Eric Byrnes (LF)
5/13: Eric Byrnes is nearing full health again following a bout with a hamstring ailment, according to the East Valley Tribune. But he still arrives at the park five or six hours before game time to get treatment. Byrnes said, "I haven't worked this hard in my career to get on the field. Now my legs are getting better and hopefully the results are going to follow."

Our View: Byrnes is still hitting a disappointing .226 over 35 games, with only three homers and 15 RBI. He did manage to score 22 runs however, and he may start to get on track with his hamstring ailment close to being hehind him.

Matt Wise (P)
5/13: Matt Wise is expected to be activated from the DL on Thursday, according to MetsBlog. Luis Castillo could be placed on the DL to make room for Wise.

Our View: Wise has been on the DL since April 2 with a bruised right forearm. He will fight for playing time out of the Mets' bullpen when he returns, and his fantasy value will be limited.

Joe Smith (P)
5/13: Joe Smith is to be sent down on Wednesday, according to MetsBlog. The team is making room on the roster for either Adam Bostick or Willie Collazo. One of them will start in the rotation on Wednesday, and only for one start.

Our View: The team is said to call Smith back up as soon as Wednesday's aforementioned starter is no longer needed. Smith has been pitching well, as he held a 1.06 WHIP over 16 innings, with 16 strikeouts.

Jim Edmonds (CF)
5/13: As previously reported, the Cubs will pursue Jim Edmonds when he clears waivers on Wednesday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The Cubs are looking for a left-handed hitter and still believe Edmonds has a little left in the tank after being released by San Diego.

Our View: Felix Pie would likely get sent to Triple-A Iowa, who entered Monday with a .222 average and strikeouts in one-third of his at-bats. Edmonds (lefty-hitting) would platoon with Reed Johnson (righty-hitting) in center field. Edmonds was only hitting .178 (with only one homer) over 90 at-bats this season with San Diego, but could benefit from a change of scenery in Chicago, and his power numbers would likely improve by playing his home games at Wrigley Field.

Pedro Martinez (P)
5/13: Pedro Martinez is frustrated over his slow recovery from his strained left hamstring, according to FanNation.com. He is feeling dejected, but declined to state how healthy he'll be able to stay, or how effective he will be when he returns to action. Martinez said he believes there's no reason to say things like that right now because he thinks he basically needs to get back to the team, rather than proclaim what he'll do when he gets there.

Our View: Martinez has been on the DL since April 2, and lasted a mere 3.1 innings in his only start of the season, while giving up two homers and four earned runs.

Nick Adenhart (P)
5/13: Nick Adenhart got his first major league win on Monday as the Angels recorded a hard fought 10-7 victory over the White Sox. Adenhart allowed four runs on nine hits, walked four and struck out three.

Our View: Command has been Adenhart's Achilles, and while he walked another four hitters on Monday he was able to keep the offense in the game and get his first win. Until he can command his arsenal better, he is subject to be beat around the park in most of his starts.

Kyle Ginley (P)
5/12: Kyle Ginley was outstanding for High-A Dunedin on Monday, allowing only one hit in seven scoreless innings. He walked three batters and struck out four.

Our View: The 21-year-old is rebounding from a mediocre 2007 season, as he dominated Low-A through six starts this season and has done the same after two starts in High-A. He has plus stuff across the board and is quickly becoming one of Toronto’s better prospects in the low minors.

Ben Snyder (P)
5/12: Ben Snyder improved to 5-0 for High-A San Jose after throwing seven scoreless innings. He allowed seven hits and struck out five.

Our View: Snyder has been playing down to the competition at age 22, but he is a true sleeper as a prospect. The crafty lefty has superb control, as he showed last season in Low-A with an ERA near 2.00. His ERA stands at a miniscule 0.73 through eight starts this season.

Tyler Colvin (OF)
5/12: Tyler Colvin went 4-for-4 with two home runs for Double-A Tennessee on Monday, giving him five homers for the season.

Our View: The former first-round draft choice in 2006 has largely been a disappointment since being drafted, but he shows flashes every so often that remind us why he was drafted so high. Still, he is hitting just .247 this season and showing horrific plate discipline, as usual.

Vicente Padilla (P)
5/12: Vicente Padilla allowed six runs (three earned) on seven hits, walked one and struck out two in a 13-12 win over the Seattle Mariners. Padilla was gone long before the game finally came to fruition and while he wasn't very good on Monday night, he was better than his counter part, Erik Bedard.

Our View: Padilla came into Monday night's game allowing zero earned runs in two of his last three starts, one against the Mariners.

