1.   Among the notable names not participating in winter ball for the Mets are rookie pitcher Jason Jacome and Class AA pitchers Bill Pulsipher, Jason Isringhausen and Chris Roberts.

2.   And some, like Sanchez, pitched weeks earlier in winter ball.

3.   Angels manager Mike Scioscia recalled playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic when the club kept a sacred chicken in the clubhouse for three months.

4.   Because the last thing you want is your potential ace leaving his arm in Venezuela, piling up innings in winter ball.

5.   Bill Pulsipher, Paul Wilson and Isringhausen will probably pitch winter ball in Puerto Rico during the off-season.

6.   After experiencing tightness in his pitching elbow last November during winter league ball in Puerto Rico, Wilson had rested his arm for more than a month.

7.   After last season, Alfonzo took some time off, then urged the Mets to let him play winter ball in his native Venezuela.

8.   All of this has been difficult on Beltre, who missed the first month of winter ball waiting for commissioner Bud Selig to make his ruling in December.

9.   Both Mora and second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo are from Venezuela, and they have played together in winter ball.

10.   But Hammond decided to make a comeback, finishing last season at Richmond and then going to Puerto Rico for winter ball.