Several rule changes in effect for 2007  —  Alterations address ties, pace of game, official scoring  —  Taking a red pencil to the game's rules for the first time in more than a decade, MLB's Playing Rules Committee has enacted several changes for the 2007 season.  —  Relax: It's still the game you know and love.

Pitcher makes attitude adjustment  —  Lopez looking for fresh start following horrible season in AL  —  When Rodrigo Lopez contemplated his future, his past steered him in a new direction.  If he was really going to start fresh with the Rockies, he had to let go of the old things.

Masset might fit in pitching rotation  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — The competition for the fifth spot in the White Sox rotation is getting more crowded.  —  Pitching coach Don Cooper said Friday that newly acquired Nick Masset may be evaluated as a starter, a role he has performed …

Trading Zambrano has upside  —  Cubs could obtain bonanza if they can stomach a deal  —  With Carlos Zambrano, Jermaine Dye and Mark Buehrle eligible for free agency after this season, Chicago sports columnists and talk-radio hosts should send thank-you cards to the respective front offices of the Cubs and White Sox.

Rangers' pitchers will be put to test  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - New manager Ron Washington officially starts the daunting task of prepping a Rangers pitching staff this weekend.  —  Here's how he plans to do it: He plans to put all the pressure on the pitchers.

Expected to close for Indians, Keith Foulke retires  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Before he got a chance to finish another game, Keith Foulke closed his career.  —  Foulke, whose toss to first base for the final out ended an 86-year World Series title drought for the Boston Red Sox …

ROCKET: 80-20 I'LL RETIRE  —  According to Roger Clemens, the Yankees have a slim chance of adding him to their suspect pitching rotation sometime this summer.  —  Clemens yesterday told Houston television station KRIV there is an 80 percent chance he is going to end his Hall of Fame career by retiring.

Edgar's life after baseball  —  Two years into retirement, Martinez runs a Redmond business and proves you can walk away from the game  —  REDMOND — It's not Safeco Field.  Or Yankee Stadium.  Or Camden Yards.  It's a small office in a nondescript business park a few blocks from Marymoor Park.

Notes: Nats interested in Belliard  —  Club reportedly targeting veteran free agent as reserve infielder  —  VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals lost a considerable amount of strength on the bench when they traded Marlon Anderson and Daryle Ward for prospects on Aug. 31.

Scuffing baseball could lead to 10-game suspension for non-pitchers  —  NEW YORK (AP) — A major league position player who scuffs or defaces a baseball would be ejected and receive an automatic 10-game suspension under changes approved Friday by the sport's playing rules committee.

Where's the fun in the sale of the Braves?  —  At first glance, the pending sale of the Atlanta Braves is a deal only a tax attorney could love.  Liberty Media gets the Braves, $1 billion in cash and — who knows? — maybe a junk bond to be named later.  In return, Time Warner gets back a chunk of its stock held by Liberty Media.

Devil Ray performs under pressure  —  ST. PETERSBURG - Infielder Ty Wigginton came through with a lot of big hits for the Devil Rays last season.  But that was nothing like the way he delivered during the offseason.  —  When his wife, Angela, went into intense labor two weeks early …

The Season Starts Today  —  As I type this right now, there are little more than 4 hours til pitchers and catchers officially report to duty.  I am not overstating my case when I say that this is one of the most important seasons in Milwaukee Brewer history.

Opening pitch  —  Matsuzaka speaks the language in first outing at spring training  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — There might be nothing better than illusion.  —  "Hmm.  How should I answer that question?"  Daisuke Matsuzaka said yesterday, through his translator, media relations employee Sachiyo Sekiguchi …