Mailbag: Sorting through the Nats trade  —  Reds beat writer Mark Sheldon answers fans' questions  —  Let's get right to the questions about the trade.  Not surprisingly, the masses were irate.  —  What were the Reds thinking in dealing Felipe Lopez, Austin Kearns and Ryan Wagner?

In reversal, Pedro up & throwing  —  CHICAGO - Pedro Martinez figured his boldest move yesterday would be drinking coffee for the first time since experiencing food poisoning.  "Wish me luck, because I really feel like I want a cup," the ace said as he rested the drink in his locker.

Phillies-Padres Preview  —  The Philadelphia Phillies are trying to turn around their season.  It would be a big help if Cole Hamels does.  —  The surging Phillies hand the ball to the rookie left-hander on Monday in the opener of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres .

Nats designate LeCroy for assignment  —  GM Bowden will try to trade him to AL team, activates Armas  —  WASHINGTON — Catcher/first baseman Matthew LeCroy knew this past weekend that his days with the Nationals were numbered.  After the team made the eight-player trade …

ESPN analyst Gammons moved from hospital to rehab after aneurysm  —  BOSTON (AP) -Peter Gammons, an ESPN analyst and member of the writer's wing of the baseball Hall of Fame, was released Monday from a Boston hospital where he was being treated for a brain aneurysm.

'It was the right thing to do'  —  Giambi speaks about testimony; Yankees' wish list  —  While Barry Bonds awaits word as to whether he'll be indicted for perjury and possibly other charges (such as tax evasion), the Yankees' Jason Giambi is enjoying life again.

'It was the right thing to do' (cont.)  —  Around the majors  —  • The White Sox asked the Mets for Duaner Sanchez and Mike Pelfrey for Freddy Garcia.  No go.  The Sox have spoken to several clubs about Garcia and Javier Vazquez but prefer to keep Vazquez since he's contractually tied to the team for three more years.

The Man With The Indestructible Arm  —  We love it when other countries play American sports in a way that points out the way we do it might be wrong.  It happened in the NBA a few years ago  —  Today's example is Daisuke Matsuzaka, currently the best pitcher in Japan.

Notes: Rumors fly around Lopez  —  Right-hander has struggled but could still be coveted  —  BALTIMORE — One day after discussing trade rumors in general terms, Baltimore starter Rodrigo Lopez learned Monday that he may have a new specific destination.  Buster Olney, a senior columnist for ESPN.com …

Most moves to come from within organization  —  TORONTO — Pitcher C.J. Wilson, after throwing two scoreless innings for Triple-A Oklahoma on Sunday, will be called up for Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.  —  He is expected to replace one of the rookie right-handed relievers, either Scott Feldman or Wes Littleton.

Myers Makes a Quiet Return to the Mound for the Phillies  —  SAN FRANCISCO, July 16 — Brett Myers walked from the dugout toward the mound in the first inning at AT&T Park on Sunday, looked around and waited for the venom.  The last time he made this walk, on June 24, the fans at Fenway Park lambasted him.

Mariners have strong interest in Soriano  —  The Mariners see an opportunity.  Few teams can afford to rent Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano, a potential free agent, for the final two months of the season.  And the Angels, the team for whom Soriano represents perhaps the best fit …

AL teams take NL pitchers at their own risk  —  The countdown to the non-waiver trading deadline is 14 days and already, there is the sense of resignation in the air.  —  For the second consecutive year, few expect many important deals to be struck.  Talk?  Yes, plenty.  Proposals?  Sure.

YA GOTTA BELIEVE  —  WRIGHT STARS IN AD FOR FAITH HEALER  —  July 17, 2006 — TO LIFT a line from The Doors, strange days have found us.  —  So it's Saturday afternoon and we're watching the Mets on Ch. 11.  They're playing the Cubs in Wrigley, when, during a commercial break, David Wright …

Royal chance for momentum swing  —  When it comes to knowledge of the Royals, nobody has more than Allard Baird, the former Kansas City general manager and newly appointed Red Sox special assignment scout, who will report to Boston GM Theo Epstein today as the Sox begin a three-game series against Baird's former team.