Too Much Crackle And Pop  —  Schilling Allows Three Homers In Shortest Outing Of The Season  —  NEW YORK — Curt Schilling couldn't silence the Yankees bats any more than he could quiet the sellout crowd.  There were three loud noises in particular that bothered him.

Nationals TV Blackout Could End Soon  —  WASHINGTON — The TV blackout of Washington Nationals baseball games could be ending soon.  —  Sources told News4 key players in the dispute over Nationals television rights are expected to meet Friday with Major League Baseball officials to work out a temporary deal.

L.A. Psychologist Who Didn't Get Tote Bag at Mother's Day Angel Game Files Lawsuit  —  A Los Angeles psychologist who was denied a tote bag during a Mother's Day giveaway at an Angel game is suing the baseball team, alleging sex and age discrimination.  —  Michael Cohn's class-action claim …

Sutcliffe gives rambling, slurred interview on Padres broadcast  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) -Rick Sutcliffe, a Cy Young award winner and ESPN baseball analyst, gave a rambling, slurred interview during the local television broadcast of the Brewers-Padres game Wednesday night.  —  Sutcliffe's microphone eventually was cut off.

Mets Do It All; Phillies Do It All Wrong  —  PHILADELPHIA, May 10 — The Mets bashed 11 hits and scored 10 runs Wednesday night.  —  And that was in the first three innings.  —  If their game against the Phillies had been played at the World Baseball Classic, the mercy rule might have been invoked.

Angels head home after rainout  —  Thursday's series finale against White Sox postponed  —  CHICAGO — Whatever fireworks there may have been Thursday were washed out when the Angels game with the White Sox was canceled due to weather.  —  A makeup date has yet to be determined but May 25, July 13 and Aug. 7 are under consideration.

Don't get sentimental about Babe being passed  —  In a recent airing of Bob Costas' show on HBO, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, when asked about Barry Bonds' place in baseball history, responded that it was Babe Ruth who would "always be the guy."  —  In a sense, this is spot-on …

Notes: Young's leg injury flaring up  —  Designated hitter could soon be back on the disabled list  —  BALTIMORE — Had the Tigers played on Thursday night instead of having their game against Baltimore at Camden Yards washed out, they would have done so without designated hitter Dmitri Young.

Art of hitting has Big Papi shaking his head: But Ortiz breaks slump  —  NEW YORK - The art and science of hitting a baseball is so difficult to master, it still makes David Ortiz feel like a humble man.  —  Even after a 4-for-4 night, one that featured a magnificent nine-pitch at-bat …

Tribe considering changes in 'pen  —  Indians bullpen ranks second-to-last in ERA in Majors  —  CLEVELAND — General manager Mark Shapiro said long before the '06 season began that the Indians' bullpen was his greatest concern.  —  That concern was justified.

Pirates Notebook: Perez's starting status likely on line today  —  Although no one is saying so, there are signs that Oliver Perez's start this afternoon against Arizona could be his last for the Pirates for quite some time.  —  For one, general manager Dave Littlefield has acknowledged …

Epstein hasn't inked pact  —  NEW YORK — Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein is working without a signed contract.  The popular young executive, who resigned on Halloween then agreed Jan. 19 to return to the Sox, has yet to sign his new deal.  —  ''We have a verbal agreement," said Epstein …

Chat transcript: Can Rangers overcome Yankees hex?  —  Evan Grant: Not sure who's got a tougher next 10 days, me or the Rangers.  At least they are flying charter.  While they enjoy an off day before going to Boston, New York and Houston, I'm here for you.  At least for the next 60 minutes.

Griffey activated, will bat third  —  Center fielder off disabled list following knee strain  —  CINCINNATI — Wet weather and chilly temperatures at Great American Ball Park on Thursday didn't make for an ideal night for a baseball game.  —  With his right knee feeling ready to return …

Notes: Game on for rehabbing Gagne?  —  Injured Dodgers closer feels great after recent workouts  —  LOS ANGELES — The tentative start date for Eric Gagne's injury rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Las Vegas is May 25, but he's already absolutely, positively sure that his elbow is fixed.

Future Shock  —  A Royal Blunder  —  At this point, everybody knows the rumor: The Royals, picking first in next months draft, will allegedly bypass Andrew Miller, the lefthander from North Carolina, and instead go in a northwesterly direction to select University of Washington righthander Tim Lincecum.

Alchemy in the Boogie Down  —  Bronx Banter Interview: Joel Sherman  —  This is a tidy year for baseball anniversaries here in New York: Thirty years ago, the Yanks returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1964; twenty years ago, the Mets enjoyed the best season in their organization's history …

Why the Red Sox keep winning  —  A funny thing happened to the Boston Red Sox on the way to first place.  Disaster struck.  —  If you had told Red Sox fans when the team broke spring training that they would lose their center fielder after five games, lose a starting pitcher after one calamitous start …