Johnny Pesky, Mr. Red Sox, loses spot in dugout  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Boston Red Sox icon Johnny Pesky will have to leave the dugout during games this season because of a major league rule that limits the number of coaches allowed in uniform.  —  Red Sox manager Terry Francona said the team …

Zambrano's deal appears nearly sealed  —  Hendry optimistic he'll beat deadline  —  LAS VEGAS — Negotiations over Carlos Zambrano's contract extension heated up Friday with a face-to-face meeting between general manager Jim Hendry and the pitcher's agent, Barry Praver.

Four more years  —  Guillen agrees to $48 million extension with Tigers  —  Tigers shortstop Carlos Guillen has agreed to a four-year, $48 million extension to stay in Detroit through 2011, SI.com has learned.  —  Guillen, who batted .320 with 19 home runs and 85 RBIs in 2006 in helping …

Wrapping Up the Countdown  —  I should reiterate a point I made Thursday: there's as much parity in baseball right now as at any time in history.  I didn't intend to have this mass of teams clustered in the 80s in wins, but when I sat down to do my runs projections—not PECOTA's, my own …

Pirates cut Kolb, keep Kelly and Wasdin  —  BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Dan Kolb, a former All-Star closer with the Milwaukee Brewers, was reassigned to the Pittsburgh Pirates' minor league camp on Friday and is looking for another major league job.  —  The Pirates had until Friday to notify Kolb whether he would make their 25-man roster.

Lies, darn lies ... and baseball statistics?  —  The inexact science of player evaluation is being changed by a new emphasis on statistical analysis, though character, and scouting, still count with many old-school types.  —  If you're a serious baseball fan, you know Ernie Broglio.

One decision left for opener: Pods or Ozuna?  —  ATLANTA — Ozzie Guillen still needs to be make one last decision, and the White Sox manager said he plans to make it official today.  —  With Cleveland starter C.C. Sabathia now declaring he's healthy enough to be on the mound Monday …

Satisfying spring for Sosa  —  Thrilled to be playing ball again, he says, 'I'm ready to go for it'  —  FRISCO - Sammy Sosa said it was all the little things that he missed most after a year off from baseball.  —  He missed talking and joking with his teammates.

Preston Wilson says racial issues remain in baseball  —  MEMPHIS, TENN. — When it announced the first annual Civil Rights Game between the Cardinals and Cleveland Indians less than four months ago, Major League Baseball envisioned this weekend as a commemoration of the civil rights movement …

Rockies eager to see if spring success translates  —  COLORADO SPRINGS - The Rockies spent the spring getting a glimpse of their new- look lineup.  —  They liked what they saw.  —  They have speed at the top with center fielder Willy Taveras and second baseman Kaz Matsui.

Major accomplishment  —  For Sissy Wood, the calls are part of her daily routine.  —  One as her husband, Jason Wood, is heading to the park.  One after batting practice.  One after the game.  —  During the spring, that means a 3:30 a.m. wake-up at her home in Fresno, Calif. "I'm a farmer's daughter," she says.

Soriano staying in center—for now  —  Piniella predicts his fielding will improve  —  LAS VEGAS — Alfonso Soriano's transition to center field this spring has been rough, as befits a player who has spent most of his career at second base.  —  Asked before Friday night's game how much Soriano …

Q&A with manager Ned Yost  —  Even at 8 a.m., after his eighth cup of coffee, it's difficult to get Brewers manager Ned Yost to talk about anything other than his favorite topic: Today.  —  He's a famously "one-day-at-a-time" kind of guy, to the chagrin of anyone trying to get his thoughts on the big picture.