Lee suspended for first five games of 2010  —  Mariners lefty disciplined for throwing at D-backs' Snyder  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — The imposing one-two punch at the top of the Mariners' starting rotation appears to be on hold for a while.  —  Cliff Lee's extracurricular activities in Tucson …

Ask Boswell: Nats Spring Training, Stephen Strasburg, Caps and more  —  The transcript follows.  —  Tallahassee: Boz: Please tell me that the signing of Grossman makes it more likely that the 'Skins will pick an offensive lineman in the first round.  Please?

Mejia has goods to rescue Mets  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Talk to Jenrry Mejia and you learn that he's not scared of anything or anyone.  You quickly realize something more important.  The Mets young pitcher looks at baseball as a job.  Combine that with electric stuff and you have everything you need to get to the majors, at any age.

Source: Rockies interested in reliever Beimel  —  TUCSON — The domino effect of injuries has led the Rockies to express interest in free- agent reliever Joe Beimel, according to a major-league source.  —  With Huston Street pegged to start the season on the disabled list …

Cocaine, blackmail converge on Texas Rangers  —  Not that anyone would admit it publicly, but Rangers management could see this one coming.  For months, it watched a PR disaster building like a thunderstorm to the west.  —  Let's just say the ballclub had been warned.

Reds' big league camp down to 48  —  Alonso, Bray sent to Triple-A among other reassignments  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Reds now have 48 players in Major League camp.  —  Prior to Thursday's game against the Indians, the Reds optioned infielder Yonder Alonso and left-handed pitcher Bill Bray …

Martinez, an Understudy, Is Playing Like a Star  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Mets put an entire story line on the team bus on Wednesday, sending all three contenders for the starting center-field job on the three-hour trip here to face the Boston Red Sox.  —  Call it a road show …

Economical and Effective, Chamberlain Stakes Claim  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Joba Chamberlain could probably have pitched his way out of the rotation with a poor outing Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.  Instead, Chamberlain breezed through four innings, tightening …

Zinicola's Toronto tenure comes to end  —  Rule 5 Draft pick headed back to Nats with Jays' 'pen full  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Zech Zinicola's locker was emptied out and his Blue Jays' equipment bag was stuffed with his belongings on Thursday morning.  The pitcher looked up and then removed …

WADA president calls on MLB to test for HGH  —  John Fahey says he does not accept reluctance to use blood tests  —  World Anti-Doping Agency president John Fahey called on Major League Baseball and its players' association to start testing for human growth hormone.

The shortstops: Nomar, Jeter, A-Rod were long on talent  —  Not so long ago virtually any discussion of the best shortstops in baseball included Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra.  —  The late 1990s were arguably the golden era of American League shortstops …

Minor League Transactions  —  See also: Transactions Glossary. … Arizona Diamondbacks  —  Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Cesar Valdez, SS Pedro Ciriaco  —  Optioned to Double-A: RHP Daniel Stange, LHP Leyson Septimo  —  Atlanta Braves  —  Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Stephen Marek …

Cleveland's failed pursuit of Tim Lincecum in 2005 didn't please MLB officials: Indians Insider … GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Indians have faced two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum twice since coming to Arizona for spring training in 2009.  Each time it's happened, bloggers and chat room participants …