SHEPPARD OUT FOR OPENER (12:31 a.m. ET)
Yankees legendary public address announcer Bob Sheppard will not work the final home opener at Yankee Stadium due to health concerns.
He has held the position since the Yanks' 1951 home opener and does not plan on missing this entire season.
"I don't know when it will be, but it will be," he said, according to the New York Daily News.
A bronchial infection sidelined Sheppard for the ALDS last season. Until he returns this year, he'll be replaced by longtime backup Jim Hall.
EDMONDS TESTS CALF (11:32 p.m. ET)
San Diego's Jim Edmonds homered and singled twice in a minor league game on Wednesday but it's still uncertain if the center fielder will be available by Opening Day.
Edmonds, who came over from St. Louis in a trade for a minor leaguer, has been sidelined since March 6 with a strained right calf. As of Wednesday morning, Padres manager Bud Black said Edmonds was "doubtful" to be on the Opening Day roster.
But that was before Edmonds went 3-for-4 against Texas' Triple-A squad. Edmonds didn't play in the field. San Diego must decide whether to place Edmonds on the disabled list by 9 p.m. Sunday.
"It went all right," Edmonds said. "Everything felt good. I hit the ball and ran. I wasn't trying to do too much."
Though he's been participating in baseball activities for nearly two weeks, the 37-year-old still hasn't run at full speed.
"We're still going to evaluate him the next few days to see how he is," Black said.
Earlier in the week, Edmonds felt he had turned a corner. But he said that resulted in a swollen calf.
"It's hour-to-hour," Edmonds said. "If it feels good I keep going but if it's bad I back off. I'm just seeing how far I can go each day. ... It's getting better."
-- The Associated Press
ROCKIES TRIM ROSTER (10:03 p.m. ET)
The Colorado Rockies sent several players to minor league camp on Wednesday, including Seth Smith, who helped fuel the team's first pennant drive with a series of key pinch hits last September.
The Rockies also released former All-Star Marcus Giles, who lost out to rookie Jayson Nix for the starting job at second base.
Two others who were in the mix, Omar Quintanilla and Ian Stewart, were optioned to minor league camp, while catcher Humber Cota was reassigned to minor league camp.
Giles hit .321 with four doubles and a triple this spring in his comeback attempt after a dismal season in San Diego last year. He signed with the Rockies as a free agent on Jan. 8. In seven major league seasons, he has a .277 batting average with 76 home runs and 333 RBIs with Atlanta and San Diego.
-- The Associated Press
PEDRO'S READY (9:30 p.m. ET)
Pedro Martinez is ready for the regular season and he plans to be a vocal leader in the clubhouse this year.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner threw 80 pitches against minor leaguers Wednesday before the New York Mets lost 7-5 to the Florida Marlins.
Martinez went six innings and pronounced himself healthy heading into the season. The right-hander missed most of 2007 following shoulder surgery.
"I just went out there and got my work in and I came out healthy," Martinez said. "I had more command. I'm getting better day to day."
Martinez threw on a back field rather than face the Marlins, the team he is scheduled to pitch against in the second game of the season next Tuesday in Miami.
Martinez, who spent much of last season in Port St. Lucie rehabilitating his shoulder before joining the Mets in September, is excited about breaking camp with the team.
-- The Associated Press
SHEETS BLOWN AWAY (9:29 p.m. ET)
Jim Thome hit two of Chicago's four home runs off an ineffective Ben Sheets, but the Milwaukee Brewers rallied for a 12-10 victory over the White Sox on Wednesday.
Beaten out for the starting second base job, Chicago utility man Alexei Ramirez helped his bid to play center field on Opening Day by hitting a grand slam off Sheets.
The right-hander gave up nine runs and eight hits in five innings. His next start is Monday in the season opener against the Chicago Cubs.
None of the homers Sheets yielded were cheap, although the windy conditions didn't help.
"Thome's would have gone 450 [feet]instead of 550," Sheets said. "The homers really didn't matter to me."
Despite the rough outing, he said he's prepared for Opening Day.
