Look at me, I can be ... center field  —  I stopped by Brewers camp on my way through the Cactus League last week and couldn't help but be impressed with emerging star Bill Hall.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Hall, it's because he came out of nowhere in 2006 …

Roberts, O's agree to two-year deal … JUPITER, FLA. // After about seven weeks of discussions, the Orioles have agreed in principle to a two-year contract extension with second baseman Brian Roberts that, barring a trade, will keep him in Baltimore through the 2009 season.

Inside Shea: Dreams of Soler, RIP  —  Former Mets General Manager Jim Duquette's dream of Alay Soler as the Mets' number-four starter died today when Soler was released by the team.  —  The cause of release was likely a fastball that never moved as fast as advertised, as well as Soler's reported inability to have just one Pringle.

Notes: Rockies put faith in Iannetta  —  Lopez's release shows club ready to bank on rookie  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — It's cool for a young player to realize that players he grew up watching are as nice as they are good.  Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta is an even bigger fan of Javy Lopez.

Notes: Humber turns it down a notch  —  Righty focuses on getting outs rather than nailing down job  —  WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The mantra of every young player is "try not to do too much."  They all speak it in some manner, and a few of them even accomplish it.  Philip Humber hadn't been among the few.

New Nats stadium on schedule for 2008 opener  —  WASHINGTON — Come April 2008, Ryan Zimmerman might become the first player in major league history to hit a home run into a cherry tree.  —  A grove of cherry blossoms behind the left field bleachers is one of the latest additions to the plans of the Washington Nationals stadium.

Pedro staying patient  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -Pedro Martinez is staying patient with his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery.  —  The New York Mets' ace made 50 throws from about 60 feet on flat ground Tuesday and said he's on schedule to throw four times a week.

Billingsley sent to the bullpen  —  Hendrickson, Kuo, Tomko remain most likely to fill LA rotation  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — The crowded field for the Dodgers' fifth starter job was narrowed by one Tuesday when Chad Billingsley was notified he would be pitching out of the bullpen this year.

Welcome to the comeback  —  PHOENIX - Technically it still was Monday morning in Maryvale (though the sun was in mid-afternoon form) and Eric Gagne, off elbow and back surgeries, was on the mound and pitching well into the 90s.  —  That would be to Cole Gillespie, currently wearing No. 96 for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Rose says reinstating him would please fans  —  CINCINNATI (AP) - Pete Rose said his fans would likely be "elated" if baseball reinstated him.  —  "Everything should be for the fans," Rose said Tuesday before a preview party celebrating Saturday's opening of a special exhibit in his honor at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

Reyes, Green go deep to power Mets  —  Lefty Vargas yields two runs on three hits over three innings  —  METS 6, INDIANS 5  —  Mets at the plate: Shawn Green, who had been having a quiet camp, ignited a big inning against C.C. Sabathia with his leadoff homer in the second inning.

Mailbag: Predicting the Nats' '07 record  —  Nationals beat reporter Bill Ladson answers fans' questions  —  What do you think of the Nationals' Spring Training so far?  Every time I look, the opposing team has scored a lot of runs.  How concerned should we be?