The former Yankees star and current Dodgers coach is heir apparent to Joe Torre. Somewhere, a championship awaits.  

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley threw three scoreless innings in a 7-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Tucson Electric Park on Saturday. He allowed three hits, struck out four and walked one, lowering his spring ERA to 1.80. Blake DeWitt hit a three-run home run, his first of the spring, off Arizona's Kevin Mulvey to break a scoreless tie in the third inning.  

Adrian Cardenas scored on Mitch Canham's throwing error with two outs in the ninth and the Oakland Athletics split squad beat the San Diego Padres 10-9 in 10 innings on Saturday. Chris Denorfia had three hits and drove in a run for the Padres. Chase Headley had two hits and drove in two runs and Tony Gwynn, Jr.  

All the Kansas City Royals' offensive damage was done after Los Angeles Angels starter Ervin Santana had left Saturday. Chris Getz and Mitch Maier hit two-run homers in the fourth inning off reliever Rafael Rodriguez and the Royals defeated the Angels 12-3. The Royals collected 15 hits, including six for extra bases, but the only hit Santana permitted was a Willie Bloomquist leadoff infield...  

Cubs manager Lou Piniella says he's far more concerned about what his pitching staff will look like in three weeks than about Chicago third baseman Aramis Ramirez having to leave a spring game with right triceps soreness. "There's nothing wrong," Piniella said of Ramirez, who missed nearly two months last season with a separated left shoulder.  

The Cleveland Indians lost a game and may not have Kerry Wood for at least a few days either. Brandon McCarthy pitched three scoreless innings for the Texas Rangers in a 5-0 win over the Indians, who had won five in a row and played two ties so far this spring. Wood was scheduled to pitch, but was unavailable on Saturday.  

San Francisco pitcher Kevin Pucetas continued his spotless spring by retiring all nine Seattle hitters he faced and outfielder Andres Torres homered, doubled and scored three times for a Giants split squad that beat the Mariners 8-4 Saturday. Pucetas has turned it around from last spring when he had an 8.04 ERA and allowed 41 base runners in 15-plus innings.  

Cleveland Indians reliever Kerry Wood missed his scheduled appearance against the Texas Rangers on Saturday with arm soreness. "He has a little spring soreness and just didn't feel ready today," manager Manny Acta said. "He'll be ready in a few days." Wood made 12 trips to the disabled list with various arm ailments and surgeries in 11 years with the Chicago Cubs.  

Lance Berkman is expected to miss two to four weeks after having knee surgery to remove loose cartilage from his left knee. Astros manager Brad Mills said that the surgery on Saturday showed there was no damage to the meniscus or ligaments. The timetable for Berkman's recovery puts him in jeopardy of missing Opening Day.  

Gio Gonzalez might ride his new-look changeup right into the Oakland Athletics' rotation. He sure is making a strong case to be the A's fifth starter. The left-hander, competing with Trevor Cahill and Vin Mazzaro to win the job, pitched three scoreless innings and struck out three in his first start of the spring as Oakland beat Bay Area rival San Francisco 8-7 on Saturday.