Dodger blues: LaRoche out 2 months; Nomar hit  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — This wasn't the way the Los Angeles Dodgers envisioned the competition for starting third baseman would play out.  —  Andy LaRoche, who was vying with Nomar Garciaparra for the job, tore a ligament in his right thumb Friday …

Road to recovery has been painfully slow for Liriano … FORT MYERS, Fla. — The future of the Minnesota Twins' franchise watched telenovelas (Spanish-speaking soap operas) for entertainment and comfort; he went out to eat, often alone, to avoid a kitchen he could not navigate …

Rays Exploring Contingency Plans For Rocco  —  ST. PETERSBURG - As OF Rocco Baldelli's uncertain availability continues to be an issue for the Rays, the contingency plans they've explored since before spring training began are coming more and more into play.

Short dose of Yankees highlights  —  Rivera makes first spring appearance, striking out two  —  ASTROS 9, YANKEES 5  —  Astros at the plate: Victor Diaz blasted an 0-1 offering from starter Andy Pettitte out of the park to put the Astros up 2-0 in the first inning.

Vizcaino joins Cook in trainer's room  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ. — Because it's March 7, there's no panic.  But the National League champions are dealing with their first adversity, beset by injuries.  Reliever Luis Vizcaino, the club's top offseason acquisition, sat in the trainer's room with ice …

WEAPONS OF MASS DISTRACTION  —  YANKS WORRIED OVER JOBA'S FOCUS  —  This is a new season and a new set of Joba Rules.  —  Manager Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman made that clear yesterday.  They want Joba Chamberlain to continue to be his outgoing self - but they also want to make sure …

Cubs to play on the South Side?  Could happen  —  Wrigley rehab would force team into temporary home  —  MESA, Ariz. - The Cubs are hoping to play at least part of a season at U.S. Cellular Field during the proposed reconstruction of Wrigley Field, assuming they succeed in their plan …

Set to pay a princely price tag  —  Attanasio aims to keep Fielder in Milwaukee  —  Phoenix - Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said Friday that he did not think Prince Fielder's unhappiness with his current contract would affect the slugging first baseman's relationship with the club in the future.

Notes: Lefties vying for relief role  —  Candidates include O'Flaherty, Jimenez and Feierabend  —  MESA, Ariz. — Manager John McLaren is taking a different approach in selecting a left-handed setup reliever than he used when arranging the numerical order of the starting rotation.

Jose Canseco to meet with BALCO busting IRS agent about Roger Clemens  —  HOUSTON - The eyes of the federal government are not just on Texas.  —  As investigators cast a wide net to determine whether Roger Clemens perjured himself by swearing under oath that he had never used performance-enhancing drugs …

Martínez's Changeup: Less Talk, More Action  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Shortly after 10 a.m. Friday, Pedro Martínez prepared to throw his first pitch of the day.  He looked in to see Damion Easley, his teammate, wearing a windbreaker and limbering up in a batting cage.

Destination: San Diego  —  Some pitchers agree to take less in order to enjoy perks of Padres, Petco  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - When shopping for pitching, something all 30 major league clubs do year-round, the Padres have a slight advantage because many pitchers view San Diego as one of the better destinations.