Martinez rehabs with controversial fitness guru … SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Pedro Martinez continues to stand by controversial fitness guru and massage therapist Angel "Nao" Presinal.  And Presinal, in turn, promises to deliver something sure to brighten the New York Mets' pennant …

Team Prevails Over Patterson in Arbitration Ruling  —  The Washington Nationals prevailed Tuesday in an arbitration case over their presumptive ace, right-hander John Patterson.  —  A three-member panel in Phoenix ruled that Patterson — who went 1-2 with a 4.43 ERA last season …

Catching a lot of attention  —  Matsuzaka's tosses become media event  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Accidental fame doesn't give you much of a heads-up.  —  You can be minding your own business one minute, sweating up a storm while doing your job.  The next minute, your face …

Rangers' Gagne happy with early work  —  Ranger feels 'great' about first mound session since surgery  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  New closer Eric Gagne called his first trip to the top of a pitcher's mound since surgery last July "great."  —  Gagne threw off a mound at his Scottsdale, Ariz., home Tuesday and had no issues.

Future Shock  —  Organizational Rankings  —  It's generally accepted that the legendary Branch Rickey devised the universally used 20-80 scouting scale.  The actual origin of the scale is a bit of a mystery, but some believe it's based on a scientific scale used in some fields that revolves around a median …

Photos: Spring Training Set To Launch  —  Pitchers and catchers don't officially report until tomorrow, but there was plenty of action at the Port St. Lucie complex this morning.  —  Philip Humber and Jason Vargas tossed bullpen sessions as Al Jackson looked on.  —  David Wright took grounders at third base from Edgar Alfonzo.

Return a minor relief for Villone  —  TAMPA - After failing to land a two-year deal elsewhere, Ron Villone returned to the Yankees yesterday on a minor-league contract, getting a non-roster invitation to spring training.  He reported to Legends Field yesterday, where he will compete for a spot in the bullpen.

All Zumaya Linking  —  You've probably all heard that Joel Zumaya just won't give up Guitar Hero.If you want my feelings on this, Roar of the Tigers has summed them up perfectly. … I'm not even that bothered that he missed the A's series last year.  I can understand a situation …

Contreras, not Buehrle, to start Sox opener  —  Mark Buehrle's reality is that he will likely be wearing a different uniform at this time next season.  —  Until then, the White Sox are hoping that the free agent-to-be pitches like the team ace he was for five of the last six seasons.

Uribe works out; hearing nears  —  Unknown if he'll join Sox next week  —  As Juan Uribe awaits a decision on whether he will be able to join his teammates for spring training next week in Tucson, the embattled White Sox shortstop's attorney says he at least doesn't have a weight problem.

The deal with Gibby  —  Lame-duck manager underpaid  —  Vernon Wells received a contract extension.  —  General manager J.P. Ricciardi has had his deal extended twice.  —  Then there is manager John Gibbons, who has only 162 games remaining on his contract with the Blue Jays.

Gaslamp Ball Interview with Paul DePodesta Part I  —  Update [2007-2-14 11:43:15 by Dex]: How could I forget?  It's officially been two years since jbox and I started this blogging thing.  It's been a great time, and we never would have thought that these first few posts would eventually lead to this... Thanks all!

Cubs' bottom line is up  —  After spending millions, Hendry's next order of business is taking care of arbitration-eligible Zambrano  —  For all those hundreds of millions they've already spent on changes since last season, the biggest order of business for the Cubs this winter might …

Expressions of love for baseball  —  Cupid's arrow finds its way into hearts of baseball aficionados  —  NEW YORK — Over the years, the Mets have had a number of players whose affection for the game was evident in how they approached the game and acted in the dugout and on the field …

Rah, Rah, Sis-Boom-Bah, Gooooooo Yankees!!  —  Yeah, that's a picture of Chien-Ming Wang undergoing his rookie hazing, but it's the only thing "Yankee Cheerleader" turned up on Google image search.  Why, you ask, was I looking for a picture of a "Yankee Cheerleader"?