Hank bashes Canseco, backs A-Rod  —  Yankees general partner Hank Steinbrenner compares Alex Rodriguez to a modern-day Mickey Mantle in terms of ability.  —  In his spirited defense of A-Rod on Wednesday, Steinbrenner told The Record that “if [Sandy] Koufax, [Mickey] Mantle, [Babe] Ruth …

Joe Torre in a New Uniform  —  He won four World Series managing the New York Yankees.  Now he's looking for a title in Tinseltown as the new manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Joe Torre will now take your questions  —  After all those years in Yankees pinstripes, what did it feel like when you first put on a Dodgers uniform?

Yankees' slugger Matsui getting married  —  TOKYO (AFP) — New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui, one of Japan's most eligible bachelors, will marry a 25-year-old former company worker, media reports said Thursday.  —  The 33-year-old outfielder, nicknamed “Godzilla” by his fans …

Durbin put on waivers  —  Down to 11 healthy pitchers, the Phillies could drop to 10 by today after placing struggling reliever J.D. Durbin on waivers.  —  Apparently the Phils are pretty confident they'll be successful in their desperate search to add a veteran arm from outside the organization before Monday's season opener.

Murton Very Available  —  Per the Chicago Sun-Times, Matt Murton is officially not a part of the Cubs' plans.  Today Lou Piniella named Mike Fontenot as the final player on the five man bench, ruling out the possibility of Murton making the roster and going on to say that the Cubs will try to get him a spot on a major league team.

Late-arrival Tatis may have right timing for Mets  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Delayed by visa problems, Fernando Tatis finally showed up on March 13, and his absence was already a running joke with his teammates.  Earlier in camp, Pedro Feliciano impersonated Tatis by taking the field for morning drills in his No. 17 jersey.

TBS breaks out new lineup for baseball  —  In its first new take on TV baseball in three decades, TBS has made key roster moves: adding Ron Darling and Buck Martinez, to be formally announced today, as game analysts.  —  Those analysts, TBS executive producer Jeff Behnke says …

Chasing Jose, By Pat Jordan  —  Pat Jordan is the author of 13 books, including “A False Spring,” hailed by Time as “one of the best and truest books about baseball, and about coming to maturity in America.”  A prolific freelance journalist for 40 years, Jordan was recently dubbed …

Zito, Giants beaten by Triple-A Fresno  —  (03-27) 04:00 PDT Fresno —  The Giants' visit to their Triple-A affiliate really was a big deal.  Chukchansi Park was sold out long ago, local hero Mark Gardner tossed the ceremonial first pitch and the teams lined up along the base lines …

Mets put Ruben Gotay on waivers  —  The Mets informed Ruben Gotay this morning that he is indeed on waivers and now must wait until later today or tomorrow to see if he is claimed.  —  Gotay was supposed to be on today's trip to Orlando, but with his duffel bag in front of him …

Cubs and WGN: Losing team, winning combination  —  Former Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley was hardly a baseball genius.  His idea to employ a “College of Coaches” was a colossal calamity.  —  But Wrigley made one decision that transformed the face of the franchise: Against the advice of his fellow owners …

Blister a minor setback for Texas Rangers' Mendoza  —  Pitcher will start the season on the DL, but should be back quickly  —  rdurrett@dallasnews.com  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - A blister on Luis Mendoza's right middle finger means he'll begin the season on the disabled list.

Ziegel: Figure on Figueroa following his dream  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Nelson Figueroa, one of the Coney Island Figueroas, is a day or two away from finding out if the Mets have room for him in this part of the world.  If they don't, they don't.  He's a big boy.  And this won't be the first time the Mets have told him where to go.

Comerica scoreboard operator files sexual harassment suit  —  DETROIT — Tigers photographers routinely shot inappropriate “soft core videos” of female fans at baseball games, a sexual harassment suit by Comerica Park's former scoreboard operator claims.  —  “We believe there is no merit …

A Detailed Look at Stadium Financing  —  The following is the first installment by the lastest addition to the Business of Sports Network, Pete Toms.  We welcome Pete to the staff, as we hope you do, as well.  — Maury Brown  —  Bonds, PSLs ( primary & secondary), mixed used development …