Dodgers 5, Mets 1: Pérez Absorbs Hits, Including One Off His Stomach  —  LOS ANGELES — If Mets Manager Willie Randolph was eager to see what type of performance he would get from Oliver Pérez on Monday night, let's say it wasn't a good night for gut checks.

THE QUIET CAPTAIN  —  Derek Jeter will pass Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth on the all-time Yankees hit list in the final year of Yankee Stadium.  When the palace across the street debuts next season, Jeter will move past Lou Gehrig and become the all-time pinstriped hit leader.

A move to honor the life of Matthew Beaudoin, late Red Sox fan  —  A lot of joking goes on around here about the New York Yankees, but the reality is, I've got plenty of friends that root for the pinstripes.  And unless you live deep in South Boston or take baseball way too seriously, I'm betting you do, too.

Fogg could make Colorado comeback  —  While they wait for internal options to heal their wounds and fix their mechanics, the Rockies are actively pursuing depth for their rotation, discussing trades with the Reds for Josh Fogg and the Red Sox for Julian Tavarez.

Griffey's days in Cincinnati may be numbered  —  Ken Griffey Jr., playfully yelling moments earlier from his corner of the Cincinnati Reds clubhouse, suddenly is talking in almost a whisper before a game last weekend in Atlanta.  —  It is flat and unemotional, reflecting no remorse or bitterness …

Yankees fans can learn from history book  —  I'm beginning to wonder something out loud: What the hell is wrong with everybody's memory around here?  Do you forget what happens almost every year at this time?  To make it easy for you, I'll do that period-after-every-word thing people …

Worth the wait: Inside the McLouth breakout  —  Gifted with patience at the plate and all through his career, the Pirates' ‘Mighty Mouse’ is baseball's most productive center fielder  —  WASHINGTON — Remember those fat, orange bats from childhood?  —  Nate McLouth had one at age 4 and …

Schilling ready for a toss  —  Team's program was right, he says  —  DETROIT - It is a character trait Curt Schilling has displayed on other occasions over the course of his life, and yesterday he did it again.  —  He admitted he was wrong.  —  The Red Sox medical staff, he said …

Rocket that's crashed and burned  —  Roger Clemens told the Houston Chronicle he's apologized to his family for “mistakes” in his personal life, but denied allegations of steorid use and of an affair with country singer Mindy McCready.  (Getty Images Photo)

Games of the Day  —  The Yankees and Indians face off in the Bronx with Fausto Carmona taking on Andy Pettitte.  Fausto 2.60 ERA is looking very vulnerable to me.  He's walked 26 batters and struck out just 13 so far this season.  I don't think that kind of ratio is sustainable long term.

Weak attendance could be a National emergency  —  WASHINGTON - Stan Kasten's two families converged this week.  Down south, his daughter graduated from the University of Florida.  And here, where he's president of the Washington Nationals, his baby turned a month old.

The Oakland Offense  —  The Oakland Athletics rank fourth in the American League in runs per game with a 4.74 mark.  Their 2-1 win over the Orioles last night, however, both demonstrates the strengths and glaring weakness of this team.  They picked up eight hits, four walks, and no extra base hits.

YANKS NOT GIVING UP ON SLUMPING GIAMBI  —  The bullets he hits find leather.  He hits a ball on the screws and watches it die in the April-May wind.  Then there are too many feeble ground balls, harmless pop-ups and stress-free fly balls that...  DEMOTED IAN: 'I'LL BE BACK'

Ex-Tiger Morris plays doctor  —  Twins broadcaster thinks there's a shoulder issue with Verlander, who denies the claim.  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Former Tiger Jack Morris broadcasts 45 games on the radio for the Twins and still is an outspoken observer of the game — especially when it comes to pitching.