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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

Sign given on Crisp return  —  Middle of May is target date  —  Jason Varitek, who wasn't happy with his swing yesterday, tried to get on base via a bunt in the fifth.  He was erased easily.  The Red Sox captain did single and score in the ninth, however.  (Reuters Photo)

Shoes make Mench worth mentioning  —  Outfielder has driven in 12 since change of footwear to larger size  —  ARLINGTON - It's gotta be the shoes.  —  At least that's what hitting coach Brook Jacoby said is the main reason outfielder Kevin Mench is starting to pound the ball and collect RBIs in bunches.

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 …

Homers hurt Zambrano in loss to Friars  —  Righty allows five runs in four innings in series finale  —  SAN DIEGO — The Mets had 'em right where they wanted.  The Padres had taken the bait and loaded the bases.  What folly!  Such flawed strategizing.  Somebody should have known better.

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.

Going Deep: Bukvich's long journey  —  Rangers prospect working through Minors despite uncertainty  —  Ryan Bukvich was an impact prospect, an 11th-round pick who didn't pitch during his senior year at the University of Mississippi because he was academically ineligible.