Family roots keep Hairstons grounded

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The story is nearly eight years old now, yet no matter how many times Scott Hairston tells it, a warm smile washes over his face. It's like, if you can imagine this, he is telling the story for the very first time.

The story goes like this: Hairston, long before he pulled on a Padres jersey, was a Minor League player. It was 2002, he remembers that. He was in his second season of pro ball and he was still a second baseman in the D-backs organization.

"It was after BP [batting practice] when this older guy, a scout calls me over. He had to have been in his 70s," Hairston said. "He said I reminded him of a player he had played against once ... that player's name, he said, was Sam Hairston."

Cue the smile, every time.

Sam Hairston was Hairston's grandfather and the patriarch of a one of baseball's most prominent families, a family with roots that run in the game, dating all the way to Sam Hairston's days in the Negro Leagues.

"I told him he was my grandfather," Hairston said, his voice sounding full of pride. "He said, 'That doesn't surprise me. I didn't even have to look at the roster. I saw the way you swing the bat ... that's what reminded me of him.'

"I got a kick of out that. Just by him watching me take BP he said that I looked like my grandfather. That's amazing to me."

For obvious reasons, this story holds special meaning for Hairston, even more so these days as another branch of the baseball family tree has sprouted here in Peoria with the addition of free-agent utility man Jerry Hairston Jr., Scott's older brother.

The Hairston brothers are the sons of Jerry Hairston, a former outfielder who played 14 seasons in the Major Leagues. Jerry Hairston Jr., who won a World Series ring with the Yankees last fall, and his brother will be teammates for the first time this season.

The Hairstons consider themselves fortunate for this unique twist to their careers, lucky even. No longer will they be the equivalent of passing ships in the night with the chance to visit briefly -- if at all -- when their teams are playing each other in the regular season.

Instead, the Hairston brothers will be teammates, united by general manager Jed Hoyer who traded for one Hairston (Scott) and signed the other (Jerry Jr.) during a dizzying three-day stretch in January.

This union will also give the Hairston brothers a chance to continue what Jerry Hairston proudly describes as the "family business," one that began with Sam Hairston's desire to play baseball in the 1940s, even if it meant fibbing about his age.

"I think for us to follow in his footsteps ... we're very proud of that," Scott Hairston said. "... It's very interesting to me. I consider myself fortunate to having grown up in a family like ours. It has inspired me to work harder and pass it along to my sons.

"We don't take much for granted, that's for sure."

Sam Hairston certainly didn't.

Sam spent his formative years in Hooper City, Ala., which is located a long fly ball outside Birmingham. When he was 16, he lied about his age, saying he 18, to get a job and the opportunity to play baseball in the local industrial league.

The Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues eventually noticed him and signed him as a catcher in 1944.

Sam Hairston went on to win the Negro American League's Triple Crown in 1950, when he hit .424 with 17 home runs and 71 RBIs during a 70-game season. That got Hairston a chance at the Major Leagues. In 1951, he became the first African-American to play for the Chicago White Sox.

"He started a legacy," Jerry Hairston said. "I don't know if any family has as many years in the game. There have been a lot more families with a lot more success, the Boones and others, but coming from where we came from it's pretty unique."

Scott Hairston, who is starting his second tour with the Padres, is 29 and beginning his seventh Major League season. Jerry Hairston Jr. is 33 and the newest Padre. He signed a one-year deal to essentially be a super utility man. He's beginning his 13th Major League season.

The brothers Hairston grew up around the game, having watched their father play nearly his entire 14-year career with the Chicago White Sox. Aside from Sam Hairston, Jerry's brother, John, played three games for the Chicago Cubs in 1969.

Is it really any wonder Scott and Jerry Jr. found their way into baseball?

"It wasn't by accident," Scott said. "Being around the clubhouse growing up, being around guys like Carlton Fisk, Harold Baines, Ozzie Guillen, Ron Kittle ... all those guys that I grew up watching, made me want to be like them. And watching my dad play ... baseball was a no-brainer.

"This is something [playing baseball] that I always loved to do and I never shied away from it. I think what I'm doing now, is what I planned on doing as a kid."

It's probably no coincidence that the Hairston brothers have some characteristics of their father and grandfather, making the story that the old scout once told Scott much more plausible.

"That scout he hit it right on the head," Jerry Hairston said. "Scott has a lot of similarities as his grandfather. We have some films. I remember my dad loving that high fastball. The last year I saw him play, I was 7 years old and I can remember him at the plate and taking a hack at that high fastball.

"That's what Scott has. He can get on top of that high fastball and drive it. He's able to take that pitch that is sometimes not even a strike and hit it, sometimes even out of the ballpark."

Jerry Hairston, who is the hitting coach for the White Sox Class A team in Bristol, said Jerry Jr. has an entirely different kind of skill set.

"Jerry Jr. is a little more like me, has the same body," Jerry Hairston said. "He's a much better player than I ever was. I'm proud of the fact that they're better than me. Jerry Jr. is a different player than Scott. He's a more tenacious guy. He's always in position to make a play. He's a true over-the-top student of the game."

Now they'll be playing together with the Padres. In the interest of fairness, this won't be the first time these brothers have been teammates. They played for Mexico a year ago in the World Baseball Classic. Their mother, Esperanza, was born in Mexico.

Jerry and Esperanza live in Tucson, Ariz. Scott (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Jerry Jr. (Scottsdale, Ariz.) both live in the Phoenix area. The family will get together during the offseason, but such reunions in the season have always been difficult. Now, as Jerry Hairston points out, Esperanza will have an easier time planning trips to watch her sons play.

"When we were working in the past, we never really saw a lot of each other," Jerry Jr. said. "We would play against each other for three days or whatever. But now it's going to be fun to watch him as a teammate, watch him going about his business.

"It's going to be cool to see first-hand him getting those clutch hits and the team relying upon him."

Added Scott: "It's going to be nice being around him on an everyday basis ... doing what we both love to do."

There's no telling how long this brotherly union will last in San Diego. Jerry Jr. was signed to a one-year deal. Scott, who was dealt to Oakland last July only to be traded for this winter, figures to be in the Padres plans for a while.

Either way, the tradition rolls on. The family business has been, and continues to be, in very good hands.

"We're very proud of that," Jerry Jr. said. "We know how hard my grandfather worked and the things that he had to fight through, the same kind of things that Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby had to fight through ... He had a tougher road than Scott and I did. We appreciate that."

Many bidders for Yanks' No. 5 battle

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Phil and Joba, Joba and Phil.

And Chad and Sergio and Alfredo, apparently.

Though something unexpected would have to happen for Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes not to win the Yankees' vacant fifth starter's job, manager Joe Girardi continues to insist that Chad Gaudin, Sergio Mitre and Alfredo Aceves are all legitimate candidates for the gig.

Call it motivation. Call it healthy competition. Either way, the three combined for six shutout innings in the Yankees' 6-3 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday.

"There seems to be so much talk about Hughes and Chamberlain, and the other guys are kind of under the radar a little bit, which is not a bad place to be," Girardi said. "We're going to do what we think is best for our club."

That almost certainly sets up a starting gig for either Hughes or Chamberlain, a bullpen role for Aceves and a sizable dose of uncertainty for Mitre and Gaudin. But as long as the Yankees are playing Grapefruit League games, every one of those pitchers has a chance.

They are aiming to make Girardi's decision difficult. In two innings Wednesday, Gaudin allowed nothing more than an infield single. Sinkerballer Mitre relieved him and fired two perfect innings with four groundouts, then Aceves -- with some help from his outfield defense -- pitched two perfect innings of his own.

Considering that the regulars for both teams played only half the game, and that pitchers are always more advanced than hitters this time of year, the early-March statistics don't mean much. But as the spring progresses, Girardi will need to make decisions on all three of those pitchers.

"The competition is there, but I'm not focusing on beating other guys out right now," Gaudin said. "I'm focusing on getting outs quick, keeping the team in the game and working on what I need to work on for the season."

In the main competition, Chamberlain and Hughes are scheduled to pitch on Friday. Between now and then, Girardi will have some time to absorb the results of Wednesday's undercard.

The Yankees could potentially make room for two of the three pitchers in the bullpen, assuming none of them wins the fifth starter's job. Aceves and Gaudin would appear to have the early edge based on their production last season, but Girardi has given Mitre, a former player of his with the Marlins, every chance to succeed in the past. There's no reason to think he won't do so again.

Right now, regardless, one round of the competition is complete without anyone gaining or losing a discernible edge.

But the spring is long. And the competition is open.

"I think we talk about it enough that they know," Girardi said. "We told them coming in that it was an open competition. Their nature is competitive, and they're going to go out and do the best that they can because they want to be on this team. They want to be the fifth starter. I don't think I need to remind them."

Harang gets Opening Day nod for Reds

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Unlike the past few years, there was more discussion and more than a hint of doubt over who would be the Reds' Opening Day starter and ace of the rotation.

But in the end, it will be the same pitcher who had done it the previous four times -- Aaron Harang. The right-hander will face the Cardinals on April 5 at Great American Ball Park.

Although the choice to go with Harang is tried and true, it's not the conventional decision this time around. He is coming off of back-to-back six-win seasons, while Bronson Arroyo has won 15 games each of the past two years.

"I know it probably won't be a popular decision," manager Dusty Baker said on Wednesday. "But talking to both of them, Harang seems to pitch better against top pitchers. After Day 1, it doesn't matter anyway."

Harang's fifth straight Opening Day assignment would tie the club record for most consecutive first-game starts held by Pete Donohue (1923-27) and Mario Soto, who did it from 1982-86. Soto holds the overall club record of six Opening Day starts.

Opening Day is considered sacred to Reds fans because of the club's lengthy tradition. Cincinnati is the oldest professional franchise in baseball, and that status has given it the privilege of getting to open at home with a day game each season.

