Mets Tell Sánchez It's Time to Shape Up  —  Manager Willie Randolph will be in his office at 8 a.m. sharp Saturday, and if Duaner Sánchez knows what's good for him, he will be there 15 minutes early.  —  "It wouldn't be a great idea to be late, that's for sure," Randolph said.

Bochy similar to Alou, according to new book  —  Writer/historian James examines managers in his latest baseball handbook  —  Bill James has noticed that whenever fans start debating the merits of a manager, there are essentially two types of arguments.  —  There is "He's a genius."

Hamilton's Red-letter spring is made for Hollywood … SARASOTA, Fla. — Sometimes, the stories we tell aren't really baseball stories.  —  Sometimes, they're just the stories of human beings — people who rise, who fall, who sadden us, who inspire us.  We only use baseball as a reason to tell those tales.

Burrell struggles with contacts  —  Still insists he has no vision trouble  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - It was an eye-opener of a day for Pat Burrell.  —  Aided by his pal, non-roster catcher Jason Hill, Burrell finally got the contact lenses on his eyeballs yesterday morning.

Take a look at Sammy  —  Cubs do, and he gets 2 hits vs. team that didn't want him back  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — If Sammy Sosa had his way, the Cubs' first look at him this spring would have come a lot sooner than Friday, when he started in right field for the Texas Rangers in a split-squad exhibition against the Cubs.

Let's Make a Deal!  —  In a market that values a league-average starting pitcher at $10 million a season guaranteed for performance that is decidedly not so, finding five guys who fit that description isn't easy.  Looking around, there aren't five teams who, even in hopeful sunshine of March …

Pirates Notebook: Wilson eyes patience at plate  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Jack Wilson is aware that some question the Pirates' decision to bat him No. 2 in the order, given his .305 career on-base percentage.  —  At the same time, he seems determined to prove management right.

Nationals' Biggest Hires Don't Even Play  —  VIERA, Fla. — On paper, the Washington Nationals' important business Friday took place in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where they played another Grapefruit League game against the Baltimore Orioles.  In practice, the bulk of the regular lineup remained …

Hendrickson hopes to make roster, stay  —  Out of Minor League options, prospect eyeing big-league shot  —  PHOENIX — Simple question: Does Ben Hendrickson, who has been stalled in "prospect" purgatory for three years, feel like this is the year he finally cracks the Brewers roster and stays long enough to unpack his suitcase?

Hansen back in mix: Young righty makes first appearance  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - On the day the Red Sox [team stats] lost reliever Mike Timlin [stats] to injury, Craig Hansen made his return.  —  The young right-hander pitched for the first time this spring, allowing three hits and two runs …

Zimmerman's contract  —  (Please put aside the lame showing by the Journal yesterday.  And please note that it did not affect the coverage of the Nationals in the actual ink-and-paper product (just $.35).  I'm not supposed to be posting on the weekend, so consider this bonus Journal coverage.)

Hope and Faith  —  How the Milwaukee Brewers Can Win the World Series … —Bud Selig  —  These aren't Bud Selig's Brewers.  Selig may have brought baseball back to Beer City, maybe swindled a big freaky stadium out of the state, and he may be a peachy commissioner …