Efficiency expert on the mound  —  Yeah, well, that was Curt (Top Of The Rotation) Schilling, all right.  —  Eight innings.  Five hits.  One run.  Six K's.  No walks.  Walks?  How about two three-ball counts?  Ninety-nine (99) pitches (I see an endorsement coming).

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) …

Olsen, Marlins refuse to address fight  —  When Scott Olsen takes the mound for the Marlins tonight, he'll do so sporting an impressive shiner around his left eye, though Olsen and the Marlins were mum on how the bruise got there.  —  Olsen declined to discuss the injury Monday …

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 …

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.

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 …

Mid-Season Blockbusters: May (Part Two: 1960-2003)  —  Picking up where we left off last week ...  May 13, 1960: The Philadelphia Phillies traded first baseman Ed Bouchee and pitcher Don Cardwell to the Chicago Cubs for second baseman Tony Taylor and catcher Cal Neeman.  —  Two struggling teams decided to shake it up.

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.