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.

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.

Mets likely to name Brad Emaus, not Daniel Murphy or Luis Hernandez, the Opening Day second baseman  —  JUPITER, Fla. - Less than a week ago, second base was a middle infield muddle for the Mets.  But now Brad Emaus seems set to win the job, especially after the team Wednesday demoted Justin Turner …

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 …

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.

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.

Bonds, Clemens lack integrity needed for Hall  —  No offense to John Thorn, recently named the official historian of Major League Baseball, but I have a different take on whether Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  —  Contrary to what Thorn says …

CarGo, Tulo not afraid to let it rip  —  Silver Sluggers have had success swinging at the first pitch  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Standing in the batter's box against Giants pitching genius Tim Lincecum isn't fun, so Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez decided Monday he didn't want to do it any longer than necessary.

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.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum  —  When you first walk into the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, you will find yourself looking at a baseball field with players on it.  Only you will find yourself looking at that field and those players from the other side of chicken wire.

Jeter, Mauer, Halladay top MLB most popular jerseys list  —  Top Ten Includes Players on Seven Different Clubs; 12 of top 20 Under Age 30; Yankees Lead Overall Licensed Products Sales List  —  Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins and Roy Halladay …

Relieved Durbin settling in with Indians  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Nearly two thousand miles away, Brad Lidge tested his sore arm for 16 pitches on Tuesday as the Phillies front office watched with more than casual interest.  If Lidge isn't a healthy closer this season, the job falls to Ryan Madson …

Adam Dunn brings annual spring slump to the White Sox  —  Nam Y. Huh/ Associated Press - Adam Dunn of the White Sox reacts after striking out during a spring training game against Los Angeles on March 20.  Dunn, a notorious slow starter every year, leads all of baseball with 22 spring strikeouts.

Special Report: Inside Baseball's Debt Disaster  —  (I wrote this story with my colleague, Nathan Vardi.  Follow him here.  The story will appear in the April 11 issue of FORBES, on newsstands this week.)  —  Inside Baseball's Debt Disaster … As the U.S. economy and financial markets strengthened …