Pirates Notebook: Eldred would welcome outfield try  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Brad Eldred in the outfield?  —  Sounds fine by him.  —  "Yeah, I can play there," he replied yesterday after hitting his fourth home run in as many games played …

Gyroball makes 'debut': Matsuzaka dazzles Marlins hitters  —  JUPITER, Fla. - The gyroball exists and Daisuke Matsuzaka throws it, at least that's what a couple of major league hitters were left thinking yesterday.  —  Red Sox forum:  —  In Matsuzaka's Red Sox [team stats] …

White Sox GM Williams won't sit still  —  Perhaps no general manager is trying harder than the White Sox's Ken Williams to stay ahead of the escalating market for starting pitching.  —  If, at first glance, Williams' logic appears elusive, so be it.  After a moment's reflection — OK …

O's open window for three years  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // From The Cover  —  If you, like the Orioles, are looking for a fresh start, it might be psychologically beneficial to view the next three years as the baseball equivalent of one of those windows of opportunity that open up for NFL teams …

Inside the Steroid Sting  —  SI's Luis Fernando Llosa and L. Jon Wertheim, on the scene for the Florida raids, continue to report on the ongoing investigation that promises to rock sports  —  The Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center is decidedly less exotic than its name might suggest.

Marlins' Josh Johnson out for at least two months  —  JUPITER — Marlins right-hander Josh Johnson was diagnosed with an irritated ulna nerve that will keep him out for at least the first two months of the season.  —  Johnson, 23, was relieved with the news.

Nats' Starting Pitching Could Be a Real Problem  —  How do you establish a culture of leadership in a season of embarrassment?  That's the challenge the Nationals face as they realize, less than a week into the exhibition season, that their starting rotation will probably ensure them a summer of biblical drubbings.

The Best Benches in the American League  —  Of the four parts of every baseball team—starting lineup, bench, rotation, and bullpen—the bench is the least important.  It probably isn't even close.  —  However, the difference between a good bench and a bad one is huge, especially as soon as injuries strike.

Mr. Laid-back can relax now  —  Damon says he felt pressure in first year after leaving Red Sox  —  WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Johnny Damon might be the last player one would expect to feel tense or put undue pressure on himself.  —  Damon is known as Mr. Laid-back, the guy who chills out everyone else.

At 88, a Hall of Famer Who's Still in There Pitching  —  The driver's door of the white Buick LaCrosse opened, and one of the senior members of the Baseball Hall of Fame stepped out briskly Tuesday morning.  He was wearing the official Cleveland Indians uniform, buttoned to the top …

Padres report: Notes, quotes  —  The Sports Xchange  —SS Khalil Greene is still troubled by the sprained ligament in the middle finger of his left hand he suffered last Aug. 3.  "It is a concern," Padres CEO Sandy Alderson admitted.  Greene is requiring extra time to get the finger loose each day.

Wang long on Ws, short on Ks  —  You've got Andy Pettitte's elbow, Mike Mussina's age, Kei Igawa's inexperience in the major leagues and Carl Pavano's ability to function as a responsible adult.  —  Valid concerns, all, about the Yankees' starting rotation.

Schmidt solid in Dodgers' victory  —  New ace strikes out three in two innings against Twins  —  DODGERS 7, TWINS 4  —  Twins at the plate: Jason Kubel drove in two runs for the Twins as part of a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.  Michael Cuddyer continued his strong spring as he went 2-for-3 to raise his average to .385.

Man faces new federal charges in alleged shakedown of athlete  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — The athlete targeted in an alleged $150,000 shakedown by an unemployed ex-con was former St. Louis Cardinal second baseman Ronnie Belliard, a person close to the matter confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Willie tinkers with hitting Wright after Reyes  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - This was a few minutes before noon in Willie Randolph's office, long before his Mets would take the field on a perfectly sunny, perfectly nondescript spring training day.  But the Mets' lineup against the Indians …