Notes: Sosa gets his shot  —  Right-hander takes El Duque's spot in rotation on Saturday  —  PHOENIX — With Oliver Perez progressing, the Mets have added another project to their rotation.  The promotion of Jorge Sosa and the assignment of the right-handed veteran to start …

Notes: Anderson placed on 15-day DL  —  Willits bats in leadoff spot Friday; Erstad returns to former home  —  ANAHEIM — Echoes of the 2002 World Series championship filled Angels Stadium on Friday afternoon in the hours leading up to the home side's taking on the White Sox in a three-game weekend series.

Daffy Cubs duck into a victory  —  Zambrano recovers after 4-run 1st inning  —  Welcome to Wrigley Field.  —  Besides pulling what seems to be their daily dose of daffy diversion for the home folks, the Cubs finally mixed in a victory.  —  Yes, those were the Cubs coming …

Baseball's Steroid Panel Asks Active Players to Appear  —  The chairman of the special commission set up to examine the use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball said for the first time yesterday that he has asked a number of active players to appear before the commission …

Brewers' owner likes rare view from above  —  MILWAUKEE — His friends told him he was absolutely nuts.  His wife, Debbie, figured he was joking or going through a midlife crisis.  —  PHOTO GALLERY: The '07 Brewers how they lookin'?  —  "The Milwaukee Brewers?"  Mark Attanasio kept hearing over and over from friends.

Yankees and the Red Sox Could Open 2008 in Asia  —  The Yankees and the Boston Red Sox extended their rivalry all the way to Asia in November, when the Red Sox beat the Yankees in their bid to sign the star Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka.  Next March, Japanese baseball fans could experience the rivalry up close.

Loewen diagnosed with stress fracture in elbow … Orioles pitcher Adam Loewen has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left elbow and isn't expected to return to the mound until late in the season.  —  Loewen had a bone scan and magnetic resonance imaging test this morning …

McCarthy cruises as Rangers down Jays  —  Right-hander allows just two hits and one run in six innings  —  ARLINGTON — Perhaps it was the pregame players-only meeting that eased growing tension and cleared the air.  —  Perhaps it was a group of veteran hitters, tired of underachieving and ready to finally punish a nemesis.

Notes: Berkman an option in outfield  —  Starting first baseman would accept move  —  HOUSTON — When Lance Berkman reported to Spring Training, he joked that he was going to lobby manager Phil Garner to make a few starts in the outfield.  —  This, of course, sounded completely silly …

Indians lose home game due to snowouts  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — The Cleveland Indians will lose a home game and three days off in making up the four-game series against Seattle that was postponed last month by snow.  —  The games of April 6-8 will be played at Jacobs Field on May 21, June 11 and Aug. 30.

Minaya working phones  —  PHOENIX, Ariz. — The loss of Orlando Hernandez to shoulder bursitis was a not-so-subtle reminder to the Mets that it is never too early to shop for starting pitching.  The trade deadline still is three months away, but general manager Omar Minaya is not shy …

Baltimore 3, Cleveland 2, 10 innings  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles had lost nine of 10, and their misery was compounded by the knowledge that starting pitcher Adam Loewen would be sidelined for several months.  —  The Orioles desperately needed a jolt of optimism, and Nick Markakis delivered.

Cablevision: Inked Deal for MLB Extra Innings?  —  UPDATE: There are unconfirmed reports that Cablevision has reached an agreement to carry MLB Extra Innings.  —  The Biz of Baseball is working to get confirmation on this news and will follow-up shortly.  —  Joe Dempsey said: … May 04, 2007