"There's no choice. I'm ready to go," Sheets said. "I thought I had pretty good stuff, not great."
-- The Associated Press
BEDARD HIT HARD (7:55 p.m. ET)
Erik Bedard was not sharp even though he got the victory in his final spring training start as the Seattle Mariners defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-5 Wednesday.
Bedard, who was acquired in a six-player trade on Feb. 8 from the Baltimore Orioles, has been selected as the Mariners' opening day starter against the Texas Rangers on Monday.
Would Bedard like to take his same stuff today against the Rangers?
"Four runs, six innings? No," Bedard said. "I didn't have a plan. I just went out there and threw strikes."
Bedard had an 8.63 ERA in six starts, allowing 35 hits, including nine home runs, in 24 innings.
-- The Associated Press
ASTROS KEEP BOOTING IT (7:23 p.m. ET)
A day after Cecil Cooper ripped his team for bad throws, the Houston Astros had three errors and a costly baserunning mistake in a 7-6 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.
Four of the five runs allowed by ace Roy Oswalt were unearned in a rough 3 2/3-inning outing. Oswalt had one of the errors.
"We've got to get better at fundamental plays," said Cooper, whose team has 36 errors this spring. "Today, we had a couple easy ones early on and we didn't execute them, and it turned out to be a key in our big man throwing a lot of pitches in the first inning."
The Indians didn't have an error, and reigning Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia was efficient. He had no walks and six strikeouts in seven innings, the longest outing of the spring for a Cleveland pitcher. The left-hander improved to 3-0, allowing seven hits and three runs.
-- The Associated Press
ROYALS ACQUIRE RAMIREZ FROM ROCKIES (5:45 p.m. ET)
Right-hander Ramon Ramirez was acquired by the Kansas City Royals from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named on Wednesday.
The Royals also traded outfielder-first baseman Justin Huber to San Diego for a player to be named, and assigned right-handers Roman Colon and Chin-hui Tsao and catcher Ken Huckaby to minor league camp.
Kansas City also designated left-hander Jorge De La Rosa for assignment and optioned right-hander Kyle Davies to Triple-A Omaha, clearing the way for left-hander John Bale and right-hander Brett Tomko to get the final two spots in the rotation.
Right-hander Hideo Nomo, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2005, will likely start the season on the disabled list after pulling his groin against San Diego on Tuesday night.
The 26-year-old Ramirez, once one of the top prospects in Colorado's system, set team rookie reliever records with a 3.46 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 61 appearances in 2006.
-- The Associated Press
KUWATA RETIRES RATHER THAN GOING TO MINORS (5:31 p.m. ET)
Masumi Kuwata, one of the top pitchers in Japanese baseball history and a major leaguer for the first time in his career last season at age 39, retired Wednesday from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Kuwata, who turns 40 on Monday, had a 1.80 ERA in five innings this spring, but had not pitched since March 18. When it became clear that he would not make the Pirates' opening day roster, he chose to retire rather than possibly start the season in the minors.
The right-handed Kuwata, the most valuable player of Japan's Central League with the Yomiuri Giants in 1994, was offered a coaching job by the Pirates but declined and apparently will return to Japan.
Kuwata had long wanted to pitch in the majors but, saddled with a restrictive contract he signed with the Giants early in his career, could not do so until last season.
-- The Associated Press
REDS SEND BAILEY TO TRIPLE-A (4:39 p.m. ET)
Touted pitching prospect Homer Bailey was optioned to Triple-A Louisville by the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old former first-round pick has been effective in the minors but has failed to show control in the majors. In his last spring training start on Monday, Bailey walked six in 4 1/3 innings, throwing only 42 strikes out of 84 pitches.
With Opening Day less than a week away, the Reds' likely rotation will be Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, with newcomers Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez and Josh Fogg.