"I'm excited about it," Harang said. "You definitely have to have a different approach on Opening Day because of all the hoopla and stuff that's going around the game."

Baker and pitching coach Bryan Price informed Harang of their decision on Tuesday after meeting with both Harang and Arroyo. The group talked about it together, and Harang and Arroyo also talked privately about it.

"I said, 'If it's out there, I want the ball. I want to be your guy,'" Harang said he told Baker. "[Bronson and I] both talked about it before we even went in there. I wasn't over there trying to make him feel different.

"Do I think Bronson deserves to start Opening Day? Yeah, definitely for what he's shown the past couple of years."

A couple of weeks ago, when camp first opened, Baker did not know who he'd give the ball to for the opener. The decision ultimately came down to the fact that, as much as Harang wanted the assignment, Arroyo also wasn't all that interested in being the Reds' No. 1 starter.

"If I had my choice, I'd rather pitch two or three," Arroyo said. "Cincinnati is one of the few places that Opening Day is really like a holiday. For that reason, it's probably a little tough to concentrate on that day. There's so much stuff going on. I'd rather enjoy that day, soak in all the festivities and pitch the next day or day after that."

"Nobody is more honest than Bronson," Baker said. "You might not like his answers. His answers will be honest. I love that. I ask a question, I want an honest answer. That's the reason you communicate and talk to your players."

Baker also set the top four spots of Cincinnati's rotation. After Harang will be Johnny Cueto, followed by Arroyo, Homer Bailey and the still-unnamed fifth starter.

There was reason behind the decision to split up Harang and Arroyo in the order.

"So you don't tax your bullpen," Baker said. "Harang, you know will give you innings. Cueto is not as consistent. Arroyo is consistent. Homer, you don't know. The fifth starter, you don't know. You want to break up those guys, because what if you had Arroyo and Harang back-to-back and the next three guys aren't pitching well? You're going to kill your bullpen. When you get back to Harang, you'll have to stick with him longer because your bullpen is already spent."

Harang won 16 games in both 2006 and '07 and was among National League leaders in wins, innings, starts and strikeouts. But struggles and injuries set him way back the past two seasons. In 2008-09, he was a combined 12-31 with a 4.52 ERA.

Last season was particularly trying, as Harang finished 6-14 with a 4.21 ERA in 162 1/3 innings with 142 K's. His year ended in August because he had his appendix removed. In 13 starts from May 30-Aug. 3, Harang endured a nine-game losing streak.

Over three of his past four seasons with the Reds, Arroyo has won at least 14 games. He posted a 15-13 record with a 3.84 ERA in 33 starts in 2009.

Arroyo also isn't a fan of pitching day games and has a better record when working at night. However, his first start on April 8 vs. St. Louis will be a day game.

"I told Dusty I'd pitch anywhere he wants me to pitch," Arroyo said. "It doesn't matter -- one through five -- it's fine by me. You can put a label on whatever you want -- I will take the ball 34 times. It doesn't matter."

League switch could be boon to Melky

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When the Braves traded Javier Vazquez to the Yankees in December, they quickly learned that many of their fans were not too excited about the fact that Melky Cabrera was the only Major Leaguer included in the return package.

Initial displeasure surrounding the deal was slightly diminished when some of those same fans came to understand the potential of 19-year-old right-hander Arodys Vizcaino, who could prove to be the most influential portion of the return provided by the Yankees.

But while Cabrera certainly isn't the power-hitting slugger that fans were hoping to receive in exchange for Vazquez, Atlanta is excited about the value he could bring while serving as a versatile outfielder whose offensive potential may yet to have been realized.

"His power is going to come," said Braves utility man Eric Hinske, who played with Cabrera last year with the Yankees. "I think he hit 13 homers last year, but he's got 20-plus capabilities."

While playing with the World Series champion Yankees last year, Cabrera hit .274 with the 13 homers, racking up 10 stolen bases and sporting a .752 OPS. With a quick evaluation of the numbers, Braves manager Bobby Cox believes it's easy to understand why the versatile 25-year-old outfielder found himself overshadowed by the likes of of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira.

"When you hit .270 with 13 [homers] there, nobody talks about you," Cox said. "I like Melky. He's a solid outfielder, has a good arm, knows how to play the game and he's a great kid. He's a good leader, from what I've seen."

At first glance, it would be easy to look at the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Cabrera and mistake him for a catcher. But those who saw him patrol the Yankees' outfield the past four years certainly realize that he doesn't look anything like any of the Molina brothers once he starts racing toward fly balls.

"He was by far the best defensive outfielder we had," said Braves reliever Scott Proctor, who shared the Yankees clubhouse with Cabrera during the 2006 and '07 seasons. "When you're toeing the rubber, he's definitely a guy that you want to have behind you."

With Jason Heyward seemingly improving the odds that he'll begin the season as Atlanta's starting right fielder, it appears the switch-hitting Cabrera will likely begin the season sharing the left-field duties with Matt Diaz.

But with his versatility, the Braves envision Cabrera spending time at each of the outfield positions.

During the first two games of the Grapefruit League season, Cabrera has not had the opportunity to show whether he has the kind of power arm that Jeff Francoeur showed over the past couple of seasons in Atlanta.

But while batting leadoff and playing center field in Wednesday afternoon's 9-5 win over the Mets, Cabrera did display his speed while nearly beating out a first-inning grounder that was directed to the third-base side of the mound. Five innings later, he drew a walk to spark a four-run uprising.

"He's a guy that's going to put some good at-bats together," Proctor said. "He's going to hit to the situation and [be] a gap guy. He's just a good all-around hitter. It's going to be interesting to see how he fits in the National League. I think his talents are going to be better exposed in the National League than they were in the American League."

As a switch-hitter with strong defensive skills, Cabrera could certainly prove more valuable while being part of late-inning substitutions which are much more frequent in the NL. But at the same time, the Braves recognize that his background with the Yankees has given him a chance to be recognized as much more than simply a role player in Atlanta.

"He's just a gamer," Proctor said. "He just knows how to play the game the right way. He comes from a winning background, too, with the Yankees. So he knows how to play the game down the stretch. The pressure isn't going to get to him."

Timetable for Cards' Ryan up in the air

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A simple reading of the timetable for Brendan Ryan's rehabilitation timetable from right wrist surgery goes something like this: Ryan wants to hurry back as quickly as possible, while the Cardinals want him to be cautious. The simple reading is probably a bit too simple, but not much.

Ryan knows his own tendency to rush and to be, at times, overly enthusiastic. So he's trying to make sure he doesn't get ahead of himself.

"[I have to] make sure that I have a good understanding of what the big picture is, and remind myself of that not only daily, but hourly," he said.

Thus far, though, Ryan's rehab has gone very well. He didn't do any significant work on Wednesday, giving his wrist a chance to rest after two days of progress. But he expects to get right back to action Thursday. And within two weeks, he expects to be taking batting practice.

"Batting practice should be ... the Monday after next [March 15]," Ryan said, "and then playing, like, the 21st or 22nd -- assuming all goes well."

However well it goes, manager Tony La Russa wants to make sure Ryan doesn't risk his season in order to make an arbitrary deadline. As such, he's declined to answer whether he expects Ryan to play in any Grapefruit League games before the Cardinals break camp.

"I just think it's a bad question to answer," La Russa said. "If I say 'No,' he might push it to prove them wrong. If I say 'Yes,' and he's not ready, he's going to push it. The thing you want to do is just go day by day with him. If he has a setback, slow him down. If he's feeling good, speed it up a little bit."

So far, Ryan has had no setbacks. He even played second base and first base in the Cardinals' intrasquad game on Wednesday, though he didn't throw with his right hand. When he caught a ball, he flipped it with his glove hand.

He's still targeting Opening Day, even as he tries to make sure he doesn't get too far ahead of himself.

"It doesn't seem realistic to me," Ryan said of the possibility of missing the April 5 opener. "That one never seemed realistic to me. I never saw myself not ready for Opening Day, even to this last minute. I don't know. That's what I'm shooting for. That's my plan. But if there's any chance or risk, I'm not going to be stupid. Three games is not worth losing a season."

Wagner holds no hard feelings

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When Reggie Jackson explained why he had brought his star to the Yankees in 1977, he acknowledged money had been a critical factor but also noted that George Steinbrenner had "hustled me like a broad at the bar." Steinbrenner, the former football coach, loved pursuit.

Bobby Cox seldom has become involved in the Braves' pursuit of free agents over the years. Atlanta figured it would need a closer for 2010 though, and after Billy Wagner retired the first three Braves batters he faced -- Chipper Jones and Brian McCann included -- in his first game back with the Mets in September, the Braves knew they wanted him.

"They came after me like they were hunting," Wagner enjoyed saying. He preferred that analogy -- more appropriate for him. And he liked being the prey.

Steinbrenner wined and dined Reggie. The Waldorf, the Plaza. The Braves were wined and dined by Wagner. Who was pursuing whom? Down-home hospitality. Cox, general manager Frank Wren and pitching coach Roger McDowell flew from Atlanta to Virginia to be entertained by the reliever they hoped would entertain thoughts of pitching the ninth innings in Braves victories.

"I went to pick 'em up at the airport, right off the farm in my pickup, poop and mud all over it," Wagner said. "'This is who I am.'"

"And that's exactly what and who we wanted," Cox said Wednesday. "After we saw Billy throw against us in New York that night, we sent some scouts to follow him [after Wagner had been traded to the Red Sox]. We were serious about him right away. I don't know that I've ever gone to see a player before. Maybe I did. I don't recall. But if it meant we were gonna get Billy, then yeah, I'll go for a visit. Ya know, I'm a farm guy, too, like him."

The Mets had neither room nor role for Wagner. But the Braves, who often lacked a certified closer during their runs of division championships, had both as well as a need. So they brought in a 38-year-old left-handed pitcher who missed most of last season and the final two months of the 2008 season. They didn't consider signing him a risk. This was all about reward.

