Boss to rookie ump: Yer out!  —  Umpire Adam Dowdy may have called his last game behind the plate if George Steinbrenner gets his way.  —  After ejecting Joe Torre and Toronto skipper John Gibbons in the span of one inning yesterday, Dowdy incurred the wrath of The Boss as the Yankee owner left …

Kim's season debut powerful  —  Miami - There has been plenty for the Rockies to love on their current road trip.  —  Garrett Atkins' homer in Philadelphia was the hardest shot seen there since Rocky Balboa decked Apollo Creed.  The Rockies' bullpen, in the words of manager Clint Hurdle, "has been magnificent."

Trachsel mimics Zambrano  —  ATLANTA — The Mets shuffled their rotation for this weekend's series at Turner Field because they didn't want one of Victor Zambrano's typical performances to derail them in yesterday's finale against the Braves.  —  Apparently, Steve Trachsel didn't get the memo.

Middle men run hot, cold  —  Iguchi, Uribe above average in own ways at second and short  —  ANAHEIM — They were new to each other, yet worked well together last year.  —  This April represents a different story, but the White Sox anticipate a happy ending for second baseman Tadahito Iguchi and shortstop Juan Uribe.

Notes: Rodriguez dropping appeal  —  Reliever to serve three-game suspension starting Monday  —  ST. LOUIS — After Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Nationals reliever Felix Rodriguez said he was dropping his appeal and will serve his three-game suspension, which would start against the Mets on Monday.

May first: Rangers lead West after 8-4 win  —  CLEVELAND - Rangers manager Buck Showalter said he wanted to get through April and May and still be in the hunt in the American League West.  —  Well, they got through April.  They certainly didn't tear it up, but Sunday's 8-4 win at Cleveland meant …

Castro could add relief  —  CLEVELAND - If the Rangers could write their own script, it would have included more outings for 21-year-old lefty Fabio Castro in April.  —  Castro, whom the Rangers acquired via trade after the December Rule V draft, pitched in only three games in the first four weeks of the season.

Picked up for a second season  —  This is the story of your young, unproven, underpaid, downtrodden teacher.  You know the type: The teacher who spends half the day laboring out of a dank and lonely trailer, one not even tricked-out enough to provide adequate heating or water of any kind …

From bottom up, Fuson wants Padres to bulk up  —  Grady Fuson saw what weight training did for the Oakland Athletics.  He has a similar vision for the Padres.  —  "With offense usually comes strength, with strength usually comes size, so you want to be more physical," Fuson said.

Tigers put whuppin' on Twins  —  The Detroit Tigers jumped out of the gate in 2006 winning their first five games before losing six of their next eight.  At 7-6 and following a 10-2 home loss to Cleveland, manager Jim Leyland went off on his team, saying the losing was unacceptable.

Frandsen continues painful streak  —  notebook  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Another day, another adventure for Kevin Frandsen.  —  The San Jose native, who joined the Giants on Friday, maintained his three-game streak of being hit by a pitch.  Arizona's Brandon Webb nicked Frandsen in the first inning Sunday.

Cubs keep eye on Arizona's Clark  —  With the Cubs hitting just .198 against left-handed pitching and their top right-handed hitter, Derrek Lee, on the disabled list, rumors are spreading that the Cubs may be interested in Arizona's Tony Clark.  —  The switch-hitting Clark, an 11-year veteran …

The Babe in Kensington  —  In '23, the legend helped a parish pay off its ball field.  —  Barry Bonds might well surpass Babe Ruth's home-run total when he and the Giants make their only 2006 visit to Citizens Bank Park next weekend.  —  But you can bet your supply of performance-enhancing substances …

Mini-Meet-up/Rainiers Double Header  —  Sunday was a day of stark contrasts - between great pitching and stomach-turning defense.  Between the two-true-outcomes of Dallas McPherson and the smoke and mirrors act of Cha Seung Baek.  Between the perverse pleasure in stealing a game you've got …

Notes: Need for another starter grows  —  Bannister's injury exposes team's lack of depth in rotation  —  ATLANTA — When a team has won 16 of its first 23 games, an occasional glance in the mirror can be expected.  When the Mets look at themselves these days, they put aside vanity and see whatever flaws exist.

Notes: Parties call feud imaginary  —  Scioscia, Guillen talk; Gregg to start in Escobar's spot  —  ANAHEIM — Manager Mike Scioscia and his White Sox counterpart buried a non-existent hatchet Sunday morning.  —  The two managers spoke on the phone from their respective clubhouses …