Lackey out of action for 3-4 weeks  —  Strained triceps forces ace to join Escobar on sidelines  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Angels ace John Lackey has been diagnosed with a strained right triceps after an examination on Friday by Dr. Lewis Yocum, team orthopedist.

OWNER: BOSOX CLOSER A ‘MOUSE’  —  It's one thing for owners to have a little back-and-forth like John Henry and Hank Steinbrenner did recently in regard to Red Sox Nation vs. Yankees Universe.  It's another for a young player to take a shot at an owner.  —  That's what Jonathan Papelbon, 27, did in criticizing Steinbrenner.

Dice, Dice baby: A Matsuzaka is born  —  Right-handed hurler becomes father to second child, first boy  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Daisuke Matsuzaka became a father again on Saturday morning, and as a result, he is all but certain to be able to join the Red Sox during the season-opening trip to his native country of Japan.

Tense moment in China is diffused  —  BEIJING - Cool heads staved off a potential international incident involving uniformed Chinese security guards and - of all things - the autograph of nearly washed-up Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park.  —  Less than an hour after the Dodgers …

Piniella dismisses Dempster's bad day  —  MESA, Ariz. - By this time next week, manager Lou Piniella expects to have his Cubs pitching rotation set and “that's when my headaches will start.”  —  Not that Ryan Dempster didn't start the migraine early Friday with a six-run second inning …

Ankiel jacks a pair prior to wild finish  —  Outfielder's homer tally now at three; Cards win on errant pitch  —  CARDINALS 6, DODGERS 4  —  Cardinals at the plate: Rick Ankiel gave his team a quick lead in the first inning, narrowly clearing the center-field wall with a homer.

Melky Cabrera plans to appeal suspension  —  Melky Cabrera still maintained Saturday morning that he didn't punch the Rays' Evan Longoria in the melee last week and he plans to appeal his three-game suspension, though he's going to watch video of the incident with his agent first.

Mets' Valentin makes a major plea about his role  —  JUPITER, Fla. - Jose Valentin knows the Mets have made him no promises.  He knows they signed Luis Castillo to a four-year contract to play second base.  He also knows he signed a minor-league deal that allows the team to send him down if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster.

Prior pleased with progress  —  Slow and steady a winning formula  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - Mark Prior smiled, rose from his clubhouse stool and rapped a wooden stall nearby.  “I've got to knock on wood,” he said yesterday.  “But it is going well.”  —  Prior has been down too many dead-end roads …

GIRARDI: I BELIEVE MY PLAYER  —  SARASOTA, Fla. - Joe Girardi yesterday said he watched the replay of Shelley Duncan's slide from Wednesday and believes Duncan's explanation.  —  “Shelley told me that he tried to break up the play,” Girardi said.  “I saw a similar slide that he made in Toronto …