"He'll change the game for us," Cox said.

Wagner was at the park Wednesday when the Mets and Braves played each other for the second straight day. His locker had a No. 13 over it, western boots and hat in it. And tattered jeans as well. It's who he is. And he still has a gunslinger way about him, shooting from the hip.

He identified his brief tour with the Red Sox -- 15 games, 13 2/3 innings -- as "the best experience of my life." It followed a long -- though shorter than expected -- rehab from the elbow surgery he underwent in late summer 2008. And it refueled him. Four hundred saves -- he has 385 -- seemed closer. And John Franco's 424 saves, the most by a left-handed pitcher, didn't seem quite so distant. Thirty-nine saves in a season that ends when he's 39?

But Wagner figures the time he missed with the Mets will allow him to pitch later in life. He has no plan to retire if and when he passes Franco. But those saves will help the Mets, and some of them may work against them.

"I loved my time in New York," Wagner said. "It was everything it was supposed to be. They treated me well. Respectful. They told me if I came back and pitched well, they'd try to trade [rather than exercise the club option on his contract and not save $7 million]. They were helping themselves, but they were helping me, too. I have no problems with the New York Mets. That doesn't mean I wouldn't like saving 'bout 15 games against them."

Not that his time with the Braves won't have its challenges. Cox demands that his players wear slacks, no jeans, even for Spring Training games. It's who he's not.

Shields, Garza excited to get '10 started

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The Rays rolled out a pair of aces Wednesday afternoon, using James Shields and Matt Garza against the Orioles.

Tampa Bay's Nos. 1 and 2 starters got in their work, then retreated to the clubhouse, both eagerly anticipating the beginning of the 2010 campaign.

Shields started and pitched one inning, walking one and striking out another. Garza allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out one in two innings.

Not only is Shields the probable No. 1 starter, but he's also an innings eater and a perennial 200-plus-inning guy. Seeing him for just one frame is an anomaly, to say the least. But stints like Wednesday's must be performed in order to build up the endurance to tackle six-plus innings once the season begins.

Aside from the work that must be done this spring, Shields smiled when talking about being back on the bump, pumping fastballs.

"Yeah, it's exciting," Shields said. "It's exciting, and I think the first time out, I held my own for my one inning. It's great to be out here, have that baseball atmosphere experience -- just walking to the bullpen and hearing the crowd yelling my name."

Shields said he got anxious before the outing, but he doesn't get the same kind of adrenaline during a Grapefruit League game as he does during the regular season.

"I got a little bit of adrenaline today," Shields said. "Once the season starts, those are the games that count, and the volume turns up a little bit."

Most would say Garza has the best stuff on the staff and that the sky is the limit for the right-hander. Garza seemed to experience a similar vibe to what Shields felt being back on the field again.

"[I] had that nervousness kick in, and that's when you know you're alive," Garza said.

Garza confessed to feeling some nerves before his outing, noting, "It's good."

"Once those things are gone, you may as well pack up and go home," Garza said. "I was real nervous today; [it] felt good."

Garza threw all fastballs and a changeup while resisting the urge to throw a slider in a situation that called for him to throw the pitch.

"There was a situation where I could have thrown a slider, but we face the Orioles 18 times this year," Garza said. "No reason to show them anything right now. These numbers don't count, as long as I get my work in and I feel good about it."

Neither Shields nor Garza wants to look in the rearview mirror. Shields said he was pleased with the effort of last year's team, noting that the 11-game losing streak at the beginning of September was the "one thing we were disappointed in." Meanwhile, Garza pointed out that 2009 is over and the Rays are now in '10.

Both are now mature Major League pitchers who know what it's like to prepare for and take part in a 162-game season.

"I'm just going to keep on doing what I've been doing," Shields said. "{And I'm gong to] try to be an inning eater. My main goal every year is to stay healthy."

Garza feels that being another year older and having another year of experience under his belt will benefit him greatly.

"Last year, I thought I had a pretty good season, but it's not what I hoped for," Garza said. "And this year, [I want to] just try and improve on what I did bad -- maybe cut down on my walks and make these guys beat me and not beat myself. And that's going to let me go deeper into the games, which means more innings, which takes a lot of pressure off the bullpen. If we can get into that seventh, eighth and ninth every time out, they're going to be happy about it."

Maholm's quick work a strong start

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Starter Paul Maholm seemed plenty pleased with his one-inning appearance against the Yankees in Wednesday's 6-3 loss, an outing that officially began his final month of preparation before the 2010 season.

Maholm retired the side -- a formidable trio of Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira -- in an 11-pitch first inning that marked the left-hander's first outing in Grapefruit League play. He induced three ground-ball outs and threw all but two of his pitches for strikes.

"It was a good day," Maholm said afterward. "When the first guy I face is Jeter and he's fouling balls off, you kind of get in the mode of being competitive and going after him and setting up pitches. My sinker was down, and the few sliders I threw were good."

Because it is still so early in spring, the Pirates planned to limit Maholm to one inning of work regardless of the result. He's scheduled to double that workload in his next outing and then continue progressing deeper into games from there.

Though manager John Russell has not tabbed an Opening Day starter, Maholm's selection as the team's first Grapefruit League starter could be a harbinger for Russell's eventual decision. Maholm has looked sharp since camp opened, and he once again arrived at Spring Training in peak physical condition.

"He has the ability to do what he needs to do to get ready," Russell said. "For the most part, he knows how to prepare and that's where he is in his career. We tell all of our pitchers not to worry so much about the ERA and results, as opposed to pitching down in the zone and pitching ahead."

Maholm specified efficiency when asked what he plans to target through March. His goal remains to get through each inning with 10 or fewer pitches.

The left-hander also insists that he is back at 100 percent after dealing with some soreness in his surgically repaired left knee last year. Pitching coach Joe Kerrigan noted earlier this spring that the Pirates made a mistake in letting Maholm pitch through injuries and even an illness last summer. However, Maholm is not getting into this debate.

Stubborn as Kerrigan had predicted, Maholm still doesn't cite injuries as a reason for the dip in his performance last year. And he maintains that he handled the physical demands of the game last year the same way he will moving forward.

"Last year is done," Maholm said. "It's been made a way bigger issue than it should have been. I'm going to pitch every fifth day. There are not a lot of guys that go out there at 100 percent for 30 something starts. It's part of it. I'll do it again. Everything is good to go."

Bell determined to add changeup to mix

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According to Fangraphs, Padres closer Heath Bell used his changeup all of 1 percent of the time in 2009.

Bell, who almost exclusively relies on his fastball and curveball, said on Wednesday the 1 percent figure might actually be a bit generous.

"I threw it four times," Bell said. "It was where I wanted it to go, but it was four times."

Bell certainly didn't suffer much from not having a true third pitch to use. He led the National League in saves (42) on his way to making his first All-Star Game appearance.

Bell said he will throw at least one changeup during Thursday's charity game against the Seattle Mariners at the Peoria Sports Complex. Bell is scheduled to work one inning. He'll do so again on Sunday.

He said the changeup was a pitch he wanted to work on last spring, but his involvement with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic prevented that. Instead, Bell used his fastball-curveball combination during the season.

This spring, Bell said he's been more determined to work on the pitch and actually use it more in games.

"I want to be able to throw it more than four times. I think I need a third pitch, especially when I'm facing a team for the second or third day in a row, or when I face them a lot," Bell said.

The biggest question for Bell this season isn't how often he'll use the changeup but when. Pitching is all about setting up hitters for the next pitch. Attempting to figure out when to mix in the changeup isn't as easy as just throwing it.

"I think the changeup will be there for me," Bell said. "I feel like I can throw it in and out. I've talked to [manager Bud Black] Buddy and [pitching coach Darren Balsley] about it. Now we've just got to figure out when to use it."

Cubs reach deal with Cuban prospect

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The Cubs have reached an agreement with Cuban right-handed pitching prospect Juan Yasser Serrano. However, the deal is not expected to be finalized for another month.

The team has not confirmed the report.

Serrano, who defected from Cuba in April 2009, still needs to undergo a physical before he can join the Cubs. There also is additional paperwork that must be completed before the deal is finalized, a baseball source said Wednesday.

There was a report that Serrano threw a two-inning simulated game for the Cubs, striking out four and giving up one run on an infield hit, but a baseball source denied that took place.

Rangers look to fill infield void

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Cardinals infielder Julio Lugo may be the most interesting name that arises as the Rangers assess their utility infield situation.

He is somebody they have talked about internally.

Lugo was the Cardinals utility infielder in the final two-plus months of last season after being acquired from the Red Sox. But he is expected to lose significant playing time after the Cardinals signed free agent infielder Felipe Lopez last week.

The Rangers are concerned about their utility infield situation after Khalil Greene did not report to camp because of social anxiety disorder. The Rangers voided his contract last week and are proceeding with the idea that Greene will not be in camp at all.

That has created two spots of concern on the bench: utility infielder and a right-handed-hitting corner infielder. The Rangers hoped that Greene could be an option in both areas. Now they are re-assessing the situation and early confidence that the roles could be filled from within may be eroding. The Rangers are looking around the league to see what's available among infielders and the Cardinals may likely make Lugo available at some point this spring.

"Our goal is to see if we can find the right combination of guys to give [manager Ron Washington] the most options and flexibility," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Monday. "We've still got a half-dozen guys internally we're looking at and our scouts are in town. That will be a focus as we see if there is an upgrade out there. It might be the guys in camp who are deserving of the job."

The Cardinals actually acquired Lugo last year to fill a need when Greene first experienced social anxiety order last summer while playing for them. He is being paid $9 million this season but the Red Sox are already picking up most of that as a condition to last year's trade.

