Source: Mejia to start again in minors  —  The Mets should have a new starting pitching option within a month.  —  Top prospect Jenrry Mejia, whose dazzling Grapefruit League performance prompted the Mets to place him on the Opening Day roster as a reliever, is expected to head to the minors to resume being used as a starting pitcher.

Hanley benched for lack of hustle  —  All-Star shortstop jogs after booted ball  —  MIAMI — Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez pulled All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez after the second inning on Monday night for showing a lack of effort.  —  The disciplinary action came shortly after Ramirez fouled …

Storen makes debut in Nationals' loss to Cardinals  —  ST. LOUIS — The Busch Stadium bullpen gates swung open Monday at 10:24 p.m. EST, and into the major leagues jogged Drew Storen.  The Washington Nationals trailed by two, a runner on first base in the seventh inning.

Another round of torture  —  NEW YORK — Friday night the Bruins were like the old Red Sox.  —  And now the Red Sox are the Bruins.  —  Underachieving.  The opposite of clutch.  Hard to watch.  Not worthy of the love of the legions back home.  —  The 2010 Red Sox sank to a new low …

Howell expected to have surgery, miss season  —  Officially there is no update yet on the status of LHP J.P. Howell.  —  But indications are that Howell went to Birmingham, Ala., today to be seen by Dr. James Andrews, will have surgery this week to repair his labrum and will be out about a full year.

D'Backs Designate Blaine Boyer For Assignment  —  The Diamondbacks designated reliever Blaine Boyer for assignment to make room for starter Billy Buckner, tweets MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez.  Buckner was recalled from Triple A to make today's start against the Marlins.

Would HSG or the Texas Rangers Be Forced Into Bankruptcy?  —  On April 1st, the initial closing date for the sale of the Texas Rangers was to take place.  When that date passed, prospective owner Chuck Greenberg said that based on how negotiations were progressing between the 40 creditors …

LOWELL'S ‘FRUSTRATION’ CONTINUES TO MOUNT  —  NEW YORK — In the 10-minute conversation, one word surfaced significantly more than any other.  —  “Frustration.”  —  It is morphing into late May and it is getting more and more difficult for Mike Lowell to live with his lot in life.

HOWARD, KENDRICK HELP PHILLIES CRUSH PIRATES  —  The Sports Network  —  Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Ryan Howard went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and drove in six runs as Philadelphia downed Pittsburgh, 12-2, in the opener of a two-game series from Citizens Bank Park.

D.C.'s second-most popular athlete?  —  Chatting at 11:30.  Submit questions here.  —  I've occasionally done this thing where I attempt to rank D.C.'s top six athletes in local popularity.  Yes, people can define the word “popular” in slightly different ways, but we all basically know what it means.

Think You Can Be GM?  You Have No Idea  —  As a former general manager, I often get approached by fans who vent about their teams and general managers.  They don't like the players the GM acquired or they are frustrated by the inactivity of the man in charge.

Vlad vows to take same approach vs. old team  —  First game against Halos won't change Rangers slugger  —  ARLINGTON — Vladimir Guerrero isn't going to change anything he's been doing when he faces his former team for the first time with the Rangers.  What he's doing now is working just fine …