CASHMAN'S BACKERS HAVE THE BOSS' EAR  —  Just like a year ago, when GM Brian Cashman talked George Steinbrenner out of firing Joe Torre, there are voices within the Yankee organization telling The Boss that boxing Cashman isn't the right move.  —  Steinbrenner put his GM in the crosshairs Friday when he said, "He is on a big hook."

Marlins' Tankersley says 'nothing wrong'  —  · Nothing's wrong physically.  Mentally, he's fine, too.  Nothing has gone haywire mechanically.  —  Unless Taylor Tankersley is going through a spiritual crisis, his struggles are tough to explain.  —  Monday, Tankersley opened the ninth inning with a 5-0 lead.

Yankee bandwagon jumping  —  So it's come to this for Yankees fans.  —  One now former rooter over the weekend announced she was "divorcing" the New York Yankees due to their losing ways.  Here are a few gems from Jane Heller, whose declaration was published in the "Cheering Section" of the New York Times:

A Roundtable with Three of the Country's Top Draft Experts  —  Baseball Analysts will devote the next two weeks to the draft, starting with today's roundtable discussion, followed by Q&A's with many of the top prospects, and culminating in live blogging the first day of the draft on June 7 for the third consecutive year.

Schilling lifts Sox past Indians  —  Right-hander breaks out of slump with dominant performance  —  BOSTON — If not for the Red Sox getting off to the second best start in club history after 50 games, Curt Schilling's recent slump would have been a far more prominent topic of conversation.

Melting in the Texas Heat  —  The Texas Rangers have the worst record in baseball.  They're worse than the Nationals, worse than the Devil Rays, worse than the Royals.  Given that I had them winning 89 games and the AL West, and being one of the top five teams in baseball, you could say that they've been a disappointment to me.

HYPOCRISY: BOOING BONDS AS MOTA RETURNS  —  THESE will be tricky times for Mets fans, these next couple of days.  It may not be the first priority on the fans' bill of rights to avoid hypocrisy at all costs, but the fact is that New Yorkers like to consider themselves baseball's conscience and its cognoscenti.

Fill-In Starters Provide Relief  —  Surprising Pitching Helps Fuel Nats' Run  —  On May 5, John Patterson threw a pitch in the bottom of the third inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago, signaled to the bench for the medical staff, and came out.  He hasn't pitched since.

Beltre-powered Mariners deflate Angels  —  His four extra-base hits, including two home runs, lift Seattle, 12-5, as Colon has tightness in triceps.  —  The Angels are excited about their hockey-playing neighbors across the freeway, but when the Ducks' victory over Ottawa produces …

City's in funk as Bombers bombing  —  The Yankees are in free fall, and they are taking the fortunes of many New Yorkers with them.  —  As the Los Angeles Angels finished their three-game sweep of the Bronx Bombers on Sunday, grim-faced fans streamed past rows of unsold Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter souvenir shirts.

Reds' Freel to 15-day DL after outfield collision  —  HOUSTON — The Cincinnati Reds placed outfielder Ryan Freel on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and called up Dewayne Wise from Triple-A Louisville.  —  Freel suffered contusions to his head and neck in a frightening collision …