Matsui Gets Married, and Not Just to Beat Jeter  —  There was a news release waiting for us in the press box today in Tampa.  It was a statement from Hideki Matsui.  Turns out he sneaked off to New York on Wednesday to get married.  —  Matsui - one of the all-time good guys for reporters - met with us outside the clubhouse.

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 …

Barry?  Barry who?  It's as if he was never here  —  (03-26) 20:47 PDT — Ladies and gentlemen, Barry Bonds has left the building.  —  It's official, and historic, although not original.  That announcement could have been made during the eighth inning of several Giants' home games last season.

Register clears waivers  —  Rule 5 pick Steven Register has cleared waivers, the Daily News has learned.  The Mets are trying to work out a trade with the Rockies that would allow them to keep the reliever and place him in the minors.  —  SNY's Ron Darling will join the broadcast crew …

Salcedo Story Takes Another Turn  —  The curious tale of Edward Salcedo has taken another strange turn.  —  Salcedo, a shortstop out of the Dominican Republic, was regarded as one of the hottest prospects coming out of last summer's international signing period, and at least …

Drew hopes for better luck  —  TUCSON - Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew seemed mildly amused when reporters approached him late last season, asking him what he was doing differently at the plate.  His offensive numbers had been poor all year, but suddenly in the final weeks of September, everything had changed.

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.

PIRATES 5, YANKEES 2  —  Pirates at the plate: Adam LaRoche drove in the Pirates' first run of the day with a first-inning double and Nyjer Morgan finished the afternoon with two hits.  Second baseman Luis Rivas and catcher Ryan Doumit also both reached base twice.

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?

If healthy, El Duque is likely No. 5  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets are likely to go with Orlando Hernandez as their No. 5 starter if El Duque shows he is healthy Friday in his final Grapefruit League start, a team source said today.  —  Hernandez has the upper hand over Mike Pelfrey …

Opening Day lineup vs. Erik Bedard  —  Manager Ron Washington has set his Opening Day lineup.  Here is what Erik Bedard will be facing  —  2B Ian Kinsler  —  SS Michael Young  —  CF Josh Hamilton  —  3B Hank Blalock  —  DH Milton Bradley  —  LF David Murphy  —  RF Marlon Byrd

Gotay in limbo  —  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, he sat on his stool with tears in his eyes as he talked on his cell phone.

Beckett Pitches for Sea Dogs  —  While his teammates were in Los Angeles, Red Sox righty Josh Beckett pitched for Double-A Portland today at the Red Sox minor league complex in Fort Myers against the New Britain Rock Cats, the Twins' Double-A affiliate.  —  Beckett threw 47 pitches, 33 for strikes, in four innings of work.