PSL: Omar Talks with Reporters from Dugout  —  Omar Minaya just talked with reporters from the dugout. … According to Minaya, Moises Alou will have surgery and should be on a bike roughly one week later, “hopefully.”  He is expected to be back in four to six weeks, as had been reporters yesterday.

Yanks not blessed by April schedule  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Blame Benedict.  —  Not ex-Atlanta Braves catcher Bruce Benedict, but Pope Benedict XVI.  —  The Yankees' April schedule is “terrible,” as general manager Brian Cashman said yesterday, and it will affect the roster decisions they make in spring training.

Joba Chamberlain bitten by HR ball  —  TAMPA - Joba Chamberlain called it “just one of those days.”  —  Of course, Chamberlain had never experienced a day like this since joining the Yankees last August, at least one without midges around.  —  The hard-throwing 22-year-old allowed two runs on two hits …

Nobody's perfect (cont.)  —  Mets  —  Need: Backup for first base, right field.  —  Carlos Delgado's hip problems have to be a concern even if he's telling Mets people he's good to go.  The MRI was said to be negative, and Delgado insists these hip problems aren't a recurrence of last year's hip problems.

Pap, Sox agree to deal  —  The Red Sox and closer Jonathan Papelbon have agreed to a one-year deal worth $775,000.  —  That's more than closer Bobby Jenks got with a similar amount of service time, as he signed a $550,000 contract.  Papelbon was looking for a deal in the range of $900,000 …

Phillies show striking out not all that bad  —  LAKELAND, Fla. - Strikeouts are a sensitive subject for hitters, and understandably so.  —  They're terrible.  —  The feeble hack at the ball.  The dejected look after the third strike.  The sad walk to the dugout.  —  Except strikeouts aren't so terrible.

Yankees-Reds: The live blog  —  Welcome to Ed Smith Field in Sarasota, Fla. It's 71 degrees and the Yankees are playing the Cincinnati Reds.  It'll be Chien-Ming Wang vs. Aaron Harang.  —  A swarm of bees delayed the game here last year when the Yankees were in town.  So if the live blog suddenly ends, you'll know why.

Nats Plant Trees  —  The Nationals' brain trust gathered beyond the left field fence at Nats Stadium this morning to plant the 13th of 14 cherry trees that will adorn the plaza.  The ceremony began once Mayor Adrian Fenty arrived.  Giant Racing President Head George Washington immediately attached himself to Fenty's side.

Ozzie Smith is Back in Spring Training... With his Barbeque  —  Ozzie Smith, the now Hall of Famer, and defensive great that played for the St. Louis Cardinals is in Spring Training.  Yes, Ozzie “The Wizard” is warming up for the season, preparing the tools of the trade …

New York Yankees  —  The Yankees have a tendency to bring in players that are past their prime, which would make many think that I'd give Gene Monahan and his staff something of a pass for this team's lower-third finish in Three-Year Rank category.  However, while Monahan is almost an institution …

Tiger takes on Smoltz at plate  —  Winter Haven, Fla. —  Two days after John Smoltz, Jeff Francoeur and Tom Glavine played 18 holes with PGA star Tiger Woods, Smoltz faced his pal again Wednesday — this time in the pitcher's domain.  —  Woods donned a batting helmet and Braves jersey …

Surgery not immediate option for Pujols  —  Slugger, Cardinals planning to manage, monitor elbow  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Cardinals team physician Dr. George Paletta shed light on the condition of Albert Pujols' elbow on Wednesday, confirming that the slugger likely is best off not having …