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.

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 …

Plenty of empty seats for a ‘sellout’  —  The Orioles announced a sellout for their regular-season opener today at Camden Yards, which probably evoked a measure of skepticism from anyone looking for companionship in the upper deck above left field.  —  To be fair, the team is entitled …

Wood struggles as Cubs' closer  —  Kerry Wood's debut as the Cubs' closer turned into a nightmare when he gave up three runs in the ninth inning on Opening Day.  —  Hitting Rickie Weeks in the back with his first pitch to lead off the inning began Wood's downfall.  Bob Howry hit Weeks again in the 10th.

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.

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) …

HANK WON'T MISS FIRST GAME  —  At least one member of the Yankees family wasn't too disappointed about yesterday's opening day rainout.  —  Hank Steinbrenner had remained in Tampa to take care of personal business, but expects he will be at the Stadium for tonight's rescheduled opener against the Blue Jays.

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 …

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 …

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.

Kielty accepts PawSox assignment  —  Red Sox outfielder Bobby Kielty accepted his assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket tonight, electing not to ask for free agency to hook on elsewhere.  —  On Sunday, Kielty said there was a possibility another undisclosed big league team would be offering him a job this week …