Sanchez makes amends  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Duaner Sanchez returned and resumed working out with the Mets yesterday.  He also kept his word and apologized to his teammates for the repeated lateness that prompted his dismissal from camp Thursday.  —  "I think he owes every one of us an apology …

Prior to make a Minor League start  —  Decision made to regain confidence after meeting with Piniella  —  MESA, Ariz. — Cubs manager Lou Piniella met Sunday with Mark Prior to establish a game plan in hopes of getting the right-hander ready for the regular season, and which will include a start this week in the Minor League camp.

Gorzelanny has rough first inning in loss  —  Southpaw starter allows four runs in three innings  —  Reds 9, Pirates 8  —  Reds at the plate: Juan Castro's two-run home run to left field in the eighth inning tied the game at 8.  Norris Hopper's RBI single to right field scored Jerry Gil with the game-winner.

Pavano pitches small fit  —  Gets peeved when pressed about sudden exit from park  —  TAMPA - Carl Pavano is ready to return to baseball, having rejoined his teammates at Legends Field.  And while he briefly discussed his early departure from the ballpark Friday night …

Sox endure pitching staff filled with pitching stiffs  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — It was a bright and sunny Sunday until it wasn't, when it became a dark and stormy night in the guise of Javier Vazquez.  It was 9:30 a.m.  —  Vazquez, who recently signed a three-year, $34.5 million contract extension …

Dice-K allows two homers, struggles with control  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Welcome to the big leagues, Dice-K.  —  Boston's $103 million pitcher with the winning smile allowed homers to two non-roster players, struggled with his control and even threw away a potential double-play grounder against Baltimore on Sunday.

Andino, Amezaga recovering following collision  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Marlins infielders Robert Andino and Alfredo Amezaga each will take at least another day to recover from their collision Saturday.  —  "They're sore, but it's just your typical soreness from a collision," manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Reserve IF Jackson furious over release from Dodgers  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — The Los Angeles Dodgers released reserve infielder Damian Jackson on Sunday.  —  Jackson signed as a free agent in December and was entering his 17th season in professional baseball — his 11th in the majors after spending time with eight teams.

It's not easy being Greene  —  Talents, accomplishments make Padre shortstop a fan favorite, history of injuries and private nature leave critics asking for more  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - Three bone fractures and one torn ligament later, Khalil Greene still has his admirers.

The Couch Slouch: Life's too short to desire more baseball on TV  —  Major League Baseball is in the process of shifting its Extra Innings package of games from a combination of satellite and cable carriers to DirecTV.  From the reaction of certain Extra Innings subscribers and the volume …

Five Questions: Los Angeles Angels  —  My original question was going to be what are the chances Gary Matthews Jr.'s 2006 season was for real.  While the season screams fluke, there have been players in the past who have established themselves as stars in their early 30s after being journeymen …

Notes: Vargas making play for rotation  —  Multi-talented Rottino tries out catching; Iribarren in a groove  —  MESA, Ariz. — A team could do a lot worse for a fifth starter option than Claudio Vargas, and if the Milwaukee right-hander can continue to build on the improvement he made last year …

Burnitz retires at 37 with 315 career home runs … Jeromy Burnitz, who hit 315 home runs in a 14-year career with the New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers and five other clubs, has decided to retire, his agent said.  —  Burnitz, 37, hit a disappointing .230 with 16 home runs in 313 at-bats for the Pittsburgh Pirates in his final season.

John Kruk Is With Leather  —  When the famous phrase "You're with me, leather" entered the lexicon, I didn't think anyone had John Kruk in mind.  I was wrong; ESPN most certainly did.  If you haven't seen the WWL's new fantasy baseball commercial and you don't want to see Krukie doing …

Notes: Wright making adjustments  —  Blalock, Teixeira, Laird nagged by injuries; Gagne to Tucson?  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — These are not uncharted waters for Jamey Wright.  For the fourth time in five seasons, he is a non-roster invitee to Spring Training.

Life as art  —  BRADENTON, Fla. - Tucked in a small strip mall among miles of them, Taste of Tokyo is easy to miss. It looks like any other sushi joint, with a smiling Buddha and hard-working chef, except for the dry-erase board tacked to the back wall.  —  On it are the day's specials …

Sox' Hall plays it by the book  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Toby Hall lives by the code.  And it's not just cheap talk from the White Sox' new backup catcher.  —  There are plenty in baseball who talk a good game, but when it comes time to carry out the codes that have been intact for decades, they freeze.