Notes: Feliciano feeling confident  —  Delgado seeking improvement; Zimmer remembers first camp  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pedro Feliciano smiled when an unfamiliar reporter complimented the left-hander on his success out of the Mets bullpen this spring.  —  "I worked hard in the offseason …

Brewers pay price for success  —  Attanasio ups ante in 2007  —  Arlington, Texas - There's an old saying in baseball regarding team payrolls: Spending money doesn't guarantee you're going to win, but not spending it almost guarantees you're going to lose.

'Roid regret  —  Two-time MVP Murphy: I should have spoken up about juice when I played  —  Dale Murphy remembers sitting in front of a television screen, staring.  There were Jose Canseco and the other beefy sluggers on the 1980s Oakland Athletics, slamming home runs and then bashing their ripped forearms in celebration.

Reds Roundtable  —  Last week me and some of the Reds bloggers got together for an online roundtable to discuss the upcoming season.  The participants were me, Shawn (Cincinnati Reds Blog), Blade (The Cutting Edge), Tim Mo (RAREMADEV), Daedalus (Church of Baseball), and Chris (Redleg Nation).

Quiet Man, … FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // You know his swing, so short, sweet and powerful that it prompted one baseball lifer to say that Nick Markakis could become one of the Orioles' best hitters ever.  —  But everything else about Markakis is hidden.  He gives few clues to teammates …

Colon to start opening day for minor league team  —  The Angels' right-hander will pitch for Rancho Cucamonga Quakes as part of his rehabilitation from rotator cuff injury.  —  Bartolo Colon will start on opening day after all — for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, that is.

Walker could be a keeper  —  The versatile infielder should stick with the club following Durazo's release  —  SAN FRANCISCO — It was far from an ordinary week for Todd Walker.  —  After spending nearly all of spring with the San Diego Padres, Walker was caught by surprise on Monday when the team released him.

No foolin': Rockies' pitching a problem  —  The Rockies will win 92 games and finish first in the National League West.  —  On this day, only an April fool would believe that prophecy.  —  I drank the Kool-Aid as a child in Vacation Bible School, but not now.  While at spring training I tried to buy what the Rox were selling.

Mouse Takes Fans Far Beyond Crumbs  —  The Red Sox addicts wake up with a craving and stumble to their computer.  —  They will surf from one website to another, from stories in newspapers to blogs composed by equally obsessed and informed fans.  Then there's also a mandatory stop on Curt Schilling's blog before they head to work.

AL CENTRAL  —  Detroit  —  RHP Jeremy Bonderman and LHP Nate Robertson combined for 27 wins last year in a 75-win rotation.  They might combine for 35; Tigers might get 85 from all their starters.  —  CLEVELAND: Will challenging for the AL wild card be enough to save manager Eric Wedge's job from lurking consultant Buck Showalter?

Deadline Nears for TV Negotiations  —  Major League Baseball continued to negotiate yesterday with cable operators and the Dish Network in an effort to persuade them to carry the Extra Innings package of out-of-market games and the fledgling MLB Channel.  —  M.L.B. made a seven-year …

Pirates Notebook: Eldred completes big leap  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Big Country made the big team.  —  Despite missing most of last season to injury, despite having to impress at a position he previously had played in college …

For players, baseball season brings roster of rituals  —  Jamey Carroll talks to his wristbands.  Not for conversation.  But for reassurance before he steps into the batter's box.  —  "I tighten my gloves, take off the helmet to wipe off any sweat, then say to one wrist …

Notes: Hammock back in the bigs  —  Catcher named to Opening Day roster after fighting injury  —  PHOENIX — At the end of Spring Training, there is always a feel-good story or two as teams set their final rosters.  —  This is one of them.  —  Manager Bob Melvin informed catcher Robby Hammock …

Marquis, Soriano shine in spring finale  —  Righty allows one run in four frames; slugger scores lone run  —  MARINERS 2, CUBS 1  —  Mariners at the plate: Gookie Dawkins went 2-for-3 with a sixth-inning RBI double that drove in Adam Jones and put the Mariners ahead.

Norton on DL, will undergo knee surgery  —  Rays IF/OF expected to miss four to six weeks after procedure  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Greg Norton was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday after it was discovered he needs to have surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

To Tighten Drug Tests, Baseball Teams Secretly Monitor Players  —  When the Yankees' pitchers and catchers arrived for spring training in mid-February, they saw signs taped up in the clubhouse bathroom reminding them that they would be tested for drugs.  They knew the drill …