Cubs-Padres Preview  —  The San Diego Padres look to win nine straight games for the first time in nearly seven years when they finish out a four-game series against the slumping Chicago Cubs on Monday at Petco Park.  —  The Padres (16-15) won their eighth in a row on Sunday, 6-3 over the Cubs (14-16).

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 …

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.

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 …

Dodgers Peddling Perez  —  Steve Henson of the Los Angeles Times (registration required) reports today that the Dodgers see Victor Zambrano's season-ending elbow injury as an opportunity to try and unload high-priced lefty Odalis Perez on the Mets.  He cites two team sources as saying …

As time runs out  —  When Kansas City Royals general manager Allard Baird gets fired this week, he probably will hop a plane to Miami and head to his house in South Beach.  His wife, Julie, lives there.  They see each other about 30 days a year, and on those special nights, they enjoy nothing more than a good meal.

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 …

Sheets scratched from start  —  Brewers ace experiencing stiffness in shoulder  —  LOS ANGELES — The Brewers scratched Ben Sheets from Sunday's scheduled start at Dodger Stadium because of stiffness in the front of his shoulder, the latest in a growing list of ailments for the ace right-hander.

Utley named NL Player of the Week  —  Second baseman hit .483, helped Phillies to seven wins  —  Chase Utley's numbers were a big part of the reason the Phillies second baseman was named Bank of America Presents the National League Player of the Week.  —  Fourteen hits in 29 at-bats …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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.