Jon Lester to start Red Sox opener  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Manager Terry Francona said today that Jon Lester would be the Opening Day starter for the Red Sox.  —  The season starts April 1 in Texas.  Lester will oppose C.J. Wilson in the 4:05 p.m. game.

Gorzelanny in thick of race for a spot  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Nationals left-hander Tom Gorzelanny had arguably his best outing of the spring on Tuesday, pitching four innings and allowing a run on two hits with four strikeouts and three walks in a 5-2 loss to the Mets.

Marty Marion dies; shortstop was MVP with '44 Cards  —  Marty Marion, known as “Mr. Shortstop” to a generation of St. Louis Cardinals fans, died of an apparent heart attack Tuesday night, according to his nephew, Scott Marion.  —  Mr. Marion was 93 and lived in Ladue.

Luis Hernandez quietly a contender at second base for Mets  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — He had circled Monday as a landmark in the Mets' search for a second baseman.  Then manager Terry Collins could whittle down the field from four to two, and inch closer to deciding who stands next to shortstop Jose Reyes on Opening Day.

Tickets went on sale at Citi Field, but few fans showed up  —  NEW YORK — The guilt has begun to eat at Chuck Licastri, conflicted by the misery he plans to pass down to his little boy.  —  He has lived the painful life of a Mets' fan, suffering through the “heartbreaking” past few years.

Pitching (almost) always wins championships  —  A bold couple of statements: The Giants should have been the favorites to win the 2010 World Series—Hint: they weren't.  And if you're looking for a Cinderella story in 2010, the poor, inadequately-housed Oakland A's would be a good place to start.

Out of spotlight, Yastrzemski stays in game his way  —  (Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff/File 2008)  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — He is the lion in winter, wheeling into the shabby minor league complex at the dead end of Edison Road every morning before 8.  Fifty years after his rookie season …

Tony La Russa — baseball's oldest manager at 66 — maintains the fire as other older skippers retire  —  JUPITER — For Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, the revelation came during the 2,100-mile drive from St. Louis to California's Bay Area.  —  In a vehicle weighed down by trunks …

Luis Salazar loses his left eye  —  Bad news from Orlando: Doctors were unable to save Braves minor league manager Luis Salazar's left eye.  They had put off surgery on it until yesterday to allow swelling to go down, but the damage, it seems, was just too extensive.

MLB History: Farewell to Stats?  Baseball Needs More Story, Less Sabermetrics  —  Recently Major League Baseball named me its official historian, a great honor and an even greater opportunity.  I hope to convince you that some knowledge of baseball's past enhances the pleasure in every present moment.

Cashman disputes Lee regarding Yanks' age  —  Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee contends that the Yankees are getting too old, but Yanks general manager Brian Cashman doesn't share his belief.  —  Lee told Philadelphia radio station WIP last week that he chose to sign with Philadelphia instead …