Pelfrey vs. El Duque for Mets' fifth spot  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Heading into today's showdown with Mike Pelfrey in Fort Lauderdale for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, the Mets insist publicly that the job belongs to Orlando Hernandez.  —  With one important caveat, however.

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 …

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.

Rolen may be sidelined six weeks  —  Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Scott Rolen said yesterday his broken right middle finger could sideline him for six weeks.  —  Acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in an offseason trade, Rolen was injured when he was hit on the hand by a ball during …

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.

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.

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.

New scoreboard gives Oriole Park a bit of ‘rebirth’  —  Demonstration of $5 million stadium project goes well  —  The precisely manicured green grass at Oriole Park leads the eyes to the outfield seats and up to the scoreboard.  —  The board, with its big clock on top …

JOE'S REUNION  —  DESPITE FIRING, GIRARDI ‘EXCITED’ TO FACE MARLINS  —  Dumped by the ugly duckling less than two years ago, Joe Girardi returns to Dolphin Stadium tonight with the prom queen on his arm.  —  Despite keeping the young Marlins in the wild-card chase into the final month …

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 …