Milledge Looks to Rein in Free Spirit but Retain Flair  —  Willie Randolph eyed the 20 or so reporters encircling him in the dugout and, with a sigh, prepared for what he considered inevitable.  —  "Come on, give me the first Milledge negative question," Randolph said.  "Come on, throw it at me.

Gibbons given lifeline through 2008  —  DUNEDIN, FLA. — John Gibbons's status as a lame-duck manager didn't even last until position players reported here for spring training.  —  According to sources close to Gibbons and Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi …

Zambrano: Chance of agreement with Cubs '85 percent'  —  MESA, Ariz. — Carlos Zambrano said Monday he was "85 percent" sure he'd come to an agreement with the Cubs on a one-year contract to avoid arbitration.  —  "You'll see the news [Tuesday] morning, hopefully," Zambrano told reporters after Monday's workout at Fitch Park.

Mariners Notebook: Vidro wants DH crash course  —  New Mariner hopes to get tips from Edgar  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Jose Vidro wanted to be in camp early for his first season with a team other than the Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos.  —  Just one problem: Jose Vidro Jr., 11, was getting ready to play too, back in Puerto Rico.

Lindstrom's next mission: Make the Marlins' roster  —  After a two-year Mormon trip in Sweden, a stronger Matt Lindstrom returned with big-league ambitions.  —  mphillips@MiamiHerald.com  —  JUPITER - Are you ready for the Swedish fastball?  —  That might just be what they start calling Matt Lindstrom's heat.

Alomar backstop insurance  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Mets signed catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. to a minor-league contract yesterday, a move that gives them added depth behind the plate and reunites the catcher with his father, the team's third-base coach.  —  Alomar, 40, batted a combined .278 …

Exercise helps left-hander Renyel Pinto's control  —  · Left-hander Renyel Pinto is not throwing in the towel.  It just looks that way.  —  Pinto spent part of Monday morning configuring a workout towel to use during drills.  He applied enough tape at one end to form a ring he'll grip …

Juan Pierre gets tips from a master  —  New Dodger is working with base-stealing legend Maury Wills to improve his efficiency on the basepaths.  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — A mutual admiration society comes to order every day at Dodgertown when new center fielder Juan Pierre meets with base-stealing legend Maury Wills.

Ledezma to get his shot  —  Left-hander can be slotted into several roles in 2007  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — The Tigers aren't necessarily looking for Wilfredo Ledezma to emerge as the replacement for Jamie Walker.  They want him to focus on being Wilfredo Ledezma.

Notes: Sarfate ahead of schedule  —  Brewers reliever feels sharp after pitching winter ball  —  PHOENIX — Brewers right-hander Dennis Sarfate hit the ground running this spring after stints in the Arizona Fall League and the Mexican Winter League, and his manager appreciates the effort.

Dunn brings fresh perspective to camp  —  Slimmed-down slugger re-dedicates himself at plate, in field  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — Reds left fielder Adam Dunn had the required ingredients on Monday to put last season behind him.  —  An early arrival to camp?  Check.  A slimmed down physique?

Baseball caps to have new feel  —  A pitcher stands on the mound in the August sun, tugging at the bill of his sweat-soaked cap, stained white with the salt of his labors.  —  That might be an image of the past if Major League Baseball's new caps work according to plan.

With a Year in the Books, O's Mazzone Set for Next Chapter  —  After less than a month as the Baltimore Orioles' pitching coach, Leo Mazzone, on a spring whim, had a blue and white pennant tattooed on his left arm.  Inside the pennant were the words "14 Straight," a tribute …

Morrow's mind is on mastering the mound  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Brandon Morrow is like most players in his first big league camp.  —  The next word he speaks might be his first.  —  First-timers tend to be quiet to the extreme, even those who are first-round draft choices and instant millionaires.

Pirates Notebook: Chacon has arthritis in knee  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Shawn Chacon freely allows that he will have to pitch through some pain in 2007.  —  Chacon, one of four starters vying for the lone vacancy in the rotation …

Benson will hold off on surgery … Orioles pitcher Kris Benson will put off surgery to repair his torn right rotator cuff and instead undergo a rehabilitation process, which could last a month, in a final attempt to pitch in 2007, a baseball source said last night.

Big Unit says he still has the stuff to dominate  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Randy Johnson made the familiar trek down Interstate 10 from his Paradise Valley home and found his name on the same spring training locker he occupied during the best seasons of his extraordinary career.