Can Jesus Montero be an everyday catcher? That question won't be answered in a day, or perhaps even in an upcoming rookie season in which he'll likely catch a couple games a week for Seattle while being used primarily as a designated hitter. But Montero certainly hasn't embarrassed himself at catcher this spring.

What became a first in the National Football League this week — the suspension of a head coach — is an event baseball has seen countless times throughout its history.

Japan is a baseball-crazy country. The fans love their homegrown stars. Saying “Sayonara” to their baseball icons who depart for the Majors can't be easy, but Japanese fans are used to it by now.

From 1954 through 1996, the Dodgers of Brooklyn and Los Angeles were managed by two men whose combined Major League playing experience consisted of 15 at-bats and 58 1/3 innings pitched. Since then, however, change has come to the Dodgers — and to the sport.

The Giants came into Spring Training seemingly set at first base and in the outfield, but Brandon Belt's showing in the Cactus League could force the club to alter those plans.

Following a 12 1/2 flight from Phoenix, the Mariners arrived in Japan on Friday in advance of two exhibitions vs. Japanese and their two Opening Series games vs. the A's.

It appears that Reds closer Ryan Madson has suffered a setback as he tries to return from an elbow injury. Madson will not pitch in a Minor League game on Friday as scheduled, according to Reds manager Dusty Baker. He would not reveal the nature of the setback.

Fresh off a game-tying squeeze play in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Yankees on Thursday night, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine was looking forward to watching Clayton Mortensen pitch the 10th. But Yankees manager Joe Girardi informed the umpires that his team was going back to Tampa, Fla. The game ended in a 4-4 tie. Valentine was not pleased.

As part of its effort to develop the game in Latin America, Major League Baseball announced the launching of a new league on Thursday designed to provide a neutral ground for big league organizations to evaluate the top unsigned amateur players in the Dominican Republic.

Yu Darvish's ballyhooed move to the Majors is just one example of how far Japanese baseball has come in its evolving journey across the Pacific to the big leagues.

From veteran starters to lock-down closers, pitchers all over the Major Leagues have been adding a cut fastball to their repertoires, as the pitch has been steadily gaining popularity.

Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones announced Thursday that he has made the decision to retire at the end of the upcoming season.

The Twins made another round of cuts on Thursday, reassigning right-hander Sam Deduno, left-hander Phil Dumatrait, catcher Danny Lehmann, infielder Ray Chang and outfielder Matt Carson to Minor League camp.

An unidentified bidder for the Dodgers and Dodger Stadium has raised the possibility of selling naming rights to the 50-year-old ballpark, according to a report.

All the Dodgers are reluctant to say why, but the hitting improved significantly after Dave Hansen was promoted last season to hitting coach, replacing the respected Jeff Pentland.

The Indians are already short one center fielder as Opening Day approaches. Cleveland is now doing everything it can to ensure that its replacement, Michael Brantley, is healthy and ready for the start of the season.

Opening Day is almost here, with the March 28-29 Japan Opening Series between the Mariners and A's, followed by the April 4 Opening Night game featuring the Cardinals at the Marlins, and Major League Baseball has unveiled the first video spots in a campaign to set the mood.