Yankees win arbitration case with Wang  —  TAMPA — Chien-Ming Wang lost his salary arbitration case against the New York Yankees on Friday, dropping players to 0-4 this year.  —  Wang, a 19-game winner in each of the last two seasons, was awarded $4 million instead of his request …

SPRING TRAINING  —  Molina: Giants don't need HRs  —  (02-15) 04:00 PST Scottsdale, Ariz. — To the legions of doubters who think the Giants will be too impotent to win games in 2008, catcher Bengie Molina offers a piece of jewelry as his counterargument.  It is his 2002 World Series championship ring …

Making the grades  —  How did each team do this winter?; news and notes  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Time to finally put down the gavel, and to pick up some bats and baseballs.  It was great to see Johan Santana throwing in the pen here Thursday morning and Pedro Martinez tossing …

Raissman: Suzyn in sticky situation  —  For Suzyn (Georgie Girl) Waldman, it was a long way from May 6, 2007, when her frantic word picture ("Goodness gracious, of all the dramatic things I've seen...") of Roger Clemens announcing his Yankees comeback produced a rather harsh response.

Cox greets 27th season, maybe more beyond  —  Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Today might be the last time Bobby Cox welcomes pitchers and catchers to spring training as a major league manager.  Then again, it might not be.  —  “I don't really look at it that way,” the Braves manager said Wednesday …

Mets name Sandy Alomar, Jr. catching instructor  —  FLUSHING, N.Y. — The New York Mets today named Sandy Alomar, Jr. the club's catching instructor.  —  Alomar, 41, concluded a 20-year major league career last season with the Mets.  The six-time American League All-Star and recipient …

Reds sign Phillips to four-year deal  —  Contract worth reported $27 million ends threat of arbitration  —  The Reds agreed to terms on Friday with second baseman Brandon Phillips on a four-year contract with a club option for 2012 worth at least $27 million.  —  The agreement means the two sides avoid arbitration.

Surfing the Mets: Jose Reyes takes blame for last year's meltdown  —  Jose Reyes predicts he'll be even faster in 2008.  He concentrated on long-distance running in the Dominican to increase his stamina, the Mets shortstop said Friday.  —  Reyes also took his share of responsibility for last year's collapse.

UTK Wrap  —  Red and Green  —  Pitchers and catchers have started to report; by next week, we'll have some real injuries.  Until then, I'll continue to not learn the lesson that every young sportswriter should learn—never make predictions.  —  Each year at Baseball Prospectus, I've done Team Health Reports.

Papelbon's swagger extends to spring  —  Closer sees Red Sox as ‘team to beat’ on opening day of camp  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — As he made his way along the highways and byways of Florida, eventually winding up in Fort Myers on Thursday in time to report for the start of Spring Training …

Posada: I believe Clemens  —  No catcher has caught Roger Clemens more than Jorge Posada - 155 games.  Posada today said he believes Clemens when he says he didn't use performance-enhancing drugs.  —  “I'm supportive,” Posada said.  “He says he never took it and I'm behind him 100 percent.

‘Moneyball’ subject Brown tells A's he's retiring  —  PHOENIX — Catcher Jeremy Brown, one of the central subjects in the book “Moneyball” that chronicled Billy Beane's unconventional methods as Oakland general manager, told the Athletics he's calling it a career.

Rich Chvotkin Believes Wallace Got Fouled  —  Rich Chvotkin's 17-note “Hoyas Win” blast from last year's win over Vanderbilt was no doubt magisterial, and yet “Hoyas Win” has become fairly well expected by this point.  Monday's last-second win over Villanova, though, offered something a bit different.