Harper: Mets should play Sheets music  —  If the Mets are going to continue to ignore Manny Ramirez's availability and take a lineup that has significant question marks into the 2009 season, then they need to think boldly about filling the final spot in their starting rotation.

Chris Perez's ankle, mechanics are fine & other Warm-up riffs  —  DOWNTOWN — Cardinals' closer candidate Chris Perez came to St. Louis this winter to have a scan taken of his achy ankle, and while the joint doesn't hinder the work he's trying to do on his delivery it has made his other offseason goal a tad trickier.

Was it a false arm alarm?  —  Rothschild's comments cause confusion, but Harden allays fears  —  So what's the deal with Rich Harden and his iffy shoulder anyway?  —  The Cubs have committed $7million worth of faith in the health of the right-hander's pitching shoulder.

Deep thoughts on players  —  Many stars don't shine when spotlight's bright  —  For many teams, it's about getting deep into the postseason, winning it all.  Yet how much thought goes into rosters to make sure teams have the players that will perform once they get there?

Carpenter gives an upbeat report  —  Cardinal pitcher Chris Carpenter signs autographs for fans at the Millennium Hotel in downtown St. Louis for the 13th Annual Winter Warm-Up on Saturday morning.  Proceeds benefit the team's community foundation, Cardinals Care.  (Erik M. Lunsford /P-D)

Anticipating holes in the Yankees lineup  —  This post started with a conversation.  I was talking to my newspaper's Penn State writer and longtime baseball writer Donnie Collins about the eventual free agency of Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels, two players Donnie and I each covered back when the Phillies were the local franchise.

It's A Madd, Madd World ...  - In case you were wondering, Rickey Henderson only ties Goose Gossage and Hoyt Wilhelm as the most traveled Hall-of-Famers with nine teams on their plaques.  In all of Rickey's coming and goings over 25 years in the game, he made a liar of Thomas Wolff …

Colletti brings his blue crew to Hot Stove Dinner  —  This was the Bakersfield College Baseball Hot Stove Dinner, but that didn't keep the BC red in the corner of Garces' Monsignor Leddy Hall on Saturday night from sticking out like a sore pitching arm.  —  There were blue mugs, blue napkins …

Mazzone admits he erred leaving Braves  —  In addition to Cy Maddux, Cy Glavine and Cy Smoltz for the Braves, there was Cy Mazzone, the pitching coach who helped push those other Cys into the city limits of Cooperstown.  —  Then Cy Mazzone blew it.  —  He left.  He should have stayed with the Braves forever.