Mets' Castillo: I'm a different guy this season  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Luis Castillo hates thinking about the injury-plagued, beaten-down player he became last season.  Despises it.  Loathes it.  Take your pick.  —  Heck, even the mere mention of the phrase “last year” makes him cringe.

The Sox set their rotation  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox finalized two major pitching decisions (the first four starters and Justin Masterson's role) while leaving two others (the fifth starter and Clay Buchholz's role) open for now.  —  None of the developments, revealed by manager Terry Francona, are surprising.

Yankees Near Decision on Starting Cabrera or Gardner in Center  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Only secure players make this kind of remark to other secure players.  That may say more about Brett Gardner's status with the Yankees than anything.  —  With the competition between Gardner and Melky Cabrera …

Martis, Zimmermann Make Rotation; Pena Placed On Waivers  —  The Nationals this morning made a flurry of roster moves and decisions, finalizing their starting rotation, reassigning several veterans to minor league camp, and placing outfielder Wily Mo Pena on waivers.  —  Here's the skeletal breakdown:

Marlins acquire Paulino from Giants  —  Giants to get right-handed pitcher Hector Correa  —  JUPITER, FL — The Florida Marlins have acquired catcher Ronny Paulino from the Giants in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Hector Correa.  The announcement was made by Marlins President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest.

Mets drop seven from camp; Villone released, Valentin cut  —  Ron Villone has been released by the Mets, while pitchers Nelson Figueroa, Carlos Muniz, infielder Andy Green, outfielder Cory Sullivan and catcher Rene Rivera have been sent to minor-league camp.  —  UPDATE/ANALYSIS: Villone said he doesn't plan to retire. ...

Bochy's status doesn't bode well  —  THE A'S STEPPED UP this week — in between Lew Wolff's serial tauntings of the East Bay — and wisely extended manager Bob Geren's contract beyond this season.  —  Next up to the plate: The Giants.  Or, specifically, their lame-duck manager, Bruce Bochy.

Corpas' lifts his chances at closer job  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Manuel Corpas answered back Friday.  —  In a tight race with Huston Street for the Rockies' closer job, Corpas threw a strong ninth inning against the Mariners.  He allowed a single to Jeff Clement but was otherwise very sharp.

Duchscherer to start season on DL  —  Projected Opening Day starter will have surgery, miss at least six weeks  —  PHOENIX — A's right-hander Justin Duchscherer, a 2008 All-Star and Oakland's projected Opening Day starter when Spring Training opened last month, is headed for surgery …

Scouting the 2009 Yankees  —  I chatted with a major-league scout the other day to find out what he thought about the 2009 Yankees.  I know people get tired of hearing what the writers, sports talkies or talking heads think about the players, so I figured I would pass along what a big-league scout sees …

pre-Game: Mets vs. Marlins at 1 PM  —  The Mets play today against the Marlins at 1 pm.  —  Livan Hernandez will instead pitch in a minor-league intrasquad game, while right-handed pitching prospect Dillon Gee gets the start against the Marlins, because Jerry Manuel specifically requested to see more of him.

Dodgers' Mientkiewicz in contention for roster spot  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. - He came to camp with little more than a promise of playing time and a shot.  Faced with the alternative of putting his spikes into his bat-bag for the last time, that sounded good enough for Doug Mientkiewicz.

Always, the Crack of the Bat  —  HANGING on my office wall is a baseball photograph taken in 1926.  I bought it from an antiques dealer many years ago because I had never seen a picture that so perfectly distills the essence of the game; it almost looks staged.