Former Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan spent Monday with Tony La Russa in Goodyear, Ariz., location of the Cleveland Indians' Spring Training complex. Duncan's son, Shelley, plays for the Indians, and Duncan joined La Russa to watch Monday's game from general manager Chris Antonetti's suite.

Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie, who got the day off Monday, continues to lead all American League hitters with a .579 spring batting average. Lawrie, who boasts an on-base percentage of .600, is fourth in slugging at .842.

New Astros owner Jim Crane took in his first Spring Training game on Monday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, arriving along with five of his partners to see Houston play the Yankees.

Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett did not look sharp in his first inning of work on Monday, and that's why the three zeroes he threw after that were satisfying.

Joe Mather belted a three-run homer in the seventh and Alfonso Soriano hit his fourth spring blast in the first to lift the Cubs to an 8-6 come-from-behind victory on Monday over the Reds.

Andrew Bailey had thrown just two pitches on Monday and he was already trying to put out his first fire for the Red Sox.

At age 44, Omar Vizquel has been around long enough to know his place. On Monday, it was at third base. Vizquel, the second-oldest player ever to appear at shortstop in a big league game, signed with the Blue Jays as a Minor League free agent and is a non-roster invitee to camp this spring.

A's Minor League outfielder Jason Pridie was suspended 50 games on Monday for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program for a drug of abuse for a second time, the Commissioner's Office announced.

The Chicago Cubs at this moment are a unique blend-a dramatically changed organization, seeking to establish some tried-and-true, traditional virtues on the field.

If Mets third baseman David Wright responds as expected to the cortisone injection he received Monday — and club officials are cautiously optimistic that he will — the result of his examination back in New York has to be considered positive.

On the bright side, Joe Saunders felt like he was throwing the ball well Monday.

If any player can avoid the burden of expectations, it would be Albert Pujols. It's not just his greatness that has defined his career. It's his consistency.

Minor League infielder Drew Cumberland, who missed all of 2011 with a rare neurological condition and was attempting a comeback this spring, has informed the Padres' organization that he's walking away from the game.

The Dodgers' new head athletic trainer Sue Falsone is the first female to hold that position in any of the four major sports, and she's become more of a media magnet than Clayton Kershaw or Matt Kemp.

Royals closer Joakim Soria has had some iffy outings so far in intrasquad, Cactus League and “B” games, but manager Ned Yost is not concerned.

Manny Ramirez's Cactus League appearances, already sparse, will continue to be fewer and far between, as A's manager Bob Melvin looks to hand time in the designated-hitter spot to players in need of at-bats.

After breaking out as a rookie in 2010, Twins third baseman Danny Valencia went through a sophomore slump of sorts last season. As a result, Valencia spent all offseason working hard on his offense and his defense, and it's carried over into camp.