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 …

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 …

Notes: Rangers cut ties with Shouse  —  Tejeda optioned to Triple-A; Feldman returns to Majors  —  ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers restocked their depleted bullpen as expected on Monday, calling up right-hander Scott Feldman and optioning Robinson Tejeda to Triple-A Oklahoma.

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.

Mailbag: Will Laird replace Barajas?  —  Beat writer T.R. Sullivan answers the fans' questions … It seems the team responds well and has better scoring chances with Gerald Laird in the lineup.  Why does Barajas continue to get the nod over Laird?  Is Laird merely being showcased as trade-bait?

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.