MAINE STREAM  —  PITCHER IS OK WITH MEAGER RAI$E  —  JUPITER, Fla. - John Maine couldn't agree on his salary with the Mets this year, so they decided it for him yesterday.  —  A 15-win season last season resulted in a mere $59,000 raise to $450,000 in 2008 for the young right-hander …

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 …

O's play dangerous game with Markakis  —  Club did nothing wrong in renewing his contract, but should be careful not to alienate its best player  —  The Orioles didn't do anything untoward here, certainly not anything other teams haven't done.  They took advantage of a system that in most ways benefits the players and not management.

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 …

Thomson to sit beside Girardi  —  TAMPA - Rob Thomson never took an at-bat above A-ball and has never been a uniformed member of a big-league coaching staff.  But when Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman were looking to hire a bench coach, his name was at the top of both of their lists.

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.”

Prepare Your Brain-Mouth for My Wrath-Wang, Baker  —  Apologies to the comic that I've never heard of who I saw on Comedy Central and stole the joke for that headline from, but I'm raging right now.  Yes, Dusty Baker finally did it, folks.  It took him like a couple of weeks and tons …

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.

Team denies Roberts trade talks have resumed  —  MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs still want to add at least one hitter by Opening Day, but multiple high-ranking team officials shot down Internet and radio reports this week that trade talks with the Baltimore Orioles regarding second baseman Brian Roberts have resumed in recent days.

Hamilton might be Rangers' best prospect ever  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — The dark side of Josh Hamilton's life has been well-chronicled all spring.  It's a story that needs no rehash from here.  —  But the game of baseball is what separates Hamilton from being just another street junkie attempting …

Spring Training: Pirates seek long-term deal with Snell  —  But similar talks with Capps placed on hiatus  —  Boston's David Ortiz, left, catches up with former Boston teammates Doug Mientkiewicz, middle, and Freddy Sanchez before yesterday's game in Fort Myers, Fla.

Notes: Hendrickson likes early returns  —  Ramirez back in lineup; McPherson to see time at first base  —  JUPITER, Fla. — All things considered, Mark Hendrickson will take the end result of his second Grapefruit League start.  —  In three innings against the Mets on Tuesday, the Marlins left-hander yielded six hits and walked one.

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 …

Dodgers' Juan Pierre is right where he belongs  —  He's been booed by fans and brutalized by bloggers, but his old-school play and speed will benefit the team as he becomes a complement and not the cornerstone of the lineup.  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — There's a boxer in the house.