Girardi tabs CC as Opening Day starter  —  Joe Girardi officially named CC Sabathia as the Opening Day starter, which didn't come as a surprise.  But the manager also revealed that Sabathia will take the mound on April 16 for the first day at the new Yankee Stadium.

Johan talks to Perez after tough outing  —  Mets ace expresses team's need for struggling hurler to right ship  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Long fingers are an advantage for a pitcher.  For a man generously listed as 6-foot tall, Johan Santana has relatively long fingers.

Exploitation, steroids hitting home in Dominican Republic  —  SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A mid-morning workout on a barren field during a bright Friday in March provides a picture of the dreams baseball engenders in this impoverished country of 9.5 million people.

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 …

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.

CLEVELAND INDIANS  —  Baseball News, Schedule, Pictures, and More  —  Indians won't pursue Cliff Lee contract extension this season, citing economic uncertainty  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia are left-handed starters, former teammates and have won the last two Cy Young awards in the American League.

For Buchholz, it's a learning curve  —  Clay Buchholz has made it almost all the way back, and so the best thing for him now is to stop.  Take pause.  There is simply no point in destroying what it has taken an entire winter to rebuild.  —  Continuing his resurgent spring yesterday …

3+ Weeks later, and Jim Bowden is still a major pain in the ass.  —  3+ Weeks later, and  —  Jim Bowden is still a major pain in the ass.  —  Jimbo won't go away, ever.  —  The gift that keeps on giving: Jimbo's inexplicable handshake agreement with Dmitri Young forces Stan's hand …

Ichiro rejoins M's, calls jealous teammates ‘silly’  —  PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki didn't want to spend time talking about jealous teammates, a divisive clubhouse or record flops from a year ago.  —  To him, it's all just “silly.”  —  Suzuki arrived at Seattle Mariners spring training …

Skip Schumaker nails down 2B job  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The goal for Skip Schumaker is to be “average.”  —  Normally, that isn't a very lofty goal for a big leaguer.  But in the case of erstwhile outfielder Schumaker, who is trying to be a most-days second baseman in the big leagues …

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.

Pirates-Ohman talks heat up  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates have aggressively ramped up their pursuit of free-agent reliever Will Ohman, to the point the parties have exchanged offers in the past week.  —  “They've definitely put themselves in the mix this week,” Page Odle, Ohman's agent, said tonight.

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.

Schilling must be a Hall of Famer, Giants could use Manny and more … Curt Schilling has to be in the Hall of Fame.  —  I write that without any hesitation, reservation or research.  I don't need to look at his stats.  I know what he's done.  —  The Hall of Fame should be about impact, not statistics.

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.