Erstad helps to set the tone at the top  —  If healthy, outfielder likely to see name in lineup  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Friday's first two hitters in the White Sox lineup facing the Cubs at Tucson Electric Park might become the norm on offense rather than a rare exception during the upcoming 2007 regular season.

Blue Jays' Chacin arrested for DUI  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Gustavo Chacin was arrested and charged early Friday morning in Tampa, Fla., on a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence.  —  Chacin, who slots into the Jays' rotation alongside Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett …

Mets take early lead, but fall to Marlins  —  Valentin hits two-run homer; Glavine hurls five shutout frames  —  MARLINS 5, METS 4  —  Marlins at the plate: On a rainy night, Matt Treanor completed the Marlins' rally from four runs down with an RBI double in the eighth inning.

Greenberg won't let dream slip away  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Now that more than 20 months have passed, Adam Greenberg can tolerate the teasing.  —  "So this is the head that made 'SportsCenter?'" a teammate jokes.  —  Greenberg smiles.  The 26-year-old center fielder is now in the Kansas City Royals organization.

Notes: Wood sidelined by triceps strain  —  Status day-to-day after latest setback  —  MESA, Ariz. — Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood is sidelined indefinitely because of a minor strain of his right triceps, team officials said Thursday.  His status is day-to-day.

Rangers' Wilson one eccentric individual … SURPRISE, Ariz. — Texas Rangers reliever C.J. Wilson is working on a novel and a gyroball this spring — not necessarily in that order.  —  His novel, "Instructions for My Next Life,'' is written from the vantage point of a deceased minor league …

Losing their zip on reality  —  Drawing conclusions three weeks into the season is comparable to declaring a president based on the first two exit polls.  Are home runs and slugging down?  Yes.  Due to steroid testing?  Let's wait.  —  The more salient topic of conversation thus far has been the inconsistent fastball.

Baseball's Deepest Starting Rotations  —  As I wrote several months ago, the average team gets about 124 starts from the five guys slated as their rotation at the beginning of the season.  That means that nearly one quarter of their games are started by a mid-season replacement …

Inge leads Tigers' onslaught  —  Third baseman one of four Detroit hitters with at least two RBIs  —  TIGERS 12, PHILLIES 9  —  Tigers at the plate: Brandon Inge broke out of an 0-for-10 slump with a double, triple and five RBIs.  His bases-clearing two-bagger in the fifth inning pulled …

Mets can go two ways for No. 5  —  Park, Pelfrey are leading hopefuls to take final spot in rotation  —  JUPITER, Fla. — While Mike Pelfrey was in Lakeland, Fla., on Wednesday using a four-inning relief appearance as a stepping stone to a Shea Stadium mailing address …

Truth Is Revealed in Bets Rose Didn't Make  —  Pete Rose still can't get it right.  He said in a radio interview Wednesday that when he managed the Cincinnati Reds in the 1980's, "I bet on my team every night."  —  "I didn't bet on my team four nights a week," he added in an interview on Dan Patrick's show on ESPN radio.

Abreu takes BP for first time since injury  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Bobby Abreu took batting practice in a cage against a pitcher for the first time since straining his right oblique last month.  —  Abreu took 55 swings Friday, including some at almost full intensity.

Not letting it slide  —  Olsen: Experts err in tracking his pitches  —  KISSIMMEE - Scott Olsen is fooling everyone.  —  Hitters weren't sure what he was throwing last season and neither were the statisticians.  Much of the time their best guesses were off.

Q & A With Rob Bradford  —  Rob Bradford arguably is among the most respected Red Sox beat writers, thanks to his well-written, often-exclusive articles and interviews for the North Andover-based Eagle-Tribune.  Bradford's new blog, Bradford on Baseball, has quickly risen to be among the best-read and most-cited Sox blogs on the Web.

Inside Shea: Sights and Sounds from St. Lucie  —  (ST. LUCIE) - The collision of proximity normally associated with the minor leagues and the requisite awe that is ultimately part of any encounter with major leaguers and the things they do on a baseball field makes a spring training game a surreal experience.

M's Notebook |  Putz's arm 'tightens' after bullpen session  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — The much-anticipated bullpen session for Mariners closer J.J. Putz had gone well.  —  Putz had thrown 25 pitches, mostly fastballs.  All of them off a mound for the first time in 10 days.