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.

Taking Different Positions  —  Big Disparity in Teams' Payrolls Reveals Much About Approaches  —  The Washington Nationals expected to be this bad, and maybe worse, after tearing apart the roster in the offseason, making the future their only worry.  Even after losses, players …

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 …

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 …

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.

Miller Misses Start With Injury  —  Indians righthander Adam Miller missed his scheduled start Thursday for Triple-A Buffalo with a finger injury, and while the Tribe doesn't have a hard timetable for a return, they are optimistic the 22-year-old will be back on the mound quickly.

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 ...

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

Networks Know That All Rivalries Aren't Viewed Equally  —  Interleague play begins today, and guess which two teams Fox and ESPN are featuring this weekend?  The Yankees and the Mets.  It doesn't matter if they're at Shea Stadium or at Yankee Stadium, or if both teams are great.

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 …