Notes: Nationals promote prospects  —  Daniel, Marrero, Maxwell, McMillan rewarded for great stats  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals outfielders Mike Daniel, Chris Marrero and Justin Maxwell and first baseman Brett McMillan have made tremendous progress for Class A Hagerstown …

Martin jumps to top of NL All-Star ballot  —  Catcher overtakes Lo Duca; Soriano replaces Bonds in OF  —  The latest National League All-Star team voting update has a distinct shade of Dodger blue.  —  According to the latest results released Monday by Major League Baseball for the 78th All-Star Game …

Ejected and dejected  —  I started covering the U of L baseball team almost two weeks ago, following them to Columbia, Mo., and throughout their amazing NCAA Tournament run.  —  I just wish I could have written about them today, when they clinched a spot in the College World Series and capped an unbelievable ride.

Notes: Ramirez placed on DL  —  Slugging third baseman eligible to return June 22  —  CHICAGO — Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday, retroactive to June 7, to give him more time to heal his sore left knee, while outfielder Cliff Floyd was reinstated from the bereavement list.

Surgery to end Milton's season  —  Left-hander to have ligament replaced in pitching elbow  —  CINCINNATI — It was learned on Monday that injured Reds starting pitcher Eric Milton will have season-ending ligament replacement surgery on his problematic left elbow.

Harold Reynolds: Harold Reynolds Is BACK, Baby!  —  Harold Reynolds Is BACK, Baby!  —  Well, it only took almost a freaking year, but you're never gonna believe who finally has a new job, folks.  —  That's right: Your friend and ours, Mr. Harold Reynolds, out of a job since being fired by ESPN for now …

Abreu back in the swing  —  Demanding Yankee followers wanted to know what the heck was wrong with Bobby Abreu when the season appeared on the brink last month.  —  Nothing, apparently.  —  Abreu's batting eye is as keen as ever and his swing as sweet again, as his white-hot June continued with a 4-for-4 …

Notes: Crede to have back surgery  —  Sox won't know how long he'll be out until after procedure  —  PHILADELPHIA — Joe Crede will undergo back surgery on Tuesday, performed by Dr. Robert Watkins, as announced by the White Sox after Monday's 3-0 loss to the Phillies.

White's rock quarry could net pitcher billions  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — Matt White, a journeyman pitcher trying to make the Los Angeles Dodgers, could become baseball's first billionaire player.  —  It has nothing to do with his arm.  He owns a rock quarry in western Massachusetts.

Sunday Starter  —  I mentioned a few days ago that the Dodgers — the team that came up with the five man rotation as a response to having an excess of pitchers — had a chance to be creative.  I invited readers to chime in with their ideas and we had some solid ones.  Subscriber Dan Graulich had the following:

Pre-Game Notebook: Green is back  —  Shawn Green was activated from the DL and is in the line-up in right and batting second.  A local deli greeted him with two huge corned beef sandwiches waiting in his locker.  Green said he feels good and likes the idea of facing Dodgers lefty Randy Wolf tonight …

Milestone Marks What Phillies Fans Already Knew  —  During the 1920s and '30s, when the Phillies inhabited a park called the Baker Bowl, the fence in right field was adorned by a giant advertisement for soap that read: "The Phillies Use Lifebuoy."  —  This only encouraged fans to add a sour retort: "And they still stink."