Rays' Zimmer weighs in on collision  —  Veteran baseball man discouraged by Girardi's comments  —  ST. PETERSBURG — What happened Saturday remained a topic of conversation with the Rays when club senior baseball advisor Don Zimmer weighed in with his view Sunday.

Beckett tweaks his back  —  As a precaution, he's scratched from start  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - Red Sox ace Josh Beckett walked to the mound at City of Palms Park yesterday, threw one warm-up pitch, and put his hand to his lower back.  He tried five more tosses before alerting catcher Jason Varitek …

Braun making strides  —  Yost likes his quick progress  —  Phoenix - Ned Yost was asked Saturday morning if Ryan Braun's play in left field met his expectations this spring.  —  “No,” replied the Milwaukee Brewers manager.  —  What's this?  Are red flags going up?

Rowand endorses Crede by the Bay  —  Says Giants would be prudent to deal for Sox's now-healthy 3rd baseman  —  TUCSON, Ariz. - Not many players who train in the Phoenix area actually beg for a one-day trip to Tucson, but the Giants' Aaron Rowand did.  That gave him a chance to visit …

Marmol will close, OF will be acquired  —  SPRING TRAINING: CUBS  —  MESA, Ariz. — For all the position battles in camp, the most important one might be playing out in the general manager's office, where Jim Hendry is trying to put the Cubs in position to acquire an outfielder and a certain infielder from Baltimore.

Buzz about Bonds is Barry funny  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - The Mets have an immediate hole in left field, and a lineup currently devoid of power with multiple sluggers sidelined with nagging injuries.  —  But asked last night if there is any remote merit to stories suggesting a pursuit …

Role in fraud ruins dreams for Texas Rangers' prospects  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS, Dominican Republic - On Jan. 30, Omar Beltre, a tremendously talented Texas Rangers prospect, loaded his car for the biggest assignment of his career.

Cook slated for side session Sunday  —  TUCSON — Precaution turned to optimism Saturday regarding the health of key reliever Luis Vizcaino and starter Aaron Cook, while Jason Hirsh's shoulder remains sore, creating the possibility he won't be ready for the regular season.

Frustrated Baldelli say illness rumors are unfounded … ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rocco Baldelli has heard the rumors.  He knows about the speculation surrounding his injury-prone major-league career.  And, he says, the word frustration doesn't put into perspective how he feels …

Hampton hopes to make next start  —  A day after leaving a spring training start with a strained right groin, Braves pitcher Mike Hampton said he doesn't expect to miss his next start and plans to throw again Monday, according to published reports.  —  “I'll say I'm cautiously optimistic …