Kevin Kolb (QB)
5/13: Kevin Kolb has been promoted ahead of AJ Feeley as the top backup in Philadelphia and continues to progress, according to PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Kolb said, "Obviously you want to progress up the ladder because I want to be a starter in this league. The reason it really means a lot to me is because it seems that I get more reps. The more reps I get, the better I feel that I'm going to get. I need a lot of them as a young quarterback. I go back there in a drop, play-action, whatever, and it just feels comfortable. When that happens, then obviously the other things start to slow down and you can start focusing on details. And that's what makes you a better player."

Our View: Kolb displays a strong arm and generally makes good decisions with his passes. He is being groomed to be the eventual replacement for Donovan McNabb, who will turn 32 in November. He is making favorable progress in his second season, and we may see him on the field sooner rather than later, when you consider McNabb's track record with durability.

Chris Baker (TE)
5/13: Chris Baker didn't participate in the Jets' voluntary workouts on Monday, according to the NY Daily News. The sessions run through mid-June. Baker is boycotting the offseason program because he feels the Jets reneged on a promise to renegotiate his contract. Baker is entering the third year of a four-year, $6.6 million contract. He is also upset that newly acquired tight end Bubba Franks is making the same amount as him on a one-year deal. Even worse, Baker will make less than first-round rookie Dustin Keller.

Our View: Baker has asked to be traded, and can't be fined by the Jets unless he misses the mandatory minicamp next month. If Baker remains with the Jets, his fantasy value will be compromised by promising rookie Keller.

James Hardy (WR)
5/13: Rookie wide receiver James Hardy (Indiana) allegedly pulled a handgun on his father on Sunday, according to ProFootballTalk.com. Hardy’s name has been removed from a police report regarding the incident, but other evidence pointed to Hardy pointing the gun at his father. Fort Wayne, Indiana police chief Rusty York confirmed that Hardy was the man who allegedly pointed the gun. But York said that the matter isn’t being pursued, because Hardy’s father wasn’t hurt.

Our View: The NFL could still decide to discipline Hardy for the incident. Hardy was off to a good start with the Bills prior to this news, as he was believed to have a good shot to start opposite Lee Evans this season.

Ray Rice (RB)
5/13: Ray Rice is working to be the primary backup behind starter Willis McGahee in Baltimore, and is also going to be involved on third downs, according to the Carroll County Times. He is learning the Ravens' playbook quickly, and is also pleasing the team with his speed and ability to change direction in the open field. GM Ozzie Newsome also commented, "We like the way he runs. He has a very low center of gravity, so he doesn’t take a lot of hits. He mainly delivers a blow instead of taking a blow."

Our View: He is expected to provide a third down presence as a receiver out of the backfield, but will need to beat out PJ Daniels and Cory Ross for the lead third down back role.

Kevin Everett (TE)
5/13: The Bills have placed injured tight end Kevin Everett on the NFL’s waived/failed physical list, according to the AP. As a result of his release from the team, Everett becomes eligible to seek benefits to ensure his future financial stability.

Our View: Everett suffered a near-fatal spinal cord injury in September’s season opener, which initially left him paralyzed from the neck down. The 26-year-old has made a remarkable recovery since sustaining the injury, and is walking on his own, though his rehab continues.

Todd Weiner (T)
5/12: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Falcons' right tackle Todd Weiner , who's recovering from knee surgery, is hoping to return by training camp. Weiner and Smith said Weiner was ahead of schedule and that he could start running as early as next week.

Our View: Weiner battled problems with his left knee for most of last season before being placed on injured reserve. He had a micro-fracture procedure after arthroscopic surgery failed to remedy the damage.

Jimmy Williams (CB)
5/12: Falcons safety Jimmy Williams , the team's top draft pick in 2006, said he annoyed the coaching staff by reporting to offseason workouts overweight, this according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is said to weigh more than 230 pounds, although he is listed at 212.

Our View: Williams, who is running with the third team at free safety, said he has endured unspecified personal issues that have taken his focus away from football. Williams missed two days of a three-day voluntary minicamp in April to go home to Hampton, Va.

Roddy White (WR)
5/12: Roddy White was held out of practice on Monday because of a slight hamstring issue that popped up on Sunday, according to the Falcon's Official Website. "Roddy tweaked his hamstring," HC Mike Smith said. "It's just precautionary. We don't want to put ourselves in a position with a guy this time of year that may hurt himself more by going out there."

Our View: White has reportedly been working all off-season with weights in order to prove last years performance (1202 yards, six TDs) wasn't a fluke. This appears to be nothing more than a minor annoyance.

