It's Official: Lerner Will Own Nationals  —  Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig called Bethesda-based billionaire Theodore N. Lerner today to tell him he will be the new owner of the Washington Nationals, team sources said.  —  An announcement by Major League Baseball is expected shortly.

Damon Still At Center  —  Little Sympathy From Either Side Over Fans' Reactions  —  BOSTON — The animosity that Red Sox fans have for the Yankees remains as strong as ever.  Watching their team stage the greatest comeback in postseason history at the expense of the Yankees two years ago …

Sele Arrives at Crucial Time in Minors  —  PHOENIX — As honors go, this one is bittersweet for Aaron Sele.  —  The 13-year veteran was named Pacific Coast League pitcher of the week after allowing no runs in 12 2/3 innings while striking out 12 and walking two for Las Vegas.

Maryland man auctions off 25 years of loyalty to the Royals  —  Chad Carroll didn't know how he would feel around 10 a.m. Tuesday.  —  Perhaps he would regret selling his 25-year loyalty to the Royals on eBay.  Maybe he'd feel so guilty about abandoning the team he's always loved that he'd call the whole thing off.

RANGERS NOTES  —  Rangers put Castro on DL  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Rangers placed left-hander Fabio Castro on the disabled list Tuesday with a strained left groin.  Castro said he was injured during Monday's game.  That night, he got up and began warming in the bullpen in the seventh inning, but quickly sat down again.

How about a movie on Omar?  —  Off his winter of wheeling, dealing and maybe even stealing in some cases, Mets general manager Omar Minaya was trying hard to make one more big transaction right before last night's game.  —  He was endeavoring to convert Spike Lee into a Mets fan.

Cubs' new excuse rings hollow  —  He's out there somewhere, the Cubs' savior.  He's wearing sweat pants, dribbling beer down his chin into a pile of potato-chip crumbs on his shirt, flipping between "ElimiDate'' and "Fear Factor.'' Oh, the stories he tells about his days as a high school pitcher.

Jered Weaver Might Get Next Try in Colon's Spot  —  The Angels, confident that Jered Weaver is ready for the major leagues after one month at triple A, are leaning toward starting him Saturday in Toronto and giving him the chance to replace Bartolo Colon in the rotation.

Mariners Notebook: Sexson in serious funk  —  Hitting just .216, cleanup man tries to retool swing  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Maybe it's a weird time for a makeover, but Richie Sexson doesn't think so.  —  Sexson is in such a funk with his swing that he's perfectly content to put his old swing behind him and work on a new, improved version.

April fooled  —  Surprising starts can turn heads, but the joke is usually on those who buy the hype  —  On the last day of April, the American League home run leaders had a few familiar names, but also a number of intruders.  —  Jonny Gomes, Nick Swisher, Ty Wigginton, Chris Shelton.

Notes: Piedra optioned to Triple-A  —  Outfielder batted just .143 in recent rehab assignment  —  ATLANTA — With his numbers and at-bats indicating he's not ready to return to the Majors, outfielder Jorge Piedra learned on Tuesday that he has been optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs.