Fred lays down the gauntlet  —  Quick hits from a breezy Port St. Lucie after the fourth day of pitcher-catcher workouts:  —  1. Fred Wilpon made his once-a-year spring training address to the media this afternoon, and the owner put Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya on the hot seat by saying …

Odalis Perez Chooses the Nats  —  Yes, boys and girls, Mr. Perez is officially in the fold.  The Nationals signed him, I'm told, to a one-year, non-guaranteed minor league deal that will pay him $850,000 if he makes the team.  The offers from Washington and Boston were not very different …

The Godfather, Part II by nate penn  —  In his first major interview in twenty years, the elusive Hal Steinbrenner talks to GQ about Roger Clemens and steroids, life with his “overbearing” father, and who's really calling the shots at Yankee Stadium  —  In February 2007, George Steinbrenner's …

Arbiters decide for Astros over Loretta  —  Infielder to get $2.75 million rather than $4.9 million requested  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Houston Astros won their arbitration case against Mark Loretta, the club confirmed Tuesday morning.  —  Loretta asked for $4.9 million, while the club offered $2.75 million.

Henry arrives, walks right into it  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - This felt like the old days of Red Sox spring training - the days of Oil Can Boyd's overdue porn videos (the Can's Film Festival), the days of Roger Clemens running with headphones on while Daddy Butch Hobson tried to speak to the Rocket …

Citi Field Update 2/19/08  —  A new batch of Citi Field pictures, taken today, can be found on Webshots and the Refugees forum.  Also check out StadiumPage.com, where you can find an incredible batch of interior pictures, including shots from inside the rotunda and pictures taken from the upper and lower concourses.

Happy with Dodgers, Torre reflects on what went wrong with Yankees  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. - Joe Torre won't root for the laundry, as they say, even if the clothes have the classic blue pinstripes on a white background and the most famous logo in sports.  —  And he damn sure isn't going to root …

No Stewart in Mariners' immediate plans  —  There have been reports on the internet in the last 24 hours that Seattle has expressed some interest in outfielder Shannon Stewart.  —  The reports appear to be without much merit.  —  Stewart told confidants late Monday night that he's …

Pence injured in sliding door tumble  —  Outfielder treated for lacerations on knee and hands  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Hunter Pence will miss about a week of Spring Training workouts after enduring several cuts and lacerations on his hands and knees that resulted from falling through a glass door at his residence in Kissimmee, Fla.

Steinbrenner: Baseball Being Singled Out  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Hank Steinbrenner insists baseball is being picked on for its trouble with performance-enhancing drugs, and claims the problem is bigger in football.  —  “I don't like baseball being singled out,” the New York Yankees senior vice president …

Piniella says Howry has edge as Cubs' closer  —  Rothschild's perspective on that job: 'We'll see'  —  MESA, Ariz. - Cubs manager Lou Piniella has been careful not to handicap the three-way race for closer, preferring to let Kerry Wood, Bob Howry and Carlos Marmol compete with no preconceived notions of where they stand.

Dunn, Reds: Nothing going on on extension  —  Adam Dunn is in camp.  Could it be his last as a Red?  —  Dunn says nothing is going on as far as talks about a contract extension.  The Reds picked up his option on Oct. 31.  But, as it is, he'll become a free agent after the season.

Leading off  —  Boston Globe baseball writer Gordon Edes checks in every week to answer your questions on the Red Sox.  Ask yours now, and come back next week to see whether it was answered.  —  Hey everyone, the 'Bag is back, and this is the first installment of what will be a daily 'Bag this week …