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 …

Jeter to bat first in new look lineup  —  The Yankees' lineup will have a new look this season.  —  Derek Jeter will be the leadoff hitter and Johnny Damon will bat second, a top of the lineup switch the Yankees will use for the rest of spring training.  —  Manager Joe Girardi said the reason …

CC gets both Opening Day assignments  —  Sabathia will start first regular season game at new Yankee Stadium  —  TAMPA, Fla. — On the afternoon that CC Sabathia received his introduction to New York, he stood on the mound at the new Yankee Stadium and envisioned being surrounded by thousands of flickering flashbulbs.

Source: George Steinbrenner to be at new stadium opener  —  BY STEVEN MARCUS  —  George Steinbrenner is expected to be at the new Yankee Stadium for the season opener on April 16, a person with knowledge of the situation told Newsday Thursday.  —  Steinbrenner, 78, and considered in frail health …

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.

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.

Marlins mull bid for Phillies' catcher Paulino, trade De La Cruz  —  Phillie may be on block; he could add depth behind plate  —  Pudge Rodriguez is off the market, but the Marlins continue to evaluate available catchers.  —  The latest they may be mulling is Ronny Paulino.

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.

Tejada due in court for sentencing  —  Astros shortstop expected to receive probation for lying to investigators  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Six weeks after pleading guilty to misleading Congressional investigators about performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, Miguel Tejada is scheduled to receive his sentencing in Washington, D.C.

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.

Baseball's benchwarmers not satisfied with riding the pine  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Gary Matthews Jr. looked at the starting lineup posted on the wall Wednesday morning when he walked into the Los Angeles Angels' clubhouse.  —  The lineup could easily be the Angels' opening-day lineup.

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 …

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 …