While the Red Sox bite their lips about the convoluted start to their season — a 16-day, three-country trip that begins in Tokyo and ends in Toronto — the Yankees are whining about spending 19 of 21 days on the road in one April stretch. That schedule, which Johnny Damon calls “pretty stupid,” was forced because Pope Benedict XVI will be celebrating mass at Yankee Stadium on April 20. … The bullpen-thin Tigers really are missing Francisco Cruceta, a job candidate who was still having visa issues entering the weekend. … Cliff Lee has the inside track on the fifth starter’s job with Cleveland. Jeremy Sowers and Aaron Laffey are the other candidates. … Hideo Nomo, a long shot in the Royals’ camp at 39, has shelved his tornado wind-up. He’s working exclusively out of the stretch, which he hopes will help him throw more strikes. … Nolan Ryan, the Rangers’ new team president, has been tutoring Brandon McCarthy. … Bret Boone has been an early surprise for the Nationals. He’s an odd fit there as Washington already has two veteran second basemen in Ronnie Belliard and Felipe Lopez. … Jason Schmidt is off to a slow start with the Dodgers, making it almost certain he will open the season on the disabled list as he continues to rehab his surgically repaired shoulder. … Bartolo Colon is off to a good start in his bullpen sessions at the Boston camp. He could get into an exhibition next weekend. … The Angels are watching John Lackey but are not too worried about the elbow problem that put him behind the other starters. … Injury of the spring: Tampa Bay right-hander Andy Sonnanstine is being treated for an ear infection believed to be the result of his falling asleep while listening to his iPod’s in-ear headphones.
