Pedro's legend continues to grow  —  Right-hander becomes just the 15th pitcher with 3,000 Ks  —  In the 32 months since Pedro Martinez signed on to pitch for the Mets, so much of the news he has generated has involved his anatomy.  First it was his big toe, then his hip; then one calf, then the other; and finally his right shoulder.

YANKS' STATS LIE  —  THE most misleading statistic in baseball belongs to the Yankees.  —  They went into yesterday's game with 801 runs scored, and having allowed 663 runs.  That's 138 runs on the plus side.  Any team with that kind of a positive run differential should be sitting pretty.

Peavy wants it now  —  PHOENIX - Thirty minutes after Greg Maddux won for the first time in 11 career starts here, after the San Diego Padres moved into the National League West lead by themselves for the first time in two months, after they'd put a 10-2 beating on the Arizona Diamondbacks …

Pirates Notebook: Bullington caps long road back  —  ST. LOUIS — Bryan Bullington already had lost enough time.  —  He and his family were in Louisville, Ky., yesterday afternoon when he received the word he has been awaiting for two years: He was being called up by the Pirates …

Ramirez's shoulder may need surgery  —  WASHINGTON — Shortstop Hanley Ramirez gave the Marlins a scare Monday when he grabbed his shoulder and fell down in pain after swinging at and missing a high fast ball..  —  Ramirez stayed in the game and doubled twice, but he said he is considering having surgery …

Dodgers rip Zambrano, he rips Cubs fans  —  Carlos Zambrano bit the hand that feeds him Monday afternoon at Wrigley Field, ripping Cubs fans for booing him off the mound after another in a series of erratic outings.  —  As he walked to the dugout after being removed in the fifth inning …

Alex and Victor Rodriguez Are Worlds Apart  —  Very few people call him V-Rod.  Hardly anyone does, actually.  Those who use that nickname with Lt. Col. Victor M. Rodriguez do so cautiously.  —  "They do it in a very respectful way," Rodriguez said.  "They find the right occasion and the right context."

Detwiler, others on fast track to DC  —  Lefty will be third Nats pick to make MLB debut in draft year  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals are expected to purchase the contracts of pitchers Ross Detwiler, Jonathan Albaladejo and Arnie Munoz, and outfielders Justin Maxwell and Ryan Langerhans on Tuesday.

Pitch count: more than just a number?  —  To some coaches, fans, pitch count is more than a number, but to others it just doesn't add up  —  "You really learn a lot about yourself when you pitch late into ballgames," said Hall of Famer Jim Palmer (right), shown with manager Earl Weaver and catcher Rick Dempsey in 1982.

First impressions: Buchholz vs. Kennedy  —  Clay Buchholz has made two major league starts.  In case you haven't heard, one was pretty good.  Ian Kennedy has made one major league start.  In a Draft Review I wrote last year, I said this about Kennedy:

Dodgers GM Colletti: Luck and pluck  —  From a garage home in Franklin Park to the Dodgers' front office and a house with an ocean view, Ned Colletti sometimes can't believe his good fortune  —  LOS ANGELES — Outside, a baseball Sunday at Dodger Stadium emerges in a delightful cliché.

Astros to interview Amaro for GM job  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Astros are accelerating the search for their next general manager.  —  Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. will be in Houston on Thursday to interview for the Astros' GM position, according to major-league sources.

Indians beat Santana for 5th time in '07  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — If the Cleveland Indians avoid a colossal collapse and finish with the AL Central title at the end of this month, they can count their mastery of Johan Santana and the Minnesota Twins as one of the reasons for the success.