Crisp's finger not yet sharp  —  FORT MYERS - Coco Crisp still is experiencing the aftereffects of a fractured left index finger almost a year after suffering the injury, according to Terry Francona.  —  The Red Sox [team stats] manager said that his switch-hitting center fielder recently told …

Mailbag: Who will start at first base?  —  Nationals beat reporter Bill Ladson answers fans' questions … If Nick Johnson doesn't return until June, who will be the starting first baseman — Larry Broadway, Travis Lee, Tony Batista or Dmitri Young?  —  I think Larry Broadway will be the starting first baseman.

Milledge Looks to Rein in Free Spirit but Retain Flair  —  Willie Randolph eyed the 20 or so reporters encircling him in the dugout and, with a sigh, prepared for what he considered inevitable.  —  "Come on, give me the first Milledge negative question," Randolph said.  "Come on, throw it at me.

Benson will hold off on surgery … Orioles pitcher Kris Benson will put off surgery to repair his torn right rotator cuff and instead undergo a rehabilitation process, which could last a month, in a final attempt to pitch in 2007, a baseball source said last night.

Gibbons given lifeline through 2008  —  DUNEDIN, FLA. — John Gibbons's status as a lame-duck manager didn't even last until position players reported here for spring training.  —  According to sources close to Gibbons and Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi …

Long way from Shea for former Mets star Ordonez  —  PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -The first day of Rey Ordonez comeback couldn't have been any more humbling.  Or wet.  —  The former Gold Glover with the New York Mets began his first day on a baseball diamond since 2004 by fielding ground balls hit by a Mariners coach.

He's on deck once again  —  Santo tries to be upbeat about his Hall of Fame chances  —  MESA, Ariz. — Another opportunity to make the Hall of Fame is coming up for Ron Santo, and although he's cautiously optimistic about next Tuesday's Veterans Committee balloting, Santo has learned the hard way to keep his emotions in check.

Baseball caps to have new feel  —  A pitcher stands on the mound in the August sun, tugging at the bill of his sweat-soaked cap, stained white with the salt of his labors.  —  That might be an image of the past if Major League Baseball's new caps work according to plan.

Beltran turns the page  —  Final out of NLCS a popular talking point at camp Monday  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The hangover persists.  And now that the public eye again can focus on Carlos Beltran, it may get worse.  No "hair of the dog" exists for this one.

Mariners Notebook: Vidro wants DH crash course  —  New Mariner hopes to get tips from Edgar  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Jose Vidro wanted to be in camp early for his first season with a team other than the Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos.  —  Just one problem: Jose Vidro Jr., 11, was getting ready to play too, back in Puerto Rico.

Zambrano optimistic about new deal  —  Righty is 85 to 90 percent sure agreement will be reached  —  MESA, Ariz. — Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano said he expects to reach some sort of agreement before Tuesday's scheduled arbitration hearing in Phoenix.  —  Zambrano said on Monday that he talked …

Alomar backstop insurance  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Mets signed catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. to a minor-league contract yesterday, a move that gives them added depth behind the plate and reunites the catcher with his father, the team's third-base coach.  —  Alomar, 40, batted a combined .278 …

Morrow's mind is on mastering the mound  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Brandon Morrow is like most players in his first big league camp.  —  The next word he speaks might be his first.  —  First-timers tend to be quiet to the extreme, even those who are first-round draft choices and instant millionaires.

Lindstrom's next mission: Make the Marlins' roster  —  After a two-year Mormon trip in Sweden, a stronger Matt Lindstrom returned with big-league ambitions.  —  mphillips@MiamiHerald.com  —  JUPITER - Are you ready for the Swedish fastball?  —  That might just be what they start calling Matt Lindstrom's heat.

Juan Pierre gets tips from a master  —  New Dodger is working with base-stealing legend Maury Wills to improve his efficiency on the basepaths.  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — A mutual admiration society comes to order every day at Dodgertown when new center fielder Juan Pierre meets with base-stealing legend Maury Wills.