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 …

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.

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 …

Four down, 35 to go  —  The Yankees sent four pitchers to the minor-league camp before the game:  —  Daniel McCutchen (one scoreless inning in spring training)  —  Steven Jackson (one scoreless inning)  —  Steven White (six earned runs in three innings)  —  Scott Strickland (injured/didn't pitch)

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

Ben at Work: The 40 most offensive aberrations of the post-strike era  —  As Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and any other pitcher who has been active in the post-strike era knows, chicks dig the long ball.  —  But the long ball love isn't limited to the ladies.  For the past 12 seasons, baseball …

Jon Heyman: Inside A-Rod's decision to return to New York  —  TAMPA, Fla. — A sextet of big-market teams were quietly lining up to bid for Alex Rodriguez in early November.  Meetings were scheduled with both Los Angeles teams, the Dodgers and Angels, and according to people close to Rodriguez …