Hanley Ramirez out with shoulder tendinitis  —  VIERA - Ten minutes before the buses were to leave from Jupiter for Wednesday night's road game against the Nationals, Fredi Gonzalez got some bad news.  —  Shortstop Hanley Ramirez told Gonzalez his right shoulder was bothering him to the extent that he couldn't play.

Boston Releases Bard  —  Josh Bard gave it a try in Boston for a second time.  It didn't work out, again.  —  Traded by the Red Sox after appearing in seven games in 2006, Bard returned to Boston as a free agent this off-season.  His second stint ended Wednesday.  The Red Sox announced they will released him.

Wright Plays Through Pain as Depleted U.S. Falls  —  MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — David Wright fouled a ball off his left foot in the first inning Wednesday night, hopped around the batter's box and looked to be in a lot of pain.  The looks were not deceiving as Wright later explained that driving …

Spring rumblings  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — The strange spring of 2009 rumbles on ...  HELLO, HOUSTON: Clubs that have spoken with the Astros say that in the wake of the loss of Aaron Boone, they'll give Chris Johnson every opportunity to win Boone's spot as a platoon third baseman and utility man.

Braves P Kawakami scratched from start  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Atlanta Braves right-hander Kenshin Kawakami was scratched from his scheduled spring training start Thursday night because of shoulder fatigue.  —  Kawakami, the first Japanese player ever signed by the Braves …

Whispering Goodbye to Cuba's Dominant Past  —  SAN DIEGO — As Cuba's beaten ballplayers stood quietly on the top step of their dugout, fully aware of their World Baseball Classic life ticking away, you could almost see the ghosts of the national team's legendary past standing behind them.

Braves' Tommy Hanson is just one prospect creating a buzz this spring … PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Top Braves pitching prospect Tommy Hanson blew away scouts in the Arizona Fall League and again early this spring.  But he couldn't deal with Fernando Tatis (two-run home run) …

Schneider out with calf strain  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Catcher Brian Schneider is sidelined indefinitely with a strained right calf.  Schneider suffered the injury Tuesday and sat out yesterday's Grapefruit League game here against the Braves before undergoing an MRI exam.

Steinbrenner Is Forever Young in a New Children's Book  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The illustrated George Steinbrenner is smiling and robust on the cover of “One Last Time: Goodbye to Yankee Stadium,” the latest Yankees-themed children's book by Ray Negron, an adviser for the club.

Carpenter looks good  —  On Wednesday, Carpenter added “expedient” to La Russa's plaudits.  —  The righthander became the first Cardinals starter this spring to throw a pitch in the sixth inning as he needed just 64 pitches to collect 18 outs from the Baltimore Orioles at Roger Dean Stadium.

Lockman passes away at 82  —  Former player, manager was best known for scoring on historic homer  —  Whitey Lockman, a first baseman/outfielder for 15 Major League seasons best known for scoring ahead of Bobby Thomson on the historic “Shot Heard 'Round the World” home run in 1951, reportedly has died.

BLS video: A second career?  Manny gets his cricket on  —  There are probably stranger ways to pass an afternoon than watching Manny Ramirez try his hand at cricket under a scorching desert sun.  I'm having trouble coming up with any, though.  —  But, yes, the pictures proved this really happened …

Livan Hernandez closing in on fifth spot in Mets' rotation  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Omar Minaya referred to Livan Hernandez as “inventory” when the veteran pitcher signed on Feb. 14.  Now, Hernandez is on the verge of claiming the No. 5 spot in the rotation, while team officials appear …

Beltran back after All-World performance in Classic  —  The Mets can only hope that Carlos Beltran will carry his WBC performance into the regular season.  The All-Star centerfielder batted .421 (8-for-19) in six games for Puerto, with a .632 slugging percentage and .542 OBP.