setback for Ryno?

Ryan Howard's return to training is unsure after he had some minor procedure to clean out an infection around the stitches from his achilles operation last fall. Most reports did not have him back in the line-up until mid-May, and it remains to be seen if this will delay that estimate.

Spidale resigned

I overlooked the resigning of Mike Spidale to a minor league deal earlier this month. In my opinion, he has never been given a real chance to do anything except shuttle from AA to AAA and back again since being a main cog in Lakewood's 2006 championship.

Preseason games begin this weekend, and the Phillies and the Yankees will square off Saturday afternoon at 1:00 on CSN-Philly.

smells like spring

Houston Astros have invited Jonathan Singleton and Jonathan Villar to major league camp, joining J.A. Happ and Sergio Escalona.

Chicago Cubs have signed 2 more former 'Claws, with Jason Jaramillo moving over from the Pirates and Adrian Cardenas signing with them after being waived by the Athletics.

Quinten Berry and Bobby Korecky are heading for spring training with the Tigers, while Matt Maloney and Andrew Baldwin will be Minnesota's camp.

Greg Golson and Edgar Garcia will be in camp with Kansas City, while Robinson Tejeda has left the Royals to go to spring training with the Indians.