In spite of current confidence in the team, Jerry Manuel says he would love to add Manny Ramirez to the middle of Mets’ lineup; Manager feels Ramirez could add necessary veteran leadership and serve as a real positive influence on the attention span of Jose Reyes.

Yanks optimistic for Posada and Rivera’s opening day return; Catcher has been rubbing urine on not only his hands, but on he and Mo’s recovering shoulders in hopes of toughening them up.

Rangers return from All Star break with 3-2 win over Hurricanes; Population at large shocked to learn the All Star break has already passed, shareholders for Versus channel remain confident that NHL contract was the right move.

Devils win over Sens makes backup Clemmensen a 20 game winner; ESPN’s Max Kellerman’s world turned upside down at news that maybe Martin Brodeur is not in fact, the most important person ever born anywhere… ever.

A-Rod reportedly unfazed by harsh comments in Torre’s book; “If Joe Torre wants to think I’m eerily obsessed with Jeter then let him,” Rodriguez said, “I mean who cares what he thinks, he’s old and not even that hot anymore.”

Wow, Joe Torre. Really? David Wells is difficult and Kevin Brown is mean? Randy Johnson, the homeliest human being in the history of human vision, is a sad sack? No! Say it ain’t so, Joe! A-Rod is self-absorbed? We refuse to believe it.

Obviously, the papers are having a field day with the “shocking” details of Torre’s tell-some book, and that’s their privilege. This is, after all, the darkest time in the sports year. The basketball and hockey seasons haven’t really picked up steam yet and there’s no baseball or football. It’s either spin something out of nothing with Manny Ramirez or spin something out of something minor with Torre’s book.

Honestly, think about it: What’s really shocking here? The details, or that Torre is revealing the details?

Is anyone surprised to learn that A-Rod’s teammates think he’s a fraud? Is there a sports fan in New York who didn’t know A-Rod was jealous of Derek Jeter’s celebrity? Did somebody actually think David Wells was an easygoing fella that everyone gets along with? Was someone, somewhere, living under the assumption that somebody not named Alyssa Milano enjoyed Carl Pavano’s company?

The only thing that should raise eyebrows about Torre’s book is that Torre himself was willing to put his name on something that ruffles — though doesn’t pluck — feathers. Of course, since it’s not an autobiography proper, Torre has a big shield to hide behind. And because he targeted such fan favorites as Pavano, Brown and A-Rod instead of dishing real dirt on Sacred Bombers like Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Bernie Williams, Torre’s legacy — despite what you may have heard on the radio this week — is just fine.

And we think that’s pretty lame. If you want to really shock us, tell us something we don’t know.