Backing out of Japan trip?  —  Beckett injury cause for concern  —  The Red Sox are slated to leave Florida for Japan a week from Wednesday and there's a distinct possibility ace righthander Josh Beckett won't be accompanying the team to pitch the opener.  —  Beckett suffered back spasms …

Harper: Zim rips Girardi  —  TAMPA - After all these years you can still count on Don Zimmer to tell you what he thinks, even if it means essentially calling a close friend like Joe Girardi a chowderhead.  —  So there was Zim Sunday, saying he was “dumbfounded” to hear that Girardi …

Pie looking like Cubs' center fielder  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - Felix Pie has taken a big lead over Sam Fuld in the battle to be the Cubs' center fielder, but whether he'll be the man on Opening Day remains to be seen.  —  Manager Lou Piniella buried Pie on the bench after his recall last August …

Stadium game likely for Bronx Blueshirts  —  The House that Ruth Built is on track to be the house the Rangers bring down.  —  As the current Rangers continue to drive down the stretch of this season, what is shaping up as a historic 2008-09 schedule now is expected to include a game at Yankee Stadium.

Tip leads to new outlook for Pelfrey  —  Mets right-hander learning to be more deceptive on mound  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Still disappointed by his performance last summer and intent on improving, Mike Pelfrey shamelessly has turned to deceit as a means to attaining his objective.

Angel in the outfield  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Angel Pagan has hit 753 fewer career home runs than Barry Bonds' 762, but he also has one thing baseball's king of controversy isn't ever likely to receive:  —  A chance to start the season with the Mets.  —  Pagan has made the most of his …

Linden has doubts about roster security  —  Outfielder voices concerns on opportunities with A's this spring  —  PHOENIX — It wasn't supposed to be this way for Todd Linden, the former Giant who figured that he was a slam dunk to start in the A's outfield this season, considering their youth movement.

VET PRANKSTERS HIT ROOKIE HARD  —  The clubhouse pranks for the Yankees have picked up this spring, and last year's No. 1 pick Andrew Brackman, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, has been hit hard.  He walked to his locker yesterday morning to find that all of his sliders, his baseball underwear, had been slit down the middle.

Mets fans gearing up to Shea goodbye  —  Anthony D'Alessio fell in love with the Mets in 1981 and has since called the wilting Shea Stadium a second home.  —  Twice he pulled off the ultradedicated feat of attending all 81 home games, and Sunday he sealed the deal on the hat trick …

Spring Training: Leyland sees former team getting better  —  Pirates manager John Russell is greeted by Detroit Tigers manager and former Pirates skipper Jim Leyland before the start of Sunday's game at Lakeland Fla.  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Jim Leyland yesterday predicted good things for the Pirates — with an important caveat.