Giambi: Baseball's apology needed over steroid issue  —  CHICAGO — New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi, saying he's likely tested for illegal performance-enhancing drugs more often than anyone else, believes Major League Baseball should have apologized years ago for its widespread drug problem.

Pirates Notebook: A return for Craig Wilson?  —  Craig Wilson was cut loose yesterday morning by the Atlanta Braves.  —  Next stop: Pittsburgh?  —  The Pirates were not among the handful of teams that contacted Steve Hilliard, Wilson's agent, in the hours after the first baseman was given his unconditional release yesterday.

Farnsworth: Rocket shouldn't be allowed to leave  —  CHICAGO — New York reliever Kyle Farnsworth thinks no one on the Yankees, not even Roger Clemens, should be allowed to leave the team when they aren't pitching.  —  Farnsworth was on Chicago's 670 AM The Score on Thursday morning …

Bergmann to miss scheduled start  —  Results of MRI on his right elbow were negative  —  WASHINGTON — A few days after having the best game of his career, Nationals right-hander Jason Bergmann had an MRI on Thursday after experiencing tightness in his right elbow.  The results were negative.

Getting Wright  —  There's a new A-Rod in New York.  His name is David Wright.  After stellar, career-launching seasons in 2005 and 2006, Wright has seen somewhat of a power outage from the latter half of 2006 spill over into a full-blown slump in 2007.  I didn't really realize the magnitude …

Liberty CEO: We'll leave baseball to Braves  —  New owners say CEO McGuirk 'will have flexibility to increase payroll'  —  Thursday morning, about nine hours after Liberty Media Corp. officially took ownership of the Atlanta Braves, Liberty president and CEO Greg Maffei spoke …

Autopsy of a Losing Skid  —  That was ugly.  It was ugly like the remains of Benito Santiago after dying of leprosy—adipocere setting in—and then getting run over by a combine with dull, chipped blades coated in moldy pig manure.  —  Hey, I said this was gonna be an autopsy.

And the NL All-Star shortstop is ...  So they hand you your 2007 All-Star ballot.  You're punching away blissfully.  And then it happens.  —  You arrive at what has become the new showpiece position of baseball:  —  Shortstop.  National League.  —  Uh-oh.

Puzzled O's say pieces are there … TORONTO // If Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo's job is in jeopardy - despite statements to the contrary from the club earlier this week - he could be catching a break from the schedule.  —  The reeling Orioles will play nine of their next 12 games against teams …

Union files grievances over Mateo, Callaspo  —  NEW YORK (AP) — The baseball players' association filed grievances Thursday over the suspensions of Seattle Mariners pitcher Julio Mateo and Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Alberto Callaspo.  —  The union's grievance on behalf of Mateo also claims …

The Return of the Hop  —  The 600-home run plateau has been reached by only four players in major-league history.  Yet somehow, one player is fast approaching that mark with less fanfare than an episode of 30 Rock.  If it is possible to make an under-the-radar assault on 600 homers, then that's what Sammy Sosa is doing.

Mets Say Reliever's Demotion Wasn't Based on Positive Test  —  When the Mets sent reliever Lino Urdaneta to Class AAA New Orleans on Tuesday, they had been told that he had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.  General Manager Omar Minaya said that he was notified last Friday …

Gross, Sheets lead Brewers to victory  —  Outfielder hits pair of solo homers; righty goes 7 2/3 strong  —  PHILADELPHIA — Brewers manager Ned Yost strolled up to first baseman Prince Fielder early Thursday afternoon and presented his problem.  —  Francisco Cordero, the closer, was upset.

Rockies expected to promote Clarke  —  At this point, the Rockies' bullpen doesn't need a gate, but a revolving door and walking escalator.  When the team opens its interleague series Friday against the Kansas City Royals, Double-A reliever Darren Clarke is expected to join the relief corps.