Norton on DL, will undergo knee surgery  —  Rays IF/OF expected to miss four to six weeks after procedure  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Greg Norton was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday after it was discovered he needs to have surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

To Tighten Drug Tests, Baseball Teams Secretly Monitor Players  —  When the Yankees' pitchers and catchers arrived for spring training in mid-February, they saw signs taped up in the clubhouse bathroom reminding them that they would be tested for drugs.  They knew the drill …

Pirates Notebook: Eldred completes big leap  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Big Country made the big team.  —  Despite missing most of last season to injury, despite having to impress at a position he previously had played in college …

Towers named Jays' No. 5 starter  —  Zambrano to pitch out of bullpen; Thomson placed on DL  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Blue Jays announced Saturday that Josh Towers will be the No. 5 starter, with Victor Zambrano moving to the bullpen.  —  "I'm definitely happy," said Towers …

Notes: Feliciano feeling confident  —  Delgado seeking improvement; Zimmer remembers first camp  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pedro Feliciano smiled when an unfamiliar reporter complimented the left-hander on his success out of the Mets bullpen this spring.  —  "I worked hard in the offseason …

Notes: Hammock back in the bigs  —  Catcher named to Opening Day roster after fighting injury  —  PHOENIX — At the end of Spring Training, there is always a feel-good story or two as teams set their final rosters.  —  This is one of them.  —  Manager Bob Melvin informed catcher Robby Hammock …

Marquis, Soriano shine in spring finale  —  Righty allows one run in four frames; slugger scores lone run  —  MARINERS 2, CUBS 1  —  Mariners at the plate: Gookie Dawkins went 2-for-3 with a sixth-inning RBI double that drove in Adam Jones and put the Mariners ahead.

A's Loaiza could start season on disabled list  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Oakland right-hander Esteban Loaiza was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday for the second time in three days and might begin the season on the disabled list with tightness in his right shoulder blade.

For Tavarez, Starting Job Comes As Major Relief  —  PHILADELPHIA — All along this spring, Jonathan Papelbon's heart was in closing, not starting, and last week he got his wish.  —  All along this spring, Julian Tavarez said his heart was in starting, not closing.  Thanks to Papelbon, Tavarez got his wish, too.

Notes: Rehabbing pitchers to stay warm  —  Colon, Weaver to pitch at Class A Rancho Cucamonga  —  ANAHEIM — Keeping warm takes on new meaning this week for rehabbing Angels pitchers Bartolo Colon and Jared Weaver.  —  Colon, recovering from a torn right rotator cuff, and Weaver …

Grit goes long way  —  Erstad's old-school work ethic impresses new Sox teammates  —  ATLANTA — With Darin Erstad, what you see is literally what you get: Toughened scruffy-growth-of-beard exterior, jaw-jutting determined look, forward-slant walk and all-out run.

Friendly Confines getting nasty  —  Demanding Cubs fans become more vocal, impatient each year  —  LAS VEGAS — Juan Pierre spent only one season in Chicago, but it was long enough to learn that modern-day Cubs fans aren't nearly as docile as their reputation suggests.

Notes: Brewers' double-vision in left  —  Veterans Mench and Jenkins will platoon in left field  —  FRISCO, Texas — As planned since the start of Spring Training, the Brewers will enter the regular season by platooning Kevin Mench and Geoff Jenkins in left field.

No Reason to Use a Designated Hitter Who Doesn't Hit  —  "Moneyball" was supposed to have taught baseball a lesson.  —  A 2003 best seller by Michael Lewis, the book recounted how Billy Beane, the general manager of the low-budget Oakland Athletics, won a string of division titles by assembling …

Logan Ready for Opener  —  Center Fielder Is Running Well Despite Recent Groin Strain  —  A camp that began six weeks ago in an overcrowded clubhouse in Viera, Fla., with a roster of 72 players that included a staggering 38 pitchers, lurched toward its close Friday along the banks of the Elizabeth River …