Kevin Jones (RB)
5/12: NFL Network's Adam Schefter noted on Monday's telecast that the Patriots received a visit from Kevin Jones last week. The team brought him in for casual talks, according to NFL.com.

Our View: The once highly touted Jones has become an injury concern. Currently Jones is recovering from a torn ACL.

Robbie Gould (K)
5/12: Robbie Gould has signed a five-year extension that will keep him under contract with the Bears through the 2013 season, according to the AP. Financial terms were not disclosed. Gould said, "I’m really excited. I’m excited to stay in the city of Chicago and to be a Chicago Bear. This is one of those opportunities that’s once-in-a-lifetime and life-changing, and I’m just excited to have it. I’m excited that my hard work has paid off, but I’m definitely not done working hard and making field goals and kicking kickoffs. That’s what I get paid to do. Now it’s just a matter of being able to go out there and have fun, relax and enjoy."

Our View: The 26-year old Gould is the Bears’ all-time leader in field goal field percentage among kickers with at least 50 attempts. In his three seasons with Chicago, he has converted 84.9 percent of his field goals (84-of-99), and has five game-winning kicks to his credit. He is also one of only seven kickers in NFL history with consecutive seasons of 125 points or more.

Chauncey Billups (G)
5/13: Chauncey Billups is feeling better, but is yet to be cleared to play in Game 5 tonight, according to the Orlando Sentinel. He strained his hamstring back in Game 3, and sat out Game 4 due to the ailment. Strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander said, "My key with this is no setbacks from day to day. If you look at it three or four days ago and compare it to today, it's night and day. He's running good and feeling good. He needs to be confident enough in his rehabilitation to play again."

Our View: Detroit edged Orlando by one point (90-89) in Game 4 without Billups, and tonight's game is home in Detroit. The Pistons can win without Billups, but would have a much better chance to do so with him back in the lineup.

Kevin Garnett (F)
5/12: Kevin Garnett and the Celtics have underestimated the Cavs ability to play defense. In Monday's Game 4 loss, Boston didn't have one player score over 20 points. Garnett recorded a Double-Double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Our View: The Celtics center was 6-of-13 from the floor and grabed 10 rebounds in the loss.

LeBron James (F)
5/12: LeBron James scored 21 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Celtics 88-77 in Game 4 on Monday night

Our View: James, who was shooting a pathetic 22.4 percent from the floor after three playoff games against Boston, was again off the mark finishing the contest but 7-for-20 from the floor. Cleveland's win sends the best-of-seven series to a 2-2 tie.

Rajon Rondo (G)
5/12: Boston point guard Rajon Rondo has scored in double-figures in every home game this postseason, but hasn't hit double-figures in his past two road games and had no assists in Game 3 in Cleveland.

Our View: This is why the Celts went out and grabbed Sam Cassell. The pressure of the playoffs have a tendency to affect the young and inexperienced.

LeBron James (F)
5/12: It has become clear that Boston is going to all but ignore the secondary scorers for the Cavs, and make LeBron James beat them. But if Game 3 is any indication, they might need to start worrying a little more about Cleveland's non-LeBron. Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak stepped it up in Game 3 with center Zydrunas Ilgauskas chipping in for a Cleveland win.

Our View: James is shooting an atrocious 22.4 percent from the field.

Stephen Graham (G)
5/12: The Pacers have picked up the contract option on Stephen Graham on Monday, according to the AP. The three-year vet played in only 22 games for the Pacers this season, while averaging 4.0 points. He scored a career-high 16 points against Toronto on February 29. Larry Bird said, "Stephen is an exceptional individual on and off the court. He has a great work ethic and over the course of last season, we saw major improvement from last summer."

Our View: The 25-year old Graham has already spent time with Houston, Chicago, Cleveland and Portland, before landing in Indiana. He only averaged 4.0 points per game, but also only averaged 5.9 minutes. He is capable of solid production, evidenced by his strong effort against Toronto in February.

Bruce Bowen (F)
5/12: Bruce Bowen has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team for the eighth time in his career, according to the AP.

Our View: Bowen only averaged 6.0 points, but was given the honor for averaging 2.9 boards, 0.7 steals, and 0.3 blocks per contest. He is also known to be one the most physical and toughest defenders in the league.

Tim Duncan (C)
5/12: Tim Duncan has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team for the 11th time in his career, according to the AP. Team-mate Bruce Bowen was selected as well.

Our View: Duncan enjoyed another strong campaign as he averaged 19.3 points, and was chosen for the defensive honor by averaging 11.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 0.7 steals per outing.

