Bob Sheppard not expected at new Yankee Stadium opener  —  Bob Sheppard likely will not be at the public address microphone when the Yankees officially open their new stadium April 16, his wife, Mary, said Thursday.  —  “His doctor said he doesn't have the stamina yet to go back at this time …

PITCHING COACH RIPS OUT-OF-SHAPE OLLIE  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Oliver Perez might want to hit the treadmill and eat a few more salads.  —  After the $36 million lefty gave the Mets a putrid spring-training performance yesterday, pitching coach Dan Warthen suggested that Perez returned last week …

Baseball's Best Commissioner  —  George Will responds to column on Bud Selig.  —  Dear Steve:  —  Although I count myself among the many millions of admirers you have earned as a vigorous defender of rigorous thinking, I must file a respectful dissent from your recent column excoriating Commissioner Selig.

Rangers cut ex-All-Star Donnelly  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Brendan Donnelly felt he was pitching “pretty good.”  The Rangers felt otherwise.  —  Donnelly, a former All-Star reliever for the Angels, was released by the Rangers on Thursday morning, leaving seven relievers fighting for four spots in the bullpen.

Initial sale of Padres completed  —  Moorad to step in as VP/CEO in deal with majority owner Moores  —  Majority owner John Moores has completed an “initial transaction” by selling a one-third interest in the Padres to Jeff Moorad, a general partner of the Diamondbacks, and about a dozen partners.

O's to reassign Wieters to Norfolk  —  Club to make expected move official Monday; MacPhail: ‘I think he had a good camp’  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Orioles told top prospect Matt Wieters on Thursday that he will be reassigned to the Triple-A Norfolk roster effective Monday.

Miguel Tejada of Houston Astros gets probation for misleading Congress  —  WASHINGTON — With an apology to Congress, baseball and the kids who looked up to him, All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada received a sentence of one year's probation Thursday for misleading Congress about the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

2009 Season Begins With MLB Blackout Policy Still a Bone of Contention  —  “We're still working on it.”  —  That was is the word from MLB on its television blackout policy that affects not only MLB Extra Innings, but national broadcasts on ESPN, TBS, and now MLB Network's Thursday Night Baseball.

Organizational Rankings: #3  —  As we reach the top three, you've probably noticed that they're all coming from the AL East.  It really is remarkable how strong that division is.  One of the three best teams in baseball isn't going to make the playoffs this year, and probably for the next few years.

Q&A with Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks  —  rdurrett@dallasnews.com  —  In an interview Tuesday in his office at The Crescent, Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks discussed manager Ron Washington's future, gave reasons for his optimism for 2009 and talked about the team's youth movement and other topics.

Stephen Strasburg Is Ready To Bring It … Erik Castro has a Wilson A2000 catcher's mitt, black with tan webbing, made of steerhide so supple it can absorb a 102-mph fastball and barely make a sound.  Castro is a catcher for San Diego State, and on the night of March 13, as the Aztecs hosted UNLV …

1 Fish, 2 Fish: How the Marlins Stadium Deal Impacts the Rays  —  After more than a decade and three ownership groups, the club now called the Miami Marlins will soon have a new baseball-only facility to call their own.  With all the trimmings, the ballpark, parking, and infrastructure improvements …

La Russa rethinking lineup strategy  —  Cardinals pitcher Todd Wellemeyer practices bunting during Cardinals spring training at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. (Chris Lee/P-D)  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Joel Piñeiro, the Cardinals' starting pitcher in Wednesday's exhibition game …

No swinging for Braun today  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Phoenix - I just talked to Ryan Braun and he said he has been told not to swing a bat at all today to see if the tightness in his right intercostal muscles subsides.  —  Braun said he had not been told …