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.

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.

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 …

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 …

Spring training 2011: Daisuke Matsuzaka rebounds with 5 shutout innings for Boston Red Sox … LAKELAND, Fla. — Daisuke Matsuzaka said his pitching coach, Curt Young, “advised” him to throw more strikes Tuesday.  Well, he got the memo.  —  Dice-K rescued his spring from the Grapefruit League crisis watch …

Giants' GM turns out to be a ringer  —  The ring is thick and heavy, and it's yellow gold.  It lives on the right ring finger of Giants general manager Brian Sabean, the man who made the World Series championship team happen.  —  You would understandably conclude that Sabean wears the 2010 World Championship ring.

Diamondbacks tap Kennedy as opening-day starter  —  SCOTTSDALE Ariz. (AP) — Ian Kennedy has been picked to start on opening day for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  —  Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said Tuesday that Kennedy will pitch April 1 at Colorado.  —  The right-hander went 9-10 with a 3.80 ERA …

Duda an Enticing Option for Mets  —  His Big Bat Has Manager Seriously Considering Him if an Ailing Beltran Can't Play Right Field  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.—Something about Lucas Duda makes Mets managers weak in the knees.  —  For Jerry Manuel, the team's manager last year …