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 …

Chien-Ming dinged  —  Righty takes liner off kneecap  —  TAMPA - On a day when Jorge Posada returned to Legends Field for the first time since breaking his nose Wednesday night, the Yankees watched starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang limp off the field in the top of the third inning of yesterday's game against Detroit.

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: 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.

Notes: Boyer may be ready for opener  —  Reliever recovering nicely from bout with sore right shoulder  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — Just a week ago, it was far too unclear for Braves manager Bobby Cox to determine when he might get Blaine Boyer back in his bullpen.

Sox hurlers send mixed messages  —  Contreras has strong outing Saturday in Triple-A  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Saturday's report card for the talent-laden White Sox pitching staff reads something like the following:  —  One piece of exciting news.  One piece of encouraging news.

Masterful Pedro blows away fears  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Mets can finally exhale.  After weeks of having to modify shoes, renovate mounds and rearrange schedules, Pedro Martinez zipped through the Orioles yesterday in what could only be described as an unqualified success.

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.) …

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.

Notes: Rotation decisions looming  —  Padres not fazed by Young's stats; Laforest, Sledge homer  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — The discussions are getting serious.  With Jake Peavy's April 3 Opening Day assignment against the Giants drawing near, the Padres have decisions to make about how the rotation will spin behind the ace.

Five Questions: Los Angeles Dodgers  —  After a 2005 season as joyful as the courtroom of Kramer vs. Kramer, the Los Angeles Dodgers are a family again.  The general manager likes the manager.  The manager likes the players.  The owner likes the owner.  —  Oh, the Dodgers might still …

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 …

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.

Martinez Wins Spot on Roster  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — The Dodgers have decided to keep utility infielder Ramon Martinez, leaving incumbent utility man Oscar Robles in limbo.  —  If the Dodgers go with 11 pitchers rather than 12, it would open another spot for a position player and Robles might get the nod.

Notes: Zimmerman struggling in field  —  Third baseman makes two more errors, has six this spring  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — While Nationals general manager Jim Bowden isn't concerned about Ryan Zimmerman's defense at third base, manager Frank Robinson sure is.

Nixon prefers ASU spring to spring training  —  Mike Nixon traded spring training for spring football.  —  He couldn't be happier with the exchange going into the second week of Arizona State workouts, even though it meant giving up a four-year pro baseball career that took him as high as Triple-A.