IT'S TIME TO REGISTER  —  RELIEVER MAKING AMAZIN' IMPRESSION  —  Don't be fooled by the big-market status or the NL's richest payroll.  The Mets are just as willing as the Pirates and Royals of the world to work baseball's nooks and crannies for pitching talent.  —  Steven Register is proof of that.

First class all the way  —  Sox trip hardly typical  —  FORT MYERS-CHICAGO—TOKYO - One day (Thursday, March 20, 2008) in the life of the Boston Red Sox [team stats] is going to be missing from the history books.  —  On their first-ever trip to Tokyo, where their plane touched down at 12:16 …

Girardi: No lefty in pen would be all right  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. - Opening Day may be just 10 days away, but Joe Girardi doesn't appear to be close to any decisions on the last few roster spots.  —  While 20 of the 25 slots are pretty much set, the final three jobs in the bullpen remain an open competition …

Fixing a Pitcher's Quirk  —  Jeremy Bonderman of the Detroit Tigers is one of the best young starting pitchers in baseball — from the second inning on.  Throughout his career, Mr. Bonderman has exhibited one of the game's most puzzling quirks.  Last season, his earned run average in the first inning was a nightmarish 11.57.

Castillo put on waivers, awaits his fate  —  Third baseman was battling for starting spot at hot corner  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Jose Castillo would prefer to remain with the Marlins, but the 27-year-old third baseman knows the decision is out of his hands.  —  Castillo's status is up in the air …

Smoltz held out with tightness in shoulder  —  It's possible veteran pitcher could start season on DL  —  Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Braves pitcher John Smoltz was scratched from his scheduled start Friday due to shoulder soreness, but the veteran insisted it was “no big deal.”

MERRY CHRIS-MISS, GOLF FANS  —  DON'T worry.  Be happy.  —  This past October, from the moment ESPN announced it had entered the mix to televise the Masters, the fear and loathing among golf fans in anticipation of Chris Berman's smothering presence has grown by the day.

McNamee's grand slam  —  Roger Clemens' former trainer Brian McNamee smashed his Lexus into a city bus in Queens yesterday after blacking out behind the wheel, authorities said.  —  McNamee was heading westbound on Central Ave. near Beach 11th St. in Far Rockaway when he rear-ended another car …

Yankees' Top Seats Grow Pricier  —  If you're a Yankees fan with lots of spare cash, parts of the new Yankee Stadium will be for you.  Consider two offerings sent to season-ticket holders in an e-mail message Thursday.  —  First up are the Legends Suite seats, the best in the $1.3 billion ballpark, which is to open in 2009.

Yanks for the ‘Legacy,’ Ch. 4!  —  THE LEGACY OF YANKEE STADIUM.  Saturday at 7 p.m., Ch. 4  —  With the old Yankee Stadium entering its final season, the goodbyes are starting early, and if WNBC/ Ch. 4's special tomorrow night may not ultimately be the best, it's got pretty good stuff.

Cubs too remiss about so-so starters  —  From what I can gather from listening to the radio talk shows, only two questions matter as the Cubs strut toward the regular season:  —  • Who will be the closer?  —  • When will Brian Roberts and Coco Crisp arrive to help plan the parade route for the World Series celebration?

Schneider unavailable again  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets continue to take it slow with Brian Schneider.  —  The veteran catcher was not in the lineup again today against the Nationals, his former team, as he continues to nurse a strained right hamstring.

Mets vulnerable to lefthanded pitching  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Moises Alou is in the Dominican Republic, recovering from hernia surgery that may sideline him into May.  And that not only leaves the Mets lacking one of their potent hitters, it also may leave them vulnerable to lefthanded pitching.

Management's side  —  GM Jim Bowden and manager Manny Acta both characterized the release of veteran John Patterson as a strictly baseball-related move, which came down to a simple equation: Whom would you rather have taking the mound every five days, Patterson or (choose one) Matt Chico/John Lannan?

With no Barry by the Bay, Giants look to put ‘fun’ in fundamentals  —  Giants: Five things to know  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Oh yes, Barry Bonds has been heard from around here this spring.  Outfielder Dave Roberts has spoken with him over the telephone.  So has outfielder Randy Winn, and infielder Rich Aurilia.

Adenhart making statement to be fifth starter  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — If Nick Adenhart isn't the Angels' fifth starter to open the season, it won't be because of anything he has done — or failed to do — this spring.  —  The right-hander, 21, continued to make his case to hold down a spot …

Ramirez can call himself a White Sox  —  Guillen says Cuban has made the team  —  PHOENIX - Juan Uribe remained on the White Sox roster Thursday, but Alexei Ramirez's status appears more secure.  —  “Is he on the roster?  Yes,” manager Ozzie Guillen said of Ramirez, 26 …

Cleveland Indians' David Dellucci has sore left forearm  —  Port St. Lucie, Fla. — David Dellucci's surgically repaired left hamstring hasn't given him any problems in spring straining.  A sore left forearm has.  —  Dellucci used Tuesday's off day and Wednesday to rest the forearm.