Wrapping up the day in Tampa  —  Two good things happened today: Andy Pettitte got it cranked up and Mariano Rivera looked like Mariano Rivera in the bullpen.  —  “It was good to get out there and get it cranked up a little bit.  It's been a long spring already,” said Pettitte, who allowed one hit, struck our two and walked one.

Rodriguez Undergoes Hip Surgery  —  The operation performed on the torn labrum in Alex Rodriguez's right hip was successful, his doctor said Monday, setting the stage for a highly publicized recovery process that could last nine weeks and could include the first six of the regular season.

Peavy never said no to the Red Sox  —  TORONTO — In case you were wondering ... according to San Diego pitcher Jake Peavy, the Red Sox were never excluded from teams he would accept a trade to.  Initially, Padres general manager Kevin Towers had said at the General Managers' Meetings …

Chavez shut down with sore shoulder  —  Former Gold Glover was scheduled to play in field on Monday  —  PHOENIX — The on-again, off-again comeback by Oakland's Eric Chavez hit another snag on Monday, as he was scratched from his expected spring fielding debut at third base because of soreness …

Pedro to Mets: Call me  —  CAROLINA, Puerto Rico - Pedro Martinez has a message for Mets general manager Omar Minaya: If you want a future Hall of Famer as your fifth starter this season, give me a call.  —  Martinez - the free-agent pitcher who sparkled in three scoreless innings of relief …

Chipper Jones leaves game with mild oblique strain  —  TORONTO (AP) — United States third baseman Chipper Jones left Sunday night's game against Venezuela after five innings with a mild oblique strain and will be evaluated again Monday.  —  Jones was injured swinging at a pitch in the fifth inning …

Report: Manny Ramirez won't get all his money till 2013  —  NEW YORK — Manny Ramirez's money from his new $45 million, two-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers won't be fully paid until June 2013, according to contract details obtained Monday by The Associated Press.  —  Ramirez

Banned Substances Found on Materials Linked to Clemens  —  Federal authorities investigating Roger Clemens on perjury charges have found performance-enhancing substances on the drug paraphernalia that his former trainer said he used to inject Clemens, according to people briefed on the case.

Oakland redefines rebuilding, latest on A-Rod and notes around camps … PHOENIX — A's general manager Billy Beane is one of the smartest men in baseball.  But sometimes, Beane is credited with ideas that aren't even completely his.  —  The Athletics' unusual, seemingly illogical quick change …

Twins concerned by Mauer's lingering back pain … PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer has been hampered by back pain, hurting his rehab from offseason kidney surgery.  —  Mauer, the reigning American League batting champion, will undergo a magnetic resonance arthogram Tuesday.

Minor League Transactions  —  February 28 through March 7  —  Atlanta Braves  —  Placed on restricted list: OF Rashod Henry  —  Outrighted to Triple-A: RHP Anthony Lerew  —  The Nationals released Perez during spring training last year and the 29-year-old minor league veteran failed to latch on with another affiliated club.

Gardner vs. Gathright  —  Last week longtime RAB reader and commenter whozat shot me an email asking me if there was any reason to expect Brett Gardner to develop into a better Major League player than Joey Gathright.  The comparison between the two players obviously makes sense since they're …

Pettitte: Pressure on pitchers  —  Andy Pettitte says with Alex Rodriguez absent for the start of this season, the pressure to perform falls to the Yankees starting pitchers.  —  “I feel like this team is going to win if we pitch well, whether Alex is here or not, to tell you the truth,” the left-hander said.

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.

JOKE JOCK JUST DOIN' WHAT HE'S PAID TO DO  —  CONTINUED  —  Selected for stardom by WFAN because he was a fully committed professional lowlife with no other discernible skill - he once recited a vulgar poem mocking those afflicted with breast cancer - Sid Rosenberg, after FAN finally …

Mets Are Hoping Bobby Parnell Will Bring the Heat  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Each time Bobby Parnell walked to the Mets' bullpen last season, he would bring his glove, his hat and the most important accessory, a pink “Sleeping Beauty” backpack.  Stuffed inside were the essentials: candy …

Young Cincy can build on tradition  —  Manager Baker stresses the lessons of the Big Red Machine  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Cincinnati Reds haven't had a winning season since 2000.  They haven't been to the World Series since they swept Oakland in 1990.  In short, summers have been bleak this decade in the Queen City.

JETER: YANKEES WILL GET BY  —  TORONTO - Hip, hip, hooray!  Six to nine weeks without Alex Rodriguez doesn't sound so bad to Derek Jeter.  —  “It's good, better than the other story I heard that he was going to miss a longer time,” Jeter said last night before Team USA faced Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.