Hip expert: A-Rod will need surgery  —  I just spoke to an expert, Dr. Robert Buly of the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.  He is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hips.  —  Only last week, Dr. Buly presented back-to-back papers on treating this very injury with Dr. Marc Philippon …

Korea makes grand statement in rout  —  Six-run first inning more than enough to down Chinese Taipei  —  TOKYO — Right-fielder Jin Young Lee belted a grand slam to cap a six-run first inning, and Keun Woo Jeong blasted a two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth to give Team Korea …

Bittersweet parting  —  Geoff Geary is coming off a career year, but it took his being dealt from a team that won it all  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The emotions swirled through Geoff Geary's head as if they were in a blender.  There was bitterness and happiness, even a little bit of envy.

Luxury Strikes Out  —  Hi-def TV screens in bathroom mirrors.  Celebrity chefs.  Three of the most expensive sports arenas in history are about to open, and the timing couldn't be worse.  —  A rendering of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Lineups  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Other than the fact that Josh Beckett is pitching against his old team, there's not a lot of news coming out of Red Sox spring training this morning.  But we do have lineups.  (No Hanley Ramirez, though.)  —  Brad Penny will get his shoulder checked out by Dr. Tom Gill, who just arrived in Florida.

Havens in cards for Mets  —  The Reese Havens era is beginning a little sooner than expected with the left side of the Mets' infield scattered for the World Baseball Classic.  Here's the lineup in Jupiter, Fla., today against the Cardinals:  —  Castillo, 2b  —  Valentin, 3b  —  Murphy, lf

Team USA reads Top Ten on Letterman  —  Appearing on the “Late Show with David Letterman” will not help you against Japan's pitching or Korea's fielding or Cuba's potent offense, but when 10 members of Team USA did that Thursday to read the Top Ten List for “reasons to watch the World Baseball Classic …

One Cancellation, One New Deal For Caliendo  —  TBS cancels ‘Frank TV’ while Fox Sports re-ups his NFL deal  —  It is good news and bad news for comedian Frank Caliendo.  —  TBS will not be bringing back his sketch comedy series Frank TV for another season, but he has a signed a new deal …

Saber-Friendly Blogging 101: Best Position Players In Franchise History  —  BtB reader and Rangers' fan philkid3 has a cool post up at LSB about the best players in Rangers history (well, since 1955, at least).  He included pitchers via a different method, which you can tackle if interested …

Worldwide Draft  —  I missed this the other day, but in light of the problems in the Dominican, the chatter about a potential worldwide draft is increasing: … And there certainly are problems down there and in other countries not subject to the draft.  It's worth noting, however …

Cubans' baseball dreams take root on rocky fields  —  HAVANA — The pitch whistles in with such fury that the catcher screams and pulls off his glove, frantically shaking a left hand that's turning purple.  —  He has no catcher's mask or mitt, only an infielder's glove.

Moises Alou says Classic will likely be his finale … JUPITER, Florida (AP) — Moises Alou says he'll likely turn down offers he has received to play this season, including one from the Philadelphia Phillies, and end his 18-year career after the World Baseball Classic.

St. Louis Cardinals, reliever Dennys Reyes agree to two-year, $3 million contract  —  ST. LOUIS — Left-hander Dennys Reyes and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to $3 million, two-year contract.  —  The move was first reported by ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.