Mailbag: How will fans treat Soriano?  —  Beat writer Bill Ladson answers Nationals fans' questions … Do you think Nationals fans will boo Alfonso Soriano at all this year?  Shouldn't fans just make him feel at home at this point?  The team really seems to have taken to him.

Beckett, Howard star in daytime drama  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — For a moment, after 252-pound Ryan Howard had thrown down his glove and raised his arms, challenging 222-pound Josh Beckett, it looked as though the two might go.  Power pitcher vs. power hitter, with bat and ball nowhere in sight.

passing go  —  quoting from VEB back on february 8: … and so it has, apparently.  read and weep at the official site: … that gibes with derrick goold's chat post yesterday to the effect that encarnacion will be getting "a test drive" in the #2 hole, as that's where TLR would prefer him.

Bonds might not swing again till regular season  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Barry Bonds might not take another Cactus League swing in Arizona, choosing instead to rest his tender left elbow and surgically repaired right knee before the season starts.  —  Bonds was examined by two doctors Sunday …

With Millar's help, Mazzone gets tattoo  —  O's pitching coach gets red-and-blue pennant on left shoulder  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Credit Kevin Millar with his first scoop as a participatory journalist.  Baltimore's part-time first baseman and outfielder has also been keeping a diary for MLB.com …

Fists flying ...  For the second straight day, the Red Sox were involved in a bench-clearing incident in a spring training game.  —  In the top of the eighth, Sox reliever Julian Tavarez threw a punch at Devil Rays outfielder Joey Gathright after he slid into home plate (with Tavarez covering).

Anderson Does Well in the Field  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — So much for working his way back into the lineup as a designated hitter.  After missing almost three weeks because of strained tissue in his left foot, Garret Anderson returned to left field Sunday, hitting a run-scoring single in three …

And the 2006 champs will be ...  This probably will be my dumbest column of the year, and I say "probably" only to allow for some future knuckleheaded analysis that may fly off my fingers on a moment's notice.  —  A column predicting the next World Series champion ensures that the writer will A.) …

And an Idiot Shall Lead Them  —  Johnny Damon may or may not deliver the Yankees to the promised land, but he's their most likable savior in years.  —  O  —  n the first day of spring training at Legends Field in Tampa, Florida, things looked a lot like they did last year.  Carl Pavano was still hurt.

Dodgers cut bullpen candidates  —  Wunsch reassigned; Hamulack, Houlton, Broxton to Triple-A  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — The Dodgers' bullpen situation became clearer on Monday, when the club cut four candidates, most notably its two remaining situational left-handers, Kelly Wunsch and Tim Hamulack.

Two on Two: 2006 AL West Preview  —  Our season previews roll on today, as we stay out on the left coast to preview the AL West.  In the hot seat with Rich and Bryan today are Tyler Bleszinski (Blez) from Athletics Nation and Rob McMillin from 6-4-2.  Before we begin, here's a quick look at our previous division previews:

Struggling Dellucci hears trade talk  —  Rangers' frustrated outfielder trying to win leadoff spot  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - It's been a miserable week for outfielder David Dellucci.  —  He's still not sure if his 29 home runs and .367 on-base percentage last year are enough to keep him in the leadoff spot in the Rangers' lineup.

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.

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.