D-backs acquire Petit from Marlins  —  Arizona ships right-handed reliever Julio, cash to Florida  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — The D-backs acquired prospect Yusmeiro Petit from the Marlins on Monday in exchange for reliever Jorge Julio and cash considerations.  —  Petit made his big-league debut …

Hall may miss season with torn labrum  —  Veteran was to be backup catcher for White Sox  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Toby Hall suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder diving for a ground ball while playing first base in the ninth inning of Sunday's Cactus League game against Texas …

Padres to release Todd Walker, save $3 million  —  The Padres said they will release utility infielder Todd Walker on Tuesday, which will save the club close to $3 million in salary unless it loses a grievance to the players' union.  —  An arbitration panel last month set Walker's salary at $3.95 million …

Campusano to undergo elbow surgery  —  Left-handed reliever will miss the 2007 season  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Tigers left-handed reliever Edward Campusano will undergo Tommy John surgery on his left elbow on Tuesday, thus ending his 2007 season before it began.

Clark adds outfield insurance for Dodgers  —  PHOENIX — The Los Angeles Dodgers, shy on right-handed hitting outfielders, acquired Brady Clark and cash from the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday for reliever Elmer Dessens.  —  The 33-year-old Clark has a .278 career batting average over seven seasons …

Top Ten Baseball Blogs  —  As part of my day job, I do online analysis for sports teams, players, firms, all that good stuff.  One side product of the work is attempting to find out what sports blogs are the most influential.  Taking into account all kinds of different factors …

Velocity helps, but location is important, too … I think Larry Dierker had the best explanation for my fastball.  He compared me to Nolan Ryan because of our big legs and strong wrists.  The wrists allow you to just reach out there and really get a lot of spin on the ball.  I think it's God-given.

Perfectionist Matsuzaka perfect fit in Boston  —  SARASOTA, Fla. - Adam Dunn couldn't wait to face Daisuke Matsuzaka.  —  "I just hope he's the best I've ever seen," the Reds' slugger said before Monday's exhibition game, half-sarcastically.  —  "I want to walk out of there saying …

When Rivera Comes in, It Will Be for Three Outs  —  The most harrowing nightmare for the Yankees is not losing a starting pitcher to a spring injury, which has happened three times in the last eight days.  It is losing Mariano Rivera.  —  There are others who can start.

Mitre excels in audition for No. 5 spot  —  Throws five shutout frames, but gets little help as Marlins fall  —  CARDINALS 3, MARLINS 1  —  Marlins at the plate: Joe Borchard doubled in the second inning.  Dan Uggla, Alfredo Amezaga and Josh Willingham each singled, providing the only four hits off Adam Wainright.

High-speed pursuit … We interrupt major league baseball's fascination with radar guns to point out the following velocity-related tidbit, courtesy of the Bill James Handbook:  —  The fourth-slowest fastball in the American League last year, at 85.8 miles per hour, belonged to Barry Zito of the Oakland Athletics.

Wood headed to disabled list  —  MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs are shutting down Kerry Wood until further notice after he experienced shoulder problems during Sunday's outing against the Angels in which Wood gave up a three-run homer in one inning.  —  Wood will be placed on the disabled list and won't be available for at least a few weeks.

Notes: Good news, bad news  —  Furcal on the mend; Repko faces season-ending surgery  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — The MRI on shortstop Rafael Furcal's sprained ankle must have been clean, because during Sunday's game Furcal played catch with a team trainer near the batting cages …

O's Payton likely to miss Opening Day … FORT MYERS, FLA. // The Orioles have said all spring that their roster logjam at first base and in left field would work itself out, but the last thing they wanted was an injury to make it happen.  —  Jay Payton, whom manager Sam Perlozzo had anointed …

Mariners rising into place  —  More importance put on final week of Cactus League  —  PHOENIX — During a January series of organizational meetings in Peoria, Ariz., the Mariners put together a roadmap for the spring.  —  The decision was to go young early in Cactus League games, and not to worry about the record.