Rangers' fifth starter still uncertain  —  Rotation's final piece remains a mystery; Young's return is brief  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  MESA, Ariz. - Fifth Starter Mystery Theater rolls on with another twist in the still unsolved case.  —  Kameron Loe was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday …

Papelbon takes closing argument  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Case closed.  The Red Sox have a closer, and if Jonathan Papelbon has his way, he'll be making last call for at least the next 10 years.  —  According to the principals, the Red Sox determined that closing no longer posed the same medical risk …

Notes: Williams helps his cause  —  Righty nears solid rotation spot with another impressive outing  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Right-hander Jerome Williams inched closer to joining the Nationals' starting rotation on Thursday.  Williams had his second consecutive solid outing …

Mirror Mirror  —  The death of former commissioner Bowie Kuhn caused a lot of reflection in baseball circles about his contributions (or lack thereof) to the sport.  Kuhn will always be linked in the minds of many to his foil—Marvin Miller, former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Mariners Notebook: Good session for relievers  —  Rhodes further along than Putz in nursing sore elbow  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — There was a little unexpected pain when ailing relievers J.J. Putz and Arthur Rhodes threw on flat ground Wednesday morning.  —  The pair threw from distances up to 125 feet …

National disaster  —  VIERA, Fla. - Sometimes there are those telephone conversations you wish took place face to face.  The person on the other end is so incredulous, so frustrated, so spitting angry that you know he is sporting a look - like the worst bitter-beer face known to man - words can't do justice.

Erstad teaching — and winning  —  Veteran lending hand to Anderson despite battle for CF job  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Darin Erstad and Brian Anderson don't talk about ''the situation.''  —  Why should they?  —  ''Things work out the way they work out'' is Erstad's philosophy.

Mets Have More Very Young Phenoms  —  Last year, the Mets were aggressive and sent not one but two 17-year-old prospects to make their pro debuts at low Class A Hagerstown.  Outfielder Fernando Martinez and righthander Deolis Guerra didn't just survive-they thrived.

'October' finds comedy in Cubs' futility  —  The docu-comedy "Chasing October" is a timeless proposition.  Being a Cubs fan goes beyond October, November and into a burden that becomes Wrigley gum on life's shoe.  —  Inspired by a ghostly visit from Harry Caray, filmmaker Matt Liston set …

Five Questions: Colorado Rockies  —  1. Are the Rockies rebuilding yet again?  —  How many rebuilding plans have the Rockies had?  Too many to count, for sure, at least not without upsetting every baseball fan in the state of Colorado.  And it seems like yet again, the Rockies have decided to wait 'til next year.

Spring Training: Burnett's bid for spot in pitching rotation is trickier than it seems  —  Pitcher Sean Burnett has been working this spring to regain his position in the Pirates' rotation.  —  By Paul Meyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Before there was Zach Duke, there was Sean Burnett.