TAKE IT FROM ME  —  PEDRO HAS NO PROBLEM STEPPING BEHIND JOHAN  —  Willie Randolph hasn't officially named an Opening Day starter yet, so Pedro Martinez did it for him yesterday.  —  Despite another strong simulation and the best health he has enjoyed in years, Pedro conceded …

Ailing Mets will get Castillo back next  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - By Wednesday, there's a strong chance that Moises Alou will be the lone Mets regular still unavailable.  Luis Castillo wants to be the latest rehabbing Met to return to the depleted lineup.  —  The second baseman said he's ready …

Aches and Pains Fell Two Yankees  —  As far as we can tell, Billy Crystal, that rookie sensation wearing No. 60, is healthy.  Some more important Yankee players are a little banged up today.  —  Jason Giambi asked Manager Joe Girardi if he could skip Wednesday's trip to St. Petersburg …

Ichiro still looking for a hit  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — The nightmare continues.  —  OK, not a nightmare.  More like a curiosity, eliciting increasing levels of incredulity.  —  Ichiro hitless?  It's like Paris Hilton going dateless, Jon Stewart going quipless, Eliot Spitzer going escortless.

Cards seek help on mound  —  JUPITER, FLA. — Four days after Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak downplayed the club's search for additional starting pitching, the club reacted Tuesday to persistent questions about Joel Pineiro's right shoulder by inquiring about free agent Kyle Lohse.

Baldelli dealing with muscle ‘abnormalities’  —  Rocco Baldelli addressed his mysterious medical problems for the first time today, saying a litany of tests by doctors around the country had revealed “some type of metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities.”

Beckett looks very unlikely for Japan  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - Though the Red Sox are still stopping short of saying Josh Beckett will not pitch the season opener in Tokyo, it looks increasingly likely that the ace will miss the two games there.  —  Beckett did say that he was feeling better yesterday …

Name The Three Kids, Win DVD Set and Yankees Century Book  —  Update: I have just been informed by a representative of MLB that I am not allowed to give away tickets.  I am sorry for the confusion.  The Yankees Century Book will replace the tickets in the offer.

Still batting around those ‘Abstract’ ideas  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - Bill James can, and will, tell you lots of things about baseball that you don't know.  That it doesn't pay, for example, for the Tampa Bay Rays to shift their defense against David Ortiz so that it looks like “a town meeting in right field.”

Still a tough pill to swallow  —  Greenwell resents '80s steroid users  —  Mike Greenwell shakes hands with another ex-Red Sox left fielder, Jim Rice (right), after Greenwell threw out the ceremonial first pitch before yesterday's game against the Mets.  (Charles Krupa/Associated Press)

Janssen out for season with torn labrum  —  Jays' primary setup man learns of results in an MRI on Tuesday  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Blue Jays pitcher Casey Janssen is finished for the season.  An MRI exam revealed that the discomfort Janssen felt in his right shoulder during a bullpen session …

Injuries leave Texas Rangers' rotation reeling  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — When the Texas Rangers begin the regular season in Seattle on March 31 they will have a healthy starting rotation.  Now, about the guys they planned on being in that rotation, well, that's a different story.

Indians address Salcedo rumors  —  Assistant GM of scouting says club has not signed prospect  —  WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Edward Salcedo has taken on near-mythical status on the Internet in recent months.  —  Some reports are calling the Dominican teenager a five-tool shortstop who could be the next Alex Rodriguez.

Van Slyke steamed over helmet rule  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Andy Van Slyke coached first base, as usual, against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, a split-squad game the Tigers won 5-4 at Joker Marchant Stadium.  —  Among the Tigers' four home runs in the victory were the fourth of the spring for both Pudge Rodriguez and Carlos Guillen.