Lugo is a 10-year veteran who was the Red Sox starting shortstop on their 2007 World Series championship team. Most of his career has been as a shortstop. He is 34 and there is some concern about diminished range but the Rangers are just looking for someone who can hold down the position and give Elvis Andrus a day off.

"We just need somebody who can make some defensive plays," Washington said.

The Rangers' leading candidates from within are Joaquin Arias, Ray Olmedo and Esteban German. Arias has the defensive skills for shortstop but there are questions about his throwing ability after going through three years of shoulder problems. Washington has been monitoring his throwing closely.

"I really thought the way he was throwing the ball the other day was sufficient," Washington said. "He's just got to maintain his arm strength and continue to improve. He's healthy. I don't think his arm is a problem. It is what it is. I've seen him throw from all the angles. We'll play it out and see where it goes,"

Other names could emerge from the outside. The Rangers talked to the Diamondbacks about Augie Ojeda last winter and those discussions could be renewed. The Dodgers have extra infielders and the Pirates may be willing to talk about Ramon Vazquez, who played for the Rangers in 2007-08.

But the Rangers also need a right-handed corner infielder who can spell Chris Davis at first base against left-handed pitchers. Matt Brown, who is in camp on a Minor League contract, has some impressive numbers against left-handed pitchers in the Minors and had a home run off Kasey Kiker in Monday's intrasquad game.

He hit .303 with a .495 slugging percentage against left-handers at Triple-A Salt Lake City last year and .325 with a .608 slugging percentage against them in 2008. He can play both first and third base. He was at third base in the intrasquad game and started a 5-4-3 double play on a Vladimir Guerrero grounder in the first.

"Ideally I'd love to see myself as a guy off the bench," Brown said. "I will do everything they want for me to make the team."

The Rangers are also looking at Max Ramirez for that spot. He is a catcher who is working out at first base. He was a sensation for the Rangers in 2008 when he hit .347 with 19 home runs and 57 RBIs in 337 Minor League at-bats.

But he hit just .230 with five home runs and 45 RBIs in 81 games and 337 at-bats last year while dealing with a pair of wrist injuries. He was much better in Winter Ball in Venezuela, hitting .252 with 13 home runs and 36 RBI in 59 games and 210 at-bat.

There is still a matter of learning how to play first base.

What the Rangers need is a right-handed-hitting infielder who can play first and third base. That's why they pushed hard to trade Ramirez to the Red Sox for infielder Mike Lowell. That trade fell apart when Lowell needed thumb surgery. It could be revived later this spring if he proves healthy.

Lugo and Lowell were the left side of the Red Sox infield when they won the World Series in 2007. Three years later, they might fit nicely together on the Rangers bench.

Veteran arms offer A's sensible options

PHOENIX -- It is reasonable to assume red lights and uh-oh flares went up among A's fans late Sunday when the club announced the signings of a pair of veteran right-handers.

That might have been a natural reaction among followers of a team that entered Spring Training with a trio of pitchers seeking to resume careers following a season lost to injury.

Are Ben Sheets or Justin Duchscherer or Joey Devine giving off warning signs? Is that why Oakland general manager Billy Beane had to reach out to Jason Jennings and to Brett Tomko?

(a) Insurance, or merely (b) ingenuity?

Relax, and go with (b).

Sheets is coming along ideally, remaining on the accelerated path back from elbow surgery, penciled in to start Oakland's Cactus League home opener, Friday against the Brewers.

And it is no secret that Duchscherer and Devine are both on slower tracks, very long shots to be able to assume their roles in the rotation and bullpen, respectively, at the start of the season. Under those uncertain circumstances, adding two experienced arms only made sense.

Even with everyone in perfect health and on an unobstructed path to the season, pitching isn't like ice cream. You can't have too much of it.

Complicating Duchscherer's fight back from an elbow surgery and depression, he was sidelined by acute lower-back pains that necessitated a nerve ablation procedure, performed last Tuesday.

The doctor's immediate recommendation was that the pitcher not step back on a mound for two weeks. Even if able to resume throwing then, Duchscherer would be three weeks behind everyone else.

Devine, also making his way back from elbow surgery, is "throwing at 85 percent," according to A's manager Bob Geren, who said, "It's 50-50 he'll be ready to go at the start of the season, or shortly after."

Thus it seemed only prudent to secure a couple of guys who have been high-end pitchers, when they have been healthy.

"We didn't necessarily sign Jennings due to the situations with Duke and Devine," Geren said Monday, as the rain clouds withdrew from the Valley and only sunshine flooded the fields. "I thought he pitched very well last season, and he's a good pitcher who was available.

"And Tomko is our Bedard," Geren added, referring to the Mariners' re-signing of lefty Erik Bedard, who isn't expected to return to the mound until June off shoulder surgery last August.

Tomko's impressive late-season stint in Oakland was derailed by an irritated nerve after six starts, of which the 36-year-old had won four with a 2.95 ERA.

"He pitched well for us last year, and I talked to him on-and-off during the winter. He was on our radar all along," Geren said.

While Tomko reported to Oakland's Minor League complex and will continue to work his way back there -- a late-May return is considered the earliest -- Jennings quickly checked into the big league camp and had his first bullpen session Monday.

Jennings, 31 and eight years removed from being the National League's Rookie of the Year, chose the A's offer over several other teams which made him offers -- but not because of any overt concerns about Duchscherer or Devine, whose absences obviously would create his opening.

"They do know I can step in for a couple of starts if someone goes down," Jennings said. "And after pitching out of the bullpen for the first time last year, I can do that, too. I'm pretty much open to both."

Before going 2-14 as a starter in 2007-08 with the Astros and the Rangers -- who converted him into a crack long reliever last season -- Jennings had an admirable six-season run in the pitching Death Valley of Colorado. Rockies pitchers aren't famous for hauling in awards, but Jennings ran away with 2002 rookie honors and still ranks as that franchise's second all-time top winner with 58.

"They didn't quite say whether they're looking at me to start or stay in relief," Jennings said of the A's, "but I have an opportunity to do both. I feel healthy, like I'll be able to pitch the way I know how.

"I think I offer the type of experience any team can use."

His most important offer, however, is that of security. Ordinarily, the bullpen isn't playing musical chairs; all the seats are taken by Andrew Bailey, Brad Ziegler, Michael Wuertz, Craig Breslow, Brad Kilby, Jerry Blevins -- and Devine.

Having Jennings in camp, and Tomko in the wings, at the very least affords Geren and pitching coach Curt Young to bring Devine and Duchscherer along slowly, smartly, not rashly.

The first of two intrasquad games is Tuesday. Cactus League play begins Thursday. Although as a fresh camp arrival who has not yet been formally scheduled for an outings, Jennings will make several appearances before either Devine or Duchscherer surface. So it will be an interesting progression to monitor.

Role change for Hermida not an issue

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- You can call this a spring of change for Jeremy Hermida, and it has nothing to do with a new scruffy beard or an elaborate tattoo that now rests on his left shoulder.

For the first time in his Major League career, Hermida will be playing somewhere other then South Florida. After being considered a hotshot prospect and eventually becoming an everyday player for four consecutive seasons, he'll now be a reserve for the first time.

So, will these changes help Hermida become the premier outfielder he was once projected to be?

"I don't think it will hurt," Hermida said before Monday's workout. "It's definitely refreshing to come here, I can tell you that. Whether I need a fresh start or not, it's tough to say. But I'm just happy to be here. The excitement of this camp and just the way people go about things is something that I'm really excited to be a part of, and I'm excited to play a full season."

The Red Sox acquired Hermida -- a former first-round Draft pick who hasn't yet fully lived up to the hype -- in exchange for a couple of pitching prospects in November. At the time, general manager Theo Epstein called it a low-risk, high-reward deal.

Low risk, because Hermida will make $3.345 million this season and, after the eventual acquisition of Mike Cameron, looks to be the fourth outfielder to start the season.

High reward, because the 26-year-old lefty-hitting corner outfielder has all the tools to be a perennial All-Star in this league -- he just hasn't been able to cash that in yet.

"We're hoping that he'll be a huge asset to our team," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "On one hand, if he's playing a lot, something else went wrong somewhere. But we'd like him to play enough, because we like what he can do -- swings at strikes, works the count, got some power. Sometimes that clicks in at a different age. We'd like to be that team."

The Marlins weren't.

They made Hermida the No. 11 pick in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, and three years later, he was already in the big leagues. Hermida then showed some promise in '07, when a strong second half allowed him to finish the season with a .296 batting average, 18 homers and 63 RBIs in 123 games.

But over the past couple of years, Hermida's hit just .253 with a .335 on-base percentage, a .400 slugging percentage and 15 home runs per season.

"I think just a change of scenery is sometimes a good thing, and I think that's going to help him," said journeyman right-hander Joe Nelson, who played with Hermida in Miami in 2008 and was signed to a Minor League contract this offseason. "There's no preconceived notions. There's not the No. 1 prospect like he was coming up. Now, he's just an established outfielder in the big leagues.

"I think Herm is going to do just fine."

Hermida wants to show the world he can be a very productive player in the big leagues. But a sufficient number of at-bats are required to send that kind of message.

Still, though, Hermida continually talks about how happy he is to be a member of the Red Sox. And he's not concerned about being labeled as a reserve player for the rest of his career.

"I think being a reserve player in Boston is a little bit different than being a reserve player on any other team," Hermida said. "You look at the 25 guys that are going in that dugout, and you have some names in there.

"I don't think anybody strives to not be an everyday player. I think that's everyone's goal. ... As far as I'm concerned, you're definitely working to prepare yourself like that. If that's not the case, then you're ready when you're called upon."

Hermida, who has an above-average arm and has the type of gap-to-gap power that may be tailor-made for Fenway Park, finished last season with a .259 batting average and 13 home runs in 129 games. After some adjustments, he finally started to get going in August -- a month when he batted .312 -- but a rib injury limited him to just three games the rest of the way.

