Gallardo to miss 4 weeks after knee surgery  —  Phoenix — Right-hander Yovani Gallardo indeed does have torn cartilage in his left knee and will return to Milwaukee tomorrow to have arthroscopic surgery.  —  Gallardo is expected to be sidelined four weeks, virtually guaranteeing he will open the season on the disabled list.

Farnsworth putting woes behind him  —  Reliever anxious to get started after tough '07, offseason  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Kyle Farnsworth did not particularly enjoy spending a summer being booed at Yankee Stadium, but that negativity was a breeze compared to the concerns he faced in January.

Nixon in D-backs' camp to audition for roster spot … TUCSON, Ariz. — Veteran outfielder Trot Nixon, still hoping to latch on with a big-league club as a free agent, auditioned for the Arizona Diamondbacks at the team's spring training complex in Tucson on Sunday.

Carlos' Belt: Mets are best in East  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - The most soft-spoken Met made the biggest noise at camp so far with a pronouncement Saturday that should make him public enemy No. 1 in Philadelphia, leapfrogging Terrell Owens and J.D. Drew.  —  After revealing that he'll likely miss …

Sunday happenings at Tradition Field  —  The day after the Mets' set an unofficial record by attracting 800 fans to the first workout on Saturday, the tidal wave slowed to more like a trickle this morning.  Maybe the Daytona 500 had something to do with it.

Johnson Swings, Lopez Smiles, Zimmerman Arrives  —  Oh, and on top of all that, pitchers and catchers had their first official workout of the spring.  —  Busy day in Viera.  Nick Johnson delighted onlookers, including the manager and GM, with a solid batting-practice session …

Johnson's brief performance impresses Melvin  —  TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Randy Johnson called it an audition.  He nailed it.  —  The 44-year-old left-hander, who six months ago underwent his second back surgery in less than a year, threw off the mound Sunday.

Kendrick target of elaborate prank  —  Second-year rookie hurler ‘traded’ to Japan in practical joke  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Kyle Kendrick really had no chance.  —  The second-year rookie became the victim of an elaborate practical joke pulled off expertly by those in Kendrick's circle of trust, though that ring has been broken.

Pedro takes the mound on Day 2  —  Quick hits from Port St. Lucie on the second day of pitcher-catcher workouts:  —  1. After a one-day delay, Pedro Martinez made his debut off the mound today.  He threw off flat ground for 10 minutes to get loose, then felt so good that he took the hill for 30 or so pitches.

Girardi sets different tone from the old Joe  —  All they know is, he's not Torre, which is why he got the job.  How far that will take him, and the Yankees, remains to be seen.  —  Joe's law A partial list of rules the Yankees have for spring training:  —  1. Be on time.  No excuse for lateness.

These Giants are why Bochy is here  —  (02-17) 04:00 PST Scottsdale, Ariz. — Every doubt you have about the Giants in 2008, every pessimistic thought, every snide (yet accurate) remark about their unworthiness to contend this year is why Bruce Bochy is the manager.

Prior pain free after first workout of spring  —  PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - Mark Prior didn't experience any pain in his surgically repaired right shoulder during his first spring training workout with the San Diego Padres.  —  Manager Bud Black said Sunday that all of his active pitchers were injury free …