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.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

Notes: Perkins tries to stay grounded  —  Twins pitcher developing sinker to cut down on fly balls  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Left-hander Glen Perkins spent the winter working on ways he could drastically reduce one number from last season.  —  "I think I led all of organized baseball last year in fly-ball outs," Perkins said.

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 …

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.

Notes: Ordonez eyes quick return  —  Outfielder has minor aftereffects after curveball to head  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Magglio Ordonez has dealt with plenty of injury problems over the last few years, from knee problems to diverticulitis to a hernia.  He had never dealt with a head injury.

Ellsbury a rare talent  —  In him, Sox Nation meets Navajo Nation  —  With speed among his many tools, the game of Jacoby Ellsbury (above) bears a striking resemblance to that of Johnny Damon.  (VICTOR BALDIZON/GETTY IMAGES)  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — When her son Jacoby calls home …

Rundown: Rockies on the mend  —  Catch the daily spring training roundup each afternoon from Rockies beat writers Troy E. Renck and Patrick Saunders in Tucson.  You'll find insider information on players and what the team is working on as they get ready for the 2007 season.

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.