Tavarez: Ramírez a latecomer  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox pitcher Julian Tavarez said in a TV interview last night that Manny Ramírez will not report to camp until March 1 because his mother requires surgery for an undisclosed reason.  —  Tavarez, who is good friends …

Britton eager for a chance  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Chris Britton did not get above Class A ball in his first five seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.  But with the team desperate for relief help last season, he was summoned to the majors on April 12.  —  Britton was one of the best rookie pitchers …

Expectations Have Come Up Short  —  Nationals' Guzman Looks to Revive His Career Following Shoulder Surgery  —  In some ways, the season Cristian Guzman endured in 2006 was as bad as a player could have, sitting at home idly watching television while his teammates played major league baseball.

Koskie yet to heal from concussion  —  Third baseman will miss spring training  —  thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com  —  Phoenix - After weeks of uncertainty, the Milwaukee Brewers now know that third baseman Corey Koskie will not be physically ready to take part in spring training …

Very few safe bets to start  —  Glavine, El Duque are 1-2 in the rotation, but rest is wide open  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — With so many questions about the Mets' starting rotation, let's start the discussion with what we do know.  Pedro Martinez will not be part of it until at least July.

Mets sign catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. to a Minor League contract  —  The New York Mets today signed catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.  He is expected to join the team and be in uniform on Tuesday.  —  Alomar, 40, appeared in 27 games …

Thumb's up for Lo Duca  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Paul Lo Duca took swings yesterday for the first time since he had surgery four months ago to repair a ligament tear in his left thumb and indicated he felt fine.  Lo Duca had been sidelined the previous two days with suspected food poisoning.

Everything all Wright with HoJo  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - David Wright still vividly recalls the message waiting for him when he turned on his cell phone after landing at LaGuardia Airport on July 21, 2004.  —  "Just go up there and break all my records," Howard Johnson had said on the recording.

REGGAETON FAN REYES RECORDS STUDIO TRACKS  —  At times in the latter part of last season, Jose Reyes would come to the plate at Shea with a song playing on the public address system.  —  A song he recorded.  —  Reyes, the Mets' magnificent All-Star shortstop, is a huge fan of reggaeton …

A New Met Defies Age and Pressure in the Bullpen  —  Ambiorix Burgos's transition to the Mets began with a change in hairstyle.  Gone is the clean-cut look he fashioned last season in Kansas City, ditched in favor of straggly curls that resemble fireworks exploding from his head.

Mulder traces troubles to '04 season with A's  —  JUPITER, FLA. — Rehabilitating lefthander Mark Mulder believes shoulder problems that ultimately forced him to undergo rotator cuff surgery last September originated in June 2004, about six months before the Cardinals acquired him from the Oakland A's in a trade.

Bedard glad he avoided arbitration  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // Had the Orioles not agreed to a one-year deal with pitcher Erik Bedard yesterday, the process would have played out Tuesday in a hotel conference room in Phoenix.  At the head of a long table, three arbitrators would have been seated …

Gonzalez ready to get started  —  JUPITER - Pitchers and catchers report.  —  That phrase is synonymous with hope and new beginnings.  Nobody knows that better than Fredi Gonzalez, who waited 43 years for Saturday to roll around.  —  ''No, I'm not antsy.

More slugfests, less finesse  —  Cubs ditch small-ball style, stack lineup with big boppers  —  MESA, Ariz. — After back-to-back sub-.500 seasons at Wrigley Field, the Cubs desperately need to regain the home-field advantage in 2007.  —  And the best way to do that, they have decided …