Hughes hitting glove with more force  —  Right-hander's comfort, velocity have increased  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees' catching tandem was ready to hit the streets after another early afternoon at camp when Jose Molina dropped by with a tidbit for Jorge Posada.

STILL SWINGING  —  SHEFF SOUNDS OFF ON GIRARDI, CLEMENS & TIGERS  —  LAKELAND, Fla. - Gary Sheffield yesterday described his monster swing as “violent, but level.”  —  Those swings would be both on and off the field.  Sheffield has played for all kinds of managers dur ing his 20-year career …

Mets Perez wins arbitration hearing  —  Mets starting pitcher Oliver Perez has won his arbitration hearing and will earn $6.5 million in 2008, SI.com has learned.  —  The Mets submitted a figure of $4.725 million for the 26-year-old lefthander.  Perez earned $2.325 in 2007, going 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA.

Photo looms as Roger woe  —  As the congressional committee that spent nine weeks considering Roger Clemens' attack on the Mitchell Report now quietly mulls referring the entire matter to the Justice Department, federal investigators seasoned in the anti-doping game are ready to hit the ground running.

Ramírez wants to stay  —  He leaves options in Red Sox' hands  —  Normally a man of few words, Manny Ramírez opened up to the media during an abbreviated visit to the training complex.  (Jim Davis/Globe Staff)  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - He didn't stay around for long.  But it was long enough.

Ryan Howard's award draws cheers and jeers  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - Depending on your perspective, Ryan Howard's historic $10 million salary arbitration award elicited one of two responses:  —  Yippee!  —  Or:  —  Oh, no.  —  One or the other.  Just like an arbitration hearing.

Harper: Beltran takes second cut  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - The good news for the Mets is that as the rhetoric heats up, Carlos Beltran is not backpedaling from his uncharacteristic bit of bravado aimed at Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies last week.  —  In fact, the Quiet Man understands …

The Best of the Newest, 2008 edition  —  Each year around this time, we take a look at the young players with no major league experience who have the highest PECOTA on a position-by-position basis.  Some of these players are ready enough to pop, while others are still a few years away.

No more steaks for Fielder  —  Brewers star feels ‘amazing’ after becoming vegetarian  —  PHOENIX — Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder does not look like a vegetarian.  So when people find out that he's giving it a try, they have approximately the same reaction.

JOHAN TO FACE BATTERS  —  The moment the Mets have been waiting for arrives this morning.  —  Johan Santana told The Post he will throw to hitters today for the first time since the blockbuster deal that brought him to the Mets three weeks ago.  —  The Mets started full-squad workouts Wednesday …

Spring Training: Blass' speech floors players  —  Nutting, Coonelly stress accountability in meeting  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates' players know Steve Blass as a broadcaster and, away from the booth, as one funny individual.  —  Yesterday, they saw a different side when he addressed …

Wilson out of camp; Baker says no reason to go slow with Bruce  —  SARASOTA, Fla. - Craig Wilson, an outfielder and first baseman, is no longer in camp with the Reds.  —  Wilson, who was in camp Wednesday, apparently failed his physical.  He had signed a minor-league deal with the Reds.