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MILWAUKEE -- When it comes to the "Biogenesis Bunch," theres Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, and then everybody else. Fourteen players were suspended last summer by Major League Baseball as part of the Biogenesis drug scandal, ranging from All-Stars to also-rans. As a new season starts up, time to check on how theyre doing. Rodriguez is out for the year. So the A-Rod media circus will have to wait until 2015, assuming he returns. That leaves Braun as the next most notable name on the list. He said hes sorry for getting into the mess and eager to compile the kind of stats that made him the 2011 NL MVP. "I embrace the challenge that lies ahead," the Milwaukee slugger said upon reporting to spring training. "I know it wont be easy, but I intend to do everything in my power to continue to be the best person and player I can be." After apologizing several times in the off-season, Braun returned to a corner locker customary for a top player. He has the strong support of manager Ron Roenicke. Braun got off to a good start at the plate. He went into this week hitting .440 with two homers and five RBIs in 25 spring at-bats. Even had a homer in his first spring at-bat. "Not surprising. Hes one of those guys, just a special athlete," Roenicke said after the Feb. 27 shot. With Braun back to bolster a lineup that had Carlos Gomez, Jean Segura and Jonathan Lucroy emerge last season, the Brewers hope to contend again in the NL Central. St. Louis is the reigning division champ, and a 50-game suspension for shortstop Jhonny Peralta didnt prevent the team from signing him to a four-year, $53 million deal in the off-season. The discipline stemmed from an investigation into Biogenesis of America, a Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing substances. A couple big leaguers were miffed. "It pays to cheat... Thanks, owners, for encouraging PED use," Arizona pitcher Brad Ziegler tweeted after the deal was announced in November. Not a bad start in Cardinal red: Peralta was hitting over .300 with three homers this spring as of the beginning of the week. "I know a lot of fans, they are going to talk," Peralta said when he reported to camp last month. "They are going to say a lot of things. Its baseball. You need to forget about it and try to play baseball." Nelson Cruzs potent bat was enticing enough for the Orioles to bring the outfielder in as a free agent after his suspension while with Texas last year. Cruz is destined for the middle of Baltimores lineup after hitting 26 homers last year. In San Diego, shortstop Everth Cabrera has said his apologies to teammates. He was leading the National League with 37 stolen bases when his suspension started last August. "He knew that he let his teammates down," Padres manager Bud Black said. "I cant speak for everybody, but from what Ive heard from some players, that was enough." Back at short and hitting .264 this spring with three steals as of Tuesday, Cabrera is set lead off again for Black. Reliever Antonio Bastardo (Phillies) and backup catcher Francisco Cervelli (Yankees) are also back with their former teams, each signing one-year deals in the off-season. Seattles Jesus Montero isnt as lucky. Once a top catching prospect, he was moved to first, then demoted to minor league camp. He hit .310 but had reported to spring training overweight. Among less notable players, outfield prospect Cesar Puello had also been optioned to minor league camp by the Mets and ex-Met Jordany Valdespin had signed a minor league deal in December with the Marlins. At last check, lefty reliever Jordan Norberto had signed a minor league deal with the Rays. Once-promising outfield prospect Fernando Martinez, who was traded from Houston to the Yankees last year, and relievers Fautino De Los Santos and Sergio Escalona are still waiting. They apparently wont have a chance to immediately prove themselves, unlike Braun. Kyle Garlick Dodgers Jersey . Braves reliever David Carpenter was also fined for throwing at Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson in the same game, which featured several ejections, including Colorado manager Walt Weiss. Cheap Dodgers Jerseys .A. Happ capped a challenging season with one of his best efforts of the year. https://www.cheapdodgersonline.com/145h-...ey-dodgers.html. Villa has already confirmed his short-term deal and the Daily Mirror reported early Tuesday that Lampard will join him as both build up match fitness ahead of moves to the new Major League Soccer franchise New York City. Stitched Dodgers Jerseys . - The Carolina Panthers believe Steve Smith lost "top-end" speed, a big reason the franchise parted ways with its all-time leading receiver. David Freese Dodgers Jersey .C. -- North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried said his team had a "golden" opportunity to help its NCAA tournament chances.