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.

Rangers close to deal with top pick  —  Left-hander expected to receive $1.6 million signing bonus  —  ARLINGTON - If a physical exam this afternoon shows no health issues, the Rangers could announce the signing of first-round pick left-hander Kasey Kiker before today's game.

Send down Jered Weaver?  Send in the clowns  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. - It seems so ridiculous, so strangely unprecedented, that at first you don't think you're hearing it right.  —  Come on, the Angels aren't really about to send Jered Weaver, the best young pitcher they have had in years, back down to the minor leagues, are they?

Sox' young pitchers get plugged in  —  Of the seemingly deep starting staff that arrived in Fort Myers, Fla., back in February, this startling fact remains: It's only mid June, and already the Red Sox have had to put in more than a few calls to the minors.  With one of those original seven …

2,000 Is Becoming Popular Number for the Yankees  —  Bernie Williams's next appearance, most likely Tuesday night against Cleveland, will be his 2,000th.  He has played his entire career with the Yankees.  —  There are many magic numbers in baseball, but 2,000 is not really one of them.

Olivo a solid hit batting or blocking plate  —  · Manager Joe Girardi figured Mike Cameron absorbed the greater impact from Sunday's home-plate collision with catcher Miguel Olivo.  —  Though Cameron knocked him well out of the batter's box, Olivo insisted he didn't feel a thing.

Floyd ready to return and accept competition  —  Cliff Floyd jokingly suggested last week that given Lastings Milledge's success in left field, the Mets might ask him to go on the disabled list to stay out of the way.  And that was before the Mets exploded for 37 runs in a four-game sweep of Arizona.

Star search  —  Mets making progress in latest NL balloting  —  NEW YORK (Ticker) — Third baseman David Wright made it three's company for the New York Mets.  —  Wright became the third Met to move to the top of the balloting in the latest National League All-Star voting released Monday.

Notes: Ozuna raises level of play  —  Politte throws long toss for the first time on Monday  —  ARLINGTON — With all due respect to Muhammad Ali and L.L. Cool J, Brian Anderson would like to add White Sox super-sub and teammate Pablo Ozuna to an exclusive list of top-notch performers sharing the same impressive nickname.

Since talent is watered down, don't blame juice  —  At some point, right about the time the war on drugs morphed into a war on baseball, a hole in logic grew to such Ruthian proportions that it's come to obscure rational thought.  Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa chased history.  Barry Bonds chased immortality.

Fire Torre!  (Just Kidding)  —  You have to pity poor Andy Phillips.  He was playing every day and hitting the tar out of the ball in Detroit and Baltimore.  I remember remarking to a colleague in Baltimore, "Wait till he goes 0-for-10.  Joe can't wait to get him out of the lineup."

Beane could get asking price for Zito  —  The A's position on left-hander Barry Zito is unchanged; they will trade him if they get the right offer, no matter where they are in the standings.  —  Of course, if A's general manager Billy Beane defines "the right offer" as the equivalent …

Tigers' Young a no-show in court  —  BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Detroit Tigers designated hitter Dmitri Young and his attorney did not appear at a scheduled court hearing Tuesday, leading a perturbed judge to require that the lawyer provide documentation of the player's whereabouts by the end of the day.

Mailbag: What's the plan for prospects?  —  Beat writer Mark Feinsand answers Yankees fans' questions … Exactly what are the plans for Eric Duncan?  He would be playing Major League ball with any other team, and it is a shame not to promote him.  But with A-Rod at third base, he seems destined for the Minor Leagues.

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.