Mark Ellis is focused on staying healthy this spring while he works his way back from offseason right shoulder surgery. 

The Rockies went from NL champs in '07 to 74-win also-ran last season. 

Oakland has an interest mix of young (notably the rotation and much of the bullpen) and old, including free agent acquisition Jason Giambi, who won an MVP award while with the A's in 2000. 

Justin Duchscherer's sore right elbow appears as if it could knock Duchscherer out of an Opening Night start for Oakland. 

--3B Eric Chavez expects to make his spring debut at third base on March 9. 

Jason Giambi hoped to get a few hits. 

Nomar Garciaparra is ready to give the Oakland Athletics a number of options in the infield. 

Oakland right-hander Justin Duchscherer will rest his sore elbow until next week after a second medical opinion confirmed swelling in the area. 

Oakland right-hander Justin Duchscherer will rest his sore elbow until next week after a second medical opinion confirmed swelling in the area. 

AL WestSeattle MarinersKen Griffey is back, but is that enough for Seattle in the AL West? The Mariners are the focus of our first MLB team preview. 

Trevor Cahill lived up to his billing as a top pitching prospect for Oakland in his first spring training start Thursday. 

Oakland has an interest mix of young (notably the rotation and much of the bullpen) and old, including free agent acquisition Jason Giambi, who won an MVP award while with the A's in 2000. 

Oakland continues to consider potential additions before the start of the regular season. 

--3B Eric Chavez, serving as the designated hitter in the A's second Cactus League game, singled in his first at-bat of the spring. 

Dallas Braden's knowledge of South Africa's baseball team was limited to the hitting coach: Brian McArn.