In the offseason, Hermida said he got "a lot of work done" on those ribs -- though it wasn't surgery, just "maintenance stuff to make sure it didn't happen again" -- and added that he's "felt fine ever since."

"It's funny how that happens. You can't get the injury when you're in a slump?" Hermida said. "I was definitely feeling good. You never know what happens, but everything happens for a reason, and I'm here now and happy to be here."

Hermida asserted that he won't be "shell-shocked" when he starts playing games at Fenway, but it's hard to discount the fact he'll be going from a team that consistently ranks among the lowest in the Major Leagues in average attendance to a club that's had 550 consecutive home sellouts.

Even though it's only Spring Training, Hermida is already digging the energy.

"I think it's awesome," Hermida said. "I love it. To walk out there and see the people that care about the organization and this team and the passion that they have, it's phenomenal. It really is, to be able to go out there and have that in Spring Training. It really makes it fun to come to the park every day. It's exciting, and it's just a pleasure to be a part of."

As for how big a part of that he'll actually be? Who knows what will play out during the course of a long season.

But Francona said Hermida is at least handling everything the right way so far.

"He's done a great job early on of accepting and being open to what we're talking about and things like that -- a real good attitude," Francona said. "Because he knows going in that it's going to be a challenge right away. But he's been really good about handling that."

Jackson at top for Tigers in spring games

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Austin Jackson's game has been picked apart, critiqued piece-by-piece and second-guessed for nearly three months since he became a Tiger. Starting Tuesday, the Tigers and their fans can actually judge him by the way he plays.

Of all the Tigers looking forward to Spring Training games -- and honestly, after more than a week of working out on the back fields, all of them are looking forward to it -- Jackson might have the best reason. He has a chance to reinforce some believers, make some new ones and change some minds among those who have prejudged him.

More important to him, he has a chance to put into practice some of what he has already learned in camp.

"You want to get in and start the games," Jackson said, "let them know early that I'm here to help the team however I can. You can practice so much, but until you get out there in game speed, it's totally different. I'm really eager, I think everybody is at this point, to get out there and start the season."

Jackson will be the first Tigers batter to step to the plate this spring when he leads off against Florida Southern College in the bottom of the first inning of their exhibition game Tuesday at 1:05 p.m. ET. He gets the first crack at the leadoff spot that opened up when Detroit traded Curtis Granderson to the Yankees in December.

Jackson came to Detroit in that trade. The Yankees' former center fielder of the future has a good opportunity to become the Tigers' center fielder of the present. Team officials believe he can play center in spacious Comerica Park, and they believe he has a chance to hit.

Starting Tuesday, Jackson can turn potential into reality. In the process, he can hammer home the point that he isn't just the guy staked with the challenge of replacing Granderson. He's his own player, with a chance to be a pretty good one at that.

Manager Jim Leyland isn't promising the leadoff spot to him, or even the starting center-field job, but he makes no secret that he wants Jackson to win it. If he isn't a prototypical leadoff hitter at this stage in his career, he's pretty close, close enough that longtime Major League leadoff man Johnny Damon will be hitting behind Jackson in the second spot in the order.

"I think it would be advantageous for us," Leyland said, "if he can handle that spot."

Jackson has no Major League at-bats to indicate whether he can. He spent a full season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last year, but batted second or third for most of the year. So Spring Training is going to play a big part in his evaluation, and the Tigers' decisions off that.

Jackson has spent much of the last two weeks working out on his own with a program designed to help him with his quickness. The program is designed to get him a better first step in the outfield when he breaks on fly balls. He also has been working with hitting coach Lloyd McClendon on his mechanics at the plate.

The main focus, Jackson said, has been on how he sets up at the plate, getting him in a better position to hit.

"I have a tendency to kind of lean over sometimes," Jackson said. "Once I go to swing, my bat angle is kind of at an angle. When I stand tall, my bat is more flat [swinging] through the zone. It's just things like that, [McClendon] kind of reminding me of the basics sometimes. I tend to get away from that sometimes, and start worrying about something else. And really, it's something at the start that's kind of messed up. I'll be worried about my hand path, but if I'm already set up wrong, my path is going to be off every time."

Jackson has had several days of live batting practice to try out the tweaks, and his latest sessions have been encouraging. Still, live BP doesn't test it nearly the same as actual pitching.

Seeing Florida Southern College pitchers is the start. Though it's an exhibition, the Mocs have been known to give the Tigers a competitive game on several occasions. They're ranked atop the NCAA Division II polls with a 13-1 record entering Monday.

Tuesday's lineup follows Jackson with Johnny Damon, Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera in the cleanup spot, then Carlos Guillen, according to Leyland. Either Don Kelly or Kory Casto will start at third base and bat sixth, followed by Scott Sizemore, Gerald Laird and Adam Everett. Many of Detroit's veteran hitters are expected to bat only once or twice before the reserves enter.

Left-hander Phil Coke is scheduled to start for the Tigers and pitch two innings, followed by two innings each from Eddie Bonine and Enrique Gonzalez. Joel Zumaya, Fu-Te Ni and Cody Satterwhite are all scheduled to pitch an inning.

Once Jackson steps to the plate Wednesday against Blue Jays left-hander Ricky Romero in Dunedin, Fla., at 1:05 p.m. ET, the Major League portion of the Tigers' Spring Training schedule will be under way. And Jackson's learning process will take another step.

It won't just be about making adjustments at the plate. It'll be about adjusting to the leadoff role and understanding what it entails.

In Jackson's case, it entails a balancing act unlike any he has encountered.

"You have to be patient," Jackson said, "but at the same time you have to be aggressive too. You're not up there to necessarily just draw a walk, but you have to patient up there. In the past, I've jumped on a lot of first pitches because I didn't want to let a cookie get away. But at the same time, hitting No. 1, you have to be able to relay messages back to your teammates, let them know the movement, the velocity, things like that."

Philly has become the place to play

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Jayson Werth remembers the questions he heard when he arrived in Philadelphia in December 2006:

Why would you sign with the Phillies?

Aren't you scared of the fans?

Why, man? Why?

"It was Philly this and Philly that," Werth said. "It was more about the city than the team. But here we are four years later, and Philly is the No. 1 place to play. Everybody wants to come here because of the atmosphere, the crowds, the fans, the sellouts. That's not the way it was a short time ago."

A short time ago, players happily pressed the ejection button to leave Philadelphia. But it seems every few weeks, there is a comment from a former Phillies player who seems genuinely saddened or upset to be in a different uniform.

The latest is right-hander Chan Ho Park, who signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Yankees. The Phils offered Park a one-year contract worth slightly more than $3 million, plus a club option for 2011. Park initially balked, but by the time he came around, Philadelphia had signed Danys Baez and Jose Contreras to take his place.

Park said at a news conference Sunday that Philadelphia was his No. 1 choice.

Park followed Cliff Lee, who by all accounts was stunned to be traded to Seattle. Brett Myers wanted to remain in Philadelphia, but Phils general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. wanted to move on. Pat Burrell has missed the Phillies since he signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Rays. Aaron Rowand signed a five-year, $60 million contract with the Giants, but he has not been in the postseason since he left the Phils in 2007.

On the flip side, Roy Halladay left millions on the table to join the Phillies. The right-hander signed a three-year, $60 million extension to leave Toronto, but he would have received much more had he reached the open market.

"I was on the other side of it," Jimmy Rollins said. "I was always playing on this team and guys were like, 'What would it be like to play for the Braves or the Mets?' You'd sit there and watch them and they were smiling and bouncing around, because they knew they were going to the playoffs.

"And you're here, like, 'Do people even care about the Phillies? Are we the laughingstock?' And that's kind of how you felt, because you had basically no foundation to stand on. No foundation of winning. No precedence of this is a good organization to go to, because they're going to do what it takes to win. It just wasn't there."

That has changed.

The Phillies won the National League East in 2007, the World Series in '08 and the NL championship in '09.

They are NL favorites again in 2010.

Of course, what player wouldn't want to be on a winning team? But Rollins and Werth said it is runs deeper than just wins and losses.

"It started with a good group of guys before the winning," Rollins said. "It started with a belief. It doesn't happen overnight. It's been building. But the word is out, and that's a good thing. I always said, 'What would it be like to have a player say I want to go here? Why can't we have that in Philadelphia?' Well, good guys, a belief in winning and then showing it on the field, it's happened."

"Atmosphere in the workplace," Werth said. "You could pick a company, it wouldn't be as much fun or as rewarding as coming to play for the Phillies."

Players then have a fine line to walk. Do they stay for potentially less money to remain in an organization they like? Or do they take the better (and maybe fairer) offer to play elsewhere?

The Phillies made Lee an offer believed to be slightly less than the three-year, $60 million they offered Halladay. Amaro has said that he received strong indications from Lee's representative that Lee would be difficult to sign to an extension, which prompted him to move forward on Halladay and trade Lee to Seattle.

Lee has said they made a counteroffer the day he was traded, but at that point, the Phils had a deal with Halladay in place (or close to it).

"You don't want to leave this situation," Chad Durbin said. "It's kind of an incubator to get better. I think a lot of guys feed off that, especially guys that have been around a little while. They know that if they go to a team that's rebuilding they might get paid, but they're not going to win. This situation is unique. It's a core group that gets along really well and they all want to continue to win. What you hear is not lip service. Definitely not. You hear lip service a lot, but you don't want to leave this place."

Players like Durbin and Werth will be free agents after the season, and they might have tough decisions to make. The Phillies already have at least $130.35 million committed in 2011 to Halladay ($20 million), Ryan Howard ($20 million), Chase Utley ($15 million), Brad Lidge ($11.5 million), Raul Ibanez ($11.5 million), Cole Hamels ($9.5 million), Rollins ($8.5 million), Joe Blanton ($8.5 million), Shane Victorino ($7.5 million), Placido Polanco ($5.25 million), Ryan Madson ($4.5 million), Carlos Ruiz ($2.75 million), Baez ($2.75 million), Ross Gload ($1.6 million) and Brian Schneider ($1.5 million).

