Johnson talks of June return to lineup  —  First baseman says his injured right leg, hip, quad 'weak'  —  VIERA, Fla. — Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson entered the club's dugout at Space Coast Stadium on Friday afternoon and jokingly grimaced in pain as he touched the two steps he needed to reach the playing surface.

Foulke retires; Indians have one less closer … CLEVELAND // Reliever Keith Foulke, who was on the mound when Boston ended its 86-year World Series drought, retired Friday just as he was about to begin competing for a closer's job with the Cleveland Indians.

Survey: Who will be this year's champ?  —  MLB.com asks managers, GMs who will win 2007 World Series  —  Ask baseball's GMs and managers at the beginning of Spring Training who they think will end up hoisting the World Series trophy in October, and you'll get a lot of the same prognostication …

Change is in the air for Beckett  —  On Baseball , Rob Bradford  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - They have never met.  Their backgrounds are as different as could be.  And, most likely, they won't be able to communicate too much once initial introductions are finally made today.

Frustrated Cubs Find Match in Fiery Piniella  —  Lou Piniella paced feverishly on the grass behind second base, his arms flailing, eyes bulging, and head bobbing so vigorously that it looked as though his new cap might fly away.  —  He had been on the field with the Chicago Cubs for about five minutes.

Notes: No rush to extend Lo Duca  —  Veteran catcher's contract expires after 2007 season  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — General manager Omar Minaya says he will listen to what Paul Lo Duca and his agent have to say about a contract extension.  But the Mets probably won't be in a rush to extend the contract of a 34-year-old catcher.

Baltimore pitcher injured in motorcycle accident, will miss 2007 season  —  SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) -Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jose Acevedo broke four ribs and his collarbone Friday in a motorcycle accident and is expected to miss the entire season, his Dominican winter league team said.

'Great will to live'  —  PALM BEACH GARDENS — You like baseball stories?  Frank Torre has plenty.  You can't look 'em all up, but he swears they're true.  —  Like this one, about his little brother: "Joey used to hang up Stan Musial's jockstrap.''  —  That would be Joe Torre …

Clemens says only 20 percent chance he will return  —  HOUSTON — Seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens has given himself just a 20 percent chance of returning to the mound next season.  —  "Koby [his son] asked me last night when we were working out, he was doing more of a workout than I was …

Wait till next year  —  Cuddyer, like Morneau, gets a one-year contract from the Twins  —  Terry Ryan believes he has a saving grace:  —  The Twins' general manager went just 1 for 3 this winter in his attempt to lock up the arbitration-eligible players who make up the heart of the batting order to multiyear contracts.

Pirates Notebook: Castillo to report much lighter  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — When second baseman Jose Castillo reports to spring training, he could check in 15-20 pounds lighter than he was last season, according to some in the Pirates' fold.

Ringolsby: Watch list is lengthy this year  —  TUCSON - With sun bearing down on Arizona and Florida, the heat is on:  —  Managerial hot seat  —  • Mike Hargrove, Seattle.  Club president Howard Lincoln said at the end of last year that Hargrove and general manager Bill Bavasi will be on "the hot seat" in 2007.

Sharp curve for Trachsel … FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // Rather than sit around his house and watch television footage of pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training, Steve Trachsel decided to start making some weekend plans that didn't include baseball.

Fierce competition behind plate  —  Three's a crowd with only two spots open  —  Tucson -Three catchers competing for two roster spots equals one intense position battle for the Rockies as they open spring training today.  —  One candidate is baby-faced Chris Iannetta, 24.

No ribbing: Wood hurt  —  Odd (minor) injury, Big Z's arrival make for bizarre 1st day  —  MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs officially opened Camp Lou on Thursday with the kind of day that can only be described as Cub-like.  —  Carlos Zambrano met with reporters and announced he's close to signing …

Schoeneweis's Jersey Isn't Just Any Number  —  After signing with the Mets, Scott Schoeneweis figured he had his big chance.  Finally, after all these years, he could stop being No. 60.  But when he walked into the clubhouse Wednesday evening and saw his new jersey, he recoiled.