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 …

Report: Murcer's biopsy negative  —  According to the YES Network's Michael Kay, tests undergone on Bobby Murcer's brain showed a form of necrosis, or scar tissue from radiation treatments and not another cancerous tumor.  The Yankees broadcaster underwent a brain biopsy at a Houston hospital on Monday.

Closer thinks team is saving too much  —  Jonathan Papelbon figures to make more than $550,000 and much less than $900,000 when his contract is finalized.  At this point, a long-term deal seems out of the question.  (J. Meric/Getty Images)  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - With virtually no leverage …

PSL: El Duque has his Fingers Crossed  —  ...i just finished watching Orlando Hernandez throw roughly 40 pitches or so in a bullpen session...honestly, it's impossible to tell if he looked good or bad...his delivery is a bit different...he was throwing sort-of sidearm at one point...

Congressman Anthony Weiner asks FBI to end Roger Clemens investigation  —  America has bigger problems than Roger Clemens and steroids, Rep. Anthony Weiner said Wednesday.  —  The New York Democrat called on the FBI to end its investigation into whether the Rocket lied to Congress.

PSL: Alou has Strained Groin, Sore Hip  —  The Mets just announced that Moises Alou has a strained groin and has been sent to New York for as MRI.  —  ...it's just all so hard to believe...Omar Minaya talked to reporters a few moments, details of which will likely appear on our favorite beat writer's blogs …

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.

‘A lot stronger than he looks’  —  Don't let Maddux's ‘wine gut’ deceive  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - Part of baseball lore is the pitcher with the beer gut spilling over his belt.  Effortlessly as he might quaff a cold pint of his favorite brew, he mows down one brawny hitter after another.

Mets' Beltran worried as he recovers from surgery  —  Mets centerfielder Carlos Beltran is trying to rebuild the strength in his legs after having surgery on both knees in October.  (Newsday / David L. Pokress)  —  Now that the “team to beat” in the National League East is more beat …

Matchup du jour — Santana vs. Dodgers  —  Time out for a second.  Almost forgot — Olmedo Saenz's visa issues are over and he has just been cleared to play in games.  No worries.  The Mets' first base problems are solved (sarcasm alert, sarcasm alert).  —  Anyway, here's the lineup:  —  DODGERS

Organizational Rankings, Part 2  —  Last Year's Ranking: 1  —  Why They're Unchanged: Evan Longoria's full-season debut went even better than expected, and they added No. 1 overall pick David Price to the system.  —  Strengths: Yes.  There are just tons of prospects everywhere …

Texas Rangers' emphasis on stats and scouting is ahead of game  —  I took my annual spring break just in time to come back to Dallas and vote in the presidential primary.  —  I'm a man who has strong opinions about the issues.  —  So, go ahead, just ask where I stand on the …

Big Unit can't say how old is too old  —  At 44, he only feels his age in his back  —  TUCSON, Ariz. - The clubhouse is empty, save for the most accomplished player in Arizona Diamondbacks history, not to mention the tallest.  Just sitting still on a stool, Randy Johnson occasionally punctuates …

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.

Lupica on the Clintons, Columns, and a Writing Hero  —  New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica is out with a new young adult sports book, The Big Field, and he joined Meredith this morning to talk about it.  WATCH VIDEO  —  Before that segment, Mike and I talked about his column …

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 …

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.