Bringing in Einhorn, Wilpon is Effectively Selling the Mets  —  Fred Wilpon found his financial angel, but he effectively sold the New York Mets in the process.  —  When Wilpon announced earlier this year that he was only willing to sell a minority interest in the team …

Sources: McCourt met payroll by offering cash  —  Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt was able to meet the team's payroll Tuesday with cash advances drawn on the team's corporate sponsorship deals, according to three people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to speak publicly.

Crow takes over as the new Royals closer  —  Struggling Soria removes himself after fifth blown save  —  KANSAS CITY — Joakim Soria had a very personal suggestion for Royals manager Ned Yost: Remove Joakim Soria as the closer.  —  Yost agreed after Soria blew his second save in two games …

Month of May delivered the unexpected  —  After being awful in April, Red Sox and Diamondbacks picked up their play in a big way  —  Just as we all expected in May ...  A second baseman (Wilson Valdez) won a game as a pitcher. ...  A guy who was 0-for-39-days (Jason Giambi) hit three home runs in a game. ...

Bruce named NL Player of the Week  —  Reaching a new level of stardom, Jay Bruce on Tuesday was named the National League Player of the Week for the period ending May 29.  —  The 24-year-old right fielder collected four home runs, 13 RBIs and 25 total bases last week …

Rockies' Ubaldo Jimenez a victim of velocity  —  It has devolved from a minor injury to a disappointing start to a gathering mystery.  Two months into the baseball season, the ace of the Rockies' pitching staff has yet to win a game.  —  “I can't explain it,” says Rocks pitching coach Bob Apodaca.

The Unimpressive List of Mets Offensive Leaders  —  Becoming the Mets all-time leader in an offensive category—like Jose Reyes did recently in runs scored—is the major-league version of damning with faint praise.  —  Nothing illustrates the franchise's struggle to score runs throughout …

Nova's hold on rotation spot slipping  —  SEATTLE — Ivan Nova will start Friday when the Yankees open a three-game series against the Angels in Anaheim, according to Joe Girardi.  —  What's his future beyond that?  Who knows?  —  Nova was awful in Saturday night's 5-4, 12-inning loss …

Dillon Gee is 5-0  —  Yesterday, Dillon Gee pitched 7 innings and let up 3 earned runs and 5 hits while striking out a career-high 8 batters and walking no one.  —  In 7 starts this season, Gee is 5-0 with a 3.38 ERA.  —  He is now half-way to tying Terry Leach's 10-0 start …

Dwight Howard says his preference is to stay with the Orlando Magic and ‘start his own path’  —  (Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel / May 30, 2011)  —  Responding to speculation that he wants to jump to a bigger market when he can become a free agent next year, superstar center Dwight Howard indicated Monday …

Indians' hot start has others steaming  —  Look what the Indians have done.  —  Cleveland is not directly responsible for Ozzie Guillen's latest rant, nor Jim Leyland's impatience with his second basemen.  But without question, the Indians' surprising play has increased the pressure on both rival managers.

Reyes Snaps Winless Skid as Blue Jays Rout Indians  —  TORONTO (AP) — Jo-Jo Reyes won for the first time in 29 starts by throwing his first career complete game and Jayson Nix hit a two-run home run to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to an 11-1 rout of the Cleveland Indians on Monday night.

Marlins' LoMo a hit on Twitter  —  MIAMI — Logan Morrison says at first he thought Twitter was lame, although he uses a more colorful adjective because he's a 23-year-old ballplayer who's a fan of Dave Chappelle, and he talks like one.  —  He also tweets like one, to the amusement of thousands …

LIFE  —  Mickey's Assignment Desk: Do Skyboxes Cause Crime?  Here in L.A. we've been traumatized by the vicious beating given a San Francisco Giants fan who attended a game at Dodger Stadium.  Many are shocked that this could happen at a ballgame, but I remember being told several times …

SI investigation finds more violations by Jim Tressel … The character traits that have made Jim Tressel a successful football coach and a beloved figure in Ohio are numerous and frequently cited.  Former NFL coach Tony Dungy has praised Tressel's “integrity” and said he is the kind of man you'd want your son to play for.

Diamondbacks Rout Marlins 15-4 for 7th Straight  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Kelly Johnson homered twice and fell a single shy of the cycle and the steamrolling, first-place Arizona Diamondbacks won their seventh straight, a 15-4 rout of the Florida Marlins on Monday night.