HOUSTON — Sister Damian Kuhn, a diehard Astros fan who lived across the street from Minute Maid Park and for years attended games, has died.

Her published and online obituary said Sister Kuhn died Monday. the Roman Catholic nun was 89.

A message left Friday with her order, the Congregation of the Incarnate Word & Blessed Sacrament, regarding a cause of death was not immediately returned to the Associated Press. A funeral mass was scheduled Tuesday in Houston.

“She was our no. 1 fan, and she always took it personal,” said Astros owner Drayton McLane.

McLane, acknowledging the Houston-born nun’s vow of poverty, bestowed her with season tickets that allowed her to sit behind home plate. Health problems forced her to stay home to watch the Astros on TV during the 2009 season.

The nun, in an October 2005 interview with AP during Houston’s first World Series appearance, described her seat at Minute Maid Park as “Seventh Heaven.”

One of her favorite memories was being flown by the Astros on a private jet to the first day of spring training, the Houston Chronicle reported Friday.

“She got to watch the players practice and didn’t get home until dark. she never forgot it,” said longtime friend Margaret Buckle of Houston.

Sister Kuhn committed herself to the teaching order of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament in Houston when she was 18. she taught home economics for 57 years until some mini-strokes forced her into retirement.

Her health worsened at Christmas when she had a stroke.

La Russa: top 4 starters rank with the best

JUPITER, Fla.— St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa will stack up his top four starters with those of any team in the major leagues. And he’s not too worried about the fifth spot, either.

Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright finished 2-3 in the NL Cy Young voting. Kyle Lohse is one year removed from a 15-win season and healthy again, and Brad Penny apparently is back on his game.

“The biggest variable is justifying the confidence quite a few people have in our rotation,” La Russa said Friday. “I believe in this club, I believe in this rotation. I believe we can compete with any rotation in baseball.”

One member of the big four cracked a wide smile at that statement.

“Who am I to disagree with a Hall of Fame manager?” Wainwright said. “On paper, we’re pretty tough. We’ve just got to go out and perform and pitch like we should.”

At the top is Carpenter, 17-4 with a 2.24 ERA and the first Cardinals pitcher to win the NL ERA title since Joe Magrane in 1988. He owns the franchise’s best career winning percentage at .739, going 68-24.

Wainwright led the league in victories and innings (233) and had an iron man run of 26 consecutive starts of six or more innings. the 6-6 right-hander’s 2.63 ERA was fourth-best in the league.

Lohse had more than his share of misfortune last season, suffering from a variety of injuries that landed him on the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his career. the most troublesome setback by far came in late may when he was drilled on the right forearm while squaring to bunt, which saddled him with mechanical difficulties the rest of the way while going 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA.

“It was an experience I hope I don’t have to go through again for sure,” said Lohse, who was 15-6 with a 3.78 ERA in 2008. “But everything’s good now.”

Penny, a two-time All-Star long coveted by St. Louis, got his career back on track last season. A 4-1 record and 2.59 ERA in six late-season starts with the Giants after a trade from Boston convinced the Cardinals to sign the right-hander to a one-year, $7.5 million free agent deal.

“When a guy pitches against us and I’m really concerned that he’s going to shut us down, I’d like to have him,” La Russa said. “Seeing him with the Marlins I always had that, ‘Oooh, I hope we don’t get this guy this series.”’

As for the fifth starter, the Cardinals have three viable candidates. Left-hander Rich Hill is coming off shoulder surgery but was an 11-game winner with the Cubs in 2007, fellow lefty Jaime Garcia is considered one of the franchise’s top pitching prospects although he’s also coming off surgery, and right-hander Kyle McClellan has been an effective setup man the last two seasons.

Hill, who’ll be 30 next month, was 3-3 with an unsightly 7.80 ERA with the Orioles before undergoing season-ending surgery in August. He signed a minor league deal with St. Louis and was a non-roster invitee to camp.

“What he was looking for was a club where he had a legitimate shot at making a team,” general manager John Mozeliak said. “He looked at our team and saw it as a good fit.”

Hill liked the idea of working with pitching coach Dave Duncan, who has resurrected numerous pitchers’ careers.

“How he’s helped some guys bounce back and get back on track is something that was appealing,” Hill said. “The biggest thing is I feel good, I feel healthy.”

The Cardinals will take care not to expect too much too soon from Garcia, who had a light workload last season at three minor league levels following reconstructive elbow surgery.

“He’s a really good-looking prospect and you definitely should be thinking long-term,” La Russa said. “He’ll be one guy talked to on a personal basis: ‘You want to have a long career, man, don’t do anything crazy.”’

