Zimmerman plays three innings in Florida  —  WASHINGTON — Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman returned to action Wednesday, playing three innings in an extended Spring Training game in Viera, Fla.  —  Zimmerman, on the disabled list with an abdominal strain, planned on playing only three innings in the contest …

Wilpons should do the right thing and retire Carter's No. 8 with Mets  —  Mets on Twitter  —  The disgrace is that the Mets had 22 years to do the right thing based on performance, based on accomplishment, based on Gary Carter's inviolable place in the collective heart of their fans.

Bautista leads, but Yanks rack up All-Star votes  —  Six New Yorkers in position to start; Young in front at DH  —  Jose Bautista — who leads everyone in home runs — also leads everyone in votes, altruistic Rangers veteran Michael Young is in contention to earn a start at a third different position …

Dr. Damon Noto On Stem Cell Surgery: “You've just seen the tip of the iceberg here.  This is really going to explode.  —  Dr. Damon Noto is one of five doctors in the United State that performs the surgery that Yankees right-hander Bartolo Colon underwent last offseason to repair damaged ligaments …

Adam Jones home run lifts Orioles over Seattle Mariners  —  SEATTLE - Adam Jones had three hits against his former team, including the go-ahead homer into the upper deck in the eighth inning, leading the Baltimore Orioles to a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.

Orioles Appear Poised To Spend This Winter  —  The American League East appears to be as strong as always this year, but the Orioles have something to look forward to despite their last place 24-29 record.  Orioles people are saying they'll have significant money to spend after the season, according to Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.

World Baseball Classic Expanding to 28 Teams  —  NEW YORK (Reuters) - The World Baseball Classic will expand from 16 to 28 countries with the addition of a new qualifying round for the 2013 international competition, organizers said on Wednesday.  —  The new round of qualifying for the tournament …

Astros beat Cubs, rallying for six in ninth  —  CHICAGO (AP) Jordan Lyles didn't get the win in his major league debut, but he certainly made a big splash.  —  The 20-year-old right-hander pitched seven brilliant innings, but earned a no-decision as the Houston Astros came back to beat the Chicago Cubs 7-3 on Tuesday night.

Ordonez to begin rehab with Toledo on Friday  —  DETROIT — Tigers manager Jim Leyland has talked with frequency about his offense treading water until Magglio Ordonez returns, when he hopes he can get the contributions Ordonez made at the plate last year.  He won't have to wait much longer to find out.

O's designate catcher Fox for assignment  —  The Orioles designated backup catcher Jake Fox for assignment on Wednesday in order to make room for southpaw starter Brian Matusz, who had been on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left intercostal muscle.

Contact Us  —  Registration … Some sporting thoughts before sunrise ...  > If you don't believe in clutch, you will forever under-value Neil Walker.  —  I tweeted exactly that statement late last night, right after Walker overcame a lousy night by drilling a two-run single in the eighth inning …

College starters who rose very quickly  —  Tim Lincecum, David Price and Mark Prior among those who spent little time in minors  —  Major League Baseball's 2011 first-year player draft is considered strong by recent standards, and it's chock full of college pitching prospects.

Stunning, but true: Rockies tumble into fourth place after wretched May  —  Colorado Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki, right reacts after striking out during the second inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, May 31, 2011.  —  LOS ANGELES — The fourth-place Rockies.