Tests signal return a go for Karstens  —  Read Mark Feinsand's Blogging the Bombers  —  TAMPA - Tests yesterday revealed no damage to Jeff Karstens' elbow, as an MRI and CT scan showed his arm to be in sound shape.  Joe Torre called it "outstanding news," though the team has no exact timetable for his return.

Decision time for Rangers rotation  —  Wright, Loe likely to make team; question involves their roles  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - All that's left is the decision.  —  The Rangers have watched Jamey Wright and Kameron Loe pitch all spring.

Brewers acquire Dessens for Clark  —  Veteran right-hander to fill long relief role for Milwaukee  —  PHOENIX — The Brewers eased their outfield logjam and added a bullpen arm on Monday, trading Brady Clark, their Opening Day center fielder in each of the previous two seasons, to the Dodgers for right-handed veteran Elmer Dessens.

Zambrano mulls his '08 workplace  —  If he and Cubs part, Mets a possibility—as are the White Sox  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — With six days left to reach a contract extension before Opening Day, Carlos Zambrano is discussing the possibility of wearing a New York Mets uniform next year.

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 …

Throwing us a curve  —  Matsuzaka has little command and less comment  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — Dice-K Dissection.  Prepare yourself, Red Sox fans.  —  Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched five innings of no-hit baseball in a 5-0 spring training loss to the Cincinnati Reds yesterday, but that's not the story.

Papelbon moves up: Closer seeks new arm slot  —  SARASOTA, Fla. - Jonathan Papelbon [stats] is back in the one-and-done business, and yesterday it looked like he had not missed much while he was gone.  —  In his first one-inning stint since he and the Red Sox [team stats] …

Kerry presses baseball to hold off on DirecTV deal  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John Kerry urged Major League Baseball on Tuesday to hold off on a deal to put the sport's "Extra Innings" package of out-of-market games exclusively on DirecTV Group Inc. A top baseball official declined to agree, with opening day less than a week away.

Sanchez likely to have surgery on shoulder again … PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mets general manager Omar Minaya announced that right-hander Duaner Sanchez has a hairline fracture in the front of his right shoulder and likely will be out until at least August.  —  The fracture is of the coracoid bone …

There's just a passion about the numbers in baseball … I learned a new number recently.  I now know how many yards Dan Marino, the record holder, threw for in his NFL career.  I'm told by football stat guys that it's an "awkward" number, but before the other day, I wouldn't have come within 10,000 yards of the correct number.

Emil Brown fed up with criticism  —  Royals outfielder sick and tired of people calling him an "adventure" in the outfield.  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. |  Emil Brown glanced at the lineup card Sunday morning in the Royals' clubhouse, turned and observed to anyone within listening distance:

Ticket Woes Mar Run-Up To Opener  —  Some Nats Fans Await Arrival of Season Passes  —  One week before the Washington Nationals open their third season in the District — their first full year under the new ownership group headed by Theodore Lerner — some of the club's most ardent fans …

Albany D.A. to provide customer lists  —  Matthews is expected to be named in steroid and human growth hormone case, and Angels outfielder may be called to testify.  —  TEMPE, ARIZ. — Major League Baseball should get a better handle on the scope of a state and federal investigation …

Under The Knife  —  Hard Eight  —  It's crazier than you can imagine at the UTK home office.  As the season draws closer, there's always those last second surprises, the trades of guys like Brady Clark or Jorge Julio, based as much on roster crunch as talent.