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.

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 …

Bonds has advice for Giants' reliable new leadoff man  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Dave Roberts knelt beside Barry Bonds on the first day of spring training hoping to strike up a conversation with the slugger.  Bonds spoke first with one message: Be aggressive and run.

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.

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.

Westbrook gives Tribe a chance  —  Consistency is strength as pitcher enters talks in his free-agent year  —  WINTER HAVEN, FLA. - Can the Indians sign Jake Westbrook?  —  If they do, it will be the first significant player in a long time who entered his free-agent year to sign with the Tribe — and stay in Cleveland.

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.

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 …

Mussina wise man to younger starters  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Mike Mussina doesn't quite have his own office at Legends Field, but his locker is wedged so deep into a corner that he is almost hidden from view.  —  "Nobody can find me that way," he said with a smile before the Yankees worked out yesterday.

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.

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.

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.