AL East grabs top three spots in ranking of the general managers … No one has as much control over a team's fate as the general manager.  A good one can thwart a dimwit owner, and a great one can win with a low payroll.  Yet there's no reliable way to tell the good ones from the bad ones.

Mariners Counting On Milton Bradley  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - The Seattle Mariners won 85 games last year while scoring the fewest runs in the American League and pitching to the lowest earned run average.  They are built for their spacious ballpark, Safeco Field, with outstanding defense as their primary strength.

Lovie Smith flies to Charlotte for Peppers  —  Bears coach Lovie Smith arrived in Charlotte early Friday morning and is expected to return to Chicago later in the day with Julius Peppers and his agent, Carl Carey.  —  No team was allowed to have contact with Peppers until …

Spring Training Game 2: Yankees at Phillies  —  YANKEES  —  PHILLIES  —  WEATHER: Pretty much the same as yesterday, but probably a little more sunny and not quite as windy.  Temperatures are supposed to be in the upper 50s.  —  UMPIRES: HP Dan Iassogna, 1B Eric Cooper, 2B Phil Cuzzi, 3B Chad Fairchild

Mets Sign Kiko Calero  —  The Mets signed Kiko Calero to a minor league deal worth up to $1.5MM.  He earns $850K if he makes the team, with another $650K available in incentives.  There is no opt-out if the Mets send him to the minors.  —  Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News tweeted news of the deal …

Introducing THT Forecasts  —  Just in time for the start of Spring Training, I'm excited to present to you the newest Hardball Times offering—THT Forecasts.  —  In a partnership with Brian Cartwright, the brilliant inventor of the Oliver projection system, we have produced forecasts for over 7,000 major and minor league players.

NY Yankees manager Joe Girardi says OBP biggest key to hitting second in lineup … TAMPA, Fla. — Maybe Joe Girardi wasn't in the mood to name names on Wednesday afternoon.  But it wasn't hard to decipher his message.  —  For instance, Girardi never spoke the name of who he described only as the short …

Beckett aims to live down in the zone  —  Ace hopes to give improved infield defense plenty of work  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox ace Josh Beckett has a geographical goal for his fastball this season, one he wants to start setting in motion during Spring Training.

CC says his delivery was “so-so”  —  CC Sabathia wasn't thrilled with his first spring start, pitching two innings against the Phillies this afternoon at Bright House Field.  Sabathia allowed two hits and walked two in a pair of scoreless frames.  —  “My delivery was so-so,” he said.

Mauer's agent lands at training camp to meet with team  —  The agent for Joe Mauer, Ron Shapiro, has arrived in Fort Myers, Fla., to meet with the Twins.  While it's being shaped as Shapiro's annual visit to spring training, the sides are expected to hold face-to-face discussions about the future of the Twins' MVP catcher.

Zito plunks Fielder as payback for walk-off antics … SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The first pitch of the spring to Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder landed directly in the middle of his back.  —  It wasn't due to a lack of control on the part of San Francisco Giants left-hander Barry Zito.

Book Review: Evaluating Baseball's Managers  —  Book breaks new ground on ranking managers  —  Evaluating Baseball's Managers: A History and Analysis of Performance in the Major Leagues, 1876-2008  —  By Chris Jaffe  —  McFarland (www.mcfarlandpub.com), 2010  —  List Price: $39.95

Reyes scratched  —  Jose Reyes has been scratched from today's game.  He said the initial physical raised a small concern with doctors, so he needed to do additional blood work this morning.  He'll visit the doctor again at noon.  Reyes added that he has no physical problems.  “I'm fine,” he said.

Dodgers reach minor league deal with Anderson  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with outfielder Garret Anderson, who starred for years with the crosstown Angels.  —  If Anderson makes the Dodgers' 40-man roster, he will receive a one-year, $550,000 deal which includes performance bonuses.