Yanks ease VT back toward normalcy  —  Pride restored to college community as one-year mark nears  —  BLACKSBURG, Va. — To get to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, follow the highway until it becomes a four-lane road, then follow that until it's a two-lane road, then drive a little while longer.

Who's No. 5?  —  Well, the Mets still aren't saying, which means that Orlando Hernandez has to somehow convince them he's capable of the fifth starter's job in the next two weeks.  Today's simulated game was inconclusive.  Hernandez topped out at 81 mph — no joke — and the majority …

No. 2 Lester to arrive late  —  FORT MYERS - For Jon Lester [stats], there is a price to be paid for being named the Red Sox [team stats]' starter for their second regular-season game in Tokyo - he won't be joining his teammates on the flight to Japan.  —  Lester, who was announced yesterday …

Rumors mill  —  The press room at Ed Smith Stadium also serves as the lunch room for media, scouts and front office people, so it's a breeding ground for rumors.  —  Here's one I heard today: The Reds are actively seeking a catcher.  —  That serves to reason.  They've got to be concerned about David Ross' back.

Mets and Anheuser-Busch sign new multi-year marketing agreement for final year at Shea and for Citi Field  —  Budweiser and Bud Light become first “Signature Partners” at Mets' new home  —  FLUSHING — The New York Mets' home venue will change in 2009, but thanks to a deal announced today …

MLB.com looks to crown baseball's first millionaire fan  —  “Beat the Streak presented by Mitchum” launches with record-setting grand prize of $1 million  —  NEW YORK — MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, is offering fans the opportunity to challenge one of baseball's …

Report from the minor league complex  —  Mariano Rivera vs. Class AA New Hampshire:  —  2 innings  —  0 hits  —  0 runs  —  0 walks  —  4 strikeouts  —  23 pitches / 16 strikes  —  “I felt good,” Rivera said after his first two-inning outing of the spring.  “All of my pitches were in the strike zone.

Lo Duca, Milledge still have issues with Mets  —  Washington Nationals catcher Paul LoDuca (right) is still upset over how the Mets turned their back on him this winter.  (Newsday/Kathy Kmonicek)  —  VIERA, Fla. - Whether or not the Mets consider the Nationals a threat in the NL East this season …

Mailbag: Alternatives to Delgado?  —  Beat reporter Marty Noble answers Mets fans' questions  —  With Moises Alou unavailable and Carlos Delgado a question mark, what do you think of trading Ruben Gotay and a Minor League prospect, such as Robert Parnell, to the Orioles for outfielder Jay Payton and first baseman Kevin Millar?

Rodney to open season on DL  —  Tigers reliever has tendinitis; no timetable for return  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Fernando Rodney will open the season on the disabled list.  How long the Tigers reliever will stay there is the new question.  —  The Tigers don't have to make a move with Rodney …

Union to examine lack of offers to Bonds  —  TEMPE, Ariz. (AP)—The lack of offers to Barry Bonds will be examined by the baseball players' association as part of its annual review of the free-agent market.  —  Less than two weeks before opening day, the 43-year-old home run king remains unsigned.

New-and-improved SportsCenter throws Ombudsman curveball … In a column last summer, posted in response to the insipid, month-long Who's Now competition on SportsCenter, I broached the notion of ESPN's producing a crisp, clean half-hour evening edition of SportsCenter, focused on news and highlights …

Many Ways To Have A Good Time  —  To be honest, I'm sick of spring training.  Sure it's great, in the middle of winter, to get those first photos and videos of the players out in the sunshine... but it's sort of like watching a singer practice scales or something: interesting enough for a little while …

For Dukes, Joining Nats Is a Move Toward Stability  —  More than four hours before an exhibition game last week, sweat poured off Elijah Dukes's face, soaked through his red shirt.  He worked alone with one of the Washington Nationals' batting practice pitchers, drilling baseballs …