Drew puts on dancing shoes  —  Right fielder proves nimble at avoiding inside pitches  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew doesn't look anything like Vince Vaughn or Ben Stiller.  But if there's ever a sequel to the slapstick comedy "Dodgeball," Drew could probably find himself a part.

Hit them in the wallet  —  In the end, the Players Association in baseball, and its members, are really only passionate about one thing: Protecting guaranteed contracts, something they think should be covered by the Patriot Act.  The Players Association used to stand for a lot of things, so many of them good and important.

Maholm struggles, Pirates fall to Yanks  —  Lefty starter allows three runs in spring debut  —  YANKEES 5, PIRATES 3  —  Yankees at the plate: In the first inning, Robinson Cano's single knocked in the game's first run as the Yankees grabbed a 1-0 lead.  With the bases loaded …

Computer crashes White Sox  —  Statistical program predicts aging team will win only 72 games  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — After winning a World Series and more games the last two seasons than any team in baseball except the New York Yankees, the White Sox should have earned a little respect.  —  Right?

Notes: Wright trying to fit in  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — After two turns through the rotation, Jaret Wright just wants to keep pace with the rest of his peers.  Baltimore's rotation has been outstanding in its first nine spring games, and Wright credits a subtle form of peer pressure.

A Blast From the Past or a Bust in the Future?  —  Projecting how a baseball player will perform is no magic science.  —  Take the player's most recent performance and the history of players like him, then figure out the next numbers in the sequence.  Young or old, star or scrub, the methods are the same.

Weaver could light way for M's  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Yeah, as a matter of fact, Jeff Weaver does think about how he went from having a horrible, no-good, rotten, very bad season to earning the clinching victory in the World Series last October.  —  And, yeah, it feels pretty freaking good every time the memory lights up.

Astros offer Holdzkom back to Cubs  —  Rule 5 Draft selection could opt for free agency  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla, — Following the Astros' game with the Phillies on Saturday, general manager Tim Purpura and manager Phil Garner informed right-hander Lincoln Holdzkom that he cleared outright waivers …

Lilly solid, Prior roughed up in loss  —  Fox hits two-run homer in ninth as Cubs' rally falls short  —  ROYALS 6, CUBS 5  —  Cubs at the plate: Ryan Theriot and Jake Fox accounted for four of Chicago's eight hits, with Theriot driving in a run with a groundout in the seventh and Fox belting a two-run home run in the ninth.

Fair or foul  —  Sharing (Foul): C Gerald Laird shared the blame for RHP Robinson Tejeda's wildness.  Manager Ron Washington said he wants Laird to help pitchers make in-game adjustments.  —  Drawing cards (Fair): Saturday's crowd of 11,995 was a Scottsdale Stadium record.

No Long-Term Extension...For Now  —  The Nats renewed Ryan Zimmerman's contract at $400K.  Apparently, they've been unable to come to an agreement on a long-term deal.  Hopefully they'll keep plugging away.  If they wait until after this year, the David Wright deal would be a perfect model …

New era dawning for Brew Crew?  —  The Milwaukee Brewers haven't managed a winning campaign since 1992, and they haven't made the playoffs since 1982.  In the upcoming season, however, they have the chance to end both droughts.  —  Under GM Doug Melvin (who never, ever should've been fired in Texas) …