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.

AROD: Rodriguez says he's matured in NY  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Fans, for the most part, cheer him at the New York Yankees' spring training complex, but it's not easy being Alex Rodriguez in New York.  —  "It was very easy in Seattle," Rodriguez said of his first of three big-league stops (Seattle, Texas, New York).

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.

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 …

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.

Sox in the desert  —  Three developing issues to follow heading into the week:  —  Front-runner: By allowing just one run in three innings, has Gavin Floyd solidified his grasp on the No. 5 starting-rotation spot?  So far, Charlie Haeger has been the only competition.

Billy Packer, Information Dissemination Specialist  —  Of all the "Sweet Christ, Billy Packer is so full of equine excrement" moments, we have to say, the "Just Going For The Ball!" foul from Gerald Henderson on Tyler Hansbrough at the end of the Duke-UNC game is definitely near the top of the list.

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.

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 …

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.

Upton's throwing woes return and get plenty of company … ST. PETERSBURG - The team-record six errors the Devil Rays made in Sunday's 7-4 loss to Toronto were concerning enough that there will be extra fielding practice this morning.  But most glaring was two were on throws from third by B.J. Upton …

Angels' Moreno unhappy with uncertainty on Matthews  —  Owner says that 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 …

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.

Signature pharmacists plead not guilty  —  ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Six people pleaded not guilty Monday to charges they operated a widespread Internet scheme that illegally sold steroids nationwide to clients that reportedly include professional athletes, celebrities and top bodybuilders.

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.