Yankees name righthanded reliever Luis Ayala to pitching staff as Pedro Feliciano starts on DL  —  Luis Ayala will be the final man on the Yankees' pitching staff to open the season, as the Bombers chose the veteran righthander over young lefty Steve Garrison.

MLB on FOX ready to tie one on  —  Walking out of Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia after the final game of the NLCS, I was grabbed by Jim Bernard, a FOX Sports VP.  —  “Are you ready to wear the bow tie?”  Jim said.  “We're getting you some in San Francisco.”  —  The what?

Spring training 2011: Philadelphia Phillies trim roster, cut just-signed 2B Luis Castillo  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies released Luis Castillo on Wednesday, one week after signing the veteran second baseman to a minor league contract.  —  Castillo signed with Philadelphia …

Red Sox, JetBlue extend partnership  —  The Red Sox on Tuesday announced that they have signed an eight-year extension to keep JetBlue Airways as the team's official airline and the official airline of Fenway Park.  —  JetBlue will also sponsor JetBlue Park, the new Spring Training ballpark …

Nick Evans cleared waivers, no news on Bay  —  According to MetsBlog's Rich Coutinho, Sandy Alderson said the team has not yet made a decision on Jason Bay, who is on his way back to Port St. Lucie tonight.  —  Alderson said the team will lock in their plan for Bay after they speak with him.

MLB institutes 7-day DL for concussions  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Major League Baseball and its players union have announced a new set of protocols for dealing with concussions, including the creation of a new seven-day disabled list for players with the injury.  —  The league and the union announced …

A Solo Shot  —  Fans come out to the ballpark for a variety of reasons, from cheap family fun to the intricacies of the hit-and-run to the devastating ruin of Pedro Martinez's changeup.  Baseball has something for everyone.  There is no denying, however, the almost universal appeal of the home run.

Andre Ethier: Signs pointing toward end of Los Angeles Dodgers career  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier on Tuesday stood behind comments he made to The Associated Press after Monday night's exhibition game in which he said this could be his final season …

For the love of Lee, it's not about the stats  —  AUSTIN, Texas - It is here, in the very state that had, and then lost, the very same pitcher the Phillies had, and then lost, and then won back, that I found the answer to a question that has stumped many men who fancy themselves baseball experts:

With season start near, Tampa Bay Rays' bullpen nearly solidified  —  A messy slide: The Rays' Sean Rodriguez kicks up dirt while stealing second base against the Red Sox in Fort Myers.  —  FORT MYERS — Unless there's the equivalent of a ninth-inning rally, the Rays' opening-day bullpen …

Longoria says AK-47 stolen from house is ‘a personal item’  —  When talking to reporters about the weekend burglary of a house he and two teammates have been renting during spring training, Tampa Bay Rays slugger Evan Longoria  —  at first failed to mention one of the prominent stolen items.

Jamie Moyer joins ESPN for 2011  —  Jamie Moyer hopes to pitch in the majors in 2012, but for this season the 48-year-old left-hander will lend his expertise as an analyst for ESPN's “Baseball Tonight”, making his debut Thursday for Major League Baseball's Opening Day.

Buzz Building About Marlins Slugger Mike Stanton  —  MIAMI (AP) — Sitting in the visitors' dugout one afternoon last September, Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel watched rain fall as he gushed about the Florida Marlins' precocious slugger, Mike Stanton.

Use of overhead TV camera for baseball is pondered  —  Fox tests the ‘Field Cam’ during Tuesday's Dodgers-Angels game.  Before the game, some players are concerned that it might be too intrusive.  —  Officials from Major League Baseball and the players' association were in Angel Stadium …

Garza hoping change of weather will change his results  —  After another poor Arizona outing, starter eager for season to begin  —  Matt Garza pitches against the White Sox during spring training.  (Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE, US PRESSWIRE / March 24, 2011)  —  MESA, Ariz. …

Roger Clemens eager to defend himself  —  HUMBLE, Texas — Roger Clemens said Wednesday that he's eager to defend himself in federal court this summer and that his Hall of Fame chances aren't a “big deal” for him.  —  “We've had to take it on the chin a little bit, but we'll have our chance to talk …

Breaking news: Lidge out at least 3-6 wks  —  This is Martin Frank (@mfranknba on twitter), filling in for Philled In...Ruben Amaro just updated us, saying that closer Brad Lidge has a posterior rotator cuff strain.  He will be shut down for 3-6 weeks.  That does not, repeat, does not mean he's out for 3-6 weeks.