Yankees, Rays disciplined  —  Discipline has been issued to six members of the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays as a result of the bench-clearing incident that occurred during the top of the second inning of their Wednesday, March 12th Spring Training game at Progress Energy Park, Home of Al Lang Field, in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Pena to start season on DL  —  Left fielder out at least four weeks with left oblique strain  —  VIERA, Fla. — Nationals left fielder Wily Mo Pena will likely start the 2008 season on the disabled list due to a Grade 2 strain of his left oblique.  It's a significant tear in the muscle, and could take four weeks or more to heal.

Byrd-to-Cubs deal not dead yet  —  Texas outfielder's slow spring doesn't deter potential suitors  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd has one outspoken supporter.  His name is manager Ron Washington and that support hasn't wavered, despite Byrd's slow start this spring.

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 …

Red Sox tag Leicester, Sarfate in O's rain-shortened loss  —  Leicester surrenders two long home runs; Sarfate retires just one of six Boston batters  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - Jon Leicester is viewed as a long shot to win the Orioles' fifth starter competition, so the last thing he can afford to do is let a good opportunity slip away.

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.

Astros 2B Matsui to have surgery, out 2 weeks  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Houston Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui will undergo surgery to repair an anal fissure on Monday in Houston.  —  Matsui has struggled with the health problem for much of spring training and was diagnosed with the condition earlier this week.

Trembley tries wooing two big Birds back to nest  —  Ripken open to manager's request; B. Robinson not interested in role with team  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Orioles manager Dave Trembley received commitments from four of the organization's former players to work as spring instructors this year …