Mailbag: The underdog stops here  —  Reporter Noble answers Mets fans' latest questions  —  I grew up a Mets fan and enjoyed the years of being the underdog.  Part of the excitement of going against powerhouses like the Yankees, Red Sox and Braves was the feeling of good vs. evil; us, a bunch of stragglers, vs. them, the evil empire.

Family affair: Bret is latest Boone to join Nationals  —  VIERA, Fla. — Bret Boone came out of retirement to sign a non-guaranteed, minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on Monday, joining his younger brother, infielder Aaron, and their father, assistant general manager Bob, with the club.

Gagne apologizes to Brewers teammates  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Eric Gagne, identified as a user of human growth hormone in the Mitchell Report, apologized Monday to his new Milwaukee Brewers teammates for “a distraction that shouldn't be taking place.”  —  Gagne also said he feels “bad” …

Jon Heyman: Ranking the best GMs in the game  —  Also in the Daily Scoop...  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Who is the best general manager in baseball?  —  Normally that's a tough call, but not this year.  There's one fellow who stands out, only one GM whose team has won two World Series championships …

Pettitte discusses ‘embarrassment’  —  Yankees lefty expresses remorse for decision to use HGH  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Expressing relief but also embarrassment about his use of human growth hormone, Andy Pettitte made his Spring Training debut on Monday, apologizing for making decisions that he called “stupid” and “desperate.”

Schilling backs own doctor, says medical ‘egos’ in play  —  Curt Schilling, who said he held off on addressing his situation because he didn't want to be a distraction but became even more of a story this past week because of his silence, met with a few handpicked reporters in the parking lot …

Mets take a swing at arbitration for Perez  —  Going to arbitration with Oliver Perez on Thursday might seem like a failure in one respect, but the Mets actually view it as beneficial long term.  Why?  —  After a 16-year track record of settling, including this winter with Aaron Heilman …

Will less Wagner be more effective for Mets?  —  The Billy Wags Rules?  —  Doesn't really have the same bite to it as “The Joba Rules.”  Sorry.  —  And the context is reversed from the other side of the state.  Over in Tampa, Brian Cashman and company impose the restrictions on Joba Chamberlain.

K-Rod leaving Angels after 2008?  —  Francisco Rodriguez, the owner of a major league-best 132 saves over the last three seasons, expects to become a free agent after 2008, the closer said Sunday.  —  When asked as he arrived in Arizona for spring training, K-Rod was asked if he thought 2008 would be his last season with the Angels.

Notes: Deal for Byrd not looking likely  —  Discussions with Cubs over possible trade at an impasse  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs have not given up hope of acquiring outfielder Marlon Byrd but the Rangers aren't giving them much hope that a deal can be done.

My Phone Call with Harry Caray  —  Anyone who regularly (or even occasionlly) reads this site knows that I am a huge Harry Caray fan.  —  But did you know that Harry Caray kept a published phone number?  He did.  —  I know this because I called him once ... One evening during my freshman year …