SPRING TRAINING: Story of Pavano: ‘Damned Yankee!’  —  I have finally stumbled upon the one person in the Yankees' clubhouse who has less reason to be there than I do.  —  He dresses like the other players, breathes the same air, takes up valuable locker space and twice a month cashes …

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.

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 …

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 …

Rodriguez knows this likely is his last season with Angels  —  Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez is all smiles as he stretches before a spring training workout Sunday in Tempe, Ariz.  —  With an arbiration hearing on Thursday and no long-term deal being negotiated, the successful closer doesn't want business to affect his performance.

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'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.

Jeremy Brown and Moneyball  —  More than a year ago, an A's official sent me an email asking me, half jokingly, to stop mentioning Moneyball.  It was an understandable request.  Baseball changes quickly, and the lessons from Moneyball, or maybe more accurately, the lessons that the readers often perceive …