Our Long National Nightmare  —  Just when it seemed the Yankees injury woes couldn't get any more woeful, things went from bad (a DL stay for Gary Sheffield) to worse (losing Hideki Matsui for the bulk of the season) to epidemic (season-ending surgery for Sturtze and Pavano and a DL trip for Bubba Crosby) …

By George, ace finds his groove  —  ALS patient puts things into perspective for winner Schilling  —  BOSTON — After a string of five exceedingly frustrating starts, Curt Schilling could promise only one thing following his most recent outing: "I will get better," Schilling offered …

Notes: Angels struggling in May  —  Poor pitching, injuries contribute to 5-14 record to start May  —  ARLINGTON — The Angels made another dip into their talent pool when they called up Kendry Morales from Triple-A Salt Lake following Monday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers.

Notes: Escobar scratched from lineup  —  Injury-riddled outfielder hurt his left hamstring on Sunday  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals outfielder Alex Escobar was scheduled to bat sixth against the Astros on Monday night, but he was scratched around 5:00 p.m. CT after he informed the team's trainers …

Cubs in no hurry to get Baker deal done  —  There might be a simple explanation for the Cubs' delay in signing manager Dusty Baker to a contract extension: The Cubs hold significant leverage over Baker, and don't need to rush.  —  Baker, 56, is one of the game's best-paid managers …

Messenger gives Olsen a black eye in fight between Marlins pitchers  —  MIAMI GARDENS — The Marlins' ugly season got a little uglier during the weekend.  —  Marlins starting pitcher Scott Olsen will take the mound tonight with the remnants of a shiner under his left eye …

Bonds meets Babe Ruth, but does anyone really care?  —  OAKLAND — There was no smile.  Fans didn't jump out of the stands chasing him around the bases like Hank Aaron after home run No. 715.  There was precious little emotion when Barry Bonds hit his 714th home run Saturday against the Oakland Athletics, tying Babe Ruth.

Analyzing How the Twins Got Stadium Funding Passed  —  At 4am, on Sunday morning, the Twins got the vote in the Minnesota Legislature that they had been hoping for, for over a decade.  —  With that vote a new stadium will be forthcoming for the club, albeit without a roof.

Pirates Notebook: Duffy's absence stems from unhappiness with game  —  PHOENIX — Center fielder Chris Duffy's absence from the Pirates apparently is motivated by a general unhappiness with playing the game much more than dissatisfaction with the team, two sources close to Duffy said.

Monday Ramblin's  —  I'm well aware that many of you fine CD faithful do not speak "Bullshitese" AKA the unconditional loving of another athlete no matter your inner disdain so let me translate a few quotes you may have heard over the weekend.  When Bonds says "Now that I've got the record …

MacPhail speaks on state of Cubs  —  Team president says production and rotation are trouble spots  —  MIAMI — The problem, Chicago Cubs team president Andy MacPhail says, is simple.  The Cubs simply aren't driving in runs.  —  The numbers back him up.

Notes: Cora denies fight bite  —  Nelson appears headed to White Sox bullpen  —  CHICAGO — Remember the children's game known as Telephone, where one kid tells his friend a sentence and then watches to see how the context changes by the time it gets to the end of the line with his or her buddies?

Brewers get lesson in roster rules  —  Milwaukee call up Villanueva after Mabeus was ruled ineligible  —  CINCINNATI — It will be Carlos Villanueva, not Chris Mabeus, in uniform for the Brewers for the next few nights after the team got a lesson Monday in Major League Baseball's roster rules.

Mets' pitching depth being tested early  —  Soler will be New York's quickest ninth starter in 20 years  —  NEW YORK — What Omar Minaya identified as the Mets depth in starting pitching is a thing of the past, forcing the Mets to dip into their uncertain future to reinforce their present.

715  —  now comes the king of steroids, still a-questing after no. 715.  he's gonna hit it against the cardinals, no question about it — the set-up is too rich with poetic justice for him not to.  what better manager for him to hit it against than the one who gave baseball's original steroid sinner …