Met's delivery is special  —  Sidearmer may wind up in pen  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Lastings Milledge passed Joe Smith's locker yesterday afternoon, and tapped the reliever on the shoulder to offer congratulations.  —  Facing the first batter in his first game of his first spring training …

Notes: Nats play first intrasquad game  —  Chico trying to fix mechanics; Hanrahan overcomes nerves  —  VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals held their first intrasquad game on Tuesday and it ended in a 4-4 tie in nine innings at Space Coast Stadium.  —  Left-hander Matt Chico …

Baseball's escalating drug woes are sad reminder of '84 scandal  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // It doesn't seem like yesterday, but it doesn't seem that long ago, either.  —  It was 1984, to be exact, and Major League Baseball was faced with its biggest public embarrassment since the Black Sox threw the World Series.

The scene at Roger Dean Stadium  —  JUPITER — The simple pleasures of life need not be enhanced by cutting-edge computer graphics to be appreciated.  Simple pleasures, in fact, may be improved upon in only one way.  —  Multiply them.  —  So it is that two scoops of ice cream melting …

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.

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.

Assessing baseball's top position battles  —  With Cactus and Grapefruit League play just around the bend, it's time for your weekly look at the top 10 position battles in baseball right now.  —  1. Angels fourth/fifth starters  —  The contenders: Joe Saunders, Darren Oliver  —  The favorite: Depends ...

A Debut to Remember, and One to Forget  —  The pristine white uniform with the Old English "D" and No. 65 that Lino Urdaneta wore in his major league debut hangs in a closet in his home in Venezuela, just above his glove and spikes.  —  The other souvenir from that day, Sept. 9, 2004 …

Jeter and Jordan's Eurotrip  —  Instead of watching the Cards win the World Series, Derek Jeter went where nobody knew his name.  —  TAMPA, Fla. — There are still places in the world where people don't care whether Derek Jeter is still tight with Alex Rodriguez.

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 …

Maine can show he's man  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — John Maine is supposed to be competing for a job in this year's rotation, but it would be a serious upset if he is not a part of it.  Maine already has a locker in rotation row - right next to Tom Glavine - and they asked …

Visa issue keeps Ponson out  —  FORT MYERS, FLA. - Although a visa has been approved, Twins righthander Sidney Ponson might be unable to pitch in a spring training game for nearly two weeks.  —  Barry Praver, Ponson's agent, confirmed Monday that Ponson's meeting to obtain his visa is scheduled …

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.

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 …