Excited Vazquez arrives at Yankees camp  —  Back in pinstripes, veteran concerned about only winning  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Just prior to Javier Vazquez's first season in Montreal, the Expos traded their defending National League Cy Young Award winner, Pedro Martinez, to the Red Sox …

Inside the Phillies: Unlike health, faith never lets Lidge down  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - Brad Lidge's defining characteristic is belief - in God, in himself, in the basic goodness of the world.  He feels that all suffering happens for a reason, and will always lead to better days.

Cardinals in no hurry to sign fill-in for Ryan  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The list of available free agents who could augment the Cardinals' roster could soon be picked clean, but even with Brendan Ryan's recent surgery and a tenderfoot bench, general manager John Mozeliak sees the start of spring training as time for patience.

Nats win arbitration case with Bruney  —  Reliever will be paid $1.5 million; had requested $1.85 million  —  Reliever Brian Bruney lost his arbitration case Wednesday, meaning he will make $1.5 million in his first season with the Nationals instead of the $1.85 million he was seeking.

Wright Is Upbeat, an Early Sign of Spring  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — In the months after the disappointing 2009 season, Mets fans watched carefully to see how the front office would respond.  The team signed Jason Bay and made additions to the pitching staff, but that did not seem to satisfy …

Remoreseful Mark McGwire still denies steroids improved ability in impromptu press conference  —  JUPITER, Fla. - Mark McGwire was ready to talk when he made his official return to baseball as batting coach for the St.Louis Cardinals yesterday.  —  After a lengthy coaches meeting with manager Tony LaRussa …

Atlanta Braves to host open auditions for Game Entertainment Team  —  The Atlanta Braves are searching for charismatic, spirited individuals with the ability to engage fans and work within a family environment, to audition for the Heavy Hitters Drumline and Tomahawk Team.

Pulled teeth delay Greinke's workout  —  Bullpen session scrapped, but righty will throw Thursday  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Zack Greinke already has experienced the first bump of his 2010 spring.  Fortunately for Kansas City, it's nothing serious.  —  Early on Wednesday afternoon …

Free Player Injury Database  —  When I started working on Rotobase I knew I wanted to generate notes like the following: … However all the databases out there are either proprietary, or don't allow for easy access to the underlying data for analysis.  So, I started developing my own database, starting with 2009.

Stark: Goodbye offseason, hello spring training  —  Leaving winter in the rearview mirror, and eyeing what awaits in Florida and Arizona  —  We're not sure what winter looked and felt like where you live.  But from where we live, in the tundra formerly known as Pennsylvania …

Numbers, numbers, numbers  —  One of the great things about blog interaction is that it often leads me to post information I would otherwise ignore.  This is a prime example.  —  I was never one to care about jersey numbers - truth be told, I still don't pay much attention to them …

Upon further review, Astros have an option with Paulino  —  Here's some news that could be a game changer for the Astros this spring: Felipe Paulino actually has one option left.  —  Previously, we had written here that Paulino was out of options.  It had also been discussed in Richard Justice's blog …

LHP Wandy Rodriguez, Houston Astros go to arbitration hearing  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pitcher Wandy Rodriguez has gone to a salary arbitration hearing against the Houston Astros, asking to be paid $7 million this year instead of the team's $5 million offer.

Sore subject for Escobar  —  Reliever Kelvim Escobar recently experienced shoulder soreness and will be treated gingerly as Mets pitchers and catchers officially report Thursday.  Escobar experienced the trouble last month while ramping up for spring training and was examined by team doctor David Altchek.

Be Stupid(er)  —  I'm an acknowledged Apple fanboy.  I'm an acknowledged BP partisan.  —  These two are starting to come together for me in a way that's got nothing to do with technology and a lot more to do with baseball.  Actually, it's not much about baseball either.