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.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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  —  Brandon Beachy will begin the season as the Braves' fifth starter as the club optioned Mike Minor to Triple-A Gwinnett.  Minor was informed of the decision Thursday morning.

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.