Having a farm system with a bunch of top prospects at the lower levels is great, but we're talking about young players who have a chance to make an impact this year. In other words, Rookie of the Year candidates.

There are no hard and fast rules on when a pitcher will make the climb into Cy Young consciousness. While position-player peaks generally tend to follow a bell curve, pitchers walk a notoriously unpredictable path.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly opened Spring Training on Tuesday by naming Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw his Opening Day starter, while issuing a cautionary note about both Kershaw and MVP runner-up Matt Kemp.

On Tuesday, for the first time in his four Spring Trainings with the Dodgers, Ronald Belisario reported to camp on time.

Former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley has pulled out of the bidding for his old club, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

Hanley Ramirez said all the things the Marlins surely hoped he'd say as he reported to Spring Training. When he was done, he simply couldn't have done more to dispel the notion that he'll be a problem as makes the switch from shortstop to third base.

Jeremy Guthrie had plenty of new faces to meet as the Rockies got Spring Training under way, but his largest concern centered upon what he figured to be the most difficult thing about his transition to the new club: how to bunt.

The field for the Indians' No. 5 rotation spot includes left-hander David Huff and right-handers Kevin Slowey, Jeanmar Gomez and Zach McAllister. All four enter camp with a chance to prove they deserve the job.

Pablo Sandoval didn't mind talking about his weight. Revealing exactly what that figure is, however, must happen some other time.

Left-handed reliever George Sherrill tossed his first bullpen session on Tuesday, getting about five minutes of throwing in, after being held off the mound the first 10 days of Mariners camp.

Though bullpen additions for the A's have long been anticipated, it appears the club is set to move forward with their spring campaign as is.

Though he somewhat flew under the radar, reliever David Hernandez was a key part of the unexpected success the D-backs had last year en route to winning 94 games and the National League West.

From 2009 until July 31, 2011, the Padres had the best bullpen ERA in the Major Leagues (2.79). Flash forward to 2012 and the Padres have two new faces at the back end of the bullpen with Andrew Cashner and Huston Street.

Tony Gwynn Jr. is breathing a sigh of relief, because Tony Gwynn Sr. is already doing radio interviews, less than a week after five doctors performed an intricate 14-hour operation to remove a cancerous tumor in his mouth.

While he hinted 2012 might be his last year, had Mariano Rivera walked into camp on Monday and announced his plans to retire after the season, it would have been a huge mistake.

Angel Villalona, the would-be slugging prospect who in recent years has strayed closer to the jury box than the batter's box, will miss Thursday's reporting date for Giants position players due to visa problems.

Bobby Abreu is apparently giving the Angels an ultimatum. The veteran slugger, now without a set role on the Angels with so many other candidates at designated hitter, told ESPNdeportes.com on Tuesday that if he isn't playing regularly, he prefers to be traded.