The same goes for McClellan, who has worked 68 and 66 innings his first two major league seasons.

“This is not rocket science, it’s just common sense,” La Russa said. “Let’s get there gradually. Whoever wins that spot, I think we’ll be able to do that without pushing and risking.”

Cubs’ Lilly has only wear, tear in knee

MESA, Ariz. — Ted Lilly was as relieved as a starter could be when he got the news: There’s no major damage in his sore right knee and the Chicago Cubs’ reliable left-hander continued to work his way back Friday from offseason shoulder surgery.

Lilly has not yet thrown off the mound and when his knee started bothering him the last couple of days, he was checked out Thursday by a doctor. the MRI revealed just wear and tear.

“There is no significant damage that would require surgery, basically. So obviously that’s good news,” Lilly said.

He was back on the field throwing on flat ground Friday, trying to get his left shoulder in shape for the season, even though he’s not expected to be ready by opening day. He had arthroscopic surgery in November.

He said the knee felt fine and so did the shoulder. He’ll have to relieve stress on his knee when possible.

“I think I’m going to have to make a few adjustments to my conditioning, not pound on it too much, which will be tough,” Lilly added. “I’m still expecting to try to catch up with the rest of the guys.”

Manager Lou Piniella said Lilly may have to cut back on all the running he does to stay in shape and switch to an exercise bicycle.

“We are just going to monitor him and see how he is,” said Piniella, whose team was ravaged by injuries last season. “It would have been a lot worse.”

Lilly is 44-26 in his three seasons with the Cubs, including 12-9 last year with a 3.10 ERA in 27 starts.

He went on the disabled list last July with inflammation in the shoulder before returning to the rotation. He had hoped rest would make his shoulder better — it didn’t — and that’s why he waited a month before having surgery in the offseason.

The surgery was done by Dr. Lewis Yocum, who found no major damange in cleaning up the shoulder.

“It wasn’t like he had a big tear and we’re behind because he needed Tommy John or rotator cuff cleanup,” general manager Jim Hendry said. “It really wasn’t any big deal that it was done when it was done, to be honest with you.”

With Lilly’s status for the beginning of the season unclear, the Cubs will have Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells at the top of the rotation. the fourth starter, until Lilly returns, and the no. 5 man will likely emerge from a group that includes Jeff Samardzija, Tom Gorezelanny, Sean Marshall and Carlos Silva.

Even though regulars are not scheduled to report until Monday, all but six players are already in camp.

Showing up Friday was veteran Kevin Millar, who was signed to a minor league contract.

The personable Millar, who was with the Red Sox when they ended an 86-year World Series championship drought in 2004, hopes he can help do the same for the Cubs, whose last title came in 1908.

The 38-year-old Millar, a free spirit known as a strong clubhouse presence, will try to win a job as a backup infielder and outfielder. He was a teammate of current Cubs Dempster and Derrek Lee while with the Florida Marlins. in 12 major league seasons, he is a .274 career hitter.

“I don’t have a whole lot of tools. I never had. I don’t even think I have a tool box,” Millar said. “That’s not what made me. what made me is that I’ve loved it more than anybody else.”

Mets manager Manuel mulls lineup options

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — new York Mets manager Jerry Manuel is thinking about dropping speedy shortstop Jose Reyes from the leadoff spot.

Manuel spent almost half of his 40-minute news conference Friday discussing what to do with Reyes, who didn’t play after may 20 last season and wound up having surgery on his right leg in October. Manuel pondered moving him to the no. 3 spot in the order last spring training, too.

“I think Jose has the ability to probably hit anywhere in the lineup, anywhere from first to fifth — maybe not fourth,” Manuel said. “We toyed with that a little bit last year, and the reason is, in his evolution as a player, I think he is ready for that.”

The decision could depend on what happens in center field, where Carlos Beltran is expected to miss the start of the season. Angel Pagan could lead off if he starts in center, otherwise second baseman Luis Castillo could bat first.

“That’s where we have to find what fits best for us,” Manuel said. “That third spot, you’d like for it to be something that’s consistent with your team, but if you have Beltran and that type of flexibility, you have to consider those components as well.

“As we sit here right now, that is definitely an option for (Reyes) to be a guy that could hit third for us and be productive.”

Manuel said he’s only briefly discussed the idea with Reyes, but he doesn’t think it would be a problem for his star shortstop.

“I think if you told Jose today, ‘Jose I am going to bat you eighth until you get right,’ he wouldn’t bat an eye,” Manuel said. “He is so excited to be back on the baseball field, I don’t think it would be an issue with him at all.”

