Duncan, Gomes, Cabrera suspended; Girardi fined  —  NEW YORK — Yankees center fielder Melky Cabrera and first baseman Shelley Duncan were suspended for three games each for their roles in Wednesday's spring-training fracas between New York and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Ordering up a trade  —  MESA, Ariz. — Alfonso Soriano says getting used to batting anywhere but leadoff will take time.  That's why he sees the logic in moving down in the Cubs' batting order now, rather than waiting for a Brian Roberts trade that isn't likely to get done until the final week of camp.

On the fast track?  Colon solid in debut  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - Bartolo Colon was hitting 94 miles per hour, throwing 92-93 consistently with his four-seam fastball, 84-88 with his slider, and 81 on his changeup, according to a scout's radar gun yesterday.  In his heyday, Colon could reach 100 m.p.h.

Sports bloggers weave a tangled web  —  Y ears ago, the only way sports fans could have their voices heard by the masses was calling a talk-radio show or writing a letter to the editor.  —  But expanding technology has provided myriad forums to vent and opine — whether it's launching blogs …

Minor League Report: Larry Broadway  —  First baseman trying to make strong impression for front office  —  VIERA, Fla. — The 2007 season was supposed to be the year in which Larry Broadway became the starting first baseman for the Nationals.  The position was open because Nick Johnson was disabled due a broken right leg.

Jon Heyman: Rangers struck out for Santana and Hunter  —  Also in the Daily Scoop...  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Several weeks before Johan Santana went to the Mets, the Texas Rangers came very close to making a blockbuster trade for the superstar pitcher, people familiar with those talks say.

Mets top prospect Martinez a keeper  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — He's the great Mets hope — the prospect New York refused to trade, not even for arguably the best pitcher in the major leagues.  —  He's the anti-Lastings Milledge — a young man who has earned the veterans' respect with his hard work and humble nature.

Cards look to Lohse for help  —  JUPITER, FLA. — The Cardinals addressed an innings-short starting rotation Thursday by reaching agreement with durable free agent righthander Kyle Lohse on a one-year, $4.25 million contract, pending Lohse's passing a team physical this morning.

Pena likely out a month  —  The results from Wily Mo Pena's MRI are back, and they reveal what many in the organization suspected yesterday.  It is a Grade 2 strain of the left oblique.  A club spokesman — delivering the report from the medical staff — said it was a “significant tear of the muscle …

Rangers prospect is exhibit A  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - Matt West said he doesn't know the name of the performance-enhancing drug he used that almost killed his baseball career.  He was taking nitric oxide and creatine and all the other standard supplements, and, poof, somehow his urine came back dirty.

Doug....  In the 20 years since I was first called up to the big leagues I've played with exactly 2 players who's presence in the clubhouse carried onto the field.  Darren Daulton in Philadelphia, and Doug Mirabelli here in Boston.  —  Very few players have that ability …

Weaver apparently not coming to DC  —  Right-hander may have priced self out of Nats' pay range  —  VIERA, Fla. — It appears that the Nationals are out of the running to acquire free-agent right-hander Jeff Weaver, MLB.com learned on Thursday.  —  According to a baseball source, “The situation is complicated.”