Theriot promoted, will get shot at 2nd  —  SAN DIEGO — Infielder Ryan Theriot was called up from Triple-A Iowa on Monday to try to infuse some life in a flat-lining offense.  —  The 26-year-old second baseman, one of the final roster cuts this spring, was hitting .309 at Iowa with five stolen bases.

No brotherly love lost  —  Wagner returns to Philly  —  Before Billy Wagner delivered his first pitch as a Phillie in 2004, he already was getting razzed by the home crowd.  In fact, the sewer-mouthed fans were so vile as he warmed up in the bullpen during an exhibition game against the Indians …

A Marquee Matchup (but Don't Tell Johnson)  —  There are few scenarios that seem to excite Randy Johnson anymore.  To borrow a line from U2, there's nothing you can throw at him that he hasn't already heard.  —  There was a game in Seattle last season, when he faced the phenom Félix Hernández …

Fresh faces help keep ball rolling  —  Vazquez, Thome star in another Sox romp  —  Let's just call it Newcomers Night.  —  Two players who weren't with the White Sox for their championship season helped keep them on pace for another Saturday night.  —  Javier Vazquez, acquired from Arizona …

Mets: Top prospects will stay  —  Mets insiders insisted yesterday that the team's core prospects, including Lastings Milledge, won't be dealt under any circumstances - not even to obtain Barry Zito or Dontrelle Willis if they were made available.  —  "We're going to be fine," a team source said.

Rincon says he will undergo surgery  —  Cards would be left looking for another left-handed reliever  —  ST. LOUIS — It appears likely that Ricardo Rincon is headed for shoulder surgery.  It is all but certain that if Rincon has an operation, he will be out for the season.

Tough times for Marlins — and their fans  —  Tony Gwynn & Jeff Passan: These teams turn it around Can Bonds catch Aaron?  —  MIAMI (AP) — The vendor climbed the steps in the stands behind home plate, searching for customers amid the empty seats during the Florida Marlins' latest loss.

Sheff gets rest of the story  —  Ten to 14 days off should heal his wrist; Melky likely to move up  —  When Gary Sheffield went to get a second opinion on his bruised left wrist yesterday, he feared the worst-case scenario, a season-ending injury, according to a friend.

Reyes keeps them smiling  —  Shortstop's youthful demeanor keeps clubhouse loose  —  It's a few hours before a night game on the West Coast, and Mets shortstop Jose Reyes is in familiar form.  —  He's sitting in the clubhouse, he's smiling and, of course, he is chatting up a storm on his cell phone …

Mailbag: Nats new owners to rebuild  —  Beat reporter Bill Ladson answers Nationals fans' questions … With the Lerner group expressing the need to rebuild the Nationals' farm system, I have the following question: How bad is the farm system?  — Mike E., Springfield, Va.  —  Mike, it's not very good.

Off Mound, Mets' Ace Loosens Up in His Garden  —  For two hours on the days Pedro Martínez is scheduled to pitch at Shea Stadium, he is alone with his pale yellow daffodils, his purple petunias, his cotton-candy-colored hyacinths, the flowers that make his property look like a botanical garden.

Pictures and Steroids  —  When people talk about steroids, they tend to talk about pictures like those below.  Maybe they don't use an actual picture, but the point is clear: the rate at which an extreme achievement—like home runs—has changed recently.  And that change coincides with a possible increase in steroid use by players.

Giants designate Fassero for assignment and he might call it quits  —  Giants designate Fassero for assignment and he might call it quits  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jeff Fassero might have thrown his final pitch in a major league career spanning 15 seasons.