SPRING TRAINING ROUNDUP \ News and notes

Red Sox: Daisuke Matsuzaka threw batting practice Saturday and was very sharp. Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling took the mound before him, but they might as well have been anonymous rookies. Everybody was waiting for the Matsuzaka show. "He's as advertised," pitching coach John Farrell said. Matsuzaka pitched to four minor leaguers, who were informed which pitch was coming. "The guy's got good stuff. It's not a myth. It's not a tall tale," said Bobby Scales, who was the first batter to hit against Matsuzaka and let the first pitch -- a bit high -- go by. "The changeup was really good. It seems like it never gets to you and it just kind of floats."Matsuzaka is scheduled to throw 50 pitches in batting practice Monday, then make his first exhibition appearance Friday night against Boston College. The right-hander is expected to throw 35 pitches or two innings, whichever comes first.
Devil Rays: All-Star left-hander Scott Kazmir missed the final six weeks of last season because of shoulder inflammation. "It was fun to get back out there and get into the swing of things and just see a batter at the plate," Kazmir said. Instead of easing back into the routine, though, the 23-year-old faced three of the Devil Rays' top hitters: Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli and Delmon Young. Some good-natured trash talking added a little spice to the matchups. "He looks good, that's for sure," Crawford said.
Marlins: Florida is preparing to start the season without Josh Johnson, who's had some problems with soreness in his right forearm. Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2006, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain. He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again today. Johnson, penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. "You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We're borderline now."
Mariners: Mark Lowe will have arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow next week, pushing back his potential return to June or later. Lowe said the procedure will take place Thursday or Friday in Los Angeles. The right-hander was promoted from Double-A last summer and set a club record by beginning his major league career with 17 2/3 scoreless innings. Dr. Lewis Yocum drilled holes into Lowe's elbow in October to regenerate cartilage. Lowe said an MRI last week showed the regeneration went well and this second surgery is to confirm all is well structurally in the joint. The Mariners said Lowe needs the surgery to clean out scar tissue that is restraining his range of motion.
Yankees: Oft-injured pitcher Carl Pavano was hit on the bottom of his left foot by a liner off the bat of infielder Alberto Gonzalez during a BP session. Although Pavano is experiencing some foot stiffness, the team doesn't think the injury is serious. After one warmup toss, the right-hander threw 27 more pitches to complete his workout. "It hit him square," said Yankees manager Joe Torre, who was watching from a platform behind the batting cage. "I don't think there is an issue at all." Pavano, starting the third season of a 39.95 million, four-year contract, hasn't pitched in the major leagues since June 27, 2005, due to various injuries. He threw 35 pitches during live batting practice Thursday. "It feels good, it's just stiff," Pavano said. "It's not the first time I've been hit down there. It just takes time to get it worked out. I don't expect it to be hindering or anything."
Mets: Orlando Hernandez, sidelined because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing Tuesday. Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. He is slated to be the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine. New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery.
Rockies: Veteran outfielder Steve Finley was signed to a minor league contract. Finley is a non-roster invitee to camp. Finley, who turns 42 next month, is a career .272 hitter with 303 home runs and 320 stolen bases, one of only six players with 300 homers and 300 steals.
Associated Press
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