It seems a certainty that if Werth has another good season, at least one team would be in better position to offer him more money than the Phils.

"That's a long way away," Werth said. "I haven't really thought about that. But I will tell you that playing for other teams, being in other places, seeing how other places do it, right here is the best place."

CC throws BP to Yanks batters

TAMPA, Fla. -- The crowd at George M. Steinbrenner Field cheered after CC Sabathia's second pitch shattered the bat of non-roster catcher Mike Rivera, producing a weak flare into center field and the echo of dead wood.

You wouldn't compare the intensity level to the last time Sabathia saw a hitter standing at home plate, in Game 4 of the World Series, but the 28 pitches Sabathia threw Sunday have the Yankees ace ready for the Grapefruit League to begin.

"I feel good," Sabathia said. "The bullpens have been going well. I'll be fine. I'm looking forward to it, and today definitely helped to get back going."

The Yankees modified the early spring schedule slightly for Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte after last November's Fall Classic, having them throw three bullpen sessions and one batting practice before making the standard six starts in exhibition games.

Sabathia's mound session on Sunday was pushed back a day by inclement weather, and his work against Rivera, Nick Johnson, Marcus Thames and Randy Winn was largely uncontested. Rivera actually hit the hardest ball off the big lefty, driving one to the wall in center.

"They didn't take many swings," Sabathia said. "But it's good to have that hitter judge your pitches. It doesn't matter whether they swing or not."

Sabathia will make his first Grapefruit League start at 1:05 p.m. ET on Thursday against the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla., matching up against Roy Halladay on MLB.TV. Sabathia said that he didn't expect any added sizzle to the game, joking that he'd be in the dugout "eating seeds and goofing off" while Halladay works.

"He's a great pitcher, but it's Spring Training," Sabathia said. "If I face off [against] him in the season, I'll probably be more concerned, because I'll have to hit."

Also on the mound Sunday, Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes threw their second live batting practice sessions of the spring as they prepare to battle for the Yankees' fifth rotation spot.

Hughes got Alex Rodriguez to swing and miss through one fastball and foul another back, but A-Rod caught up to the -- in his words -- "easy cheese" later in the session, belting two long drives toward the wall. Hughes joked that Rodriguez was "setting me up."

"I don't like the cage thing, especially when A-Rod's taking you deep," Hughes said. "It's not fun. I tried not to look. It sounded good off the bat -- like thunder."

Chamberlain worked against A-Rod, Mark Teixeira, Greg Golson and Austin Romine, and noted that his delivery and fastball command are feeling better.

"It's nice having guys in there and doing some things," Chamberlain said. "When I missed, I came back in and made a good pitch. It's always good to go in and have those hitters. It gives you a better read of what you're doing."

Rodriguez said that the spring competition between Chamberlain and Hughes should benefit the Yankees in 2010.

"They're both great young pitchers," Rodriguez said. "It's a great luxury for us to have. You can throw the balls up in the air and whoever comes down, I think the Yankees are the winners. It's a good problem to have."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that his players are looking forward to their first Grapefruit League action on Wednesday against the Pirates.

"I think everyone's kind of anxious to get going, because they're looking forward to competing," Girardi said. "Let's see some other guys."

Bombers bits: Mariano Rivera and Damaso Marte will throw their first bullpens of the spring on Monday, as will Chan Ho Park. ... Good news for Rays fans, A-Rod and Derek Jeter are both scheduled to make the trip to Port Charlotte, Fla., on March 19. ... Yankees GM Brian Cashman said he is not currently monitoring any other Major League free agents.

Now clad in blue, Vlad eyes rebound

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Reminders of Vladimir Guerrero's previous employer were in full view Sunday morning.

At 7:55 a.m., Guerrero pulled into the Rangers' parking lot at the Surprise Recreation Campus, driving a pristine red Range Rover with California license plates. He appeared a few minutes later sporting a short-sleeved red T-shirt tucked into jeans so faded that they looked like grey baseball pants. His shoes were crimson.

From a distance, it appeared as if a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim was headed toward the Rangers clubhouse and in one way, that's exactly what was taking place.

Part of Guerrero's career will always be associated with the Angels, but for now, the designated hitter is a Ranger. His focus is on his future in Texas and helping his new club return to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. At the age of 35, he's also trying to fit in for the first time in a long time. He played in Montreal for eight seasons before joining the Angels in 2004.

"I spent a lot of time in Anaheim, but here I am in Texas," he said. "I've been here about five or six days and I'm getting to know the guys. Everybody has been really nice to me. I know I'm going to like it here."

Once in the clubhouse, Guerrero changed into his new blue shorts, blue workout shirt and looked more like one of the guys. He chatted up Julio Borbon and Neftali Feliz. Endy Chavez joined the conversation and soon a group of Latin players gravitated to the soft-spoken veteran's corner of the room.

It was only 8:09 a.m. and Guerrero was already making time with his new teammates. He was one of the most popular players in the clubhouse during his six years with the Angels because of the way he treated his teammates. He also made teammates chuckle because he always wore the same blue Superman T-shirt and red shorts before games.

"Vlad is a special person and probably the most unassuming superstar that's ever played the game of baseball," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He loves to play baseball. He's very low maintenance and just wants to come in and play. I'll be very surprised if he was anything but comfortable in any situation that he is in. The Rangers will understand his sense of humor and they will understand the passion he has for this game. I'm sure he will fit in well there."

Several Rangers players were asked to describe Guerrero in one word and the common response was "quiet." Few players had the words to describe Guerrero's impact on the field.

"Wow. He's one of us now," Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz said. "We're taking him in and taking advantage of his experience. He's a big figure in this game so we are happy he is in this clubhouse and not the Angels."

Earlier this year, Guerrero agreed to a one-year contract worth $5.5 million with a mutual option for 2011. He is coming off a disappointing season that saw him hit a career-low .295 with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs in 383 at-bats. His .334 on-base percentage and .460 slugging percentage were also his lowest in 13 full seasons in the Majors.

His goal for 2010 is a simple one.

"My main goal is to stay healthy," he said. "Last year was a down year for me and I know that. I had problems with my knee and my shoulder but thank God I'm healthy again. We'll see what happens this year in Texas."

Guerrero will be the team's DH, but he said he also wants to the play the outfield when he can. Last year, he made just two starts in the field and was used primarily as a designated hitter after undergoing offseason knee surgery. He went on the disabled list for a torn chest muscle from April 18-May 25 and again for a strained left knee from July 10-Aug. 4.

Some wonder if Guerrero's best days are behind him. Others think his career is on the decline because it appears that his bat speed has slowed down.

"With the injuries that he had in the knees and in the shoulders, your bat would slow down, too," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He's healthy right now and I don't see anything wrong with his bat speed. I think because of the age bracket he was in and that happens when people begin to assume. I think when you get to that point, it's all about the individual and how you feel about yourself. He says he feels good and that's good enough for me."

Guerrero has been good against Texas. He has a .396 career average against the Rangers, the highest of any opponent with at least 150 at-bats against them, and his .394 batting average and .705 slugging percentage at the Ballpark in Arlington are the highest by any player with at least 50 games played there.

"He's very professional and he goes about his business," Washington said. "He's very influential. You always know that he is on the field. He may not have his mouth open talking but you know he is on the field. All you have to do is listen when he's swinging that bat."

Guerrero is also a hit off the field. Guerrero's mother, Altagracia Alvino, is famous across the league for her cooking and it was not uncommon for her to feed as many as 20 players after games. Guerrero delivered Tupperware bowls full of food for players that could not make it to his house.

"I've been doing it since I was in Montreal and that's something it makes me happy to do," he said. "We eat and we laugh. Any time I see my old teammates, I'll have food for them. I'm going to do the same thing for my teammates in Texas."

Guerrero should also be happy he won't have to stop wearing his favorite color in 2010. Last year, the Rangers brought back their red uniforms.

"I always liked the color red even before I was in Anaheim. It's a good color," he said. "Maybe I have to get a blue car now, too."

MLB instituting new medical records system

From the moment a player joins any organization in Major League Baseball, his baseball vital signs are well documented. With radar-gun readings, scouting reports and countless game statistics seemingly charting his every move, there's literally a book on every professional player.

For a trainer, the medical book needed on a player hasn't always been as accessible or as thorough, his vital signs sometimes harder to read.

But that is changing in 2010, with Major League Baseball instituting through all 30 organizations a new integrated, Web-based system designed to allow trainers to have more and better medical information at their fingertips.

"In 2020 or even 2015, I think there'll be people looking back saying, 'What's remarkable is you used to do it any other way,'" said Stan Conte, the Dodgers' director of medical services and head trainer.

Conte was among the Major League trainers instrumental in pushing for such a system in order to streamline access to injury and treatment information, both internally and when players move from one organization to another, and ultimately to perform Job One when it comes to athletic trainers' mission: providing the best possible care for players.

"What makes it new and exciting to those of us in the field is the continuity of care," Conte said. "I've always said the medical department is not the baseball department. When a player comes to your team, you're responsible for them and their medical care."

For years, Conte and other members of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) lobbied for a system that would make that job more efficient. After all, waiting 2-3 days for medical records following a trade or having too many hurdles trying to keep tabs on the hundreds of players in their own organizations was so ... Y2K.

In the span of a little more than a year, their wish was granted. Starting this Spring Training, baseball's trainers and doctors have a new tool at their disposal that eventually will provide an encyclopedia of knowledge on every professional player. It's much like one being used in the National Hockey League the last three seasons, and like the NHL one designed by SuttonMed Systems, but customized to fit baseball's specific injury dynamic.

With discussions beginning in 2007 and the project starting in earnest following what Conte described as a turning point at the 2008 Winter Meetings, Major League Baseball's labor relations department made the system a high priority.

