Hall's Vets elect no one in 2007  —  Santo, Harvey lead balloting; no candidate receives 75 percent  —  Ron Santo inched a little closer to Cooperstown on Tuesday, but came up five votes short of baseball immortality.  —  Voting by the Veterans Committee for the National Baseball Hall …

Ponson has a serious visa issue  —  Wait for proper permit frustrates Ryan, Gardenhire  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — For a guy who admittedly is down to his last chance in baseball, Sidney Ponson hasn't shown his new team a sense of urgency.  —  And that is hurting the oft-troubled veteran pitcher's chances …

As Season Approaches, Some Topics Should Be Off Limits  —  Things I don't want to read or hear about anymore:  —  ¶  Roger Clemens saying he hasn't decided if he will play this year or retire, and if he decides to play, which team he will play for.  —  Clemens is one of the greatest pitchers ever, the greatest of his era.

Whole organization easing assimilation … FORT MYERS, Fla. — Daisuke Matsuzaka's mind worked furiously.  The camera clicks sounded like a thousand typewriters, his every twitch broadcast around the world, in at least two languages.  There he was, in front of millions of people, momentarily stumped.

The new choice of the fan  —  The users have won.  —  What else is there to conclude from the Albany Times-Union report Tuesday that a New York state grand jury investigation linked Los Angeles Angels center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., boxing champion Evander Holyfield and the Pittsburgh Steelers organization …

Reed, Broussard remain upbeat  —  Fringe players likely will take on lesser roles for Mariners or could be traded  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Jeremy Reed and Ben Broussard have less reason than anyone in camp to be pleased with the Mariners' direction.  —  Reed, the former starting center fielder …

Crain signs three-year deal with Twins  —  Right-handed reliever to stay in Minnesota through 2009  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Twins have thus far been unable to lock up closer Joe Nathan with a contract extension, but they may have locked up their closer of the future on Tuesday.

Next big things?  Mets prospects make waves  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Imagine a 6-foot-4 outfielder who is faster than Jose Reyes.  —  The Mets have him.  —  Now imagine an 18-year-old outfielder whose pure hitting ability is reminiscent of a young Manny Ramirez.  —  The Mets have him, too.

Life of Brian on the upswing  —  Changes at bat keep Anderson in Sox' CF picture  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — All of a sudden, the talk surrounding Brian Anderson isn't as harsh.  —  That's quite a change from last September, when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen began issuing threats to the center fielder …

Joke is on Jeter!  —  President and Mantle pop up on Topps' gag baseball card  —  It's hard to Topps this one: The card company has issued a Derek Jeter baseball card with a smiling President Bush in the stands.  —  But there's something very wrong with that picture: Bush wasn't really at the game that day.

Education still a priority for standout baseball player  —  WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass.(CNS) — Long before Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano reported to spring training this year he was doing his homework, working out and preparing for what he hopes will be another All-Star season.

Pujols practices with pro wrestler  —  JUPITER, Fla. — In an unlikely cage match, one of baseball's best hitters took turns batting Tuesday with one of professional wrestling's top names.  —  Slugger Albert Pujols and wrestler Kurt Angle took turns slugging balls in the Cardinals batting cages …

Root, root, root - and pay - for the road team  —  Baseball could get more money if it drops plan to let DirecTV have exclusive deal to sell out-of-market games to hard-core fans.  —  NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Long-distance relationships may not work for romances.  But it's a different story for sports fans.

Boo-boo for Abreu  —  Bobby out 2-3 weeks with strained muscle  —  TAMPA - Just when the Yankees received good news on Carl Pavano, the team suffered its first serious injury of the spring, losing Bobby Abreu for two to three weeks with a strained right abdominal muscle.

Stats Geek: Giles-Bay run has been a hit for Pirates  —  By Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  Would you believe the Pirates' left fielder these past eight seasons has put up Cooperstown-worthy numbers?  —  Of course you wouldn't, unless you realize I'm talking about two guys.