Red Sox ace Beckett expected to start Sunday  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — Josh Beckett completed what should be his final step toward returning to the Boston Red Sox rotation.  —  Slowed by back spasms this spring, Beckett pitched five innings Tuesday in an intrasquad game in Fort Myers, Fla. …

Wagner: Heilman future closer  —  MIAMI — Aaron Heilman's ninth inning may have been as impressive as any of the seven Johan Santana pitched.  Heilman needed nine pitches to retire the side in order on a pair of strikeouts and a weak grounder back to the mound.

Report: Average MLB salary tops $3M for first time  —  NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez makes more this year than his entire hometown Florida Marlins team.  —  Boosted by his new deal with the New York Yankees, A-Rod tops the major league baseball salary list at $28 million, according to a study of contract terms by The Associated Press.

Alou says he wouldn't have caught Bartman ball  —  Should Steve Bartman be off the hook with Cubs fans?  According to Moises Alou, he should be.  —  Alou, now with the Mets, said he wouldn't have caught the now-infamous pop fly in the 2003 National League Championship Series that hit …

3 years for Wheeler; C.C. option picked up, Rocco declined  —  The Rays did as expected Tuesday in picking up OF Carl Crawford's 2009 option for $8.25-million and declining OF Rocco Baldelli's $6-million option by giving him a $4-million buyout and making him a free agent after the season …

inGame: Pedro Exits with Injury  —  During the fourth inning, Pedro Martinez limped off the field, gripping what appeared to be the top part of his left hamstring, as well as his inner thigh, which he injured on a pitch to Matt Treanor.  —  ...good luck, Jorge Sosa...

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.

GWEN KNAPP  —  For those who think Zito is a bust, here's the evidence  —  (04-01) 04:00 PDT Los Angeles —  Barry Zito didn't nibble around the plate Monday, didn't get “too fine” with his fastball, didn't fail to attack the strike zone.  None of his usual explanations for a bad outing …

Bill James Answers All Your Baseball Questions  —  I sure hope the Red Sox don't start the season with a wicked slump.  If so, people might blame this blog.  —  When we solicited your questions for Bill James, the Sox's data wizard, we didn't know there'd be so many questions and that Bill would answer just about all of them.

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.

Help is on the way ... oh wait, never mind  —  According to two sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the Dodgers agreed in principle earlier today on a minor-league contract for free-agent infielder Marcus Giles, who had a really good spring for Colorado but ultimately was released …

You Could Look It Up  —  The Anniversary of America  —  I hope you enjoyed Opening Day, or as I like to think of it, the 61st anniversary of America.  Yes, there was 1776, when the 13 colonies declared independence, or 1787, when the current Constitution kicked off, or even 1865 …

New York Yankees Choose Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Vision™ for New Stadium  —  Installation continues 25-year tradition in the Bronx  —  WARRENDALE, Pa.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—The New York Yankees have selected Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Vision™ to provide the main center field …

Jose Canseco backs off Roger Clemens steroids claims, warns A-Rod  —  Jose Canseco leaned back in an overstuffed chair in the lobby of his hotel Monday with a rum drink and a big smile.  He had just completed taping a segment with David Letterman to promote his new book, “Vindicated,” …