Rivera, Free Agent to Be, Closes Door on Boston  —  Mariano Rivera, the Yankees' closer, smiled while he was told some of the recent developments regarding the Boston Red Sox.  Curt Schilling will become a free agent after the season.  Manny Ramírez is not yet in camp.

A Whole New Ballgame for Blomberg  —  Starting a new career is difficult enough, but doing it without the staples of one's life?  That may be asking too much.  —  "They have to have pastrami, corned beef and brisket," Ron Blomberg said.  "A guy I talked to said they don't have it over there.

Interpreters in Baseball Making Sure Nothing Is Lost in Translation  —  Six Yankees jogged across a practice field here, along a path lined with excited fans, toward the bullpen of an adjacent field.  The fans recognized and shouted to Mike Mussina, Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte …

Who's on first: Donnie or Keith?  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The debate has lingered for over 20 years in greater New York, delightfully unresolved in chat rooms, message boards and, of course, our memory banks.  Just who was the area's best first baseman of the 1980s, Keith Hernandez or Don Mattingly?

Hawpe's hope: Prove he can hit lefties  —  Outfielder could approach all-star status with rounded game  —  Tucson - Of all the reasons why the Rockies believe their offense will go from acoustic to electric, the most obvious to the naked eye is Brad Hawpe.

For Red Sox, Manny is a keeper  —  ORLANDO, Fla. - Notes from spring training:  — The Rockies would listen if the Red Sox wanted to revive Manny Ramirez-for-Todd Helton discussions, but such a move would make little sense for the Sox unless they absolutely, positively decided that they no longer could tolerate Ramirez.

Bean Has Big Stats and Big Stature, and Little Chance of Making Yankees  —  She could see the lights of Yankee Stadium as the plane descended.  Ruth Bean's husband worked there.  —  She was 35 weeks pregnant.  Her husband, Colter, had urged her to stay home in Birmingham, Ala., to take care of herself.

New Baseball Statistic, With a Nod to an Old Standard  —  As newfangled baseball statistics go, on-base plus slugging percentage, or O.P.S., has become mainstream.  Stadium scoreboards display it right alongside batting average.  It has even appeared on the backs of Topps baseball cards.

The dust settles  —  With the circus out of town, Sammy gets to work finding his rhythm in the batter's box  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — On Day 2 of his return to the Rangers, Sammy Sosa did not need a police escort — but he got one anyway.  —  The carnival atmosphere surrounding Sosa's arrival Friday …

Spring Training: McCutchen on fast track  —  Premier prospect could reach Pirates by season's end  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — A point guard in basketball is a better player when his forwards finish plays near the hoop.

Sosa eyes comeback, dismisses steroids talk  —  Surprise, Ariz. - It's not often the national media converge on the outskirts of Phoenix for something other than a college bowl game.  But on this blustery Friday, a battery of reporters sat in front of Sammy Sosa with cameras rolling.

Former can't-miss kid going unnoticed  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — A year ago, he was the new star in camp.  Reporters begged for a moment of his time and he managed to avoid most of them.  He was the centerpiece acquisition off a tumultuous offseason, a can't-miss kid with a World Series MVP …

Texas closer to signing Young long term  —  Rangers hope to complete five-year deal for All-Star shortstop  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers have made significant progress toward signing shortstop Michael Young to a five-year contract extension that would ensure that he stays with the team through the 2013 season.