Best Outfield Arms of 2006  —  It was the last day of 2006 and I was getting ready for a little New Year's Eve get-together.  While I was blowing up some balloons, I saw a new message in my inbox, and after a click I realized that I had just received a late Christmas gift …

Light-hander Wood drops 30 pounds  —  MESA, Ariz. — From the looks of Kerry Wood, the Cubs' bullpen figures to be thinner than last season.  Which is not necessarily a bad thing.  —  Wood, the injury-plagued former ace, showed up to spring training Wednesday weighing about 30 pounds less …

Tribune on trial  —  Bartman or a billy goat usually get blamed, but there's a Tower full of bean-counters behind baseball's beloved bunglers  —  It's the trial of the century in the Court of Public Opinion.  Case No. 1908, the People of Chicago vs. Tribune Co. The charge …

Aaron wants to start over  —  Not happy with pen role  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Yes, Aaron Heilman asked again.  No, he's not going to get a look as a starting pitcher this spring.  —  "I haven't given up," Heilman said yesterday, a day after arriving from his home in Chicago.

Nats hope they salvaged gold from the scrapheap  —  VIERA, Fla.—The Washington Nationals have brought to spring training a bevy of rookies, retreads and veterans, a group that takes up 71 locker spots and fills Space Coast Stadium's clubhouse to the brim.  —  The Nationals added two more veterans to the mix yesterday.

Colorado Rockies  —  Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel.  All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible.

Battles will be on for several open spots … Another frenetic winter of transactions has left holes and competitions at positions all across Major League Baseball.  Not counting the open spots at the back end of rotations, which almost every team has, here are 10 position battles entering spring training.

Zambrano clarifies comments  —  MESA, Ariz. — Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano said today his comments earlier in the week were misconstrued and that he never gave the Cubs an ultimatum that they must sign him by the season opener or lose him to free agency after the season.

Mariano Rivera's Request For An Extension  —  Yesterday, Peter Abraham shared the following: … According to a trusted source that I have, Rivera is not happy at this moment.  Mariano is displeased by the way the Yankees have elected to handle an offer to Bernie Williams (for 2007).  That's part of it.

Hudler OK with cut in airtime  —  Angels announcer, whose workload was trimmed from 150 games to 100, says he's looking forward to spending more time with his family.  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — His air time and pay were both cut by 33%, but there were no complaints in the Angels' television booth …

Hall to man center field  —  Yost's decision not a surprise  —  thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com  —  Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost, who has been coy all winter about his outfield plans for 2007, is ready to declare himself.  —  As expected, Yost will use the six weeks of spring training …

Hallelujah!  Spring is finally here … Well, it's that time again ...  If that "Space Available" sign has been yanked off the Cowboys' head coach's office, if Dominic Rhodes has hosted his last Disney World parade, if all those naughty Cincinnati Bengals have made bail, hey, you know what that means.

Spring Training: Japanese pitcher steals spotlight  —  Followed by large media contingent, Kuwata aims high with Pirates  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  On this, the day the Pirates' pitchers and catchers report for work in Bradenton, Fla., no fewer than a dozen cameras …

Cubs show tradition the door with ad deal  —  MESA, Ariz. — Bricks and ivy have made up most of the outfield walls at Wrigley Field for the last 70 years, but the Cubs will alter the ballpark's famous backdrop for at least the next two years with advertisements on the old green doors.

METS SPRING TURNING INTO HUMBER PARTY  —  Free and easy.  —  That's the way the baseball is coming out of Philip Humber's right hand these days, a feeling he hasn't had in a long time.  —  It's something Mets fans haven't seen until now, either.  The club's No. 1 pick …

Positional Health Reports  —  First Basemen  —  First base should be the least risky position on the field, but there are factors that cancel out some of the inherent advantage.  First, the guys who man the position tend to be of a type.  They lack mobility, have an increased likelihood …

Winds of change unlikely at Ballpark  —  ARLINGTON - There was no question which way the wind was blowing at The Ballpark in Arlington on Wednesday.  The fact that I couldn't feel the end of my nose or my ears as I walked from the parking lot told me that quick enough.