"It obviously doesn't appear out of nowhere. It's something that's been discussed for a number of years, and any project of this magnitude takes time," said Dan Halem, senior vice president for labor relations for Major League Baseball. "But we got there."

Even Conte was pleasantly surprised when the system went online for all 30 clubs as of Jan. 4. "When they first said it'd be ready for 2010, I said there's just no way," he said.

The system, which Halem said does not change any rights of players in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, is still in the early stages of getting up and running, with previous records being digitized and training staffs documenting Spring Training treatment in the system in real time. Conte and Halem say there is a lot of growing into it to be done, and no doubt a lot of adjustments to be made.

"Right now, we're focused on getting the system rolled out to 30 clubs," Halem said. "It's a very large undertaking. This year is almost a test year, and it's going to need to be upgraded based on feedback. But every player on every club at every level down to Rookie ball will have their records in this new system."

It's a step forward, all would agree. Going from a number of different approaches with different sets of records and a lot of manual file-keeping to a fully digitized and standardized, eminently secure and state-of-the-art system that's being put into effect industry-wide in the span of about a year? That's significant progress.

As Halem suggests, it didn't happen in a vacuum -- or without a lot of work. MLB director of labor relations Chris Marinak made the project his mission, spearheading the efforts of customizing it to meet the specific needs of baseball, and ensuring it will be the benefit sought for 30 teams.

"The goal was to implement the best medical electronic system being used in professional sports, and we should be able to get there," Marinak said.

In some respects, the process of getting the system running was a logical exercise -- baseball players' injuries are often related to the elbow or shoulder, as opposed to the many knee injuries or concussions one might see in the NHL or the National Football League, which also has a database system. So the system is set up with categories that make sense for baseball.

But there of course have been and will be variables involved.

"It's very complicated," said Marinak, who said it took about six months of "architecting it out" to get the system to the point where training staffs could move into their record-keeping houses this year. "There's no one generally acceptable way for providing treatment for certain injuries, so there was a lot of discussion about how to approach that sort of issue and make the system operate in such a way that medical staffs can best track and record injuries and treatments."

The system, which also will be used for Major League umpires, is secure with tracking of access, which is limited to specific personnel within an organization. With it, Conte can remain totally apprised of a Double-A second baseman's injury progress, and a general manager can track reports from a pitcher's Minor League rehab assignment in real time. Where there used to be stacks and cabinets of files, there will be digital access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, X-rays, reports and any other records. And, unlike in the past, there will be standardization, which will aid in team medical staffs knowing the history of a player arriving via trade or Minor League or Major League free agency.

"One of the things that's going to happen with this system is that everybody's going to be speaking the same language," Conte said.

Security is of obvious importance, and obvious priority. While, for instance, Dr. Lewis Yocum or Dr. James Andrews, noted surgeons who perform procedures on players from many teams, might have limited access to records to help them treat players, access is extremely limited in general. No, the Red Sox can't check out the Yankees' medical records, or vice versa. And, no, fantasy baseball owners can't get a leg up on their players' latest medical reports.

Like any one being treated medically would expect, this information is protected by federal HIPAA privacy guidelines and expected to be in even better hands now.

"The information here is more secure than it's ever been," Conte said.

Halem said the future could include some element of predictability, based on years of injuries and treatments being documented. While injury predictability using sabermetric algorithms and other research has been one of Conte's own projects in recent years, that's not what piques his interest here.

As a trainer, Conte is excited about the system for one reason.

"This is going to make things a lot easier in terms of taking care of the medical needs of players," he said.

Peavy pitches for reunion with Gonzalez

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- When Jake Peavy hangs up the baseball glove and officially puts worries over fastball command in the rearview window, the right-hander might want to venture into the world of college coaching.

Peavy already seems to have the recruiting part of that job down pat.

In a CBS Sportsline report, Peavy stated that he wanted White Sox general manager Ken Williams to go after San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez. On Sunday afternoon, Peavy not only confirmed that piece of information but expounded on his role to try to somehow get the All-Star first baseman to move to the Midwest.

"Kenny asked me at one point in time, 'What kind of guy is this guy?' I went into full recruiting mode," said a smiling Peavy, who clearly is as honest as he is talented. "I said, 'Listen, if you put this guy in the mix on this team, a left-handed bat in the middle of the lineup, a guy that could spell Paulie [Konerko] at first and is a Gold Glover ...

"There's not much bad about the guy. I said, 'Kenny, absolutely. You put this guy on your club, and he's a great person as well.'"

Early on in this past offseason, unfounded rumors of a three-way trade involving the Padres, White Sox and the Angels sent the groundswell of "Gonzalez to the South Side" into a fever pitch. And before that same fever breaks out again, remember a few things about this particular situation.

Gonzalez, who had a banner year in Geneva, Ill., for the Kane County Cougars in 2001, is not a free agent. The San Diego native has one year left on a four-year deal, set to earn $4.75 million, making Gonzalez one of the game's top bargains. The Padres hold a $5.5 million club option on Gonzalez for 2011.

If or when the Padres decide to move their current franchise cornerstone, all the recruitment in the world from Peavy might not be enough to send him to Chicago. It's a safe bet, though, that if word starts to creep out about Gonzalez's availability, Williams will be ready to make his move.

A true power bat from the left side seems to be the glaring vacancy in this White Sox team assembled for 2010, so Gonzalez would be an absolutely perfect fit. It goes without saying that Williams will make a call or 10 for any big-name talent who can move his team closer to another World Series title.

The words from Peavy simply are support for a friend, who is in a less-than-ideal situation in San Diego, to which Peavy can relate.

"Adrian wants to win, I can tell you that," Peavy said. "If it means leaving San Diego, he won't think twice about doing that. I can promise you that. I love San Diego and I don't have a bad thing to say.

"But it gets frustrating. The guy hits .280, and he's frustrated for weeks at a time. He says, 'Peav, I got to swing the bat.' You look at some of the stretches where he had walks in multiple games and set some kind of record for most consecutive walks in a game or most two walks.

"You look at that stretch and our team record wasn't good because he wasn't getting to swing the bat. He sees that. I do feel for a player who gets in a situation where it's not best for him. But Adrian loves San Diego.

"He was born and raised there," Peavy said. "But he's understanding how, as time goes on, he's going to have to come to the point where he has to play for someone else."

At that point, Peavy paused briefly, followed by a broad smile.

"He'd look awfully good in black," said Peavy.

Any trade involving a player who has at least 30 home runs and 99 RBIs in each of his last three seasons probably will require a fairly significant haul of young talent in return. The Sportsline article quoted a White Sox source in stating that Williams would give anything to get Gonzalez, "maybe even Gordon Beckham."

That move seems highly unlikely, especially if Gonzalez was nothing more than a one- or two-year presence in Chicago. Beckham's ultimate upside has been projected along the lines of Texas' Michael Young, and five years of 200 hits, 40 doubles, 90-100 RBIs and an average near or over .300 would be about equal to Gonzalez's contributions.

Just about any other top prospect would seem to be in the trade mix. For now, though, Gonzalez remains with the Padres, and Peavy's recruitment serves as nothing more than a passing comment or two to Williams this past winter.

Make that a most persuasive passing thought.

"It wasn't anything significant," said Peavy of his Gonzalez talk with the boss. "He just asked me about the player. Obviously, I said we need to get this guy, simply because this guy can blink his eyes and hit 40 home runs in our park.

"This guy is as good a player as there is in the big leagues. I know a lot of people don't get to see that because he plays in San Diego. You put [Albert] Pujols and maybe a few guys above him, but he hits 40 home runs where he doesn't get much protection in a huge ballpark in a division where pitching is prominent.

"Who knows what will happen?" Peavy said. "It's a tough situation because if they came to Adrian with what was fair, the guy is living in his hometown, playing for his childhood team. It's hard to understand why an organization, with a brand new park in downtown, can't figure out a way how to hold down a superstar that's one of their own.

"They let guys like Trevor Hoffman walk and guys like me who want to stay there and establish themselves as a Padre. I don't know. I hope he gets what he wants out of the deal."

Hardy's transition eased with help of Mauer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- J.J. Hardy's initial reaction when he was traded to the Twins in early November was to think of which players he knew on Minnesota's roster.

The first one that came to mind was pretty easy for Hardy, considering that he and Twins catcher Joe Mauer have been good friends since they were around 17 years old.

The two players first met in Hermosillo, Mexico, in 2000 while playing as teammates on the under-18 Pan-American Games squad. Both of them were finishing up their junior years of high school and found themselves hitting it off right away.

Mauer went on to be drafted No. 1 overall by the Twins in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft while Hardy was a second-round pick of the Brewers that same year. But before that happened, the two would play on many of the same teams in international competition over the next year. They were even roommates back in 2000 when the U.S. Junior National team took the silver medal in the IBAF Junior World Championship in Edmonton, Canada.

"We have the same type of personality so I guess we hung out a little bit more than some of the other guys," Hardy said. "We became pretty good friends. And then playing against each other for the last five years, we've always made a point to see each other before the game or during [batting practice]. We've stayed in touch that way."

The two have reconnected even more since Hardy joined the Twins. Mauer traveled to Arizona in November, shortly after the trade was made, to play in Harmon Killebrew's annual charity golf outing. He used the trip as a chance to catch up with Hardy, who makes his home in the Phoenix area. The two played a couple rounds of golf along with another teammate, Nick Punto, who also winters in Arizona.

Mauer also tried to help introduce Hardy to many of his new teammates after the shortstop arrived in Fort Myers to begin working out earlier this month. The catcher then invited Hardy come to Minnesota for a week before Spring Training officially started, using it as an opportunity to show the shortstop around the Twin Cities, while also taking him ice fishing at his cabin.

"He showed me some areas up there, mostly St. Paul where he grew up," Hardy said. "He's really helped me a lot adjusting here."

