A Slide Leads to a Cut and a Festering Wound  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Two of his players and two of his coaches were ejected Wednesday, but Yankees Manager Joe Girardi insisted his team had not been looking for a fight.  In the visiting dugout after Round 2 of a bruising bout with the Tampa Bay Rays …

Manny finds wisdom with touch of gray  —  Slugger refines exercise, diet as career begins to wind down  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The experts will tell us one of the keys to aging well is to continue learning along the way.  Older and wiser, as the saying goes.

Mariners release Ramirez  —  Lefty's struggles, stocked rotation spell end of road in Seattle  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — The Mariners' first roster move of Spring Training was a stunner.  —  Left-handed pitcher Horacio Ramirez, who spent most of last season in the starting rotation …

Capuano can't find groove vs. Seattle  —  Left-hander struggles for third straight outing in Cactus play  —  MARINERS 5, BREWERS 1  —  Mariners at the plate: Outfielder Mike Morse tacked on three more hits to his productive spring: a single in the fifth, run-scoring double in the seventh …

Crystal Puts Bat on Ball and Tongue in Cheek  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Say this about Billy Crystal, a 5-foot-5 infield prospect who bats right-handed, throws right-handed and left everything on practice field No. 2 at Legends Field during a workout Wednesday: He has a strike zone the size of a fire ant.

Lee not a fan of batting in five-hole  —  Slugger prefers to hit cleanup, but will do what's best for team  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Before the start of Spring Training, Astros manager Cecil Cooper projected the Opening Day lineup to include Miguel Tejada hitting third, Lance Berkman fourth and Carlos Lee fifth.

Mets looking for outfielder; how about Endy?  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Barry Bonds.  Sammy Sosa.  Xavier Nady.  Marcus Thames.  Kenny Lofton.  Juan Rivera.  Reed Johnson.  Coco Crisp.  —  These are the outfielders that have been linked to the Mets ever since it was learned …

Manuel reveals Phillies' No. 3 starter  —  Manager gives nod to Moyer; Kendrick to skirt Braves  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — While the rest of his teammates battle the Braves at Bright House Field on Friday, Kyle Kendrick will pitch in a Minor League game.  —  Manager Charlie Manuel wants …

Piniella to test Soriano at No. 2 in lineup  —  Move an attempt to keep slugger healthy; Fukudome to bat fifth  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Lou Piniella plans to experiment with the Cubs lineup, dropping leadoff man Alfonso Soriano to No. 2 in an attempt to keep him healthy while inserting Kosuke Fukudome fifth.

Ga. baseball team plans “Eliot Spitzer” theme night  —  MACON, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia minor league team is hoping to turn Eliot Spitzer's scandal into a packed stadium.  —  The Macon Music is capitalizing on the outgoing New York governor's prostitution-related downfall, by serving up a “Eliot Spitzer Night.”

Joke's on Castillo, but he isn't laughing  —  Teammates play prank on veteran, putting gum atop his cap  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — By the fourth inning, Luis Castillo retreated to the Mets' clubhouse, passed by a mirror and discovered the reasons for the behind-his-back giggles and grins in the dugout on Wednesday.

El Duque kicks into gear  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Just a week ago, Orlando Hernandez was asking fans to cross their fingers, unsure if he could have the same success minus his signature high leg kick.  —  Wednesday, his confidence resurfaced, buoyed by a three-inning, 60-pitch simulated game against minor leaguers.