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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

Manny reasons to smile  —  Slugger relaxed, ready … FORT MYERS - Welcome to the Manny Ramirez [stats] School of Zen, an institution built on the power of meditation, yoga and an old campaign slogan.  —  Four more years.  —  “I'm gonna get four more years here, man,” …

Randolph closes in on opener  —  JUPITER, Fla. - With 16 days remaining until Opening Day, Willie Randolph believes the moment has arrived for his full squad to begin taking the field together.  So the manager summoned Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado together into his office Friday's morning …