Girardi begins ‘no-win’ job with Yankees  —  The Yankees haven't had a new manager since 1996, when an affable broadcaster named Joe Torre replaced Buck Showalter.  Bill Clinton was in the White House.  Michael Jordan was running with the Bulls, and the Dow Jones industrial average had yet to crack 6,000.

Trainer: Roger Clemens was at party  —  Roger Clemens' former trainer, Brian McNamee, is prepared to tell a congressional hearing Wednesday that he has a “vivid recollection” of the pitcher describing a scene at a party in Miami in 1998 that McNamee says he and Clemens attended.

At camp, all eyes will be on Santana  —  Prized acquisition's every move will be scrutinized, celebrated  —  The scars had begun to fade on their own.  And they might have vanished without assistance in another four or five decades.  Time takes its sweet time, doesn't it?

Marlins single-game tickets on sale  —  Club may play July 28-30 series against Mets in Puerto Rico  —  MIAMI — Individual game tickets went on sale for the Marlins' 2008 regular-season games on Saturday morning.  For now, however, one series remains in limbo.

Youkilis signs for $3 million  —  Team wraps him up for '08 and avoids arbitration again  —  KEVIN YOUKILIS: Versatility valuable to Sox (Jim Davis/Globe Staff)  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - Coming off a season in which Kevin Youkilis earned his first Gold Glove - and backed …

No successor-in-waiting planned for Braves, Cox  —  Since the incomparable Bobby Cox is entering his 27th year as a manager in the major leagues, including more than two decades with the Braves, it's logical to wonder if his bosses are tempted to lose their minds.

WARMING UP TO BASEBALL  —  HARDBALL'S GUIDE TO SPRING TRAINING '08  —  4. Eric Chavez, A's: He was symbolic of an Oakland team that just broke down physically last year, a condition that strongly motivated GM Billy Beane's complete rebuilding that has so far led to the dealing of Dan Haren, Nick Swisher and Mark Kotsay.

Lofton could reunite with Baker in Cincy  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX.  —  Kenny Lofton played for Dusty Baker with the Giants in 2002 and the Cubs in '03 …

Judge in Bonds case skeptical of Novitzky  —  Before a jury gets to decide if it believes Barry Bonds, the judge in the case may decide whether she believes Jeff Novitzky, the lead BALCO investigator.  —  Susan Ilston, the highly regarded district judge in the Bonds perjury case …

Interview - Jacques Doucet - Announcer, Montreal Expos  —  For 33 years of the tumultuous existence of the Montreal Expos, nobody had a front row seat like broadcaster Jacques Doucet.  —  Wherever you go in Quebec, many have lived the history of Nos Amours through this sympathetic man, including me.

THT round table: Erik Bedard  —  Seattle Mariners acquire Erik Bedard from the Baltimore Orioles for Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio, and Tony Butler.  —  John Beamer: Make no mistake, the Mariners gave up a lot to acquire Berdard (this was a five for one swap) …

MLB Ambassador Program visits Africa  —  Hold clinic during trip to build interest in game, scout for talent  —  Curtis Granderson wants to travel the world, and Major League Baseball's Ambassador Program is giving him a good start.  In Africa, he saw a glimpse of players looking to get a start themselves.

Rockies re-sign 3B Atkins to one-year deal  —  DENVER (AP) — Third baseman Garrett Atkins and the Colorado Rockies agreed Monday to a one-year contract worth $4,387,500.  —  Atkins batted .301 with 25 homers and 111 RBIs last season for the NL champions.  —  Eligible for arbitration …