Marcus Camby (C)
5/12: Marcus Camby has landed on the NBA All-Defensive Team, according to the AP.

Our View: Camby only scored 9.1 points per game, but earned the honor by leading the NBA with 3.6 blocks per game, and finishing second with 13.1 boards per contest. He also registered 1.1 steals per game.

Kevin Garnett (F)
5/12: Kevin Garnett headlines this year's NBA All-Defensive Team, according to the AP. Garnett was also previously named Defensive Player of the Year.

Our View: This is Garnett's ninth selection, and he led the Celtics to the NBA's best record at 66-16, while averaging 9.2 boards, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game.

Brenden Morrow (W)
5/13: Brenden Morrow tried to plow into Detroit defenseman Brad Stuart in the third period of action on Monday, and Stuart simply stepped out of the way, leaving Morrow to charge into the boards and suffer a possible shoulder injury, according to the Dallas Morning News. Morrow said, "When you give them opportunities like we did, they're going to make you pay for them. Are they beatable? Yeah. Do we have to play a lot better than we are? Absolutely." Morrow also said he will be ready for Game 4, even though he was holding his left arm straight following Monday's battle.

Our View: The team is down 3-0 in the series, but Morrow continues to fight with intensity, and scored a point in five straight games in the playoffs. The team can not afford to lose him for critical Game 4.

Johan Franzen (C)
5/13: Johan Franzen is still awaiting his test results as there is no word on what is causing his headaches, according to the Detroit News. He was forced his miss his second straight game last night due to concussion-like symptoms. He was scheduled to undergo a wide arsenal of tests at Detroit Medical Center earlier in the day on Monday. Ken Holland stated, "He came to the rink the day after Game 1 against Dallas and said he's been having headaches every day for a week or 10 days or whatever it was. And we just decided, 'OK, that's not normal.' It's not to the point where it's major symptoms, but it's just constant headaches. Sometimes he takes a pill and it goes away, but then it comes back. I don't want to start speculating with you. And that's why we're saying 'concussion-like symptoms' right now, because we really don't know what's going on."

Our View: Franzen led the league 12 playoff goals prior to his exit, and the team has rallied without him as they hold a 3-0 lead in the series versus Dallas.

Philippe Boucher (D)
5/13: Philippe Boucher continues to work out but still isn't ready to return to action, according to the Dallas Morning News. He is hindered by a hip strain, and has not played since April 15.

Our View: He registered no points over three playoff games. The season could end for Dallas on Wednesday, as the team currently trails Detroit 3-0.

Henrik Zetterberg (W)
5/13: Henrik Zetterberg racked up two assists and one goal in Monday's 5-2 win over Dallas in Game 3. Detroit leads 3-0, and Zetterberg contributed five points in the series.

Our View: He has scored in eight straight games, notching 15 points over the span. Zetterberg recorded 92 points over 75 games in the regular season, and did not disappoint in the playoffs.

Brian Rafalski (D)
5/13: Brian Rafalski contributed a pair of assists in Monday's 5-2 victory over Dallas in Game 3. That was his third point of the series.

Our View: Rafalski has racked up 10 points through the playoffs, and the enforcer helped guide Detroit to a 3-0 lead in the series against Dallas.

Brenden Morrow (W)
5/13: Brenden Morrow chipped in an assist in Monday's 5-2 loss to Detroit in Game 3. He has now scored a point in five straight games, notching three goals and two assists over the span.

Our View: The Stars are down 3-0 in the series, but you cannot blame Morrow, and he has been a solid source of production through the playoffs, as he generated 14 points over 15 games.

Nicklas Grossman (D)
5/13: Nicklas Grossman collected his first goal of the playoffs in Monday's 5-2 loss to Detroit in Game 3.

Our View: The enforcer did not score any goals over 62 games in the regular season.

Brad Richards (C)
5/13: Brad Richards scored a goal in Monday's 5-2 loss to Detroit in Game 3. It was his first goal (and point) of the series.

Our View: Richards has scored three goals and nine assists through the playoffs and will continue to fight hard until the Stars play their final game, which is seeminly close as Dallas trails Detroit 3-0.

Marty Turco (G)
5/12: Dallas goalie Marty Turco dropped his career record against Detroit to 2-4-3 when netminding at home.

Our View: He's and ugly 2-13-5 against the Red Wings overall.

Chris Osgood (G)
5/12: Chris Osgood stopped 16 shots to improve to 9-0 during this postseason.

Our View: The Stars will not comeback from the 3-0 deficit and now the interesting matchup comes out of the East. Who will face the Wings in the Cup finals, Pittsburgh or Philadelphia.