SPRING TRAINING ROUNDUP \ News and notes

Dodgers: Jeff Kent took formal batting practice Tuesday for the first time this spring. Kent underwent surgery on his right wrist Jan. 10 to remove scar tissue and repair a ligament. Before Tuesday, he had been hitting off a tee or with the ball being tossed from a short distance. This time, he hit from a batting cage, swinging easily and hitting line drives consistently with a coach doing the pitching. "I don't have a set program or plan," Kent said. "It all leads to wanting to be game-ready. There is a finish line." Kent hopes to be ready by the season opener against the Braves on April 3. Asked how many at-bats he might need during the exhibition season, Kent laughed and replied: "Maybe one."
Mets: Pedro Martinez finally threw from the top of a mound. After throwing 34 pitches to catcher Bobby Estallella, Martinez acknowledged he still has a lot of work to do before opening day. "I'm out of shape," Martinez told a group of reporters before walking off the field. "I'm just trying to get back to the mound, see how my toe is. My arm is not full-strength." None of his pitches appeared full-speed, and Martinez said he has to concentrate on getting his foot healthy before he can strengthen his arm. "Because I want to have my arm in good shape, I need to have my legs in good shape," he said. "Without a leg, there is no arm."
Giants: Barry Bonds entertained and delighted a small gathering of fans and teammates by dressing up as Paula Abdul to judge a spin-off of the hit television show "American Idol," called Giants Idol. Bonds, who wore a strapless dress and a blonde wig, surprised everyone watching the mock contest, where young players had to sing in front of the judges. "I'll never tell my wife to hurry up anymore," Bonds said. "Because it took me forever to get ready. I'll never do that again. I couldn't get my hair right. There were a lot things I went through during the 30 minutes I was getting ready." The event raised $337 from fans that will be matched by the Giants organization and donated to the Giants Community Fund. Giants Idol was the brainchild of Mark Sweeney, who decided to bring a little levity to the clubhouse.
Also, the Giants and outfielder Randy Winn agreed to a $23.25 million, three-year contract extension. Winn, acquired before last season's trading deadline from Seattle, batted .359 with 14 home runs after joining the Giants last season. The 31-year-old is on the U.S. roster for the World Baseball Classic.
Blue Jays: Center fielder Vernon Wells played in an intrasquad game and appeared ready for the World Baseball Classic. Wells, who won his second straight Gold Glove last season, is among 30 players on the U.S. roster for the tournament, scheduled for March 3-20. He strained his left quad lifting weights eight days ago, and it was believed he might miss the first round. However, he played three innings in center field and popped out and grounded out in his two at-bats.
Nationals: Manager Frank Robinson said veteran infielder Damian Jackson -- not Jose Vidro or Alfonso Soriano -- will start at second base in the team's first spring game today against the Kia Tigers from South Korea. Robinson's lineup will be a mixture of backups, prospects and regulars. He said Vidro is likely to start when the Nationals host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, the same day Soriano leaves to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. When Soriano returns from the tournament, Washington hopes he will be amenable to a switch to the outfield.
Cardinals: Former pitcher Rick Ankiel, trying to make the roster as an outfielder, will miss 10 to 14 days of spring training after injuring his left knee. Ankiel suffered the injury during an intrasquad game Monday. He had been scheduled to start in center field against Florida Atlantic University on Tuesday. An MRI on Tuesday revealed a strained patella tendon.
Yankees: Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield were held out of an intrasquad game for precautionary reasons. Matsui has a sore left knee, while Sheffield has been slowed by back spasms. Both took batting practice and participated in fielding drills.
Associated Press