Zambrano could be finished  —  ST. LOUIS - Victor Zambrano's career is in jeopardy after the righthander yesterday unexpectedly had a second Tommy John elbow surgery.  —  Team doctor David Altchek found a torn ligament that required replacement during what was expected to be a less intense procedure.

Avoiding fault line  —  Hendry says he supports Baker, doesn't blame injuries for team's current 2-14 tailspin  —  Cubs general manager Jim Hendry agreed to a question-and-answer session on Monday's off day, assessing a slumping team that has lost 14 of its last 16 games to fall to 15-22.

Mussina's strong start comes as relief  —  The game had none of the sizzle of last week's Red Sox series, or the buzz that will greet the Yankees at Shea this weekend against the Mets.  Just a ho-hum weeknight affair with the Rangers.  And yet in some ways this was as much a statement start as any Mike Mussina has made in 2006.

It's a piece of cake for Beckett and Red Sox  —  BALTIMORE — Average would have been enough.  Six innings, eight hits, four runs, something like that would have done the job just fine against a woeful Baltimore team outscored, 56-20, by the Sox in seven games this season, all Boston wins …

Prospectus Hit List  —  Week of May 14  —  It takes a real man to swing a pink bat.  The sight of some of the game's most fearsome hitters—Adam Dunn, Jim Edmonds, Prince Fielder, Jason Giambi, Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Thome—among dozens of ballplayers wielding specially-painted Louisville Sluggers …

Baseball Is a Game of Numbers, but Whose Numbers Are They?  —  Like no other corner of American popular culture, baseball communicates in numbers.  From .406 (Ted Williams's 1941 batting average) to 755 (Hank Aaron's record home run total) to countless digits bandied about water coolers every morning …

Mets know dealing with Pujols no walk in park  —  Albert Pujols could get the Barry Bonds treatment when the Mets open a three-game series tonight against the Cardinals in St Louis.  The slugger was named NL Player of the Week yesterday after hitting .429 with three homers in 21 at-bats during a seven-day span.

Todd Radom and the Art of the Sports Logo  —  Chances are, you've never heard of Todd Radom.  Chances are very good, you've seen his work.  —  Todd is a bit of an anomaly in sports business these days.  He designs logos and brands for professional sport franchises as a single entity.  No focus groups.

Padilla to test ankle  —  NEW YORK - The Rangers are relatively certain who will pitch for them Thursday and Friday.  They aren't quite as sure about the order in which Vicente Padilla and Robinson Tejeda will start.  —  Padilla, who has been bothered by right ankle tendinitis …

Padres blow hot then cold in desert  —  Barfield takes blame for loss after Green's single lifts D-Backs in 10th  —  PHOENIX - Padres rookie Josh Barfield blamed himself for a 6-5, 10-inning loss to the Diamondbacks last night.  —  The second baseman chafed over defensive miscues …

Prospectus Today  —  Road Game  —  I caught the Las Vegas 51s/Nashville Sounds game last night, the outcome a 4-3 win for the 51s.  Much to talk about, so let's dispense with narrative and go to the bullets.  — The matchup of D.J. Houlton and Dennis Sarfate didn't look sexy …

Baseball's greatest showmen  —  It was a great made-for-TV moment.  Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols took Pirates pitcher Oliver Perez deep, then flicked his bat high and deep to celebrate the homer and taunt his foe.  —  Jaws dropped in the Pirates dugout.

MAKE WAY FOR PELFREY  —  PROSPECT COULD GIVE METS JUNE JOLT  —  May 16, 2006 — Tuesday morning shortstop IN January, the Mets invested more than $5 million to lock up Mike Pelfrey.  In February and March, the organization's top decision-makers were near unanimity that he had the best arm in camp.