News Web site poll shows that most readers don't believe the Rocket  —  An overwhelming majority of Daily News readers don't believe the Rocket.  —  Seventy-nine percent of the 1,200 readers who voted in a poll on our Web site as of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday said they believed former trainer Brian McNamee …

Sabathia: Contract talks can wait till season's end  —  WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia has tabled contract talks with the Cleveland Indians.  —  The Indians' pitchers and catchers reported Thursday to spring training in Winter Haven, Fla.

Pettitte, Wang otherwise occupied as Yanks report  —  TAMPA, Fla. - The Yankees have all kinds of questions about their starting rotation as they wait for pitchers and catchers to report to spring training today.  Concerns about Andy Pettitte may dominate their thoughts …

Johan Santana pitches in at Mets camp  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - One day before pitchers and catchers officially reported, Johan Santana arrived at the Mets' spring-training complex on Wednesday afternoon and quickly got to work with an impromptu throwing session.

Pitchers and catchers start to check in  —  Had a chance to speak to Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain so far this morning.  —  Hughes, as always, was measured and confident.  He said he was shocked at the revelations about Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens but still feels the same way about them personally.

At long last, spring training is upon us … CLEARWATER, Fla. — Well, it's that time again ...  Time to pay way more attention to those Molina brothers than those Manning brothers.  Time to zone in on George Sherrill instead of George Mitchell.  Time to stop focusing on Byung-Hyun Kim's exhaustive search …

Red Sox lefty setup man Hideki Okajima plays 'I've Got A Secret'  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Hideki Okajima smiled, raised one finger to his lips and said “secret” when asked about his new pitch.  —  A secret himself a year ago after 12 seasons in Japan, the Red Sox discovered …

Five story lines for Padres spring training  —  1. Will they turn the corner?  GM Kevin Towers said he will continue to explore trade options for a corner outfielder.  The Padres have asked about three right-handed hitters: Pittsburgh's Xavier Nady and Jason Bay and the Chicago Cubs' Matt Murton.

Beckett lives in present  —  Future furthest thing from Sox ace's mind … FORT MYERS - Josh Beckett [stats] hadn't heard about the ESPN.com report quoting an unnamed Red Sox [team stats] official stating: “We'd better enjoy Josh Beckett the next three years.  Because we won't be able to sign him after his deal is up after 2010.”

Pap on Pap  —  While Jonathan Papelbon's not about to explore the wonderful world of starting (again), he did offer that he might take on Terry Francona's job this season.  Reliever?  Starter?  Manager?  —  OK, maybe not.  But that doesn't mean that Papelbon's not going to use …

Will to power  —  For two decades, it has been accepted sabermetric wisdom that high-strikeout pitchers last longer than do their low-strikeout brethren.  As best as I can tell, that tenet was first established by (who else?)  Bill James in the 1981 Baseball Abstract.