CARL TAKES A SUNDAY DRIVE  —  PAVANO PASSES TEST; TRADE RUMORS FLY  —  Johnny Damon sliced through the garbage that surrounds Carl Pavano's re-entry into the Yankees' universe.  Tagged the "American Idle" for missing all of last year and the second half of the previous season, Pavano became a stranger in his own clubhouse.

Curt's Spring Goal: New Pitch  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — No one is about to mistake him for Pedro Martinez, but there was definitely a change in Curt Schilling on Sunday.  —  About nine of them.  —  A year ago, it was throwing inside.  This year, Schilling has made the changeup his pet project in spring training.

Rockies' Hurdle: The quiet man  —  This spring, Colorado's manager has turned down the volume  —  Tucson - Manager Clint Hurdle last week officially began the last year of what could be his last contract managing the Rockies.  Yet there exists no sense of urgency, only a startling transformation he promised in January.

Zimmerman Meeting Is 'Positive'  —  Ryan Zimmerman and his agent met with top officials from the Washington Nationals on Sunday morning, a meeting that Zimmerman described as "positive" but which didn't result in a contract for the team's star third baseman.  —  "We weren't going to decide on anything in one day," Zimmerman said.

Olsen hopes 'wall drill' snaps skid  —  JUPITER — Scott Olsen says he's a better pitcher with his back against the wall.  So, that's exactly the position in which the Marlins left-hander plans to put himself in hopes of reversing his 0-2 start.  —  After allowing three walks and three runs …

Angels' Moreno unhappy with uncertainty on Matthews  —  Owner says he expects a resolution by opening day regarding the center fielder's alleged link to human growth hormone shipment.  —  TEMPE, ARIZ. — Angels owner Arte Moreno said Sunday he would not let the uncertain situation surrounding …

Back in control … FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // The sound of a bullpen phone ringing.  That's all it took for pitcher Rob Bell's heart to pound, his palms to sweat, his body to shake.  —  One call from his team's dugout, and his baseball life felt as if it were ripping apart at the seams.

Does anything in spring translate to regular season?  —  They're already grumbling in Philadelphia.  The Phillies, after a strong offseason that has elevated them to the status of NL East favorites, have started their exhibition season by losing four of their first five games.

McCarthy could become a real bear  —  SURPRISE, Ariz.—When it comes to trades, Jon Daniels is young and fearless, finally restoring an aggressive attitude to the Rangers' front office after a previous four years of the Barney Fife administration.  —  Being bold does not alone make a good baseball general manager.

Backhand becoming tool of trade  —  Move crucial on double plays  —  Tucson - For Troy Tulowitzki and Kaz Matsui to reach their defensive potential, they must form a backhanded complement.  —  Oddly, both players just recently became comfortable with the backhand.

Sosa takes slammin' step  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — When Sammy Sosa crossed the plate in the second inning Sunday, there were no TV cameras readily available to broadcast his customary home-run salute.  —  But it had been 582 days since the slugger had hit a ball over the fence in big league competition.

Bringin' Some Serious Cheese: Matt Cain  —  THE POWERFUL MECHANICS OF MATT CAIN  —  Let's break him down, shall we?  —  TEMPO  —  You knew I'd start here, right?  Needless to say, I certainly like how Cain goes about it.  Once he gets going, he doesn't stop.  Momentum is your friend.

Cox is hoping Braves' new bullpen saves best for last  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. - That was quite a ripple Bobby Cox caused around the baseball landscape the other day when he offhandedly told a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he would very likely be packing it in as Braves manager in two more years.

Maine impresses as Mets fall to O's  —  Righty tosses two scoreless innings; Humber allows five runs  —  ORIOLES 6, METS 3  —  Mets at the plate: Outfielder Lastings Milledge tripled with one out in the second inning but wound up stranded on third base.  David Newhan singled in the third …