Wood bruises ribs, ego in minor tumble  —  Righty to sit four to five days after falling out of hot tub  —  MESA, Ariz. — The good news on the first day of workouts for Cubs pitchers and catchers Thursday was that Mark Prior and Wade Miller both threw off a mound.

After long delay, Bonds signs on the dotted line  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Barry Bonds finally signed his $15.8 million, one-year contract Thursday, and the slugger is scheduled to report to spring training Monday.  —  That means he will likely participate in the San Francisco Giants' first full-squad workout Tuesday.

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 …

Moose slams Pavano again  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Carl Pavano insisted today that his reputation and standing in the Yankees clubhouse is fine, and that any mention to the contrary is a creation by the media.  —  A few lockers away, Mike Mussina disputed that notion with shocking honesty, questioning Pavano's will to pitch for the Yankees.

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 …

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.

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.

Lo Duca: I'd like to stick around  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The hand appears to be fine.  The contract situation?  That remains unresolved.  Those are the two biggest issues facing Paul Lo Duca at the start of spring training, and the catcher insists that neither fazes him right now.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.