So Far, Matsuzaka Making Smooth Adjustment  —  Daisuke Matsuzaka will face many adjustments as he transitions from life in Japan to the United States.  But the Red Sox's $103 million pitcher has already conquered a big one.  —  "One of the things I was most worried about in coming …

For Rangers, the line forms at the end  —  Competition will be fierce for last spot in rotation  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  ARLINGTON - Those Rangers.  Real jokers.  —  Just consider their next scheduled prank: In two weeks, they'll see how many fifth-starter candidates they can stuff into one tiny spring training camp.

A piece of the puzzle  —  Kearns, Nats agree on three-year, $17.5 million deal  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Right fielder Austin Kearns and the Washington Nationals agreed Thursday to a three-year contract that guarantees him $17.5 million, adding a long-term piece to the team's rebuilding effort.

Bonds' contract: Deal or no deal?  —  AGENT: HE WON'T SIGN GIANTS' REVISED PACT  —  Barry Bonds' done deal isn't: The newly signed one-year agreement between the Giants and their home-run star hit a snag Wednesday.  —  The main sticking point appears to be a ``personal-appearances'' provision …

Negadelphia Sports Writers And The Fans Who Hate Them  —  In case you missed it, the Philadelphia media breathlessly reported on yesterday's Donovan McNabb Chunky Soup press conference with a fervor and zeal usually reserved for coverage of assassinated heads of state.  —  The reason for the intense interest?

DeWitt insists Cardinals made fair offer to Weaver  —  Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. insisted Wednesday night the club's unwillingness to match the Seattle Mariners' one-year, $8.325 million bid for righthander Jeff Weaver had everything to do with the value placed on the free agent …

Report: Phils offer Rowand to Padres for reliever Linebrink  —  At first glance, the Internet rumor that has been circulating for a few days - Phillies centerfielder Aaron Rowand to the San Diego Padres for righthanded reliever Scott Linebrink - appeared to make little sense.

Bonds' chase a good time to glorify Aaron … It is the most important number — 755 — not just in baseball history, but in all of sports.  It is more recognizable than 60, 73, 3,000, .400, 500 or 56.  But now, 755 is under attack from the greatest hitter that most of us have ever seen, one of the three greatest hitters of all time.

LaRoche: Braves, fans were spoiled  —  The Braves will hold their FanFest Saturday at Turner Field, and Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur and 15 other players are scheduled to attend and sign autographs.  —  Not on the list, of course, is Adam LaRoche.

Stealing home  —  Farm talent makes for easy pickings  —  As Rockies fans braced for Todd Helton's potential exit this week, there was a bit of good news.  ESPN.com ranked Colorado's farm system the second best in baseball.  The reality, according to owner Charlie Monfort …

Yanks to Stot: Yer out!  —  For the first time time in the Joe Torre era, Mel Stottlemyre won't have a role with the Yankees this season, not even in spring training.  —  After retiring as pitching coach following the 2005 season, Stottlemyre helped the Yankees make the transition to Ron Guidry in spring training last year.

Stadium to see Stars in finale  —  As first reported in the Daily News on Dec. 10, Major League Baseball officially awarded the 2008 All-Star Game to Yankee Stadium yesterday at City Hall.  —  Commissioner Bud Selig, Mayor Bloomberg, Yankees general partner Steve Swindal and COO Lonn Trost were on hand for the announcement.