Lester's take  —  Jon Lester, who pitched in game conditions for the first time since August (and for the first time since his cancer battle), talked about today's eight-pitch outing against the Twins:  — "There were some nerves.  I didn't know where the first pitch was going to go, but it was a strike. ...

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.

Pirates benefit from culture shock in '07  —  Strong second half in 2006 changed club for the better  —  The culture changed and the results changed, too.  Now, for the first time in many years, the Pittsburgh Pirates enter spring with the building blocks of success in place.

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).

Life keeps piling on Navarro … ST. PETERSBURG - It would seem Dioner Navarro has been through enough.  —  There was the medically miraculous saga involving wife Sherley's recovery from a 2003 brain aneurysm.  The frightening hit-and-run auto accident he and his family were involved …

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.

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.

Santana sharing secrets with Silva  —  Twins ace is trying to teach teammate to throw changeup  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Johan Santana has been trying to get his Twins teammate and good buddy Carlos Silva to understand something: He can no longer make a living off the sinkerball.

Beane disciples ditch Moneyball ways  —  To paraphrase Woody Allen, it's better to be rich than poor, if only for financial reasons.  —  But what about baseball reasons?  Hadn't Billy Beane blown up the idea of financial supremacy preordaining victory on the diamond?

A steadfast Hamels haunts the weight room  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - We have confirmation.  Cole Hamels is here.  That was him on the mound yesterday at Bright House Networks Field, tossing three shutout innings against the Yankees.  —  Hamels has been difficult to find this spring.

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.

Reds Likely To Start Producing Josh Hamilton Jerseys Any Day Now  —  The Rays still have plenty of their own questions as they enter the first full week of Spring Training games.  However, there was one question lingering out there in the minds of many Rays fans and it involved a player in a different organization all together.

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 …

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 …

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.