Mailbag: Would order shift help Soriano?  —  Beat reporter Bill Ladson answers fans' questions … Given the team's recent and unexpected success, do you think general manager Jim Bowden and manager Frank Robinson will keep their jobs?  — Andrew M., Middleburg, Va.  —  Let's start with Bowden.

Critical stretch: Heckled Foulke has second straight stinker2-4893  —  If Keith Foulke wants to silence an obnoxious fan sitting behind the Red Sox dugout, he'll need to pitch better than he has the past two nights.  —  The target of a belligerent heckler, Foulke struggled …

D'backs make no excuses  —  Giants' next opponent is slumping, but players don't blame Grimsley flap  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks are enduring a seven-game losing streak and the wake of the Jason Grimsley steroid scandal.  It's not a reach to suggest that these issues are related.

Contreras' effort one for the book  —  Guillen tabs him likely All-Star starter after record-tying decision  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Jose Contreras moved into the White Sox record book Monday night, and he probably earned himself the honor of starting in the July 11 All-Star Game.

Whiffs: a striking effect  —  Some baseball observers say strikeouts don't matter; first-year Marlins manager Joe Girardi doesn't agree.  —  cspencer@MiamiHerald.com  —  SAN DIEGO - Baseball's data crunchers say strikeouts are overrated, overemphasized and over-dramatized …

"Comedulce" a hero in his country  —  Phillies' Abreu often underrated in the United States  —  Susy, those delicious cookies with the chocolate-filled center, are famous across Venezuela and so tasty that the mere mention of them is enough to make Philadelphia right fielder Bobby Abreu close his eyes, smile and hum in delight.

Notes: Erstad's return a boost for Halos  —  Youngster Weaver knows return to Minors coming soon  —  ANAHEIM — The Angels defense received a boost on Monday when the club activated Darin Erstad from the 15-day disabled list.  —  Outfielder Tommy Murphy, who was hitting .243 with a home run …

Surging Mauer takes top AL honors  —  Twins catcher hits .625 and is named Player of the Week  —  Reaching base four times in one game is hard enough.  —  Reaching four times in five consecutive games is record-equaling and award-winning for Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer …

Beltran's big week draws recognition  —  Mets center fielder named NL Player of the Week  —  Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran was named the National League Player of the Week for June 5-11, 2006.  —  The center fielder put up impressive numbers at the plate all week, and then capped it off with a four-hit …

Serious Baseball: Lastings Milledge  —  The much anticipated arrival of potential five-tooled phenom Lastings Milledge in New York has already passed, and at the tender age of 21, he is holding his own quite nicely against Major League pitching.  The question must be asked …

Pirates Notebook: GM will eye trades if team fails to contend  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Pirates' roster could become even younger in the weeks to come, general manager Dave Littlefield strongly suggested yesterday.  —  Littlefield said in an interview that the team must show dramatic improvement soon …