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After sitting out six games with an injury, Evander Kane wanted to make up for lost time. Kane returned to score a goal and added an assist, leading the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night. "I put on my skates and I tried to help this team win -- thats just how I am," said Kane, who had been out since Nov. 29 with a lower-body injury. Mark Scheifele and Bryan Little also had goals for the Jets, with Al Montoya making 22 saves. "I felt confident and the team did a good job tonight. I cant say that enough," said Montoya, who got the start because Ondrej Pavelec had given up five goals in a 6-4 home loss on Saturday. "(The Blue Jackets) didnt have too many chances." A slow, checking game with few good scoring opportunities for most of the first two periods turned into a sprint in the third period, with the teams scoring three times inside 3 minutes. Kanes goal proved to be the winner. "I thought (Kane) looked good for a guy whos been out for a little while," Winnipeg coach Claude Noel said. "His shot on the 3-on-1 was great. And his pass to Scheifele was also good." R.J. Umberger and Fedor Tyutin had the goals for the Blue Jackets, who had a first-period goal disallowed. They had picked up points in five of their past six games (4-1-1). The Jets, coming off an 0-2-1 homestand, opened the scoring when Scheifele notched his fourth at the 13:59 mark of the second. Finding his teammate on a nifty 2-on-1 pass below the hash, Kane sent a pass to Scheifele that he lifted high into the top of the net. Thanks to a double-minor for high sticking against Cam Atkinson, the Jets made it 2-0 at 2:28 of the third. A seemingly innocent one-timer from the blue line by Dustin Byfuglien was redirected by Little, who merely stuck out his stick. The puck ricocheted off it and also off the skate of Columbus defenceman David Savards skate. Umberger collected a pass from Matt Calvert behind the net and scored on the wraparound to cut the lead to 2-1 at 8:48. Moments later, however, David Savard got caught pinching in and it resulted in a 3-on-1 rush with Kane blistering a high shot to push the lead back to two goals at the 10:35 mark.dddddddddddd "We played solid with the puck," Kane said. "When youve got a 3-1 lead youve got to put them away. We played a solid game. But its nothing to jump up and down about, though." Once again the Blue Jackets countered, this time when Nick Foligno stole the puck in his offensive zone. Montoya stopped his shot, but Mark Letestu then fed Tyutin, who was crashing the net from the wing to make it 3-2 at the 11:39 mark. Mike McKenna, who had 29 saves, was starting his fourth consecutive game since backup Curtis McElhinney (lower body) was injured -- in relief of last years Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (groin strain). In the final minute of the scoreless first period, there was a wild scramble in the crease led to Calvert being checked into the cage just as the puck went past Montoya into the net, possibly off the stick of Jets defenceman Jacob Trouba. But referee Tim Peel immediately waved off the goal while the crowd booed loudly. Peel said Montoya did not have room to make a play. "I didnt see a goaltender interference on that play," Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said. "Youre disappointed in the call, but that was one play of many, many in the game." The crowd booed louder each time the replay was shown on the centre ice monitors. The officials deliberated for 45 seconds, but Peel then announced that the call was non-reviewable. "I felt I was pushed in and I tried to dodge (Montoya)," Calvert said. "I thought the puck was in the net before I was but it was a situation where the official had to make a quick call." Notes: The Jets were without RW Anthony Peluso, suspended for three games by the NHL for a hit on Saturday against Dallas Alex Goligoski. ... The Blue Jackets should get RW Marian Gaborik (sprained knee) and D James Wisniewski (upper body injury) back this week. ... Columbus D Dalton Prout (upper body) and C Derek MacKenzie (lower body) were both hurt in the first period and did not return. ... Blue Jackets C Ryan Johansen extended his points streak to a career-best nine games (four goals, seven assists). ' ' '