Vukovich dies at 59; won Series rings with Phils, Reds  —  PHILADELPHIA — John Vukovich, the longest-serving coach in Philadelphia Phillies history and a member of their only World Series championship team in 1980, died Thursday.  He was 59.  —  Vukovich, who had been suffering …

Hampton hurt while taking swings  —  Latest injury will sideline lefty for the start of regular season  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Just as his left elbow was showing signs of improvement, Mike Hampton has endured an injury to his left side that will definitely erase his availability for the start of the regular season.

Even better  —  Have I mentioned that we have a new slogan here in beautiful Viera?  Mea culpa.  —  If you recall, there used to be three billboards on the left field wall at HSCS with some version of the slogan, "Viera — It's All Here."  (The number of ways to pick that apart are countless …

Fogg, Kim on the bubble  —  Fight for the fifth rotation spot may be either/or thing  —  Box score  —  TUCSON — Josh Fogg and Byung-Hyun Kim are the incumbents in the battle for the final two spots in the Rockies rotation.  But it doesn't give them an advantage in their bids to retain the spots in 2007.

Caution: Bosox  —  As he gets reacquainted with starter's role, Park pitches carefully to powerful Boston lineup  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Chan Ho Park was prohibited from making his first scheduled start for the Mets last week because of visa problems that did not allow him to pitch anywhere that charged admission.

Shoulder pain throws O's Benson for a loop … JUPITER, FLA. // Two weeks into his rehabilitation program, Orioles pitcher Kris Benson is experiencing an increase in soreness that could accelerate his decision to undergo surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff.

Kotsay to be sidelined by surgery  —  Back operation means A's outfielder will be gone from eight to 12 weeks  —  MESA, Ariz. - Mark Kotsay's impact on the A's has been felt both on the field and in the clubhouse during his three seasons in Oakland.  —  Now they will have to make do without …

Hill holds Astros in check, but Nats fall  —  Righty allows one run; Schneider, Jimenez add two hits each  —  ASTROS 5, NATIONALS 2  —  Nationals at the plate: The Nats scored an unearned run in the first, thanks to errors by Craig Biggio and Brad Ausmus.  D'Angelo Jimenez and Brian Schneider both went 2-for-3.

Miller wades to forefront in arms race  —  Seizes early edge as Cubs' 5th starter  —  MESA, Ariz. — With one start down and five to go, Wade Miller is the front-runner in his bid to capture the fifth spot in the Cubs rotation.  —  Just don't tell Miller.  —  "I've only had one outing," he said.

Selig's uncivil wrong  —  Bud sends Indians & insulting message to Rights Game  —  Major League Baseball dubbed it the Civil Rights Game, a well-intentioned celebration of baseball's harried, minority pioneers.  But then somebody invited the Cleveland Indians, and the event has been sabotaged …

Payroll is competitive and flexible  —  JUPITER, FLA. — In more ways than one, the Cardinals pick up this April where they left off in October.  —  The Cardinals will begin defense of their World Series title with a major league payroll slightly below its 2006 season-ending figure but above …

Notes: Jenkins kicks old habit  —  Subdued leg lift working so far  —  Phoenix - Brewers leftfielder Geoff Jenkins, who knocked heads at times with former hitting coach Butch Wynegar over his approach at the plate, is not the same hitter this spring.  —  Jenkins, who got himself in trouble …

Baseball deal with DirecTV 'imminent'  —  Despite recent counteroffers, satellite provider is about to gain exclusivity to Extra Innings package.  —  A proposed deal by Major League Baseball that would give its Extra Innings pay package exclusively to DirecTV "is imminent," …