Team USA advances behind big sixth  —  Iannetta, Pedroia, Youkilis deliver key hits vs. Venezuela's 'pen  —  TORONTO — For the first five innings on Sunday, Team USA seemed destined for its second nail-biter in as many nights in the World Baseball Classic.

Spring Game 13: Blue Jays at Yankees (includes A-Rod surgery update)  —  YANKEES  —  Pitching today: Andy Pettitte followed by Ian Kennedy, Dan Giese, Dave Robertson, Jose Veras and Jon Albaladejo.  —  BLUE JAYS  —  Adams LF  —  Hill 2B  —  Lind DH  —  Overbay 1B  —  Lane CF  —  Snider RF

A-Rod A-OK after successful surgery … Alex Rodriguez underwent successful hip repair surgery Monday at a Colorado clinic.  —  The 80-minute procedure was performed by Dr. Marc Philippon, a specialist known as the “hip doctor to the stars.”  —  “Alex is doing very well,” Philippon said.

Details on Cabrera, Garciaparra contracts with Oakland  —  The Oakland A's are nothing if not contrarian.  At a time when small market teams are trimming their budgets, Oakland has opened its wallet.  The A's will have around a $60 million payroll — still well below the Rockies' $73 million 00 …

Lester extension makes good business sense  —  One can make the case that of all the left-handed pitchers younger than 26 years old, Cole Hamels and Jon Lester would have the most value on the open market.  Each is 25.  Each has pitched World Series-clinching games.

Seems like Yankees are panicking  —  The Yankees are acting as if Alex Rodriguez is Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle, the kind of player they can't win without, despite the sorry fact that so far, he has only been the kind of player they can't win with.  —  By announcing that A-Rod will undergo …

Twins were wise to pass on Gagne; Cordero update  —  FORT MYERS, FLA. — The Twins had a $3 million guaranteed offer on the table for reliever Eric Gagne before they agreed to their $1.3 million deal with reliever Luis Ayala.  —  The decision to go with Ayala instead of Gagne looks better now …

Is Strasburg the best prospect ever?  —  So just how good is Stephen Strasburg, the San Diego State right-hander who is regarded as the No. 1 talent in this year's draft?  —  “The best I've ever seen,” says a longtime scout.  “And it's not even close.”  —  C'mon. Better than Mark Prior?

Blalock a healthy gamble for Texas Rangers  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - A torn left hamstring.  Carpal tunnel release surgery.  Thoracic outlet syndrome.  —  And, on the flip side, career highs in on-base and slugging percentage.  —  The last two years have been the strangest of Hank Blalock's Rangers career.

Delgado believes Pudge can help Mets  —  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - An Ivan Rodriguez-to-the-Mets campaign could pick up steam if Pudge continues to have a strong showing in the World Baseball Classic.  —  Rodriguez, teammates with Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran on the Puerto Rico team …

Franklin is in the mix to be St. Louis Cardinals closer  —  JUPITER, FLA. — Cardinals manager Tony La Russa on Sunday officially placed righthander Ryan Franklin squarely “in the mix” for the team's closing vacancy, insisting that in many ways Franklin is the more qualified to take on the job …

The Final Santana Stage  —  If you think you've been waiting to see Johan Santana in a Grapefruit League game, it's probably no more than he wants to pitch in one himself.  —  Throwing a bullpen session on the six-pack of mounds just outside Tradition Field, the sort of side session …

Dorkapalooza 2009: The sports analytics conference at MIT  —  Every year, MIT's Sloan School of Business holds a sports analytics conference.  This year, there were over 450 attendees and 50 media outlets, including The Hardball Times.  The conference brings analytics and fact-driven decision-making to the world of sports.