Prospectus Notebook  —  Angels, Rockies  —  ANAHEIM ANGELS  — The Angels aren't a team that can field an offense full of .375-OBP boppers, but one of their virtues is an emphasis on depth and flexibility.  Back in January, they announced a lineup shuffle that would return Darin Erstad to center field …

Wood returns soon, but not as staff savior  —  Cubs starter plans on being just 'one more guy in the rotation'  —  PHOENIX — The Cubs announced Kerry Wood will make his first rehab start Sunday at Class A Peoria, the place where he began his rehab from shoulder soreness last July.

Down Goes Bonds!  —  We can't help thinking today about the "Seinfeld" episode in which a disgruntled boyfriend tries to insult Elaine by telling her she has a big head.  At first it doesn't bother her, until birds begin slamming into her head as if it's too big to avoid.

Rolen expects to play Thursday  —  Cards third baseman eager to return from bout with bronchitis  —  HOUSTON — Scott Rolen put on a brave face on Wednesday, but it was a face obviously thinned by illness.  Rolen, who has lost about 10 pounds due to what the Cardinals are calling …

Nats' Brass Say They'll Rebuild From Within  —  Lerner, Kasten Promise No Precipitous Moves  —  Stan Kasten, the man who will run the Washington Nationals as their president, has been involved with professional sports for nearly three decades, virtually the entire span of free agency.

Delgado Has the Will and Finds a Way  —  The weather during last night's game between the Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates was miserable.  The wind at Shea Stadium was howling during the first pitch, and rain began falling in the third inning.  —  But the stormy conditions did not begin in earnest until the top of the ninth.

Notes: Leyland shuns media attention  —  Team's Skipper hopes Tigers' success inspires fans  —  DETROIT — Don't ask Tigers manager Jim Leyland about national attention.  To him, the most significant sign about the Tigers' success is word of mouth.  —  So when Leyland heard Tiger talk …

Perez Could Be Headed for the Bullpen  —  On the day after Odalis Perez lost a 6-0 lead in one inning, Dodger Manager Grady Little said he might remove him from the starting rotation — for one start, or for an indefinite assignment to long relief.  —  "We do have options," Little said.

The New Owner Is Old School  —  A billionaire can still hit the lottery.  —  Or, as Ted Lerner put it after becoming the new owner of the Nationals yesterday, "This is a 'wow' kind of day."  —  Everyone will have their own first impressions of Lerner, one of the few American tycoons …

PIRATES MEET THE ENDY  —  May 4, 2006 — You might have never guessed it, but Endy Chavez boasts a pretty sizable fan club - charter members include Pedro Martinez, Willie Randolph, Omar Minaya ... even Steve Phillips.  —  And Chavez' fan club grew even bigger during last night's 4-3 …

Pujols may be best ever by time he's done  —  At this moment, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols leads the National League in a bevy of offensive categories.  —  To wit, Pujols tops the loop in home runs, RBI, runs scored, slugging percentage, total bases and extra-base hits.

Glavine goes up against Pirates  —  Pittsburgh (8-21) at New York (18-9), 7:10 p.m. ET  —  Tom Glavine has started 609 games in the big leagues, Paul Maholm nine.  No member of the Mets has faced Maholm.  Fourteen of the Pirates have faced Glavine — a total of 167 at-bats.

Notes: Leyland loves small ball  —  Veteran skipper doesn't want team to depend on home runs  —  DETROIT — The Tigers are on a historic pace for home runs at Comerica Park, but that's the last thing Jim Leyland wants his club thinking.  —  The more they homer, the more he seemingly worries about them relying too much on it.

Ten Things I Didn't Know Last Week  —  Did you know...  These are not last year's White Sox.  —  The World Series champion White Sox are first in the American League, with an 18-8 record, but this is a different team than last year's.  — Last year, the bullpen had a 3.23 ERA.  This year, it's 4.55.

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Losing one game is not the end of the world  —  While I was watching the blessed Reds get shutout by the Rockies and the Nats blow an awesome comeback in the ninth inning last night (yes, at the same time on the same computer screen), a friend of mine was dining next to Bono, Condi, and Queen Nour at Galileo.

Giles was almost a Dodger when Padres budged  —  LOS ANGELES - Brian Giles said it wasn't a bluff.  The native San Diegan and longtime Padres fan nearly became a Dodger in November.  "It was probably a day away," Giles said yesterday from the visiting clubhouse at Dodger Stadium.

Pavano can't wait to butt in  —  ST. PETERSBURG - Carl Pavano believes this will be it.  The injury-plagued righthander is scheduled to begin his minor-league rehab assignment on Sunday and is optimistic it won't be long before he is able to take his spot in the Yankees' rotation.