SWEATIN' IN THE SUNSHINE STATE  —  CAUTIOUS OMAR PASSED ON MCNAMEE  —  Had Omar Minaya simply accepted the endorsement of his manager and hitting coach before last season, the Mets would right now probably be at the heart of the ongoing steroid firestorm involving Brian McNamee.

Kazmir checks out … Scott Kazmir walks off with head trainer Ron Porterfield, who conducted strength tests that encouraged the pitcher.  —  Times]  —  ST. PETERSBURG - The news on Rays ace Scott Kazmir's left elbow appeared relatively good Tuesday night - no serious injury …

Ross Ohlendorf primed for bullpen  —  TAMPA - Reliever Ross Ohlendorf pitched well enough last September to earn a spot on the Yankees' postseason roster.  Things didn't go so well in his one October appearance, as he allowed three runs in one inning of work in Game 1 against the Indians.

Bunt attempt by Wolverines irks Mets' Wagner  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Forget the Phillies.  Billy Wagner nearly started a beanball war with the University of Michigan after one overzealous Wolverine tried to bunt on him in the fourth inning.  With a runner on second and one out, centerfielder Kevin Cislo pushed his bunt foul.

Notes: La Russa to bat pitcher eighth  —  Skipper wants speed and on-base skills at the bottom of lineup  —  JUPITER, Fla. — A discussion of leadoff possibilities for the 2008 Cardinals unearthed all sorts of interesting nuggets on Tuesday, but none more revealing than this …

Freddy Garcia is in the house  —  Former All Star pitcher Freddy Garcia is in the Red Sox clubhouse.  No confirmation regarding a signing and reports are that is he is simply being evaluated and no deal is imminent.

Mariners Notebook: Solidly in Boone's corner  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — When former Mariners second baseman Bret Boone went public Monday to MLB.com about his battle with alcoholism and the seven months of sobriety that have fueled his comeback with the Washington Nationals at age 38, he made many in the Mariners clubhouse proud.

Nationals Top 11 Prospects  —  Four-Star Prospects  —  Three-Star Prospects  —  Two-Star Prospects  —  Just Missing: Esmailyn Gonzalez, SS; John Lannan, LHP; Shairon Martis, RHP  —  Drafted: 1st round, 2006, Monsignor Pace HS (FL)  —  2007 Stats: .293/.337/.545 at Low-A (57 G); .259/.338/.431 at High-A (68 G)

Alfonso Soriano tries to overcome fear of Wrigley's brick walls  —  MESA, Ariz. - Alfonso Soriano grew more comfortable in Chicago with every passing day last season, and in September he enjoyed his best month as a Cub.  —  Whether he can translate that success to 2008 and put up the kind …

Brian Bruney ‘not scared to fail’  —  TAMPA - New physique, new pitching coach, new attitude.  Welcome to Brian Bruney's 2008 season.  —  Bruney's 2007 campaign didn't live up to the expectations many had for him after his impressive showing the year before.

Texas Rangers closer in jam over blog entry  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - The exhibition season hasn't yet started, and already Texas Rangers closer C.J. Wilson has found himself in a jam.  —  In his own clubhouse.  —  Wilson recently made comments about his teammates' lack …

Yankees prospect McCutchen pitching hard to clear his name  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Dan McCutchen knew it would be news; there was no avoiding that.  But he wasn't prepared for the bold headline on the first page of the sports section of his hometown paper.  —  “McCutchen busted for steroids,” it said.

New Twist Keeps Dickey's Career Afloat  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — By all rights, R. A. Dickey should be working a day job somewhere, cursing twisted fate.  Or he should be coaching at some Tennessee high school, telling kids what he once was and lamenting what might have been.

Republicans block HGH bill  —  The partisan split that erupted during the Feb. 13 House committee hearing on the Mitchell Report has apparently spread to the Senate, where two unknown Republican senators have thrown up a roadblock to a bill to crack down on human growth hormone.