Phillies' Ryan Howard wins arbitration  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - Ryan Howard has won his salary arbitration hearing against the Phillies, a baseball source told The Inquirer this morning.  —  He will make $10 million this season.  —  The Phillies had offered $7 million.

A-Rod exaggeration causes stir  —  TAMPA - Alex Rodriguez sat in the Yankees dugout at Legends Field on Wednesday and answered every question thrown his way openly.  Then he found a way to put his foot in his mouth.  —  After declaring in no uncertain terms that he has never used any type …

COMPUTER CRASH  —  CAPTAIN SHAKES OFF MEAN MACHINE'S SILLY STUDY  —  Derek Jeter arrived at his 16th Yankees spring training yesterday labeled the worst shortstop in the majors by some statistical braniacs over at Penn.  —  “Maybe it was a computer glitch,” the three-time Gold Glove winner said of the report.

The Oracle of the Phillies Has the Last Words  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — In its never-ending quest to mirror the American political landscape, baseball has found its answer to the latest Clinton-Obama hullabaloo.  —  A year ago, Jimmy Rollins proclaimed his Phillies “the team to beat” …

Crisp prefers trade if Red Sox don't start him in center field … FORT MYERS, Fla. — Coco Crisp said yesterday that he would rather be traded than lose the starting center-field job to Jacoby Ellsbury.  Eventually, he'll get his wish.  —  It's unlikely that Crisp will be dealt before the start of the regular season.

J. Byrnes, Hall get 8-year extensions  —  TUCSON - Diamondbacks General Manager Josh Byrnes and President Derrick Hall are being rewarded with contract extensions, each receiving an eight-year deal that will run through 2015.  —  The contracts are expected to be announced today, the first day of full-squad workouts in Tucson.

Source: D-backs, Trot Nixon agree … The Arizona Diamondbacks have reached an agreement on a minor league contract with veteran outfielder Trot Nixon, according to a baseball source.  —  Nixon, 33, gives the Diamondbacks some insurance from the left side of the plate as corner infielder Chad Tracy continues …

Notes: Counsell knows his role  —  Cameron rests hamstring; Yost mulling Fielder-Braun lineup  —  PHOENIX — On one hand, Brewers veteran Craig Counsell wants to play.  But if he does play extensively in 2008, it means something has gone terribly wrong for the team.

Netherlands bid elates Vandenhurk  —  JUPITER - For all the excitement that comes with vying for a spot in the Marlins' rotation, Rick Vandenhurk is certain next spring training will offer an even bigger thrill.  —  Tuesday, World Baseball Classic Inc. officially invited the Netherlands to participate in the 2009 event.

Manny speaks...  Though he didn't do it in a formalized setting, Manny Ramirez did decide to speak with the media this morning.  This could signal that Ramirez will be heading back to the old days, when he regularly talked to members of the media.  He used to, but took a hiatus, finally breaking his silence in the 2007 postseason.

Pirates, Kim agree to $850,000 deal  —  Pitcher due to arrive in Bradenton today for physical  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates' contract with free-agent pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim, a one-year, major-league deal with base pay of $850,000 and up to $1 million in performance bonuses, will be completed if he passes a physical today.

President's Day  —  I mentioned a couple different times that I got the chance to talk to Nationals Team President Stan Kasten.  It wasn't exactly an exclusive — there were dozens of others in the room to hear him speak.  And it wasn't exactly an interview either — but he did answer any and all questions thrown at him.

Moises Alou may play until he's 45  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Moises Alou didn't pick up a bat until mid-January, his winter instead consumed by hunting quail in the Dominican Republic.  Yet when Alou finally resumed taking cuts, the outfielder's proficiency instantly resurfaced.

Cano says he'll be fine without Coach Bowa  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Robinson Cano's most vocal source of motivation, former third-base coach Larry Bowa, is gone.  But Cano, who signed a four-year, $30-million contract last month, said he will be fine without him.  —  “I've got to do it myself now,” Cano said.