Notes: Angels thinking pink  —  Colored bats and story behind them a hit with players  —  ANAHEIM — Major League Baseball broke out the pink bats on Sunday in support of the fight against breast cancer.  —  In a collective effort to raise money for the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation …

Role reversals are possible  —  BOSTON — Ian Kinsler lost his job as the Rangers' starting second baseman because of a dislocated left thumb.  —  Francisco Cordero ceded the closer's role because of his ineffectiveness.  —  Both players are close to being able to make a case to reclaim their jobs.

Brian's return held up  —  MILWAUKEE - Mets brass is now leaning toward having Brian Bannister pitch in a minor-league game before reentering the rotation.  That would prevent the rookie from facing the Yankees on Friday and delay a decision about whether to bounce Jose Lima or Jeremi Gonzalez from the rotation.

Is this the swan song for Alou, Bonds, other veterans?  —  IT WAS EARLY Sunday morning, hours before his team's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Giants manager Felipe Alou was packing his suitcase for the upcoming road trip.  —  That's when the question popped into his head.

Going Deep: Designated for assignment  —  There's more strategy to the move than meets the eye  —  It was probably a pretty nice weekend for Trish Shouse.  Last Monday, her husband Brian had been designated for assignment, making him the baseball equivalent of a dead man walking.

Ugly game, wasted effort  —  Mother's Day brought the Cardinals another typical start from Chris Carpenter, neglected pitcher.  —  The National League's reigning Cy Young Award winner threw six innings without allowing an earned run.  His reward was no decision in his team's messy 7-6 loss …

Notes: Tigers staff being stingy  —  Bonderman leads rotation that tops MLB in pitches per inning  —  CLEVELAND — Jeremy Bonderman struck out eight batters in eight innings here Saturday, yet needed just 98 pitches to do it.  Kenny Rogers used just 90 pitches to last eight scoreless innings April 30 against the Twins.

First Pitch, May 15  —  CROWDED  —  The Colorado Rockies have a big decision to make on right-handed pitcher Sunwoo Kim, who allowed one hit in eight shutout innings of a rehabilitation start for Class AAA Colorado Springs against Omaha on Saturday.  At some point, the Rockies are going to be faced …

NEW YANKEES PITCHING COACHES DELIVERING MIXED RESULTS  —  As Yankee fans watched the playoffs last fall, a familiar face from Pinstripe Past made a few great appearances.  Much to the surprise of many Yankee fans, Jose Contreras, the $32 million bust who led Larry Lucchino to utter the …

Where Did We Go Right?  —  It's May, and just as they did at this time last year, the Padres have transformed themselves from a mediocre (or worse) team into the hottest item this side of George Clooney's African thing-solving crusade.  So, how are they doing it?  —  Hitting

Trade for Karsay adds veteran arm to bullpen  —  A's notes  —  NEW YORK — With their pitching corps in a shambles because of injuries, the A's, looking for immediate help, acquired reliever Steve Karsay from the Cleveland Indians for an undisclosed amount of cash.

Nats Hoping Gonzalez Can Deter Stealing  —  ATLANTA, May 14 — The Washington Nationals' ragged pitching staff lost a member Sunday when the club optioned right-hander Jason Bergmann to Class AAA New Orleans, a move that made room for the recall of catcher Wiki Gonzalez.

Pirates choose McLouth, send Duffy to minors  —  The Pirates made official what had become increasingly obvious over the past few days: Nate McLouth is their center fielder.  —  Chris Duffy, the starter at the position on opening day, was optioned yesterday to Class AAA Indianapolis in a move …

Red Sox awash in rainouts  —  They move on to Baltimore  —  The grounds crew has been the only team on the field at Fenway Park since the sixth inning of last Friday's game against the Rangers.  (AP Photo)  —  Again it was too wet for the Red Sox to play yesterday, as the field …