Padres-Angels Preview  —  If the San Diego Padres want to turn around their poor play on the road, they need to improve their bats.  —  The Padres (34-32) look to do just that with they meet the Los Angeles Angels (30-36) in the opener of a three-game interleague series on Friday at Angel Stadium.

Riske trade lands Lopez: Club adds left-hander to bullpen  —  MINNEAPOLIS - The Red Sox yesterday made a move in their attempt to bolster a thinning pitching staff by shipping right-handed reliever David Riske to the Chicago White Sox for minor league left-hander and former Sox property Javier Lopez.

Notes: Decision on Prior delayed  —  Cubs weighing options on where righty will pitch on Sunday  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs delayed a decision on whether Mark Prior will start Sunday for a day to make sure the right-hander was over any soreness in his shoulder from his last Minor League rehab outing.

Big names not likely to get traded … Two weeks left until July.  And you know what that means.  —  Rumorfest 2006 is about to erupt, any minute now.  —  So we want you to be ready.  We want you to be educated.  We want you to know the truth about all those names you've been hearing and reading and fantasizing about.

Murton's regular days may be over  —  Platoon with Bynum seen as temporary solution in left field  —  The Cubs gambled Matt Murton could become a regular left fielder in 2006, but the experiment soon may be ending.  —  Manager Dusty Baker inserted Freddie Bynum there Thursday and conceded he was considering a platoon situation.

An angry Gonzalez shoots down steroid speculation  —  An angry Gonzalez shoots down steroid speculation  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona left fielder Luis Gonzalez reacted angrily Thursday after the Diamondbacks' top executive told a newspaper there have been "whispers" about whether the five-time All-Star used performance-enhancing drugs.

Bullpen Coach Wetteland Is Given the Boot  —  The Washington Nationals fired bullpen coach John Wetteland yesterday, a move made at the behest of Manager Frank Robinson, who said he could no longer put up with what he considered to be a long line of transgressions and insubordination that was affecting the chemistry of his relief corps.

Sign of the times  —  Video iPods helping Rockies prep for games  —  DENVER (AP) — Three hours before a start against Florida, Colorado Rockies pitcher Jason Jennings sits in front of his locker, puts on his headphones and stares at his video iPod.  —  He isn't watching the latest Coldplay video …

Milledge taken aside after tardy arrival  —  Coaches, veterans advise rookie after he missed team bus  —  PHILADELPHIA — When the Mets invited Lastings Milledge to join the Major League team three weeks ago, they told the outfielder it would be an opportunity, one that would allow …

Devil Rays prospect Upton facing DUI charge  —  CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect B.J. Upton was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, media outlets in North Carolina reported Friday.  —  Upton, 21, who is playing with the Triple-A Durham Bulls …

Angels put pen to paper with No. 1 pick  —  Switch-hitting catcher Conger becomes 15th 2006 signee  —  ANAHEIM — The Angels signed Hank Conger on Friday, their first selection in this year's First-Year Player Draft.  —  Conger is a switch-hitting, right-handed-throwing catcher out of Huntington Beach (Calif.) High School.

Outfielder signs, spurns Gators  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. |  The Royals succeeded Thursday in luring switch-hitting outfielder Derrick Robinson, their fourth-round pick in last week's draft, away from a football scholarship to Florida.  —  "We've reached agreement with a guy who is electric …

Jeter can't win with this crowd  —  Not since last month, when George Steinbrenner uttered those three infamous words - "the third baseman" - has such a brief response to a question sparked debate critical to the health and future of New York baseball (no, make that Western civilization).

With rebuilt mechanics, Rogers rolling  —  Former first-round pick succeeding at Advanced Class A  —  MILWAUKEE — At some point in mid-May, the Brewers' top pitching prospect stepped onto the mound and finally felt like himself again.  —  "I feel really confident now every time I step out on that mound …