Anna Benson files for divorce from O's pitcher  —  New Baltimore player says Mets traded him because of wife's actions  —  Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kris Benson, left, and his wife Anna Benson talk with media after the pitcher's trade from the Mets in January.  —  Slide show

Dowd criticizes Selig's selection of Mitchell  —  NEW YORK — Baseball launched its probe Thursday into alleged steroids use by Barry Bonds and others, and right away the head of the investigation came under attack because of his close ties to the sport.  —  In the wake of a searing book about Bonds …

Reality Bites Back: Some at ESPN Assail Bonds Show  —  A two-day seminar attended by ESPN personnel at an airport hotel in Hartford earlier this week exposed a schism within the network about the wisdom of televising a 10-hour reality series starring Barry Bonds.

Baseball 2006: Tracy's goals are big, but strategies small  —  FORT MYERS, Fla.— When presenting challenges to his players, Pirates manager Jim Tracy stresses thinking big.  —  The day before the first full workouts of spring training, he gathered all 62 of them in a Pirate City cafeteria …

Notes: Wright encouraged by outing  —  Yankees right-hander pitches in Minor League game  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Jaret Wright threw 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball in a Minor League game on Thursday, seeing his first game action since suffering back spasms on March 19.

Nationals finalize 25-man roster  —  Tucker released, Gryboski and Castillo reassigned to Minors  —  VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals have their Opening Day roster set as they made their final cuts on Thursday morning.  Washington gave outfielder Michael Tucker his unconditional release …

Myers Wants Frisbee to Be a Collector's Item  —  TAMPA, Fla., March 29 — There have been many, many players more famous than Mike Myers.  But somehow, year after year, Myers winds up on the same field with all the talented guys, delighted to be in on a wonderful joke.

Notes: Roster spot for Fernandez?  —  Manager Yost says knuckleballer's 'chances improved'  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Jared Fernandez has one knuckle in the door, but his spot on the Brewers' Opening Day roster is not ensured just yet.  —  The Brewers placed Ben Sheets on the 15-day disabled list …

The American League: Like you knew them in high school  —  For my Major League Baseball 2006 Preview, I figured I would relate each baseball team to people you knew from high school.  Everybody remembers high school and if not, play along with these slight stereotypes.  —  American League

Dear Blue Jays, we are gathered here ...  Halladay and Burnett arrange mock nuptials of infielders  —  DUNEDIN, Fla.—The groom wore a ballcap.  So did the other groom.  —  Aaron Hill and Russ Adams, the Blue Jays' young second base/shortstop combination, were surprisingly "married" …

MLB Opens Nats' Books to Eight Bidders  —  Major League Baseball invited the eight groups bidding on the Washington Nationals yesterday to examine the team's most recent financial information before the league proceeds with selecting a new owner, according to several bidders who spoke …

Only The Agent Was Free  —  Last September, I republished an article written by my Dad for the Long Beach Independent, Press-Telegram about Sandy Koufax's perfect game.  The title of that entry was "It Was Forty Years Ago Today..." Well, in the spirit of 40-year anniversaries …

Coming home to the big city  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Paul Lo Duca Sr. cried when the Dodgers left Brooklyn almost a half-century ago.  —  Some 30 years later his son was on the verge of tears on a crisp, cool October night in 1986 as he sat alone in his room.

Four more crack Opening Day roster  —  Freeman, Marrero, Carroll and Smith heading to Colorado  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — The Colorado Rockies were dealing handshakes and roster spots on Wednesday afternoon, but all left-handed reliever Tom Martin dealt was more anxiety for himself.