‘WORLD’ OF WORRY SURROUNDS METS  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - The World Baseball Classic is starting to test the Mets' patience, and it's easy to see why.  —  No club has been more publicly supportive of the WBC than the Mets, who allowed a whopping 16 players - the most in baseball - to participate in the tournament.

Littleton in; Morlan out  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  The bid of Rule 5 draft pick Eduardo Morlan to make the Brewers' bullpen has failed, so they're going to give someone else a shot.  —  The Brewers have claimed right-hander Wes Littleton on waivers from Boston …

I'M SUCH A PRETTY BOY!  —  A-ROD MADLY IN LOVE WITH HIS MIRROR  —  Nothing gets between A-Rod and his mirror!  —  Troubled slugger Alex Rodriguez gets up close and personal - with himself - in a one-man love affair photographed and published in the upcoming Details magazine.

Lugo has surgery, Pedroia's status . . .  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Julio Lugo underwent a successful right knee arthroscopy this morning in Boston.  Doctors repaired a torn meniscus, which is what they expected to find.  Lugo will miss 3-4 weeks, almost certainly sidelining him for Opening Day April 6, which is 20 days away.

Roger Clemens' lawyers ask judge to reconsider decision to miss most of defamation lawsuit  —  HOUSTON — Lawyers for Roger Clemens asked a federal judge to reconsider his decision dismissing most of a defamation suit the pitcher filed against his former personal trainer over allegations of performance-enhancing drug use.

Not to worry: Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies has inflamed elbow  —  Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels will return to the team's spring training camp Tuesday night in Clearwater, Fla., after spending part of the day having his elbow examined by team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti.

Hanley scratched against Nats  —  All-Star shortstop takes breather to rest sore right shoulder  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez was nursing a sore right shoulder, and right fielder Cody Ross was suffering tightness in his left calf on Monday.  Both were scratched from the lineup against the Nationals.

Prospect Interview Series: Spring Training Edition  —  I recently returned from a week out in Surprise and was fortunate enough to speak with several of the prospects participating in major league camp.  All of the interviews are brief and most of them consist of similar questions.

Marlins release reliever Garcia  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The Marlins released right-handed reliever Harvey Garcia on Monday, bringing their roster down to 52 players.  —  Garcia missed all of 2008 after having rotator cuff surgery on his throwing arm.  He appeared in eight games for Florida in 2007 …

Start believing in Joba  —  Joba Chamberlain threw another three scoreless innings today, taking his latest step toward life as a full-time starter.  I know there are still plenty of you out there that believe he should be in the bullpen, but I firmly believe the Yankees are doing the right thing with him.

More cuts, news, lineups  —  The second wave of cuts came Tuesday morning.  Here is the list provided by the Reds:  —  Optioned to Class AAA Louisville: RHP Sam LeCure, LHP Matt Maloney and RHP Robert Manuel.  —  Optioned to Class AA Carolina 3B Juan Francisco.

Chipper positive he will heal under Braves' care  —  Slugger receives treatment for oblique strain; says WBC format needs improvement  —  Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Chipper Jones said his strained oblique muscle will be fine, but the World Baseball Classic needs changes.

A Look at the “New” Yankee Stadium...circa 1976 … In less than one month now, the new Yankee Stadium will open amidst a sea of publicity and fanfare.  Newspapers and television networks and blogs will wax poetic about the “dawn of a new age” and the bittersweet transition of old to new.

New stadiums for the Yankees and the Mets.  —  The Mets' new home echoes the famous entrance of the Dodgers' Ebbets Field.  The new Yankee Stadium's grandiosity is tempered by the energy of its urban setting.  —  KEYWORDS … In 1921, Colonel Jacob Ruppert, the co-owner of the New York Yankees …

Texas Rangers' spring has been learning experience  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - There has been no lack of story lines for the Rangers in spring training.  Here's a look at what we've seen so far and what we can expect in the final 18 games, which begin today when the Rangers host the Cleveland Indians.

Cards look at candidates to protect Pujols at plate  —  LAKELAND, FLA. — If hitting ahead of Albert Pujols in the Cardinals' order has become the cure for whatever ails a batter, then hitting behind the reigning MVP seems to cause those kinds of troubles.  —  Manager Tony La Russa …

YANKS CAN'T AFFORD HAVING MATSUI AS DESIGNATED SITTER  —  TAMPA - Hideki Matsui is still no sure thing to be ready for Opening Day, yet he is the Yankees' projected cleanup hitter.  He is trying to get his knees in shape while probably on his last legs as a Yankee.