Yankees' Hideki Matsui gets married  —  Hideki Matsui shows a sketch of his new wife during a press conference at a hotel Thursday in Tampa.  (The Associated Press/Kyodo News / March 27, 2008)  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Hideki Matsui, whose every move is watched closely by the Japanese media …

Mets might bid Gotay goodbye  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Ruben Gotay's Mets career may be over.  Gotay was scratched from Thursday's Disney trip to face the Braves and instead was told he had been placed on waivers.  He will find out Friday if he has been claimed by another team.

No setbacks for Pettitte during bullpen session  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Andy Pettitte, who was hampered by back spasms for a few days, had no setbacks after throwing a bullpen session Wednesday.  —  Pettitte, who originally was scheduled to start the Yankees' second regular-season game …

The Red Sox' Stat Man And The Numbers Game  —  Bill James Tells 60 Minutes Mets' David Wright Would Be A Top Pick On His Dream Team  —  (CBS) Baseball has always been a game about statistics, something the Boston Red Sox took to a new level when they hired baseball statistics guru Bill James in 2002.

Yankees to play final home opener in current Yankee Stadium  —  The New York Yankees will open the 2008 Championship Season-the 106th in franchise history and the 84th and final season at the current Yankee Stadium-on Monday, March 31 vs. the Toronto Blue Jays at 1:05 p.m.

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.

Is Joe Torre Worth the Money?  —  L.A. Gave Him $13 Million, But Stats Guys Are Dubious; His Problem With Pitchers  —  Frustrated by finishing fourth last season, tired of being the second-best team in town, the Los Angeles Dodgers made a major move last fall.

As hinted at last week, I've joined the staff at MinnPost, where my byline will appear in the sports section alongside the likes of former Minneapolis Star Tribune reporters Steve Aschburner and Jay Weiner, former City Pages editor G.R. Anderson, and frequent New York Times contributor Pat Borzi.

Trade-Off Looms on Mitchell Proposals  —  With all 30 major league teams about to begin the regular season, the players association and the commissioner's office continued efforts Thursday to reach an agreement on the Mitchell report's recommendations on performance-enhancing drugs.

Duncan earns Dawson Award  —  Selected as top Yankees rookie in Spring Training  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Shelley Duncan charged several strides to his left, losing his cap on a full extension grab and thudding to the outfield turf at newly-christened George M. Steinbrenner Field on Thursday.

Capuano opts against surgery for now  —  Lefty to try rehabbing injured elbow before making decision  —  MESA, Ariz. — The second opinion on Brewers left-hander Chris Capuano's injured elbow was different from the first, so Capuano apparently will opt for rehab instead of surgery.

Rolen possibly sidelined until May  —  Broken finger places third baseman on DL, but 'it's fixable'  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Scott Rolen stood in a back room inside the Blue Jays' clubhouse on Thursday, weaving a gruesome tale about his recent hand injury.  Casually mixed within the gory details …