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.

Votes are in!  —  Experts pick Reyes over Captain  —  One shortstop is the sure thing, the man with the resume, the rings and a probable pass to Cooperstown, even though his career is far from over.  The other shortstop is a blue-and-orange blur, the Met of now and 10 years from now who very soon …

A RICKEY REUNION?  —  Even as the A's have gone through outfielders left and right, there's still one out there who's itching to play for them.  —  Rickey Henderson, baseball's all-time stolen base leader and a man whom general manager Billy Beane calls "probably the greatest Oakland A's player ever …

5/17/07 vs Detroit  —  A good ending to a real good day.  Julian, Oki, and Paps were phenomenal in game 1 and with Erik Hinske in the field and at the plate, combined with yet another stellar performance by the pen, we do the improbable and sweep a double header.

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.

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 …

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.

Notes: Beckett heading to DL  —  Hansack to come up from Pawtucket to make Friday's start  —  BOSTON — The Red Sox mulled it over with Josh Beckett for a few days, then took definitive action.  On Friday the Red Sox will place the right-hander on the disabled list — retroactive to May 13 …

Chacon replaces Armas ... for good?  —  His five zeroes in relief lift Pirates, 7-2, past Florida  —  Out went Tony Armas.  —  In came Shawn Chacon.  —  That exchange was the turning point of the Pirates' 7-2 flip-flopping of the Florida Marlins last night at PNC Park …

Pirates Q&A with Dejan Kovacevic  —  Because of so much mail continuing to come in about that Monday attendance, we will dispense with the usual format and turn the floor over to a few of the readers.  —  Before that, though, thought I would throw this out there ...

Yanks' season slipping away  —  If the Yankees looked broken down and listless, tight and frustrated while losing four of six on their just-completed road trip to Seattle and Chicago, just wait for the contrast when they begin their three-game Subway Series against the vibrant Mets Friday night at Shea.

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 …

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.