Notes: Matsui inching closer  —  Slowed by tight neck, outfielder plans to take BP by Thursday  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui has been slowed by neck stiffness and is hoping to take batting practice on Wednesday or Thursday.  —  The 33-year-old, who has not played …

Notes: Gotay's MRI unconvincing  —  Abreu strains hip flexor; Shea going completely smoke free  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Ruben Gotay's sprained right ankle, which on Monday was thought to be possibly fractured, is indeed only sprained.  Probably.  —  A reading of Gotay's CT scan on Tuesday revealed …

Red Sox scout accused of lewd behavior  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — A Boston Red Sox scout was arrested, accused of masturbating at the window of his hotel room in front of two women and two underage girls at the swimming pool, records show.  —  Jesse Levis, 39, faces two felony charges …

O's renew Markakis' contract, outfielder ticked  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Nick Markakis will get a raise in 2008, but his new contract didn't come close to fulfilling his expectations.  —  The outfielder and the Baltimore Orioles failed to agree to terms by the team's designated Tuesday deadline …

Notes: Bush invited for inaugural pitch  —  President a possibility for Nats' Opening Day at new park  —  WASHINGTON — President George W. Bush has been invited to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day, and Nationals president Stan Kasten said on Tuesday that Bush would attend “if he is at all able.”

Reason #14: The Thinker.  —  As a Royals fan, it's really been quite amazing to watch over the past few months as the baseball blogosphere has picked up on what we've known since last season: that Brian Bannister is one of the smartest players in baseball, and certainly one of the game's deepest thinkers.

Authority assessing face-lift of Wrigley  —  Cost could hit $400 million; purchase offer coming soon  —  Wrigley Field could get a face-lift worth $350 million to $400 million if it is purchased by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, former Gov. James Thompson, chairman of the authority, estimated Tuesday.

McNamee's Lawyers Seek Ouster of Hardin  —  Lawyers for Roger Clemens's former personal trainer Brian McNamee filed a motion Tuesday to disqualify Clemens's lead lawyer from representing him in a defamation lawsuit.  The motion was filed along with a second motion, which asked that a lawsuit brought …

Batista pitches through pain to prove a point in Mariners' 9-6 loss to the Athletics  —  PHOENIX (AP)—Miguel Batista left the Seattle Mariners' 9-6 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday because of a sore back.  —  Batista gave up two runs and two hits in three innings.

Papelbon ready to cash in on success  —  Wants salary to be on par with top closers in the game  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — For someone who usually lets his intimidating stare from the mound and a blazing fastball speak for him, Jonathan Papelbon used his words on Tuesday to let everyone …