Double feature on tap  —  Dice-K, Ramírez are ready to roll  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — He won't be upstaging Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is scheduled to make his first spring start tonight against Boston College, but Manny Ramírez's spring debut is scheduled to come this afternoon, in an exhibition against the Blue Jays.

Marlins' Johnson could miss season  —  JUPITER — Marlins starting pitcher Josh Johnson might miss at least the first month of the season and could be lost for the year because of possible nerve damage in his right arm, sources said Wednesday.  —  Johnson is scheduled to have an MRI today …

Cain signs multiyear deal with Giants  —  Young right-hander goes for four years with option for fifth  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Noah Lowry used the calendar to put Matt Cain's brand-new deal with the Giants in perspective.  —  "When he's done with that contract, he'll be almost my age," Lowry said.

Cards Notes: Cardinals try to make inroads into Mexico with Salas signing  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. — The Cardinals' enhanced awareness of Mexican talent became tangible earlier this week when the club acquired 21-year-old pitcher Fernando Salas from Saltilla of the Mexican League.

Here's one $80 million signing that's priceless  —  Consider the numbers.  —  Five years, $80 million.  —  Huge dollars, yes.  But look at it a better way.  —  Instead of one Alex Rodriguez at 10 years and $252 million, Rangers owner Tom Hicks could have had three Michael Youngs.

A-Rod talkin' like Mr. Cub  —  With options open, Alex is still batty over 'father' Piniella  —  While Alex Rodriguez has demonstrated a penchant for self-analysis, the media has provided ample evidence that this is a two-way couch.  —  We hang on A-Rod's every word.  The season is still a month away from opening.

Mets built for the long haul  —  Remind critics NL East race isn't a sprint  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - The slights keep coming for the Mets.  It was one thing for Jimmy Rollins to declare his Phillies, those perennial underachievers, as the team to beat in the National League East this season.

Six people dead in Bluffton University bus accident  —  ATLANTA (AP) — A charter bus carrying a college baseball team from Ohio plunged off a highway ramp early Friday and slammed into the pavement below, killing at least six people and scattering sports equipment across the road, authorities said.

Lefties rule Randolph's bullpen  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Dae-Sung Koo's headfirst dive into home while wearing a warm-up jacket with a weighted ball in his pocket, after reaching on a double against Randy Johnson, cemented his place in Subway Series lore.  —  But now when Willie Randolph calls …

One and done … JUPITER, FLA. // Steve Trachsel's mood was much better than his pitching yesterday, which might be a good sign.  —  Trachsel wondered why reporters waited until the fifth inning to enter the clubhouse, joking that New York writers would have instantly pinned him against his locker …

Dentist sues late pitcher's estate over plane crash  —  NEW YORK — A dentist to the rich and famous has filed a $7 million lawsuit against the estate of late New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle, claiming his home was destroyed when the ballplayer's small airplane crashed into his apartment building.

Notes: A dash of soreness for duo  —  Fielder, Gross hurting after timed sprint; Braun makes noise  —  PHOENIX — First baseman Prince Fielder was scratched from the Brewers' first Cactus League game because of a sore right quadriceps, another casualty of the team's much-ballyhooed 60-yard dash.