Rivera ‘no doubt’ for opener  —  Closer Mariano Rivera threw 30 pitches in his first spring training batting practice session today.  He will throw BP again Saturday then likely will make his first exhibition appearance early next week.  —  Rivera had surgery on the AC joint in his right shoulder last Oct. 7.

Chipper takes BP, eyes weekend return to WBC  —  TORONTO (AP) — Chipper Jones took swings from both sides of the plate and fielded grounders before the United States faced Venezuela on Wednesday and said he'll be ready to play when the second round of the World Baseball Classic begins Saturday in Miami.

Looper on track to start season healthy  —  Righty, nursing strained oblique, throws successful bullpen session  —  PHOENIX — Brewers right-hander Braden Looper threw a bullpen session Wednesday for the first time since straining a muscle along his ribcage, and the team expects him to be in the starting rotation by Opening Day.

Nats' assistant GM discusses increased role since Bowden's resignation  —  Last Wednesday, the Nationals decided that their general manager position will remain vacant for the foreseeable future.  —  However, assistant general manager Mike Rizzo has principal responsibilities when it comes …

CC lacks feel, but confident he'll find it  —  Ace yet to show top form in first Spring Training with Yankees  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — This was bound to happen.  —  Despite the money and the expectations and the hope for perfection, there was bound to come an outing in which CC Sabathia would be wholly ineffective.

Clemens reportedly injected at Yankee Stadium … NEW YORK (AP) — Brian McNamee says he injected Roger Clemens with drugs at the Yankee Stadium hot tub and that among the needles he gave government investigators was one he used to inject the pitcher in 2001, according to the Web site sportsimproper.com.

Teen bopper  —  Vegas high schooler makes powerful impression  —  He's only 16, but Bryce Harper already has power as imposing as the mountains behind him.  —  LAS VEGAS - Standing on home plate, on a diamond on the edge of the desert, Las Vegas High School assistant baseball coach Harry Traynor shakes …

Netherlands Sends Dominicans to an Improbable Exit in W.B.C.  —  SAN JUAN, P.R. —The Dominican Republic has some of the most talented baseball players in the world.  Those players are proud, they are poised and they are passionate.  But, on a tense Tuesday night, the Dominicans were also nervous.

Rockies Recap: Rockies 5, Indians 0  —  Rockies 5, Indians 0  —  At the plate:The emphasis on quality at-bats paid off again Wednesday during the Rockies' fifth straight win.  The Rockies' scored three of their first four runs with groundouts to second base by Christian Colonel, Sal Fasano and Ryan Spilborghs.

Stadium Is Citi Field, but the Subway Stop Has Other Ideas  —  Citigroup is teetering, with a stock price lower than Johan Santana's earned run average and a brand synonymous with “bank bailout.”  But its name will still grace the Mets' new ballpark, Citi Field, when the season starts next month.

Francoeur's new approach starts to produce  —  Clearwater, Fla. — So far this spring, Jeff Francoeur's new hitting approach had produced line drives, no strikeouts, and a few kudos from hard-to-please teammate Chipper Jones.  —  But not many hits.  —  That made Wednesday more satisfying for Francoeur …

Mauer has inflammed lower back, not something more serious.  Twins hope medication is all he needs.  —  The Twins were relieved to learn today that catcher Joe Mauer only has an inflamed sacroiliac joint following an exam on Tuesday in Fort Myers and a meeting this morning with Twins team physician Dr, John Steubs.

Beckham will start — somewhere  —  First-rounder has shot at second for Sox, or could be sent down  —  PHOENIX — There is no truth to the rumor that Gordon Beckham healed the sick and consulted with President Barack Obama on the struggling economy during the White Sox off-day on Tuesday.

Troy Percival to begin measuring his readiness as Tampa Bay Rays closer  —  Troy Percival, fist-bumping catcher Dioner Navarro earlier this spring, is slated to pitch today.  Percival was shut down and missed the postseason after three trips to the disabled list and had surgery on his back.

Feeling old, Manny set to make exhibition debut  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Manny Ramirez is sore and joking that he might be older than his 37-year-old birth certificate reveals.  —  “I'm like 40 years old.  How much longer can I do this?”  Ramirez said Tuesday, loudly enough for Dodgers teammate Andre Ethier to hear.