Johnson`borderline' to start the season  —  · Unless Josh Johnson starts feeling better immediately and for the rest of spring training, the Marlins will open the season without him in the rotation.  —  Saturday, Johnson felt enough soreness in the inside of his forearm to bag a scheduled throwing session.

Piniella encouraged by Wood's BP session  —  MESA, Ariz. — For all the new guys in camp for the Cubs, the star attraction during workouts Saturday was an old face.  —  More encouraging for the Cubs, it was a game face Kerry Wood took to the mound to throw to hitters for the first time this spring.

Clement Will Start Throwing Next Week  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox begin their exhibition season in a matter of days, but the player most excited to turn the calendar to March isn't going to be playing any time soon.  —  Matt Clement will be happy just to toss a ball, perhaps as early as next week.

60 seconds with the Marlins' Ricky Nolasco  —  Staff writer Joe Capozzi spoke with Ricky Nolasco, the Marlins' poker-playing pitcher.  —  How do you like to spend your off-season?  —  I'm a big poker player.  I like to play that quite a bit.  —  Texas Hold 'Em?  —  Yes.  I'd say I'm a good player.

Notes: Timlin prepared to take the lead  —  Tavarez, Pineiro, Donnelly to audition in Wednesday's game  —  FORT MYERS — Mike Timlin is two weeks shy of turning 41.  He could never forget that because his age is brought up to him by nearly every reporter who comes in his path.

Live, from Fort Myers, it's Dice-K  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — One of the great things about the pre- game phase of spring training is "live batting practice."  It's when hitters step into the batting cage and try to hit real big league pitching.  The hurlers give them the courtesy of telling …

MEET FREDI GONZALEZ  —  Two years before the Marlins' inaugural season, Fredi Gonzalez was hired as the team's first minor-league manager.  Last October, he became the major-league club's ninth manager.  —  • Personal: Born Jan. 28, 1964, in Havana, Gonzalez moved to Miami with his parents at age 2.

Deal for Rangers' Young in works  —  'Two or three major issues' delay contract completion, agent says  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Rangers continue to plug along on a contract extension with shortstop Michael Young that could make him the franchise's landmark player.

Pirates Notebook: Nady being checked for chronic condition  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Pirates right fielder Xavier Nady, hospitalized earlier in the week for intestinal inflammation, will be examined tomorrow to determine if he has a chronic condition.

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 …