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 …

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 …

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 …

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.”

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Washington Nationals launch “You Make the Call” promotion  —  The Washington Nationals today announced the launch of their “You Make the Call” promotion, as part of their effort to “Welcome Home” fans to Nationals Park.  This promotion will provide Nationals fans a unique opportunity to choose …

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)

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.

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.

Piniella wants hitters to start producing  —  Manager may shake up lineup, play regulars more  —  MESA, Ariz. - Derrek Lee isn't concerned about his .125 average in the Cactus League, though manager Lou Piniella is anxious for his regulars to start hitting.  —  “I've had terrible springs and great springs,” Lee said.