: that hitters benefited …

Beltran nears trip to DL  —  Randolph hints Milledge might get the call-up if Carlos goes on disabled list Friday  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Mets have targeted Friday as the deadline to place Carlos Beltran on the 15-day disabled list and manager Willie Randolph suggested for the first time yesterday …

Notes: Ortiz out of rotation  —  Counsell should play Tuesday; Grimsley working hard  —  SAN DIEGO — If he is to work out his pitching struggles, Diamondbacks right-hander Russ Ortiz will have to do it from the bullpen.  —  Ortiz was removed from the starting rotation Monday …

Rox make a playful pitch to land Clemens  —  There's a new team making a powerful bid in the Roger Clemens sweepstakes — the independent (and independent-thinking) Brockton Rox.  —  The minor league team announced yesterday it is pulling out all the stops to get Clemens's name on a contract …

Pierre, Willis set for friendly duel  —  CHICAGO — It was a ritual between two close friends in the three years they were Marlins teammates: On the days after he pitched, Dontrelle Willis would throw in the outfield to Juan Pierre.  —  Pierre, an outfielder, took it so seriously …

Mailbag: Are the '06 Nats competitive?  —  Beat reporter Bill Ladson answers fans' questions … I love having Alfonso Soriano in the outfield.  Is there any chance he will sign a long-term deal with Washington and be happy playing the outfield?  — Brant B., Maurertown, Va.

Adkins' 'Swing' could be a big hit  —  Country star debuts new song at MLB.com  —  Trace Adkins is known for smart honky-tonk tunes with a little bit of attitude and a healthy helping of good, clean American fun.  —  That won't change any time soon, but it'll swing in a different direction with …

Brandon Phillips of the Cincinnati Reds named Bank of America Presents the National League Player of the Week  —  Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips, who led the league with 17 RBI, has been named Bank of America Presents the National League Player of the Week for April 17-23, 2006.

Salmon and Santana star  —  Outfielder homers, pitcher fans 10 in 3-0 win over Tigers  —  ANAHEIM — Tim Salmon found a wrinkle in time Monday night.  —  The Angels designated hitter delighted the hometown fans by drilling a solo home run in the second inning and driving in another run with a two-out single in the sixth.

How they scored  —  First inning, year to date: … Second and third innings: … Fourth through ninth innings: … How have they outscored their opponents in the last five or six innings and not won more games on the late-inning rally?  Because the other team has been, to borrow a football phrase, running out the clock.

Nationals' Fortunes Change Quickly  —  Majewski Gives Up Homer in Loss: Braves 3, Nationals 1  —  Gary Majewski was pumping fastballs to Wilson Betemit, pitches popping up at 93 and 94 mph on the scoreboard at RFK Stadium.  It is, by all accounts, his best pitch, a sinking fastball that stays down and away from a left-handed hitter.

The Spit Take  —  Two days out, and the Eskandarian spit take is still the topic of conversation around MLS.  The video of Eskandarian spitting the Red Bull is now up (HT - OffWing) and more people are having their say on the topic (Here's the LA Times' Grahame Jones on the issue …

Notes: Phillips getting playing time  —  Jeter gets another Gold Glove; Small close to returning  —  NEW YORK — During Spring Training, Joe Torre said that the biggest challenge facing Andy Phillips this season was finding a way to stay sharp while seeing limited playing time.

Manning Jr. charged with assault in L.A.  —  The man the Bears are counting on to solve their secondary woes has his own problems right now.  —  Ricky Manning Jr., whom the Bears signed to an offer sheet worth as much as $21 million Friday, was arrested shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday in Los Angeles …