Hawpe looks to former mate Podsednik for diet tips  —  TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — If Colorado Rockies right fielder Brad Hawpe avoids another second-half swoon this season, he'll have Scott Podsednik to thank.  —  They were Rockies teammates in 2008.  Podsednik moved on to the Chicago White Sox last year …

New Met Bay insists his knees are fine  —  Bob Klapisch covers baseball for The Record in New Jersey and worked at the New York Post and New York Daily News.  The author of five books, he was recently voted a top-five columnist in the country by the Associated Press Sports Editors.  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA.

Morneau pushes Twins past BoSox  —  Canadian slugger makes debut, hammers two-run double in Minnesota 5-3 win over Boston  —  Justin Morneau and Tim Wakefield each made encouraging returns to the field after a long offseason dealing with back injuries.  —  Morneau marked his return …

Facing Yanks, Hellickson doesn't blink  —  Rays prospect escapes jam with strikeouts of Jeter, Teixeira  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Jeremy Hellickson got his feet wet on Friday, and while doing so, he managed to confirm in four outs why he is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.

Marcum starting for first time since '08  —  Healthy after elbow surgery, hurler faces Yanks on MLB.TV  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — One of the ways Roy Halladay earned the reputation of being one of baseball's true aces is by dismantling the powerful lineups in the American League East.

Traffic forces Jimenez to miss start  —  Rockies starter delayed by major accident in Phoenix  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez was caught in a large traffic jam, the result of a major accident, and did not make his scheduled start against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Edmonds begins comeback bid  —  Former All-Star says he feels healthy for first time in a while  —  PHOENIX — Ben Sheets wasn't the only former All-Star who returned Friday after a year off.  —  Jim Edmonds manned right field for the Brewers in his first big league game since the 2008 playoffs …

Tenor Adopted and Disowned by Yankees Leaves Town  —  Ronan Tynan became a walk-on Yankee star in 2000, when he stepped onto the field with his artificial legs and clarion voice and belted out “God Bless America” during the seventh inning stretch of important games.

APNewsBreak: Deal reached for Yankee Stadium fight  —  NEW YORK — Boxing is making its long-awaited return to Yankee Stadium, where icons like Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis once plied their trade.  —  WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman will defend his title against former welterweight …

Reyes to be tested for thyroid imbalance  —  Mets shortstop will be sidelined until results are known  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The spring debut of Jose Reyes has been postponed again, pushed back until at least Tuesday.  And the reason given this time is specific and sounds a tad ominous.

High cost of McCourts' divorce: $19 million in fees  —  Dodgers' case could be one of the most expensive in California history.  Even other high-profile divorce attorneys are surprised.  —  Frank and Jamie McCourt announced their separation at the end of last season.  (Los Angeles Times / June 24, 2006)

Lincoln's first outing diverts from his plan  —  Fifth-starter candidate gives up seven hits over 1 1/3 frames  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Six up, six down.  At least that's how Reds fifth starter contender Mike Lincoln had planned out his exhibition game debut.  —  “I had the whole outing in my head last night,” Lincoln said.

Nick Markakis' 2009 Drop In Walks (Part Five)  —  In part one of these posts, I took a look at what effects walk rate.  Part two was Nick's general swing rates and splits.  Part three was some more detail of swing rates on the fastball in particular.  In part four, we looked at how things went in three-ball counts.