Milledge vs. Green  —  As the position players trickled in this morning, no one caused a stir like Ruben Sierra, who showed up in a head-to-toe white outfit.  Shoes, pants, shirt, hat.  And the obligatory gold chains around his neck.  Sierra has almost zero chance of making this club …

Crisp's finger not yet sharp  —  FORT MYERS - Coco Crisp still is experiencing the aftereffects of a fractured left index finger almost a year after suffering the injury, according to Terry Francona.  —  The Red Sox [team stats] manager said that his switch-hitting center fielder recently told …

Jeter's take: So what?  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Derek Jeter this morning insisted his relationship with Alex Rodriguez is just fine in the workplace — but he vehemently declined to discuss their friendship off the field.  —  "How would I characterize it?"  Jeter said, repeating a question about their current relationship.

Matsui not looking in past  —  Rockies prefer to see promise, not failure with Mets  —  TUCSON - The Rockies saw enough from Kaz Matsui in the final six weeks of last season that they are willing to ignore what he did in slightly more than two years with the New York Mets.

Beltran turns the page  —  Final out of NLCS a popular talking point at camp Monday  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The hangover persists.  And now that the public eye again can focus on Carlos Beltran, it may get worse.  No "hair of the dog" exists for this one.

Young to compete for spot with Nats  —  First baseman battled through many personal problems in '06  —  VIERA, Fla. — When Nationals general manager Jim Bowden contacted first baseman Dmitri Young almost two weeks go, Bowden started the conversation by asking, "Do you need a tow?"  —  They both laughed.

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.

Long way from Shea for former Mets star Ordonez  —  PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -The first day of Rey Ordonez comeback couldn't have been any more humbling.  Or wet.  —  The former Gold Glover with the New York Mets began his first day on a baseball diamond since 2004 by fielding ground balls hit by a Mariners coach.

Notes: Greene optimistic about hand  —  Recovering shortstop eager to get past injuries of '06  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Khalil Greene strolled into the clubhouse on Monday, a silver wedding ring gracing the left hand that is a lingering concern for the San Diego Padres and their fans.

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 …

2006 EWSL Wrapup By Team  —  As I did last year, before diving into my preseason Established Win Shares Levels roster analyses, I'm going to take a quick look back at last season's.  First up is the team-by-team results.  For those of you who need a primer on EWSL and my annual roster roundups, go here.

Schneider Recharges The Battery  —  Catcher Working Nonstop To Learn About Pitchers  —  Before last week, Brian Schneider had never met Matt Chico.  Yet Monday morning, as he crouched on his haunches and stared through his gaudy catcher's mask, Schneider received a pitch from the young left-hander and yelled, "Attaboy, 'Chic!' "

Rangers GM has yet to pass test  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - The newest Rangers manager was walking off the practice field following the team's first workout of the spring Sunday when he suddenly remembered just who he was and what he was supposed to be doing.  —  "Oh hell, Art," …

Plenty of seats available for Rockies' best games  —  July 23 is "Yorvit Torrealba Night" at Coors Field.  The first 40,000 fans named "Yorvit" or "Torrealba" will receive jerseys with "Yorvit Torrealba" across the back.  —  I'm just kidding.  —  But I'll tell you what isn't a joke.