Locker awaits Manny at Dodgers camp  —  Slugger's free-agent limbo doesn't sour club's first workouts  —  PHOENIX — Manny Ramirez stands out, even in absentia.  —  There are 70 nameplates above lockers in the Dodgers' new clubhouse at Camelback Ranch-Glendale and one locker without a nameplate, in the corner next to Rafael Furcal.

Indians ink Graffanino to Minors deal  —  Veteran infielder to arrive at Spring Training camp on Monday  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Position players officially reported to the Player Development Complex on Sunday, but one guy will be a day late.  —  The Indians have signed infielder Tony Graffanino …

Rivera reveals he pitched in pain in '08  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Mariano Rivera turned 39 in November, and his receding hairline is getting dangerously close to the bald spot on top of his head.  This season will be his 15th with the Yankees, and it has been nearly 20 years since he signed his first professional contract.

Manuel speaks  —  Here's a summary of Jerry Manuel's introductory address:  —  * Manuel revealed that Livan Hernandez has signed with the Mets.  He's on a minor-league deal, with a base salary of $1 million if he makes the club.  —  * Luis Castillo may bat leadoff for the Mets.

Cheaters take the joy out of baseball  —  The date was April 14, 1936, and it is etched in my memory.  —  “Baseball season starts today,” the father said to the son, exercising a precious part of Americana.  —  This is the rite of passage from father to son, or daughter …

Wrapping up Day 1 of camp  —  Now that the workout is over, here are a few notes and impressions:  —  · Hideki Matsui took batting practice for the first time since his knee surgery and looked good.  At one point he cracked three in a row into the right-field stands.

Alex could use The Boss' help  —  A sunflower seeds bucket rested in the middle of the Yankees' clubhouse yesterday, a blemish on the formerly palatial ground that is George M. Steinbrenner Field.  —  The ceiling had been leaking Friday, a steady drip, drip, drip into that bucket …

The No-Stats All-Star  —  Out of Duke University. . . . A 6-foot-8-inch forward. . . .  He had more or less admitted to me that this part of his job left him cold.  'It's the same thing every day,' he said, as he struggled to explain how a man on the receiving end of the raging love …

JAYS MAY DEAL HALLADAY AT DEADLINE; LOSING TEAMS WILL LOOK TO UNLOAD  —  TAMPA - Camps were opening around baseball and the offseason was not yet done.  Near-certain Hall of Famers such as Tom Glavine and Ken Griffey Jr. were nearing jobs while Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez …

Padres not shopping for pitchers  —  San Diego has numerous candidates for back end of rotation  —  SAN DIEGO — General manager Kevin Towers said Saturday that the team isn't actively talking to any free-agent pitchers and he doesn't anticipate making a deal anytime soon to help shore up the back end of the starting rotation.

Braves interested in signing Griffey Jr.  —  Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — The Braves are interested in free agent Ken Griffey Jr., who is many years removed from being a “Kid” but can still do plenty of damage against right-handed pitching.  —  “We have interest in several available outfielders …

A calm first day; the latest on Crede; Lewis needs a new pair of shoes  —  If it were any calmer here in Scottsdale on Saturday, a hurricane would be approaching.  —  Of course, the storms weren't far away.  As colleague Henry Schulman pointed out, Bruce Bochy could've been asked an hour's worth …