Wednesday notes: Hughes slides by with his cutter  —  Phil Hughes had seven strikeouts tonight, and the way he remembers it, all but one came on a modified version of his cutter.  Disappointed in the pitch this spring, Hughes tweaked his cutter grip and turned the pitch into more of a slider, something slightly slower and bigger.

Mets Fans, Meet Brad Emaus  —  With Plate Discipline, No-Name Rookie Appears to Have Won Second-Base Job  —  JUPITER, Fla.—For a professional athlete, Brad Emaus is a little bit doughy.  He is barely 6 feet tall.  He runs at a plodding pace.  He doesn't hit for much power.

MUSIAL NO MAN OF HONOR, MR. PRESIDENT  —  With the economy and international turmoil, President Obama has enough headaches; he doesn't need any more.  But his staff has created one for him with its failure to investigate fully the career and life of Stan Musial before recommending …

Report: Buck Showalter rips Derek Jeter  —  Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't backing down from the American League East's big boys.  —  In fact, it seems as if Showalter is going out of his way to antagonize the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

2011 spring training: Texas Rangers set rotation, keep Neftali Feliz in bullpen  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — After plenty of discussion and evaluation over the last six weeks, the Texas Rangers said Thursday that Neftali Feliz will remain the team's closer in 2011.

Franklin Gutierrez isn't healthy yet … Franklin Gutierrez, the Gold Glove center fielder who's battled stomach ailments for more than a year, hasn't played in the Seattle Mariners last four games - isn't in the lineup today - and is undergoing more medical tests.

Continual digs at Yankees' A-Rod unfair  —  The easiest target in baseball — probably in all sports — should just make life simpler for his detractors by replacing the No. 13 with a bull's-eye.  —  Look, Alex Rodriguez always has been Alex Rodriguez's worst enemy, and perhaps his litany of career sins …

Jason Isringhausen's health hinges on every pitch  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Jason Isringhausen was on his iPhone late Tuesday night, video-chatting with his 8-year-old daughter, when he asked her if she was ready for Dad to come home.  —  With her face pressed close to the camera, she told him he still could play baseball.

Out Of Options: Maybin, Joyce & Other Position Players  —  Presumably finding little or no trade interest, the Mariners and Indians each attempted to send an out-of-options reliever to Triple-A in March.  Each player stood little chance of making the Opening Day roster …

Beachy wins fifth-starter spot for Braves  —  Top prospect Minor sent to Triple-A Gwinnett to gain seasoning  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Braves will begin the 2011 season with Brandon Beachy as their fifth starter, allowing Mike Minor a chance to gain some more experience with Triple-A Gwinnett.

Nationals ink Ollie to Minor League deal  —  VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals signed left-hander Oliver Perez to a Minor League contract Wednesday afternoon, according to two baseball sources.  —  The news comes four days after Perez was hit hard by the Nationals during a 7-4 loss to the Mets.

Phillies' Oswalt escapes injury after liner to neck  —  PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — Knocked to the ground by a line drive to the neck, Roy Oswalt stayed down for nearly a minute.  Then, he rose to his feet and walked off the mound on his own.  —  That was a good sign for the Philadelphia Phillies.