Usual suspects send Rox to 7th loss in row  —  Abysmal?  Let us count the ways  —  The Denver Post  —  CHICAGO — Only seven months ago, the Rockies were a source of civic pride.  Now, they have fans wanting to hide, closets shutting in unison across the region.

Daily Scoop (cont.)  —  Around the Majors  —  • The Rays may pass on Vanderbilt hitting sensation Pedro Alvarez, the consensus No. 1 player in the draft coming into the year and its best hitter, to take either Florida State catcher Buster Posey or Griffin (Ga.) High shortstop Tim Beckham with the No. 1 pick.

Morgan Ensberg designated for assignment  —  MINNEAPOLIS - When the Yankees signed Morgan Ensberg for $1.75 million, they hoped he could give them power off the bench.  But he didn't do that, and they designated him for assignment Sunday.  —  Ensberg was batting only .203 (15-for-74) …

What's wrong with Nick Swisher?  —  To say that Nick Swisher has been a disappointment this year would be quite an understatement.  After becoming a member of the Chicago White Sox via an offseason trade, Swisher is currently hitting .201/.330/.310 with four homers.  What's gone wrong?

With three early picks, Mets have golden opportunity  —  NEW YORK — Forgive the Mets for thinking they're about to wake up in some alternate universe — or at least one that allows for instant makeovers.  The oldest team in the major leagues has three of the first 33 picks in the upcoming amateur draft …

Stanford Survives  —  We wrote on the College Blog earlier this weekend that Stanford was running out of fresh arms and would have to bash its way to a super-regional.  That's just what the Cardinal did in Monday's first do-or-die game, beating Pepperdine 9-7 behind two homers and five RBIs from center fielder Sean Ratliff.

The man who would be king  —  TAMPA, Fla. — It's a warm, sun-drenched weekday morning outside D.W. Webb Middle School, in the inner-city Town ‘n’ Country neighborhood of Tampa.  Under a cloudless sky, Joe Molloy, a boulder of a man, bespectacled and clad in a gray Webb Middle School T-shirt …

Medical updates for Ryan Zimmerman and Nick Johnson  —  The Washington Nationals today announced the following medical updates for third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and first baseman Nick Johnson.  —  Ryan Zimmerman underwent a gadolinium enhanced MRI of his injured left, non-throwing shoulder today …

Zimmerman to have MRI Monday  —  Nationals hopeful that third baseman could return on Tuesday  —  PHOENIX — Ryan Zimmerman missed his seventh consecutive game on Sunday because of his sore left shoulder.  —  Zimmerman will have an MRI on Monday in Washington.

Read: Q&A with Valentino Pascucci  —  Val Pascucci is hitting .288 with a 1.065 OPS since signing with the Mets and joining Triple-A New Orleans.  —  Pascucci has more home runs in 32 games with the Zephyrs than the total produced by Mets left fielders and first basemen in 2008.

Game 57: Yankees at Twins  —  YANKEES  —  Andy Pettitte (5-5, 4.11) vs. the Minnesota hitters.  —  Livan Hernandez (6-2, 4.60) vs. the New York hitters.  —  Notes: The Yankees are 3-3 on their road trip, which ends tonight. ...  Johnny Damon has hit in 10 straight at 19 of 44. ...

Rivera AL Player of the Week  —  Mariano Rivera was named the American League Player of the Week.  He recorded three saves (in three attempts) last week, pitching in four games, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out seven.  It's the first AL Player of the Week award for Rivera.

Braves activate Smoltz off DL, stick him in 'pen … ATLANTA (AP) — John Smoltz returned to the Atlanta Braves as a reliever, hoping the role he had from 2001-04 will help him cope with an aching right shoulder and extend his career.  —  The 41-year-old Smoltz was activated before the start …

Manny Nation  —  Ramirez no longer just for Red Sox fans  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  BALTIMORE - Kevin Millar remembers the old Manny Ramirez [stats].  The one who only let teammates and friends see what kind of person he really was.

No rest for weary Mets  —  New York (28-27) at San Francisco (24-33), Monday, 10:15 ET  —  NEW YORK — The handle on Carlos Beltran's brown wheeled suitcase had already been popped.  Meanwhile, members of the Mets' equipment staff were hauling bags of bats, gloves and balls out into the hallways.