Greed between the lines  —  'Loyal' A-Rod just after cash  —  TAMPA - Just when we thought the circus might finally have left Yankee spring training and been replaced by a tranquil, business-like routine, Alex Rodriguez manages to get himself all over the back pages again - and for all the wrong reasons again.

Notes: Encarnacion headed for DL  —  Schumaker progressing well; Reyes works his sinker  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Days after Juan Encarnacion acknowledged that he won't rush anything in order to be ready for Opening Day, his manager put it more forcefully.  Encarnacion is likely to be on the disabled list …

Rose admits to betting on Reds every night  —  Pete Rose revealed Wednesday that he bet on the Reds "every night" while he was manager of the team and that the Dowd Report was correct when it said he did so.  —  Rose spoke Wednesday with Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann on ESPN Radio to discuss …

Breathe in deeply: Drew draws on healthy regimen  —  FORT MYERS - J.D. Drew [stats] brought plenty of baggage to his first spring training with the Red Sox [team stats].  —  Red Sox forum:  —  There was his history of incomplete seasons.  The time spent nursing various wounds.

Dodgers release Tatis, make Billingsley reliever  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — The Los Angeles Dodgers released third baseman Fernando Tatis on Wednesday — three days after he failed to report to their minor league camp.  —  The Dodgers reassigned Tatis on Sunday in the club's first round of roster cuts.

Prior's number appears to be up  —  Miller, Guzman likely battling for last spot in Cubs' rotation  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — A wide-open derby for the fifth spot in the Cubs' rotation now appears to be a two-man race between veteran Wade Miller and youngster Angel Guzman after two key decisions …

'The 3-2'  —  TEMPE, Ariz. - Born in the imagination of a minor-league pitching coach, carried from Class A to the brink of the big leagues by an over-achieving, side-arming right-hander, "The 3-2" is a pick-off move that is challenging umpires at least as much as it is eliminating baserunners.

Table setters lack fame but spark runs  —  Indispensable pests find ways on base without elite power  —  Thirty years ago, Neil Young musically reminded us that "Rust Never Sleeps," and the baseball cognoscenti's spin on that is, "Speed Never Slumps."  —  In a game that celebrates and dotes …

Sandberg shows a different face  —  New manager will crack whip in Peoria  —  MESA, Ariz. — Admitting he's still "ironing things out" and "getting used to watching the game from this vantage point," Ryne Sandberg will manage his first spring game for the Class A Peoria Chiefs on Saturday.

Podsednik makes triumphant return  —  Recovering speedster goes 3-for-4, steals a base in 'B' game  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — A small ovation began behind the backstop at one of the Kino Sports Complex Minor League fields early Wednesday morning as Scott Podsednik stepped to the plate for his first at-bat this spring.

Ayala likely headed to disabled list  —  Reliever not 100 percent; team doesn't want to rush him back  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The Nationals are leaning toward putting reliever Luis Ayala on the disabled list when the 2007 season starts.  The team feels the right-hander is not 100 percent and doesn't want to rush him on the field.

Clement playing with more confidence  —  Mariners catching prospect has had to overcome injuries  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Jeff Clement experienced adversity last year for the first time since putting on a mask and chest protector as a kid, and came away from it with a lot more confidence.  —  Say what?

Bull[pen review  —  This Rangers bullpen situation is getting interesting.  Remember, the Rangers think that, in the words of general manager Jon Daniels, their bullpen could be a "competitive advantage."  —  Scott Feldman: Throwing well right now.  Overlooked by many but pushing hard for a job in the bullpen.

Mariners show off their acting chops  —  Club to unveil new ad campaign during first televised game  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Reserve catcher Rene Rivera has been a Spring Training fixture in the Mariners clubhouse since 2003 and never had a chance to show off his acting skills.  —  But that all changed a few weeks ago.

Owings overcomes average stuff  —  Righty's intangibles, perseverance leads him to success  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — 10-0.  —  It doesn't matter whether you're pitching in Little League, college or at the highest level of baseball, 10-0 is an impressive record no matter how you look at it.

Benitez draws Mariners' interest  —  Reliever Armando Benitez, who is reportedly available in a trade from San Francisco. drew a huge crowd of scouts when he pitched for the Giants Tuesday night against Oakland.  —  Two of the estimated 40 scouts on hand — night games always draw lots of scouts …