For Tavarez, Starting Job Comes As Major Relief  —  PHILADELPHIA — All along this spring, Jonathan Papelbon's heart was in closing, not starting, and last week he got his wish.  —  All along this spring, Julian Tavarez said his heart was in starting, not closing.  Thanks to Papelbon, Tavarez got his wish, too.

Cutdown day stuns pitchers … ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays were full of surprises Friday.  —  They shocked Seth McClung by telling him that he contractually could, and would, be sent to the minors.  They similarly stunned Chad Orvella, who was demoted despite allowing only one run all spring.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

Basic logic points to Indians being better … WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — They scored more runs than the Red Sox.  They pounded more extra-base hits than the Yankees.  Their starting pitchers threw more innings, and had a better strikeout-walk ratio, than that vaunted rotation in Detroit.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.