Casey Blake hopes to return to full strength in 2012 after missing the end of last season due to neck surgery.

The judge presiding over the federal perjury trial of Roger Clemens has moved the start of the retrial up one day to April 16 and has set a schedule for pretrial motions from either side.

Braves reliever Arodys Vizcaino avoided Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery when he seemed destined for it two summers ago. The right-hander can only hope to achieve the same fate after he visits with Dr. James Andrews on Monday.

Ryan Howard said Wednesday he did not believe he would need to start his rehab from scratch once the protective boot is removed from his left foot. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. concurred.

Phillies fans are on edge these days because of the uncertainties and mysteries surrounding the health of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. Roy Halladay's outing Wednesday didn't help.

The Rays' Desmond Jennings and B.J. Upton were both fine Thursday after getting carted off the field following a fourth-inning collision during Wednesday afternoon's loss to the Marlins at Charlotte Sports Park.

Tim Beckham has been playing some second base this spring, which might have been a sticky situation if the Rays were not careful to lay out their intentions to their players.

In his Thursday morning meeting with reporters, manager Bobby Valentine said Carl Crawford was going to start hitting in the next day or two, before saying later in the session that Crawford would start hitting only soon.

Kevin Youkilis batted leadoff on Thursday afternoon against the Cardinals, a decision manager Bobby Valentine said he made because he wanted Youkilis to get quick at-bats, not because he was considering using Youkilis that way during the regular season.

A crowd hovered on the boardwalk overlooking right field at Charlotte Sports Park waiting for the lambs — make that, Rays — to get sheered.

Seeking defensive stability for the long term, the Royals on Thursday signed shortstop Alcides Escobar to a four-year contract through 2015 plus two club option years.

With starting catcher Salvador Perez set to undergo left knee surgery Friday, the Royals are looking to bolster their depth behind the plate.

Miguel Cabrera's first scare at the hot corner had nothing to do him trying to knock down a ball. It was an Austin Jackson line drive that knocked him down.

Freddy Garcia wasn't the only Yankees player who left Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays early. Nick Swisher suffered a slight strain of his groin and pulled himself from the proceedings.

The Yankees are in wait-and-see mode with regard to Freddy Garcia's bruised right hand, and it appears doubtful he'll make his next scheduled spring start. But the club doesn't consider the injury to be serious.

Rangers manager Ron Washington has left the team and returned home to New Orleans due to a death in his family. He is expected to rejoin the team this weekend in Las Vegas.

Kirk Gibson isn't all that concerned about the D-back' Cactus League record. He's far more interested in making sure fundamental play becomes second nature for his squad once the season begins.