Pedro great; Delgado, Castro hurt  —  Even as the Mets got Pedro Martinez back on Sunday, their injury curse continued.  —  First baseman Carlos Delgado and backup catcher Ramon Castro were both injured and had to leave Martinez's spring debut against the Tigers at Tradition Field.

Beckett throws without pain  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - Sox pitching coach John Farrell played catch with Josh Beckett and indicated while Beckett will likely not accompany the team to Japan, he is progressing well and threw without pain.  —  “Good news was there were no restrictions as far …

Duncan can't slow down and doesn't want to  —  Shelley Duncan has seemed baffled by all the furor surrounding his late, spikes-up slide into the Rays' Akinori Iwamura on Wednesday.  —  Duncan never saw plays like that criticized when he was growing up in and around Major League Baseball.

Conine to retire a Marlin  —  Inaugural player was member of both World Series title teams  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — Fittingly, Mr. Marlin will ultimately retire as a Marlin.  —  According to a source, Jeff Conine, one of the most popular players in Florida history, will sign a one-day contract on March 28 …

Joe Girardi still unsure of Joba Chamberlain description  —  TAMPA - With Opening Day two weeks from tomorrow, the Yankees still are deciding what role Joba Chamberlain will have on the pitching staff.  —  Chamberlain allowed four hits, including a solo homer by Curtis Granderson …

Help from above?  Angels' non-trade looking good right about now  —  Angels: Five things to know  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — You looked at Miguel Cabrera in a Detroit uniform this spring and imagined the possibilities.  A bat that will have a lethal impact on the American League race.

Yanks' young guns face uphill fight against history  —  TAMPA - Although no one in the Yankees' high command is prepared to put a specific number on it, it is reasonable to assume they are hoping for Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy to make 25 to 30 starts apiece this season …

Is Pierre odd man out in Dodgers' outfield?  —  VIERA, Fla. - By all accounts, including their own, neither Andre Ethier nor Matt Kemp has been told anything specific about what Dodgers officials have planned for them once the regular season begins.  —  As a result, they have toiled …

Kyle Farnsworth's softer side  —  TAMPA - Anyone who has seen Kyle Farnsworth unleash his 100 mph heater, daring the hitter to take his best shot, knows one thing about one of the game's most aggressive pitchers: He is a competitor who puts everything he's got into each pitch, sometimes at the expense of his command.

Barton makes strong push  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. — Cardinals manager Tony La Russa long ago advanced the notion that experience breaks ties at the end of spring training.  The adage is being challenged this month.  —  Unable to carry more than five outfielders into the season …

Every Given Sunday  —  Competing with the Kids  —  Gone is Johan Santana, two-time Cy Young Award winner and considered by many to be the best pitcher in baseball.  Gone is Torii Hunter, seven-time Gold Glove-winning center fielder, team leader and face of the franchise.

Triple threat: Why new Tiger Miguel Cabrera could be first to win Triple Crown since '67  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Houston Astros manager Cecil Cooper played with the last Triple Crown winner.  —  He thinks he might now see the next one.  —  Cooper made that clear last week …

Who is Counting Anyway  —  The Quad post introduced the counting stats in Total Bases and Times on Base, as opposed to rate stats, such as On Base Percentage and Slugging percentage.  —  The formula for Times on Base (TOB) is  — (H + BB + HBP)  —  The formula for Total Bases (TB) is