-- The Associated Press
NATIONALS MAKE FINAL CUTS (4:28 p.m. ET)
Here are the Nationals' moves to get down to 25 players:
• Outrighted OF Ryan Langerhans to Triple-A after he cleared waivers
• Optioned LHP John Lannan to Triple-A
• Reassigned non-roster IF Pete Orr to minor league camp
• Optioned RHP Chris Schroder to Triple-A
• Placed C Johnny Estrada on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 21
Orr hit .389 this spring, but got stuck in a logjam behind SS Cristian Guzman, 2B Ronnie Belliard, 2B-SS Felipe Lopez and utility player Aaron Boone.
"Pete Orr had a very good spring training for us," manager Manny Acta said. "But it's a numbers deal."
Lannan, who started six games for the Nationals last season and went 2-0, with a 2.45 ERA this spring, "might be back here soon," Acta said. It depends on the health of pitcher Shawn Hill, who is currently on the disabled list.
--Jayson Stark, ESPN.com
CUBS RELEASE VETERAN CINTRON (4:16 p.m. ET)
The Cubs released Alex Cintron on Wednesday, leaving Ronny Cedeno and Mike Fontenot as the likely backup infielders.
Cintron had a rough spring. After having surgery on his right elbow during the offseason, he got hit on the right side of his face by a foul ball off the bat of teammate Mark DeRosa while waiting in the on-deck circle.
A career .277 hitter in parts of seven seasons, he spent the previous two with the Chicago White Sox after playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"Hopefully, he catches on with another team and gets himself a major league job," manager Lou Piniella said.
The move leaves the Cubs with 30 players on their roster -- 16 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders. Piniella said Sean Marshall, who opened camp competing for a spot in the rotation, has the inside track over fellow left-hander Carmen Pignatiello for a relief role as long as he "can acclimate himself in short order."
With the Cubs planning to carry 12 pitchers, outfielder Matt Murton could be the odd man out after Reed Johnson agreed to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Johnson can play all three positions, something Murton can't do.
-- The Associated Press
REITSMA LEAVES MARINERS (3:46 p.m. ET)
Reliever Chris Reitsma has left camp after learning he would not make the Mariners' roster for the start of the season. Reitsma drove away from spring training camp in Peoria, Ariz., after a meeting Wednesday morning with general manager Bill Bavasi and manager John McLaren.
Reitsma has had five operations on his pitching elbow, including two in the past 20 months. Mariners officials say he was told the coaches wanted him to stick with a rehabilitation program into next month. After that, they said, he was told he might be added to the roster.
McLaren said Reitsma decided to go home and consider his options.
Reitsma was in camp as a non-roster invitee. He has a 9.00 ERA in four games this spring.
-- The Associated PressSMOLTZ SET FOR START
(2:31 p.m. ET)
John Smoltz is still on schedule to make his first start of the year a week from Sunday against the Mets and Johan Santana. Smoltz said Wednesday that if his shoulder continues to progress, he'll throw a side session in the bullpen Thursday, pitch a simulated game at some point over the weekend, throw a couple more side sessions in the bullpen next week "and then go get 'em Sunday."
Smoltz isn't happy about all the speculation he's hearing that he's actually more seriously hurt than he's letting on.
"It seems like it's more about the 'what if' scenario instead of the 'what is,'" he told ESPN.com. "And the 'what is' is that I'm going to miss one start. Big deal."
-- Jayson Stark, ESPN.com
TIGERS RELEASE BYRDAK
(10:42 a.m. ET)
Reliever Tim Byrdak was released Wednesday by the Tigers after the left-hander allowed 15 runs and 21 hits in 10 innings during spring training,
Byrdak pitched to five batters in the ninth inning of Detroit's 10-9 win over Houston on Tuesday, walking four and allowing one hit. His spring ERA was 13.50.
Byrdak started the 2007 season with Triple-A Toledo before joining the Tigers' bullpen on May 14.
He gets $175,205 in termination pay rather than his $712,500 salary.
-- The Associated Press
BRESLOW EARNS FINAL PEN SPOT
(10:41 a.m. ET)
The Indians optioned right-hander Tom Mastny to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, giving their final bullpen spot to left-hander Craig Breslow.
