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 …

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.

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 …

Benson experiences setback in rehab effort  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — 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.  —  Working on the advice of two doctors …

Hughes represents Yankees' new direction … WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — It isn't often in life that we can see the future.  But the New York Yankees can.  —  And its name is Phil (Don't Call Me Philip) Hughes.  —  But not just because Baseball America ranked this 20-year-old buzz-master …

A breakthrough for Gagné  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Rangers manager Ron Washington has a plan for closer Eric Gagné: he'll allow the former Dodger to pitch against only National League teams in the spring, in an effort to make sure no American League teams see Gagné's stuff.

Matsuzaka a major attraction  —  Fans, media swarm to see first outing vs. big leaguers  —  JUPITER, Fla. — We've had the first Daisuke Matsuzaka press conference, the first Dice-K bullpen session, the first live batting practice, and the first time he faced college hitters in a spring training game.

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 …

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.

Former Astros pitch in  —  TUCSON - The Rockies have high expectations for the three former Astros they acquired for Jason Jennings in the offseason.  —  But there's another former Astros player trying to make an impact, too.  —  Left-handed reliever Mike Gallo, signed to a minor league contract …

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.

A Classic argument  —  I miss the World Baseball Classic.  —  On this day last year, I stepped out of my car at 10 a.m. and into a circus.  Outside of Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, thousands of people waved the flags of Venezuela and the Dominican Republic …

Notes: Doubters lining up  —  Preseason predictions have White Sox back in the pack  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Early preseason prognostications for the 2007 season have not been kind to the White Sox.  Actually, they have been downright mediocre, with a number of the picks placing the South Siders third …

Feller unhurt in accident  —  WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) -Bob Feller, at 88 the second-oldest living member of baseball's Hall of Fame, was unhurt in a minor car accident at the Cleveland Indians' spring training complex Tuesday.  —  Dr. Nilesh Shah, physician for the Indians' Class …

Gyroball makes 'debut': Matsuzaka dazzles Marlins hitters  —  JUPITER, Fla. - The gyroball exists and Daisuke Matsuzaka throws it, at least that's what a couple of major league hitters were left thinking yesterday.  —  Red Sox forum:  —  In Matsuzaka's Red Sox [team stats] …

Pirates Notebook: Eldred would welcome outfield try  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Brad Eldred in the outfield?  —  Sounds fine by him.  —  "Yeah, I can play there," he replied yesterday after hitting his fourth home run in as many games played …