Some Question Soriano's Effort  —  Coach Says He Needs Extra Fielding Work  —  VIERA, Fla., March 26 — Alfonso Soriano, the Washington Nationals' left fielder, had a line drive sail over him in the top of the first inning Sunday, then hit the first pitch he saw well over the left field fence …

Damon scores twice in Yanks' win  —  Starter Wang hit on leg, leaves after 2 1/3 innings of work  —  YANKEES 9, TIGERS 8  —  Yankees at the plate: Johnny Damon scored a pair of runs, both on base hits by Gary Sheffield.  In the first, Sheffield doubled in Damon, and the next inning …

Notes: Thome shows familiar power  —  Garland throws in Minors game; Thornton makes adjustment  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Jim Thome produced a very economical showing of power during the White Sox 9-7 victory over the Royals on Sunday at Tucson Electric Park.  —  Kansas City starter Kyle Snyder threw …

Notes: Heilman would solidify bullpen  —  Impressive rookie Bannister may round out starting rotation  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The paint wasn't dry on the Mets' 2005 season when the club's hierarchy began planning to refurbish the bullpen for 2006.  More than a new coat of a new color was planned.

Minor Issues  —  Say what you want about the Alfonso Soriano fiasco (and by now we all have, twice) but it gave sports writers and Nats bloggers something to talk about.  Now that the A-Sor issue has been momentarily resolved, what's next?  —  Apparently the topic du jour is the minor leagues.

MLB FAILS THE TEST  —  March 27, 2006 — Barry Bonds' alleged steroid regimen is laid out in the new book, "Game of Shadows."  Three of the drugs he's alleged to have used still would go undetected by Major League Baseball's newest steroid policy.  —  One year after Congress grilled them …

Notes: Nelson surprised by release  —  Reliever felt he had done enough tomake team this spring  —  JUPITER, Fla. — When Cardinals manager Tony La Russa summoned Jeff Nelson into his office on Sunday afternoon, Nelson expected only the best.  He figured his quest to make the club …

Tigers release first baseman Pena  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Carlos Pena was unconditionally released Sunday by the Detroit Tigers after the first baseman struggled during spring training.  —  Pena batted .160 with one home run in 50 at-bats in exhibition games.  —  He split last season between Detroit and Triple-A Toledo.

Encarnacion's lineup spot up in air  —  Cardinals lineup taking shape with Opening Day nearing  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The final week of Spring Training means that the feeling-out period is over.  Cardinals manager Tony La Russa knows what he has, even if he doesn't necessarily know which 25 names will be on his Opening Day roster.

Sexson goes deep in M's loss  —  ANGELS 15, MARINERS 4  —  Mariners at the plate: Richie Sexson drilled a solo homer, his fourth of the spring, in the top of the second.  —  Angels at the plate: Casey Kotchman knocked in a run with a base hit and Jeff Mathis hit a two-run double in the bottom …

Nats TV Feud Might Be Bound For the Hill  —  A top-ranking congressman said yesterday that Congress will intervene in an impasse that threatens to keep most Washington Nationals games off the region's largest cable provider during the upcoming season.  —  Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) …

Guillen asks Nats for extension  —  Outfielder hopes to stay with Washington beyond 2006  —  VIERA, Fla. — After seeing teammates Nick Johnson and Brian Schneider get contract extensions, Nationals outfielder Jose Guillen said on Sunday afternoon that would like to have his contract extended before Opening Day.

Doing The Right Thing.  Eventually.  —  A quick update on the Colin Cowherd situation: Gelf Magazine is reporting that ESPN Radio' Colin Cowherd plans to give credit to the M Zone for jacking their material on his radio show last week.  ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz told the magazine that the credit will be given on Monday's show.

Young Yankee Takes Days With a Spring in His Step  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 25 — By coincidence, the side of Kevin Thompson's locker doubles as a wall where daily lineups and full rosters are posted in the Yankees' clubhouse at Legends Field in Tampa.