Braves ink Redman to minor-league deal  —  The Altanta Braves, acting quickly to replace injured left-hander Mike Hampton, have signed free agent lefty Mark Redman to a minor-league contract, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  Redman will pitch for the Braves Saturday in a Grapefruit League game …

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.

Notes: Sanchez in Randolph's doghouse  —  Reliever's tardiness leads to one-day banishment from camp  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — In Willie Randolph's clubhouse, rules are rigid or they're not rules at all, but merely guidelines.  As the Mets manager explained that Thursday, his back became rigid …

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 …

Lou says there's no room for Pie  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — No matter how you slice it, Felix Pie is out.  That's the message Cubs manager Lou Piniella clearly delivered after another impressive performance by the touted young center fielder Thursday against the San Diego Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex.

Another Reason Baseball Players Shouldn't MySpace  —  This is CJ Wilson, a reliever for the Texas Rangers, an up-and-comer, a LOOGY, if you will.  He also has a MySpace page and is pals with teammate Brandon McCarthy, who also has a MySpace page.  They're buddies, along with, as always …

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 …

The Best Benches in the National League  —  Earlier this week, I took a look at the best benches in the American League.  Naturally, it's time to switch our focus to the senior circuit.  —  In general, benches appear to be a little weaker in the National League.

An expert's take on Rays … ESPN's Peter Gammons might know more about baseball than anyone on the planet.  In the 1970s and '80s, his full-page Sunday columns in the Boston Globe became a must read not only for sports fans but baseball executives.  He went on to work for Sports Illustrated …

Andruw Jones ready to strike gold  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Andruw Jones shuffles through the Atlanta Braves' clubhouse, full of bravado and bluster, the voice rising as he switches easily from English to Spanish to rant about some perceived slight during batting practice.  —  Not to worry.

Rocket signals  —  Yankees eager to give Clemens $4 million per month  —  NEW YORK — The New York Yankees took advantage of Roger Clemens' attendance at Legends Field on Wednesday to ask Clemens back to the Bronx, SI.com has learned.  —  However, Clemens' answer to the Yankees didn't exactly clear up the situation.

What's a Hum dinger?  —  Just as Mike Pelfrey took a step towards making the Mets rotation on Thursday, Phil Humber took a step away from serious consideration on Friday.  Humber, pitching in relief of John Maine in the Mets' 9-5 loss to the Tigers at Tradition Field, allowed three runs on two hits and two walks in two innings.

State of the Systems, AL Central  —  This year's State Of The Systems features some new categories, so before we get going, some explanation.  — 2007 Rookies: Simple enough: what first-year players will contribute in the big leagues this year.  — Minor League Road Trip …

Baseball Bends on TV Plan, but Doubts Linger  —  Major League Baseball does not like the terminology, but it appears to have buckled to pressure from devoted fans irate that the Extra Innings package of out-of-market games would be the exclusive property of DirecTV.  —  Appears is the operative word.