The Sixth Season  —  And so we begin the sixth year of Under The Knife.  Writing that sentence proves the axiom about time flying while you're having fun, because it seems like yesterday that I sent the first experimental UTK out to three friends, asking, "is this anything?"

Braves' Jones sprains left ankle  —  Chipper Jones, who missed 44 games with various injuries last season, gave the Atlanta Braves another scare Monday.  —  The veteran third baseman left a spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals after spraining his left ankle attempting to run …

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 …

Will Cable Try to Bulk-Buy MLB.TV Subscriptions?  —  In an interesting twist to the Extra Innings / DirecTV deal, cable may opt to go the online route, as opposed to trying to match DirecTV's offer of placing the MLB Channel on the basic tier.  —  To compete, iN Demand may take an interesting side route …

Needing One Starter, Mets Measure Park Against Prospect  —  Chan Ho Park thought he threw one bad pitch in Monday's game against the Washington Nationals.  So did his catcher, Paul Lo Duca.  The problem was, they were talking about different pitches, and that difference of opinion summed up Park's performance in the Mets' 9-6 loss.

Garland denies he's blase  —  Intensity's there, he says after Cooper gets on Sox starters  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Jon Garland said his sluggish body language shouldn't be interpreted to mean that he doesn't care about spring-training games.  —  "It might not look like it, [but] …

60 seconds with former Marlins catcher and Gonzaga alum Mike Redmond  —  Staff writer Tom D'Angelo spoke with former Marlins catcher and Gonzaga alum Mike Redmond, who is Joe Mauer's backup in Minnesota.  —  What's up with the Zags?  A No. 10 seed?  —  They've been to the tournament nine years in a row.

Spring hysterics: Sox, Yanks hit new heights in exhibition  —  FORT MYERS - Outside the ballpark, there was a PT Cruiser pulled over on the sidewalk.  Before long, there was a woman hanging outside the passenger-side window, screaming at a little guy covered in tattoos.  —  Red Sox forum:

Score one for graciousness  —  No evidence here of a bitter rivalry  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Nothing casual about the greeting exchanged last night between Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui and his Japanese countrymen on the Red Sox, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima.

Bloomquist seeks full-time position with Mariners  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Willie Bloomquist collected a pair of hits Monday, two singles.  Another multihit game.  That's not surprising.  Few players this spring are hitting the ball as well as the Mariners utility man.

Webb gives hitters that sinking feeling … PEORIA, Ariz. — Not many people have less incentive to be on the job than an Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder when Brandon Webb is pitching.  But here are three who spring to mind:  —  • A surfing instructor in Siberia.

The AL West with Rob Neyer  —  There are people in this world who speak and write so authoritatively, that I find myself always agreeing with them even when I know they are wrong.  Rob Neyer is one of those people.  Rob could write a column about how earthworms are going to take over the world …

Notes: Clayton nabs starting job  —  Veteran to play shortstop; reserve situation unsettled  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — Royce Clayton is penciled in as Toronto's starting shortstop.  The Blue Jays were just a little hesistant to say as much when they signed him over the winter.

Notes: Meche learning new tricks  —  Right-hander's new delivery getting results this spring  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Toe, not heel.  —  That is the reminder that Gil Meche gives himself every time he takes the mound for the Royals.  Should he forget, pitching coach Bob McClure is there to remind him.

Baseball Prospectus 2007.  —  I got my copy of Baseball Prospectus 2007 this past week.  This is my fifth edition of the the stat-friendly annual (since 2002- missing 2005, when I was in Europe).  I am also a former and current subscriber to the website, having just anted up for a month's subscription …

Sorry, busy morning  —  Running around a bit today.  Update on yesterday: Nationals blow two-run lead in bottom of ninth to lose to Dodgers.  Chris Schroder, who was throwing too many fastballs, according to Manager Manny Acta.  (Read my notebook for a hair more.)  —  Today: Sunny is good.