Santana takes charge as Mets top Marlins in opener  —  MIAMI - Perfection?  Not this time.  No-hitter?  Sure, for three innings.  For those expecting Johan Santana to make history in a Mets uniform, try to be patient.  —  This was, after all, Opening Day, and doesn't the season ahead look …

Tape of Sheppard to introduce Jeter  —  Legendary ‘Voice of Yankee Stadium’ will announce captain  —  NEW YORK — Bob Sheppard's voice will be at Yankee Stadium after all for Monday's season opener, the final Opening Day in the ballpark's history — although he will be heard for just one batter.

DeWitt's Dodgers debut is a hit  —  Emergency opening-day starter at third base singles for his first major league hit, scores a run and starts a key double play, all in the same inning.  —  The kid started the spring in minor league camp, and his reward for being promoted was a jersey without his name across the back.

Wells ready for fresh start  —  Rainout gives former St. Louis pitcher high-profile chance with Rockies  —  ST. LOUIS — Kip Wells never figured on this, not after how spring training went, not after how last season ended.  —  Wells starting opening day in St. Louis?  Las Vegas wouldn't dare run those odds.

Spiezio, cut after offseason troubles, signs minor league deal with Braves  —  ATLANTA (AP)—Scott Spiezio will try to return to the majors with a team that rarely takes a chance on troubled players.  —  Spiezio agreed Monday to a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves …

Giants' opener does nothing to allay pessimism  —  (03-31) 17:44 PDT Los Angeles — For a solitary moment, when Dave Roberts whacked the second pitch of the 2008 season into center field for a single, the faithful could suspend their fears and dare to be optimistic.

LaTroy wears 21 to honor a hero, not knock one  —  LaTroy Hawkins was the Yankees' most significant offseason acquisition and though he surely will be cheered when he first dons pinstripes at the Stadium, some fans will find it an upsetting sight.  —  Hawkins is wearing No. 21 this season.

Zambrano suffers forearm cramps  —  The Cubs have pleaded with Carlos Zambrano to drink fluids during starts to prevent the cramping that has haunted him in the past, but their words have fallen on deaf ears.  —  And when Zambrano's most dominant Opening Day performance was halted …

Texas Rangers' Kinsler fights illness  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  SEATTLE - Ian Kinsler started the year hitting 103.  That's never a good number, whether you are talking about batting average or body temperature.  —  In Kinsler's case, it was the latter, and it nearly took him out of the lineup for Monday's season opener.

What an entrance: Fukudome arrives  —  Outfielder goes 3-for-3, including game-tying three-run homer  —  CHICAGO — Cubs fans apparently don't have a problem pronouncing Kosuke Fukudome's name.  —  The crowd of 41,089 at Wrigley Field for Monday's season opener chanted the Japanese outfielder's name …

Interview - Art Garfamudis - Writer, ESPN Page 2  —  There has not been a more controversial and colorful writer to storm the national sports press since Ring Lardner.  His commentary on topics ranging from the Hall of Fame selection to the New England Patriots has created watercooler …

More bang for the buck  —  Dice-K must improve efficiency in 2nd year … OAKLAND, Calif. - So, what's it going to take to get through five innings tonight?  Ninety pitches?  A hundred?  A buck-ten?  —  One start into his second major league season, Daisuke Matsuzaka will return …

Professor Puts a Face on the Performance of Baseball Managers  —  The baseball season began in earnest this week, with 750 major league players and 2,430 games ready to collide and create countless millions of data — which the game's devotees (who have included Nobel laureates) …

Fish shtick  —  MIAMI GARDENS — It didn't take much to coax Steve Bauer to try out for the Florida Marlins' new all-male dance team.  —  “It said, ‘Fat guys with no experience.’ That's me,” said Bauer, 33, a peanut vendor at Marlins games who is 5-foot-11 and 275 pounds.

Yanks pull plug on Joba's radio gig  —  It long has been a battlefield in the local sports talk radio wars: Sign players for paid spots and hope they attract attention (and perhaps listeners), or at least show up on time.  —  Sometimes that means sparks and/or headlines (see Jeremy Shockey …

Red Sox wine is done while Yankee variety a hit  —  Opening Day was a washout for the Yankees, but they managed to score a big win anyway - in a wine-tasting with the hated Red Sox.  —  Charity Wines' Longball Cellars brand uses baseball players to market a selection of wines …

AMAZIN' JOHAN OPENS & SHUTS  —  SANTANA'S FIRST DAY AS A MET A DOMINANT ONE  —  Johan Santana was worth every penny.  —  Sliding into the high-pressure role of ace with sublime ease, the Venezuelan left-hander was front and center in the Mets' 7-2 Opening Day win over the Marlins …