Mastny's future appeared decided when the club claimed Breslow on waivers from the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. Breslow is out of minor league options, while Mastny had one remaining.
Mastny did not have a strong spring after being one of Cleveland's most reliable relievers a year ago. The 27-year-old went 0-1 with one save and a 6.39 ERA this spring.
In his first full season with the Indians last year, the 6-foot-6 reliever went 7-2 with a 4.68 ERA in 51 appearances. In the postseason, he didn't give up a run in 4 2/3 innings over three outings, winning Game 2 of the ALCS in Boston.
-- The Associated Press
BRAVES SEND YATES TO PIRATES
(10:39 a.m. ET)
The Braves traded relief pitcher Tyler Yates to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday for minor league pitcher Todd Redmond.
The 22-year-old Redmond is 22-21 in three minor league seasons.
Yates, a 30-year-old right-hander, appeared in 131 games in relief during the last two seasons. He is 6-12 in his career with a 5.15 ERA.
Right-handers Byung Hyun-Kim and Jaret Wright and left-hander
Juan Perez were released Wednesday by the Pirates and Japanese
pitcher Masumi Kuwata, who turns 40 on Monday, retired. Wright, a
former Indians and Braves starter who failed to win a bullpen job,
is deciding whether to accept an assignment to Triple-A
Indianapolis.
-- The Associated Press
ALOU EYES
APRIL RETURN (10:28 a.m. ET)
Mets outfielder Moises Alou has not ruled out playing in April, despite having hernia surgery earlier this month.
"Definitely that's my goal," Alou told reporters on Tuesday, during his return to Mets spring training. "I see how I'm feeling right now. I see it as a realistic goal. At the same time, that's something I can't control, or I don't know about it, because it's something new. If it was a knee, a shoulder -- I've had them all. But I've never had a hernia before. I see it as a realistic goal, but who knows?"
Alou, who had surgery on March 6, has started riding a stationary bicycle, and hopes to be cleared for jogging starting next week.
BENSON STAYS PUT IN PHILLY (10:15 a.m. ET)
Kris Benson hasn't made the Phillies' 40-man roster. But the right-handed starter has opted to stay where he is, try to restructure his deal and continue his comeback from shoulder surgery in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Benson had a 24-hour window to opt out of his deal when he didn't make the 40-man roster. He allowed that window to expire, and now his agent is working with the team to move the opt-out date to May 15.
"I'm feeling good with the clubhouse and the pitching coach and the manager," Benson said, according to the report. "The winning attitude here, the excitement going into the season, it's all a win-win situation from my standpoint. From their standpoint, they have another starting pitcher they can count on down the road."
Benson missed all of 2007 after undergoing shoulder surgery.
DODGERS CUT LOOSE SEANEZ (10:01 a.m. ET)
The Dodgers have released veteran right-handed reliever Rudy Seanez.
Seanez gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings this spring. Last season, he posted a 3.79 ERA and went 6-3 with 73 strikeouts in 76 innings.
Seanez, 39, a 16-year veteran who has pitched for eight major league teams, could have earned as much as $1.3 million in salary and bonuses this summer. Instead he walks away from the Dodgers with $135,000 in separation pay, the Los Angeles Times reported.
ROBERTS TO SIT WITH STIFF BACK (9:07 a.m. ET)
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts will take a few days off to rest a stiff lower back, but expects to be ready by Opening Day.
It's one of those things you play with all the time," Roberts told reporters. "I've played with it. It's not that big a deal. If this were the season I'd be playing. I'd just rather be 100 percent Opening Day than let it keep nagging."
All spring, it has been rumored that the Orioles and Cubs have been considering a deal to send Roberts to Chicago. But Orioles manager Dave Trembley said the decision to hold Roberts out of spring games has nothing to do with a possible deal.
"I operate under a premise that Brian Roberts is the starting second baseman on this club," Trembley said. "That's how I've operated since I came to camp. But I'm also aware of the other circumstances that have presented themselves. But I think in due time that questions will be clearer and clearer and better answered the closer we get to Opening Day."
