Pitcher the picture of calm  —  Outing doesn't faze Matsuzaka  —  "The fact that they hit a couple of home runs off me is not something I'm . . . worked up about," said Daisuke Matsuzaka.  (STAN GROSSFELD/GLOBE STAFF)  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Daisuke Matsuzaka had been so impressive …

Rickey Henderson: An Interview with the Stolen Base King  —  We have you covered all Spring Training here at BDD!  Even as I leave Arizona, our own Martin Gandy is just getting started in Florida.  Martin wasted no time in hitting the camps, and today he brings us the first of his exclusive interviews …

Hope and Faith  —  How the New York Mets Can Win the World Series … First and foremost: the 2007 Eastern Division title belongs to the Mets.  —  To assume that the only team to win 90 games in the league—first order or actual—is going to come all the way back to the pack is folly.

Benitez has scoreless inning in spring debut  —  (03-12) 04:00 PDT Scottsdale , Ariz. — If the Giants' purpose is to trade Armando Benitez before Opening Day, they need him to keep taking the mound.  It's tough to deal a guy out of the trainer's room.  —  Benitez, dogged by injuries …

Piniella changes Prior 'game plan'  —  Once-promising righty to get start Thursday vs. minor-leaguers  —  MESA, Ariz. — Mark Prior says he's taking baby steps this spring in his attempt to return to his old form.  —  But the next steps Prior takes will be down the street at the Cubs' minor-league camp.

Minors report: Hietpas makes big switch  —  Longtime Mets catching prospect to try his hand as pitcher  —  Hot topic: A year ago, Henry Owens was hot.  Though he was 25, he was considered something of a young arm, even a pitching prospect.  He produced a nice spring …

Barton becoming key part of big trade  —  Mulder deal with St. Louis brought young hitter to Oakland  —  PHOENIX — When A's general manager Billy Beane stunned baseball by trading Mark Mulder to the Cardinals in December 2004, just days after dealing Tim Hudson to the Braves, Oakland fans were understandably bummed.

Nationals trim Spring Training roster to 52  —  The Washington Nationals today optioned right-handed pitchers Jermaine Van Buren and Brett Campbell to Columbus of the Triple-A International League.  The club also reassigned outfielder Darnell McDonald and left-handed pitcher Chris Michalak to minor-league camp.

Mariners Notebook: Lincecum leaves mark  —  Ex-UW star strikes out 4 Mariners in 3 innings of relief  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It's not often you see someone get a standing ovation for a spring training middle relief appearance, but on Sunday Tim Lincecum got two.

Former Mets pitcher Franco leads push to ban metal bats in NYC  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  NEW YORK — New York's City Council is considering a ban on metal bats, with former New York Mets reliever John Franco testifying Monday in sport of the proposal.

Driver sues Yankees pitcher Pavano  —  A Florida man involved last year in an accident with a Porsche driven by oft-injured Carl Pavano has sued the New York Yankees pitcher for injuries allegedly sustained in the crash, which the player initially tried to hide from the team.

Waiting game  —  TEMPE, Ariz. - Gary Matthews Jr. should probably know that while he fields calls from his attorneys and plots strategies with his crisis management firm, the Los Angeles Angels are beginning to field their own calls and plot their own strategies.  —  Very soon, they'll have a season to play.

The Best Young Center Fielders of 2007  —  This week, I will continue my position-by-position review of the game's best players by examining young center fielders.  The following list differs from traditional prospect lists in two ways.  First, anyone under 25 is eligible.

For a Roster Spot, a Met Is Prepared to Get Dirty  —  In passing up a chance to play football in the Southeastern Conference, Mets outfielder Ben Johnson traded one helmet for another.  The decision was not difficult: Either way, he would wear a helmet.  —  "I'll put it like this …

It's swing forward time for two M's  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Baseball isn't a one-size-fits-all business.  —  You want proof?  Just look at the players who served as No. 2 hitters for Seattle on Sunday in the Mariners' split-squad games.  —  In Peoria there was Adrian Beltre …