Rocket visits Yanks; no decision yet  —  Pettitte, Jeter think Clemens will pitch again, when he's ready  —  TAMPA, Fla. — As Andy Pettitte warmed up on the mound before Wednesday night's game against the Reds, Roger Clemens settled into a seat next to the Yankees dugout, just behind Joe Torre.

A's dealt a blow  —  Kotsay to have back surgery, likely out until June  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Athletics center fielder Mark Kotsay could be sidelined up to three months following arthroscopic surgery on his back Thursday.  —  The procedure, to be performed in Los Angeles …

Buehrle's contract open for discussion  —  Parties express similar sentiments; free agency looms  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — The doors remain wide open on both sides in regard to negotiations for a multi-year contract between the White Sox and Mark Buehrle.  —  But by reading between the lines …

Martinez lightly throws  —  Mets ace tosses ball for first time since surgery in Oct.  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Pedro Martinez threw a baseball Wednesday for the first time since rotator cuff surgery last October.  —  The New York Mets ace lightly tossed a ball for about 10 minutes …

Lou and Ted ... enough said  —  In this corner, wearing a baby bear patch on his chest and a glove on his right hand, Ted ''The Toronto Mauler'' Lilly. ...  In the other corner, wearing three World Series rings and a 5 o'clock shadow, Sweet Looooouuuuu Piniella.  —  Let's get ready to — well, you get the idea.

Rocker denies he had prescription for HGH  —  Former major league relief pitcher John Rocker told ESPN Radio on Wednesday that he was directed by doctors to take over-the-counter supplements that would raise his human growth hormone levels — and that he never purchased human growth hormone with a prescription.

Which 'pen is the cream of the crop?  —  American League relief squads take four of the top five spots  —  A good bullpen doesn't guarantee a postseason berth, but just try to get to the playoffs without one.  Last season five of the eight playoff teams had bullpens that finished …

Throwing Out the First Pitch  —  I've done it.  I've caved and am actually taking the blog plunge.  There's no single reason for it, but over the life of this space we'll touch on a few.  —  I've been called everything from outspoken to blowhard to much, much worse.

Kapler is managing nicely  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Meanwhile, back at the ranch . . .  An entire other baseball universe exists.  While Daisuke Matsuzaka and the rest of the varsity were taking on the Florida Marlins across the state in Jupiter, the hopefuls and the wannabes …

Notes: Crawford treating sore wrist  —  Speedy left fielder suffering from minor tendinitis in left hand  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Carl Crawford can be seen before workouts this spring wearing a clear plastic bag wrapped on his left hand that extends midway up his forearm.

Notes: Fielder ready to return to lineup  —  First baseman says he'll be available to play Thursday  —  PHOENIX — So much for Prince Fielder's return to action.  —  The Brewers first baseman has been sidelined by a strained right quadriceps and was expected to return to the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.

Sore shoulder might mean O's Benson bound for surgery  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Kris Benson is experiencing increased soreness in his right shoulder, a development that means the Baltimore Orioles pitcher may need surgery on his torn rotator cuff.

Experiment: Bonds bats in third spot  —  (03-07) 04:00 PST Scottsdale , Ariz. — Barry Bonds got his first two hits of the spring Tuesday, batting four times even though he still has bronchitis and seemed one cough away from expectorating a lung every time he ran.