Thanks to Hardy's friendship with Mauer, his transition to the Twins has been smooth. But what remains to be seen is whether he can use this new start to rebound from what was a tough 2009 season.

Hardy was an All-Star with the Brewers in 2007 and he combined for 50 home runs and 154 RBIs between the '07 and '08 seasons. His career seemed to be taking off, when Hardy suffered a setback last season. The shortstop batted just .229 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs while also earning a 20-day demotion to the Minors in August.

"I feel like I had some time this offseason to sit back and think about what happened and I was able to make some adjustments," Hardy said. "I took a few things from last year, but for the most part I wanted to forget about it and act like it never happened. I just wanted to go back to the way I was in the years past."

Notorious for his slow starts to the season, Hardy said that there were two things he believes played a factor in his struggles in 2009. One was his mental approach to the season. As he did in '08, Hardy got off to a poor start, batting .156 in April, but this time he didn't allow himself to shake it off. He batted .228 in June and July, and then .190 in August before he was demoted.

"I think I was really tough on myself," Hardy said. "I didn't allow myself to have fun. I got off to a really, really bad start, and I pressed a lot more. It didn't work."

Hardy said he started putting pressure on himself to put together perfect days at the plate, where even a two-hit day was not enough. He said some of that changed during his Minor League stint in August, which left him a couple service days shy of being a free agent after this season. By going down to Triple-A Nashville, Hardy was able to shake some of the pressure he was placing upon himself.

"I was pressing so much, I wasn't having fun. The game was going 100 miles an hour for me," Hardy said. "When I got sent down, those 20 days I actually had fun with some of those guys in Triple-A. It was a good time. Obviously it wasn't where I wanted to be, but being able to relax and play the game again was fun."

After watching lots of video this offseason, Hardy also determined that he needed to make a slight mechanical alteration to his swing.

"I was pushing off my backside a lot and kind of jumping toward the pitcher," Hardy said. "I worked on that this offseason and I feel a lot better."

The winter has helped Hardy to put behind him what he calls a "fluke" year. He's been able to figure out some of the things that might have plagued him last year. He also has the ease of knowing he'll no longer be plagued by the trade rumors that have followed him in Milwaukee over the past two years.

"I'm just excited about this situation I'm in now," Hardy said. "Coming to a great team, having the new start, it's just going to be great."

Having Mauer as one of his best friends on the team certainly doesn't hurt Hardy either. But Mauer doesn't feel like Hardy needs his help in the slightest, and he's the first to express confidence that Hardy won't suffer a repeat of last season.

"I don't want to put a lot of expectations on him or anything like that, but he's a good ballplayer," Mauer said. "He's proven that back when we were 17, and he proved it back in the big leagues a couple of years ago. I think it's just having him get his offense back. I think a change of scenery is good for guys and I think he'll thrive here."

Fantasy draft tiers: Catchers

Most drafts follow a similar ebb and flow. After the true blue-chippers are off the board, there's always one owner who breaks the ice and takes a catcher.

What usually ensues is a run on backstops that can sometimes go overboard, as some owner ends up forcing the issue by overpaying for a B-rated guy.

Because there is no position with fewer top-notch performers than catcher, owners will want to know and pay particular attention to where the talent drops off.

Tier 1: Joe Mauer

Mauer is the undisputed No. 1 catcher and accordingly will be the first off the board in every draft. The real question is where he should be taken overall. After making a serious run at .400 last year, he may be going into 2010 slightly overvalued. As talented as he is, it's tough to commit anything higher than a mid-first-round pick to a backstop who's never had more than 536 at-bats in a season.

Tier 2: Victor Martinez, Brian McCann, Matt Wieters

Mauer will be gone quickly in every draft, which will leave this trio as the remaining cream of the crop. Of the three, Wieters offers the most upside, while V-Mart is the safest play. No matter what, owners can expect to see all three go in near succession, as there is a significant talent dropoff after them at the position.

Tier 3: Miguel Montero, Kurt Suzuki

Owners who miss out on the run of Tier 1 and 2 catchers should not force the issue. Suzuki and Montero are solid options, but it isn't worth breaking the bank for them simply because the premier guys have been scooped up.

Tier 4: Geovany Soto, Mike Napoli, Jorge Posada, Russell Martin, Ryan Doumit, Bengie Molina, Yadier Molina

Martin's stock has dropped significantly after a forgetful '09 campaign and questions remain as to whether he can bounce back to stardom. Soto burned a lot of owners who spent big bucks on him last season, as did Doumit, albeit to a lesser degree. Those who are optimistic enough to believe Soto merely fell victim to the sophomore slump could be rewarded, but none of these guys are worth more than a mid-round selection.

Tier 5: Chris Iannetta, Jeff Clement, A.J. Pierzynski, Carlos Ruiz

Owners in standard mixed leagues who abstain from drafting a catcher for the bulk of their drafts will likely have their choice from this group of guys, all of whom have some pop. Of the five, Pierzynski has been the steadiest performer over the last few years, though he's getting up there in age. Ruiz could be in store for a breakout campaign after a superb '09 postseason in which he batted .341 with six extra-base hits and nine RBIs.

Tier 6: Jesus Flores, Buster Posey, Kelly Shoppach, Dioner Navarro, J.R. Towles, John Baker, Ramon Hernandez, Miguel Olivo

Outside of deeper mixed leagues, these catchers figure to begin the season on the waiver wire.

Kershaw, Koufax chat -- courtesy of Torre

PHOENIX -- Joe Torre hasn't named Clayton Kershaw his Opening Day starter yet, but the manager gave another indication that the 21-year-old left-hander can be the next Sandy Koufax when he arranged an hour session for Kershaw with the original Sandy Koufax.

The tutorial occurred on a private jet bringing Torre's party back to Phoenix on Saturday night after more than $700,000 was raised for Torre's Safe at Home charity event during a rare conversation between Torre and Koufax at the Nokia Theater, emceed by Los Angeles Times columnist T.J. Simers.

Torre also took coaches Rick Honeycutt and Don Mattingly to the event, but it was the hour that Kershaw spent talking to Koufax on the plane that could benefit the Dodgers in the standings.

"The guys talked the whole way back about pitching and competing," said Torre. "It was good to sit and watch and listen to it."

Torre said Koufax is in Arizona to visit family, but he's expected to soon appear at Camelback Ranch-Glendale, as he did last year, and no doubt will watch Kershaw at work, as he did two years ago at Dodgertown.

"It was pretty awesome," said Kershaw. "We talked for an hour and it was unbelievable. I learned more on one plane trip than I have in a long time. Honeycutt is great with the mechanics, but at the same time, this is one of the best ever. It's pretty cool.

"He just talked baseball, talked pitching. He gave me a lot of good insight. He watched my bullpen [session] a couple years ago, but this was the first time I really talked to him. Pretty awesome."

Koufax, 74, has that effect, yet it isn't unusual for young players to also praise Koufax's ability to connect with them, which is not always the case with great players. Koufax spent a decade as a Minor League instructor in the Dodgers organization.

"The best way to describe it, you feel really comfortable with him," said Kershaw. "Some Hall of Famers, I won't say you can't approach them, but you are in awe. That's how I was at first. Still, he's really easy to talk to, like another coach. It was awesome last night."

Torre said the night was a big success for his charity and drew a star-studded crowd that included comic Billy Crystal, who did a 15-minute warmup act for VIP donors at the backstage dinner. Torre said Hollywood was represented by Ron Howard and Penny Marshall along with Crystal; former Dodgers Lou Johnson, Tommy Davis, Chuck Essegian and Al Ferrara were there, and former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley bought a table.

Webb's velocity better in latest session

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Brandon Webb feels like he is being repetitive with his statements.

And in this case, that's a good thing.

Webb threw 43 pitches in his fourth bullpen session of the spring on Sunday, once again mixing in some changeups and improving his mechanics.

"I think the velocity was better this time than it was last," Webb said. "I keep repeating myself, but I think it gets better every time."

That's music to the ears of the D-backs, who are counting on a healthy Webb to compete in the National League West. Last season, Webb made just one start due to shoulder issues that required surgery in August.

Conditions on Sunday were less than ideal. Rain and cold temperatures forced the D-backs to take batting practice inside and for Webb to throw his session in the team's covered batting cages at its Minor League complex.

There was not enough space in the cages for Webb to play long toss, which most pitchers do to warm up for a side session.

"Today was brutal," Webb said. "It was probably the worst day you could possibly throw. It was 42 or 44 degrees, it was wet, I didn't get to long toss. Under those circumstances, it was pretty good, productive."

Barring any setbacks, the plan is for Webb to throw one more bullpen session on Wednesday and then face hitters in a batting-practice setting once or twice. The team would like to get him into a Cactus League game around mid-March.

D-backs manager A.J. Hinch announced prior to the beginning of camp that Webb's first start of the regular season would be the third game of the opening series against the Padres at Chase Field.

"Starting in the middle of March would get me on time to do the third game of the season," Webb said. "As long as I can get five innings in my last start of Spring Training, I should be able to take that at least six innings in my first start, which is normally what we do. Not many pitchers go [complete game] out of the gate."

Mechanics are still an issue for Webb, who has struggled to get his arm up in the throwing slot quick enough from the windup. When he throws from the stretch, he is able to get the arm where he needs it to be.

On Sunday, Webb threw half of his pitches from the stretch and may have had a breakthrough with the mechanics.

"I feel like I sit down on my back leg for my load in the stretch and I don't do that in the windup," Webb said. "So in the last eight [throws], I went back from the stretch to the windup again and tried to feel like I was sitting down on my back leg, it was just a little bit, but I think there's something to that."

Facing hitters for the first time might also help the problem.

"Everybody keeps saying when you get hitters in there, you're going to lock yourself in, it will come," Webb said. "I'm anxious to do that."