Playing time no idle chatter for White Sox  —  Guillen worries that Mackowiak will get rusty in early going  —  PHOENIX — Ozzie Guillen will face a tough task finding playing time for Rob Mackowiak during the first two weeks of the regular season.  The White Sox have three off days ... and a crowded outfield.

Nats sign Astacio to Minor League deal  —  Veteran right-hander will start season at Triple-A Columbus  —  JUPITER, Fla. — In need of pitching depth down the road, the Nationals signed right-hander Pedro Astacio to a non-guaranteed Minor League deal on Tuesday.

Hot stove talk  —  Manny breaks silence, but it takes a grilling  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — "Mirabelli, I'm a businessman," Manny Ramírez yelled across the clubhouse to Doug Mirabelli with a smile.  "Got to make a little money."  —  Ramírez sat down at his locker …

Uecker's Stalker Shows Up At Spring Training Game  —  PHOENIX — An attorney for a woman ordered to stay away from Brewers' broadcaster Bob Uecker said if Uecker wasn't at the spring training game that she attended Monday, then she wasn't violating the restraining order.

Indians hire formerly imprisoned sportscaster  —  WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Cleveland Indians are taking a chance on a sportscaster fresh out of prison for not paying taxes on gambling earnings.  —  SportsTime Ohio, a 24-hour TV network owned by the club, announced Tuesday …

Notes: Benitez, Julio eyed in deal  —  Marlins trying to land veteran reliver before Opening Day  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Pursuing trade options for a closer remains a real possibility for the Marlins.  —  Sources continue to say the team has interest in veterans Armando Benitez and Jorge Julio.

Ortiz leads Red Sox past Twins  —  Slugger's clutch hitting propels Boston to a win over Minnesota  —  RED SOX 6, TWINS 5  —  Red Sox at the plate: David Ortiz roped a two-run single and added a sacrifice fly.  Mike Lowell smashed his third homer of the spring, a solo shot in the second inning.

It's anyone's ball game  —  Freeway World Series beckons as parity grips MLB  —  Here is a message for George Steinbrenner, Derek Jeter, Brian Cashman and everyone else who has bought in to the Yankees culture that the season is a failure if New York does not win the World Series: The '90s are so over.

Newhan unlikely to ever tell writer: 'No comment'  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Chances are you won't find David Newhan hiding out in the trainer's room after a night game in which he failed to deliver a big hit or made a critical error.  If there is one major-league player who fully understands …

Little given one-year contract extension  —  Dodgers manager rewarded for guiding club to playoffs in '06  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — Grady Little, the Dodgers' surprising hire as manager more than a year ago, was rewarded Tuesday for last season's on-field turnaround with a one-year contract extension.

Mailbag: A fan's vote for veteran starters  —  Plus queries on moving to AL Central, altering the ballpark  —  All right, two weeks to go before Opening Day.  Time for some predictions.  Not me, you.  Yes, you.  For the next three weeks, Monday Morning Manager is going to give you a chance to give your predictions.

Brewers announce special savings for juniors, seniors and military  —  Free Terrace level tickets offered to active and retired military personnel  —  MILWAUKEE — For the third consecutive season, the Milwaukee Brewers will honor members of the United States Armed Forces through Stars …

Young Brew Crew thinking two-strike swing, playoffs  —  Miller: Five things to know  —  MARYVALE, Ariz. — Among the more unsavory news stories in recent weeks was the item that misconnected toilets in Milwaukee's Miller Park were flushing into the Menomonee River and, eventually, Lake Michigan.

The Riddle  —  With an array of pitches as sublime and mesmerizing as haiku, $100 million import Daisuke Matsuzaka could tip the American League balance of power to the Red Sox — and explode the old myths about pampering pitchers  —  The cherubic face of Daisuke Matsuzaka bears a mysterious contentment …