La Russa and Riggleman feud, dugouts clear  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman and St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa were at the epicenter of a dugout-clearing brouhaha Monday at Roger Dean Stadium.  —  Cardinals reliever Miguel Batista hit Ian Desmond …

Mets release Oliver Perez  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Three days after the New York Mets informed second baseman Luis Castillo he was being released, left-hander Oliver Perez received the same fate Monday morning.  —  Team officials informed Perez he was being let go despite being owed $12 million in the final year of his deal.

Braves Still Hoping To Deal Kawakami  —  The Braves are still hoping that Kenshin Kawakami draws interest from another team that's willing to take on a considerable portion of the $6.67MM he'll earn in 2011, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman.  Kawakami lost his rotation spot last June after losing his first nine decisions.

Brewers on lookout for pitching help  —  PHOENIX — The Brewers are still leaning toward filling their fifth-starter void from within, but club officials are also keeping an eye on the waiver wire and trade market — and on right-hander Shaun Marcum's stiff shoulder — in case outside assistance becomes necessary.

Pirates release Atkins; Olsen could start year on DL  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates this morning granted an unconditional release to infielder Garrett Atkins, signed by the club as a minor league free agent in the offseason.  —  Atkins hit .129 (4 for 31) this spring with 11 strikeouts in 17 games.

Chipper Chimes In On JFK Assassination: “Somebody High-Ranking In U.S. Gov't”  —  As the spring training days while away, conversations around the batting cage tend to wander away from the game.  —  Just recently, Atlanta Braves' star third baseman Chipper Jones took up a topic he's mulled seriously …

Alonso, Cozart among eight players cut  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The deepest cuts of spring came through the Reds' clubhouse on Monday as eight players were told that they did not make the team.  —  None of the transactions were stunners, but several familiar names were on the list.

Hunter drives in two before rain cancels game  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — On a drizzly, dark Monday, the Angels pulled their regulars off the Tempe Diablo Stadium field in the first few innings against the Cubs, who used the conditions to tune up for April weather in Chicago.

2011 Organizational Rankings: Introduction  —  Today, we're rolling out our 2011 Organizational Rankings.  Like with the team previews, we're going to do three posts per day for the next two weeks, taking us right up to Opening Day as we count down from the worst to the best.

Casey Blake likely heading to DL  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake is expected to begin the season on the 15-day disabled list due to a bad back.  —  “Yeah, we are definitely moving in that direction,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.

McDonald leaves game with jammed thumb  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald left Monday's game against the Phillies with a jammed right thumb.  —  McDonald, who started in left field and hit in the No. 7 spot, lined out to second base in his first at-bat in the top …