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.

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 …

Farnsworth happy there's a new Joe in charge  —  SARASOTA, Fla. - Perhaps no Yankee player is happier than Kyle Farnsworth with the switch in the manager's office from Joe Torre to Joe Girardi.  And not just because he doesn't have to listen to Torre call him “Farnsie” anymore.

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.

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 …

Lou beats media to punch line  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — With Carlos Zambrano scheduled to pitch the first time the Cubs saw the Arizona Diamondbacks since getting swept out of the playoffs in October, manager Lou Piniella was ready to respond before the first question was finished.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

Dusty on Votto, Dunn and aggressiveness  —  Dusty Baker wants his hitters to hit.  He likes aggressive hitters.  He was talking about Joey Votto and finished with this:  —  “I really, really hate the called third strike.  I hate that.  You're guess and you ain't ready to hit.”