Mets Dumbfounded by Their Mistakes  —  LOS ANGELES — His shoulders slumped, his eyes heavy, his goatee likely grayer than it was just four hours earlier, Jerry Manuel emerged from the Mets' clubhouse late Monday night and spotted a massage table.  —  “I need to lie down,” Manuel said.  —  No wonder.

Eric Chavez of Oakland Athletics has herniated disk; next back injury could end career  —  Eric Chavez has a herniated disk in his back and the next time the Oakland Athletics third baseman throws it out, his career is likely over, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Noah Lowry's agent: San Francisco Giants misdiagnosed arm injury  —  As San Francisco Giants pitcher Noah Lowry prepared to undergo surgery for a circulatory problem Tuesday, his agent charged the team's medical staff with misdiagnosing a forearm injury 14 months ago, subjecting Lowry …

Despite Detwiler, Down to Defeat  —  Solid Start Done In By Defense, Bullpen : Pirates 12, Nationals 7  —  Six professional pitchers performed for the Washington Nationals last night.  One had been promoted from Class AA Harrisburg earlier in the day, for the purposes of a cameo start.

Early trade winds for Boston and Milwaukee  —  Some executives report that in the last couple of weeks, they've started the process of defining their own team's needs, of glancing over the rosters of opposing teams and formulating possible trade options.  It might be weeks before those conversations turns …

A-ROD BATTERS UP WITH KATE HUDSON  —  YANKEES slugger Alex Rodriguez seems to have traded in a vintage Madonna for a late-model Kate Hudson.  —  The blond, Los Angeles-born actress — who met A-Rod at the reopening of the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach last November …

Papi returns to lineup … BOSTON (AP) — David Ortiz is back in the Red Sox lineup.  —  The Red Sox slugger was the designated hitter, batting third for Tuesday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays after taking the weekend off to clear his head and try to snap out of his slump.

Dustin Moseley shut down because of arm/neck problems  —  SEATTLE — Pitcher Dustin Moseley, on the disabled list since April 18 because of tightness in his right forearm, has returned to Southern California to undergo medical tests on his arm and neck.  —  The right-hander …

Some mid-day thoughts and an unexpected Stadium critique ...  I'm getting ready to head into the city shortly for a TV thing before going over to the Stadium, but here are a few thoughts before we get the game post up and running:  —  1. CC Sabathia, who starts tonight, wears baggy pants.

With vastly improved defense and pitching depth, Rangers are for real … A funny thing happened in Texas the other day: There was a walkup crowd of 11,000 fans and it wasn't for a high school football spring scrimmage but rather an actual, live Major League Baseball game.

Rob Dibble Has Had Enough  —  Chatting today at 11.  Looking for suggestions on how to spend the next three months.  Submit questions here.  —  For whatever you want to say about the Nats, Rob Dibble at least keeps me glued to MASN.  I managed to delete most of my transcript from last night …

Phils move struggling Park to 'pen; Happ to start … CINCINNATI (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies are moving Chan Ho Park to their bullpen in an attempt to shake up their struggling rotation.  —  Park is 1-1 with a 7.08 ERA in seven starts and one relief appearance this season.

Game 35: Pre-Game Notes (Garcia Starting Tomorrow, Hovis To Tampa)  —  RYAN POPE: “I don't know, I just do what they tell me.  I wish I could tell you, but I have no idea what the heck is going on.  The arm's fine, I'm healthy as can be.”  —  “Nothing changes during the week, you still prepare like you're going to pitch.

told he'll play less as he battles anxiety  —  May 7, 2009 - Cardinals shortstop Khalil Greene turns a double-play to force out Pittsburgh's Nate McLouth at second in the first inning during a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. (Chris Lee/P-D)

Strasburg won't see D.C. this season  —  Buzz up!  —  Swallow hard, Washington Nationals fans, or what's left of you.  A long summer is about to get longer if acting general manager Mike Rizzo has his way.  —  Stephen Strasburg isn't coming to the nation's capitol.  —  Oh, calm down.

Atlanta Braves and Publix Invite Fans to “Shop with the Braves” this Friday, May 22  —  First of Five “Shop with the Braves” Dates Scheduled  —  Atlanta Braves players Mike Gonzalez, Jordan Schafer and Greg Norton will greet fans and assist shoppers this Friday, May 22, at Publix in Buckhead …

Iribarren called up  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Houston - As expected, second baseman Hernan Iribarren was called up from Class AAA Nashville today to replace second baseman Rickie Weeks, out for the season with a wrist injury.  —  Iribarren, 24, was batting .311 …

Gonzalez finds going to a bigger bat was well worth the weight  —  One simple question addressed to one of the game's premier power hitters was part of the evolution that has made Adrian Gonzalez the major league leader in homers entering tonight's Padres-Giants game at Petco Park.

Braves counting on Francoeur to rebound  —  Atlanta (18-19) vs. Colorado (15-22), 7:00 p.m. ET  —  ATLANTA — Before this season started, Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said that Jeff Francoeur would be a key to the team's success.  While there's plenty of time for this to prove to be true …

TORRE'S DODGERS MAY PLAY YANKEES IN '10  —  Joe Torre appears headed toward a Bronx homecoming in 2010.  —  Though next season's schedule won't be official for several weeks, an industry source told The Post yesterday that the Dodgers are preliminarily slated for a three-game …