Nationals release Womack, trim roster  —  Team reduces number of players in Major League camp to 56  —  VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals trimmed their roster from 72 to 56 on Thursday, when they gave infielder Tony Womack his unconditional release and reassigned infielders Tony Blanco …

DirecTV, MLB agree; cable companies still negotiating  —  NEW YORK — Major League Baseball announced its $700 million, seven-year agreement with DirecTV on Thursday and said the deal contains a provision that allows its "Extra Innings" package of out-of-market games to remain on cable television …

Word of encouragement: Matsuzaka picking up English  —  FORT MYERS - Yesterday morning at City of Palms Park, new Red Sox [team stats] pitching coach John Farrell was jogging with the team's phenom-in-training, Daisuke Matsuzaka.  —  And, as jogging buddies will do, Farrell and Matsuzaka talked …

On Clemens, a resounding YES  —  On Wednesday night, the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network was scheduled to air an exhibition game between the Bombers and Reds.  Instead, the network presented its tribute to Roger Clemens.  —  Who cares about a meaningless game when YES …

Finding 8th hitter a major priority  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - Can the Padres hit well enough to keep fans awake at Petco Park this year?  —  Will San Diego's offense finish among the National League's bottom four in runs scored for a third consecutive season?  —  Although first-year manager Bud Black …

Mets Fasten Seat Belts After a Day of Turbulence  —  So far, the Mets have enjoyed a peaceful, easy spring, smiling at the Yankees' occasional soap operas and brushing aside the Phillies' claims that they are going to win the division this season.  Their first serious turbulence arrived Thursday …

Angels' Owner Wants Matthews to Talk  —  When Arte Moreno, the Angels' owner, decided to commit $50 million to Gary Matthews Jr. over the next five years, he thought Matthews would enhance the pleasure he would derive from his team.  However, the first few weeks of Matthews's tenure with the Angels have produced pain instead.

ESPN analyst Phillips is Ozzie's latest target  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said Thursday he hopes ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips' latest statement about him is correct.  —  Because as far as Guillen is concerned, if Phillips is right about his speculation …

Reliever Josh Kinney will miss season after surgery  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Three days after Josh Kinney could not straighten his right arm when rising from the dugout bench for a cup of water, the Cardinals on Thursday confirmed the reliever will require season-ending elbow ligament replacement surgery.

Rowand talk resurfacing  —  Former Sox OF could return since Phils need relievers  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — There may indeed be a familiar face from the 2005 World Series team getting a deal done with the White Sox this spring — just not Mark Buehrle, as was erroneously reported on a Chicago radio station.

Patience is no virtue to Jacobs  —  VERO BEACH - Among the adjustments Mike Jacobs could be forced to make at the plate this season: leaving the bat on his shoulder on the first pitch.  —  Only a handful of National League hitters swung at the first pitch more often than Jacobs last season.