Cards cut ties with Spiezio  —  Arrest warrant issued in California over December incident  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Just hours after news circulated that a warrant has been issued in Orange County, Calif., for the arrest of Scott Spiezio, the Cardinals released the utility man.

Congress seeks DOJ probe of Clemens' testimony  —  WASHINGTON — Roger Clemens' denial of steroid use warrants further investigation, Congress said Wednesday in asking the Justice Department to determine whether the star pitcher lied under oath in testimony to a House committee.

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 …

Report: Mets GM nixed idea of hiring McNamee  —  Brian McNamee, the former strength trainer for Roger Clemens and a primary figure in Major League Baseball's doping scandal, was close to becoming a member of the Mets' coaching staff last season, according to the New York Post.

Los Angeles Dodgers  —  Stan Conte came in to improve the injury situation for the Dodgers.  The idea may be that Stan's a miracle worker, having held together much of the Giants' successful years with little more than athletic tape and hard work, but rebuilding what was once a proud, cutting-edge system takes longer than a year.

Sox meet the president  —  Members of the 2007 World Series champion Red Sox gathered on the White House lawn this afternoon and were honored by President George W. Bush (Check out photos).  —  Slugger David Ortiz, an odd sight in eyeglasses, carried the World Series trophy into the ceremony.

Sox talk with Garcia … FORT MYERS — Free agent starter Freddy Garcia, still looking for a job after shoulder surgery last August, visited the Red Sox [team stats] this morning.  —  The team said not to read much into the visit, but the Red Sox will no doubt do their due diligence …

DeRosa Update  —  MESA, Ariz.- Mark DeRosa will undergo a surgical procedure on Thursday to stop the irregular heartbeat that's been affecting him on and off since his teen-age years.  —  Cubs physician Stephen Adams said DeRosa will have an EPS (electrophysiology study) …

Spring Hot Spot: Viera  —  Fiery Milledge reflects Nationals' untapped potential … VIERA, Fla. — On one side of the Nationals' clubhouse here at Space Coast Stadium — a clubhouse which, as clubhouses go, is way more Our Gang than Augusta National — young Lastings Milledge …

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.

Zumaya's throwing, Rodney isn't  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Joel Zumaya has started his throwing program.  Fernando Rodney has stopped his.  —  Rodney said this morning that he had an MRI exam on his sore right shoulder on Tuesday, and that while the test showed no structural damage, Rodney won't throw again until next Monday.

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 …

Nate Silver: The Rays won't merely be better in '08, they'll be 22 wins better  —  Baseball history is littered with premature declarations about the rising hopes of young teams.  There were, for instance, the 1987 Indians, of whom Sports Illustrated famously proclaimed, “Believe it!