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.

Contrasting Auditions for Spot in Mets' Rotation  —  About 15 feet separated John Maine and Philip Humber in the cramped visitors' clubhouse at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.  They were the last of the candidates for the Mets' starting rotation to make their first appearances of the spring …

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 …

Sweet Lou quickly turning sour  —  MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs started the 1997 season with a National League-record 14 straight losses.  —  Ten years later, manager Lou Piniella is hoping to see his team win a Cactus League game before the end of spring training.

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.