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 …

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 …

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.

Matsui not looking in past  —  Rockies prefer to see promise, not failure with Mets  —  TUCSON - The Rockies saw enough from Kaz Matsui in the final six weeks of last season that they are willing to ignore what he did in slightly more than two years with the New York Mets.

Young to compete for spot with Nats  —  First baseman battled through many personal problems in '06  —  VIERA, Fla. — When Nationals general manager Jim Bowden contacted first baseman Dmitri Young almost two weeks go, Bowden started the conversation by asking, "Do you need a tow?"  —  They both laughed.

Notes: Braun's defense an area of focus  —  Prospect in mix with Koskie out  —  thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com  —  Phoenix - Ned Yost was asked Monday just how much third-base prospect Ryan Braun could improve his defense over six weeks of spring training.

Jeter's take: So what?  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Derek Jeter this morning insisted his relationship with Alex Rodriguez is just fine in the workplace — but he vehemently declined to discuss their friendship off the field.  —  "How would I characterize it?"  Jeter said, repeating a question about their current relationship.

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.

2006 EWSL Wrapup By Team  —  As I did last year, before diving into my preseason Established Win Shares Levels roster analyses, I'm going to take a quick look back at last season's.  First up is the team-by-team results.  For those of you who need a primer on EWSL and my annual roster roundups, go here.

Nice guy Brian now in spotlight  —  The whip is now in Brian Cashman's hands.  —  He needs it.  Look all around him.  There's all this carping from fans, and some media types, about not running to Mariano Rivera with a pen and a blank check.  The calm once surrounding Bernie Williams has evaporated into controversy.

Notes: Greene optimistic about hand  —  Recovering shortstop eager to get past injuries of '06  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Khalil Greene strolled into the clubhouse on Monday, a silver wedding ring gracing the left hand that is a lingering concern for the San Diego Padres and their fans.

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.

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.