Under The Knife  —  Charity  —  Baseball does a good job of balancing altruism with the knowledge that too much is annoying.  The most recent charitable campaign, the Strikeout Challenge, is a nice pairing with the CapCure fundraising.  Add in Barry Zito's new foundation and hundreds …

Zam: Elbow's been hurting since I got here  —  The Mets are expected to promote Jeremi Gonzalez from Triple-A Norfolk to take a start in Milwaukee this weekend, but that figures to be only a temporary plug for Victor Zambrano's rotation spot.  —  Zambrano, who tore the flexor tendon …

Even history turns against sliding Cubs  —  SAN DIEGO — History has a nasty habit of repeating itself, especially where the Cubs are concerned.  —  On May 7, 2005, the Cubs were six games out of first place after losing their seventh straight game, and Kerry Wood was on the disabled list with a shoulder strain.

Sending Perez to the Mets to Be Explored, Sources Say  —  For sale: One starting pitcher.  Left-handed.  Career record over .500.  Perplexingly inconsistent at times.  —  Price tag: If you have to ask, you can't afford him.  —  Would there be interest in Odalis Perez?

Muffled Nats Make Some Noise  —  Guillen Homers to Help Beat Pirates, Win Series : Nationals 5, Pirates 4  —  The clubhouse is quiet now, not yet a morgue, but more of an office, a workplace.  The giant television that sits in the middle of the Washington Nationals' small locker room …

Torre Passes Yanks' Milestone With 1,000th Victory  —  ARLINGTON, Tex., May 7 — When the Yankees' coaches congratulated him after Sunday's 8-5 victory against the Texas Rangers, Manager Joe Torre tried to play down what he had just done.  —  "How about another 1,000?" one of the coaches said.

Rangers remain high on Tejeda  —  ARLINGTON — After watching Rob Tejeda hit a batter, give up four singles, a walk and a home run during a stretch of seven batters, some Rangers fans were probably wondering: "Where's David Dellucci?"  —  After looking at the season statistics and seeing …

Wagner tosses verbal fire at the Phils  —  The Mets closer says it was "24 against one" in the clubhouse last season.  —  NEW YORK - Three days before returning to Citizens Bank Park in a New York Mets uniform, outspoken former Phillies closer Billy Wagner yesterday painted a grim picture …

Team to give away dolls undergoing rehab  —  NORWICH, Conn. - It's not unusual for a baseball team to promote a game by giving away a bobblehead doll of a popular player.  But the minor league Connecticut Defenders have added a twist.  —  The Double-A team associated with the San Fransisco Giants plans …

Playing with wrist injury no longer on Sheff's menu  —  ARLINGTON - Gary Sheffield has played hurt many times during his career - including last year with an ailing left shoulder - but the Yankee right fielder says he isn't going to do it anymore and it seems likely that he's headed for the disabled list with a bruised left wrist.

Monroe-DiMaggio ball fetches $191,200  —  DALLAS — A baseball signed by New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio and actress Marilyn Monroe sold for $191,200 in a sports memorabilia auction.  —  Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions for Heritage Auction Galleries, said Sunday that the ball …

Peña could become very big attraction  —  He says his mother is kind of short.  His father, sister, and brother are big, just like him.  —  And we mean big.  Has anybody ever seen a guy in center field bigger than Wily Mo Peña?  —  It's an odd sight.

Daily Dish: May 8  —  Coming into Sunday's start at Kinston, Astros' lefthander Troy Patton was consistently falling behind hitters over his first five outings, which led to his 0-3, 3.85 numbers over 21 innings.  —  That wasn't Patton's problem Sunday as he worked ahead early, but still wound up getting hit hard.

Mets roll a 300: Reworked Glavine pact was smart  —  Tom Glavine is coming back to pitch for the Mets next season, meaning he'll very likely earn his 300th victory in a Mets uniform.  —  "We're going to pick up his option," one Mets decision-maker said Friday.

Going Deep: Draft questions  —  Rule 5 procedures clarified as June approaches … Q: Rule 5 question.  Obviously, Texas was able to trade Esteban German for Fabio Castro.  If the Rangers think Castro would not make it through waivers — as JD has hinted — hence barring a trade …

Fielding miscues lead to another KC road loss  —  CHICAGO — This is how a team walls its way into the basement.  —  The Royals managed to work around one misplay Sunday by center fielder Kerry Robinson.  A second one, though, led to the winning run in a 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

Cole fails to fail, slows timetable  —  MOOSIC - Two-and-a-half hours south of here, which is about 120 miles as the freak show flies, they gathered again last night to celebrate baseball's peculiar collision of history and pharmacology.  Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, BALCO, belligerent fans …