Santo: The bummer of 69 (percent)  —  Ex-Cub leads voting, but Hall veterans shut him out again  —  MESA, Ariz. — Ron Santo's heart was broken again Tuesday when he was denied entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame, leaving the former Cubs icon to wonder whether his day ever will come.

Albany DA raids Fla. steroids center  —  Yearlong investigation of Internet drug sales may expose use by pro athletes  —  Click byline for more stories by writer.  —  Copyright Times Union  —  ORLANDO, Fla. — A downtown pharmacy was raided by a law enforcement task force on Tuesday …

Next big things?  Mets prospects make waves  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Imagine a 6-foot-4 outfielder who is faster than Jose Reyes.  —  The Mets have him.  —  Now imagine an 18-year-old outfielder whose pure hitting ability is reminiscent of a young Manny Ramirez.  —  The Mets have him, too.

Notes: Not as hectic for Hatteberg  —  First baseman more at ease in second spring with Reds  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — The pace of Reds Spring Training hasn't been quite as frenetic this year for first baseman Scott Hatteberg.  —  Hatteberg first came to the Reds when he signed late as a free agent on Feb. 12, 2006.

Ponson has a serious visa issue  —  Wait for proper permit frustrates Ryan, Gardenhire  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — For a guy who admittedly is down to his last chance in baseball, Sidney Ponson hasn't shown his new team a sense of urgency.  —  And that is hurting the oft-troubled veteran pitcher's chances …

An Open Letter to Murray Chass  —  Hi, Murray.  —  I write to you as one baseball fan to another.  There are only a few of us who are fortunate enough to have turned our love for baseball into a career.  We are both in that lucky group.  That's why I was disappointed to read the following in your column today.

Education still a priority for standout baseball player  —  WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass.(CNS) — Long before Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano reported to spring training this year he was doing his homework, working out and preparing for what he hopes will be another All-Star season.

Shortstop jumped at M's invitation  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Rey Ordonez tried to retire in 2004, but it didn't take.  —  Like many players who have spent their lives on the very specific and time-consuming craft of baseball, Ordonez found himself in his mid-30s, financially comfortable but with little idea what to do with himself.

Crain signs three-year deal with Twins  —  Right-handed reliever to stay in Minnesota through 2009  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Twins have thus far been unable to lock up closer Joe Nathan with a contract extension, but they may have locked up their closer of the future on Tuesday.

Reed, Broussard remain upbeat  —  Fringe players likely will take on lesser roles for Mariners or could be traded  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Jeremy Reed and Ben Broussard have less reason than anyone in camp to be pleased with the Mariners' direction.  —  Reed, the former starting center fielder …

Life of Brian on the upswing  —  Changes at bat keep Anderson in Sox' CF picture  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — All of a sudden, the talk surrounding Brian Anderson isn't as harsh.  —  That's quite a change from last September, when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen began issuing threats to the center fielder …

Notes: Miller strains calf in tune-up  —  Backup catcher has MRI to determine extent of injury  —  PHOENIX — Veteran catcher Damian Miller was forced out of the Brewers' intrasquad game on Tuesday with a strained left calf and was to undergo an MRI scan later in the day to determine the extent of the damage.

Whole organization easing assimilation … FORT MYERS, Fla. — Daisuke Matsuzaka's mind worked furiously.  The camera clicks sounded like a thousand typewriters, his every twitch broadcast around the world, in at least two languages.  There he was, in front of millions of people, momentarily stumped.

Joke is on Jeter!  —  President and Mantle pop up on Topps' gag baseball card  —  It's hard to Topps this one: The card company has issued a Derek Jeter baseball card with a smiling President Bush in the stands.  —  But there's something very wrong with that picture: Bush wasn't really at the game that day.

Notes: Hampton progressing at camp  —  Southpaw recovering from surgery, likely to miss first start  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — To determine how Mike Hampton fared while throwing his latest session of batting practice, one must decide whether to side with Hampton's cautious evaluation …

Honus card sells for $2.35 million  —  Anonymous collector pays record-setting price  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — The "Mona Lisa" of baseball memorabilia, an almost mint condition 1909 Honus Wagner tobacco card, arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday in the company of an armed guard but without its new owner …

Stats Geek: Giles-Bay run has been a hit for Pirates  —  By Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  Would you believe the Pirates' left fielder these past eight seasons has put up Cooperstown-worthy numbers?  —  Of course you wouldn't, unless you realize I'm talking about two guys.