Roster analysis  —  The Mets still have two weeks to resolve the roster, and things will resolve themselves to a certain extent by performance, but here's an early look at how things appear to be shaking out:  —  Rotation  —  No debate in the Nos. 1-4 slots: Johan Santana starts on Opening Day …

PADRES ANALYSIS: Status of Gonzalez remains in limbo  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — It seems as if the entire baseball world is waiting for the other shoe to drop — for the Padres to finally relent and trade Adrian Gonzalez to the highest bidder.  —  The conventional wisdom is that the Padres cannot afford …

Victor Rojas Launches “Yakcy” Social Network Site for Sports  —  Yakcing all over Twitter: A new social network site launched by Victor Rojas  —  looks to hook you into sports specific social networking “rooms”  —  Social networking has become more than a trend, by all accounts, it appears to be here to stay.

Carlos Beltran makes progress with knee rehab, may return to New York Mets' lineup by early May  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Most of the Mets had just started their workday when Carlos Beltran emerged from the clubhouse gym, unhooking a heart-rate monitor from around his midsection.

Texas Rangers' Ron Washington said he used amphetamines and marijuana during his playing days  —  A day after apologizing for using cocaine last season, Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington said that he used amphetamines and marijuana during his playing career.

Teixeira a lesson in how to play big stage  —  TAMPA — There isn't another city that insinuates itself into the equation quite the way New York City does.  Nobody ever wonders if a linebacker “has the makeup to make it in New Orleans.”  No one ever ponders if a power forward can become “a Portland guy.”

Exhibition Game 16: Red Sox at Pirates  —  Here are the lineups:  —  RED SOX (8-7)  —  Mike Cameron CF  —  Dustin Pedroia 2B  —  Victor Martinez 1B  —  Tug Hulett 3B  —  Pitching: RHP Josh Beckett followed by RHP Scott Atchison, LHP Fabio Castro, RHP Ramon A. Ramirez.  —  PIRATES (4-10)

National Matters: Rizzo talks right field, shortstop & a deal with Dunn  —  Welcome to the first installment of a new feature on MASNsports.com: Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo's weekly blog.  —  Each week during the 2010 season, Rizzo will bring his insight straight to you, only on MASNsports.com.

Patience pays for Scutaro  —  How a discerning eye at the plate gave the Red Sox shortstop his breakout season  —  Marco Scutaro is a patient man.  —  In 2001, Scutaro was a 25-year-old second baseman who had never sniffed the major leagues.  —  He'd put together a solid year …

Mets reliever Pedro Feliciano leaves game with bruised right knee … JUPITER, Fla. — Mets reliever Pedro Feliciano left Thursday's exhibition game against the Marlins with a bruised right knee after being struck by a grounder off the bat of Brett Hayes.  Feliciano walked off the field with no problem and said he was not in any pain.

Arizona legislature approves surcharges  —  Fees collected would help fund new Cubs facility  —  MESA, Ariz. — The Arizona House of Representatives on Thursday approved a Spring Training ticket surcharge plan designed to keep the Cubs in Mesa and generate more than $100 million for improvements …

Vin Scully admitted to hospital after hitting head  —  Longtime Dodgers play-by-play announcer Vin Scully was admitted to a hospital Thursday night after falling out of bed and hitting his head, said Josh Rawitch, the Dodgers' vice president of communications.

Murphy counters hurdles with hard work  —  Mets first baseman hones his craft amid much competition  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Daniel Murphy has what many would call tunnel vision.  The 24-year-old is one of the hardest-working players in Mets Spring Training camp, is believed to have a sheer obsession …

Frazier finding his place  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Todd Frazier has six different gloves in locker at the Reds' spring training complex — a first baseman's mitt, an outfielder's glove, a middle infield glove, a third base glove and a backup infield glove.  —  In the future, the Reds …