Manuel also touched on some of the other issues facing the team before official workouts for pitchers and catchers begin Saturday, among them finding an eighth-inning reliever and deciding who will lock down first base.

Three weeks ago at Mets minicamp in Port St. Lucie, Manuel indicated Fernando Nieve had the edge in the set up job, but youngster Jon Niese is making progress as he comes back from a hamstring injury.

“It’s a little different now because he has gotten on the mound,” Manuel said.

Daniel Murphy is expected to start the season at first base, although the team also signed veteran Mike Jacobs to a minor league deal and re-signed Fernando Tatis.

When asked how he felt about the organization not addressing many of the team’s needs in the offseason, other than adding power in left field by signing Jason Bay, Manuel said the biggest concern was addressing injuries — one of the biggest reasons the club lost 92 games last year.

“I thought the people that got an opportunity to play (last year) were pieces that could fit with the other group if everyone was healthy,” Manuel said. “Getting that opportunity makes us a better team and answers a lot of questions about complementary players that we’ve had before.

“Our questions are we cannot afford to be talking projection or potential. With the group we have, it’s performance, and I think they are capable of doing that.”

Frank McCourt’ wife seeks nearly $1M per month

LOS ANGELES — the estranged wife of Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt wants nearly $1 million per month in temporary support, arguing that he is trying to mislead the court about his financial resources.

The amount was revealed in a 1,423-page court filing unsealed Thursday in which Jamie McCourt’s lawyers allege Frank McCourt and his advisers manipulated financial statements in order to estimate his net worth at $163 million. this lower figure was revealed nine months after estimating his net worth at $835 million in another statement.

“What has occurred here is some extensive planning for divorce court in terms of attempting to diminish on paper the value of the Dodgers,” said Jamie McCourt’s attorney, Dennis Wasser. “The team is a very profitable organization.”

The Dodgers’ revenue has nearly doubled under the couple’s management from $156 million in 2004 to $295 million in 2008, according to court documents.

Dodger officials have maintained the couple’s divorce proceedings wouldn’t have a significant impact in the offseason. However, the team dealt outfielder Juan Pierre to the Chicago White Sox in a salary-cutting move, and its biggest free-agent signings were infielder Jamey Carroll, outfielder Reed Johnson and the return of closer Eric Gagne.

Jamie McCourt, the team’s former CEO, initially asked for $488,000 per month when she filed for divorce in October. the revised request asks for nearly $989,000 per month. the amount reflects bills and other records that her lawyers say show the couple averaged $2.3 million per month since they bought the Dodgers in 2004.

“Jamie McCourt’s recent court filings, which demand grotesque sums of money to meet her day-to-day ‘personal requirements,’ are astonishing,” said Marc Seltzer, an attorney for Frank McCourt. “In addition, rather than shedding light on the relevant issues, her scorched-earth spin campaign is clearly designed to harm the reputation and livelihood of others. we remain completely confident in the merits of Mr. McCourt’s position.”

Frank McCourt would still have $1.3 million per month to live on, her lawyers wrote. the filing added he lives in a “luxury hotel in Beverly Hills,” has spent $52,000 on clothes since November and keeps two of his sons on the payroll at a combined annual salary of $600,000, despite one working at Goldman Sachs and another attending graduate school at Stanford University.

“Jamie fully recognizes that the … award which she will be seeking will be viewed by many people as being astronomical,” according to the filing. “That may very well be the case. But Jamie’s request also has been thoroughly documented … as being wholly consistent with the parties’ marital lifestyle.”

The filing also gave insight into how the McCourt enterprise — a set of family companies — allocated its money to meet the demands of the couple’s luxurious lifestyle.

“The projected ‘family’ needs for the upcoming year would be determined and it then became the responsibility of executives of the McCourt enterprise to ensure that sufficient funds would be available to satisfy those needs.”

Each party is expected to file additional papers before the March 29 hearing on spousal support.

The trial to determine ownership of the Dodgers is set for may 24. Frank McCourt has claimed he is the team’s sole owner, citing an agreement in which he gets the couple’s business interests and she gets their residential property. But Jamie McCourt said she is a co-owner.

The filing also said the Dodgers plan to launch cable channels in English and Spanish in 2014 and remain interested in building an NFL stadium adjacent to Dodger Stadium.

The McCourt company spent more than $2.5 million between 2008 and 2009 to explore other ventures, including the acquisition of a soccer team in the English Premier League, according to the court documents. But since the couple is now going through a divorce, those plans have been put “on hold.”

Arizona boss Hinch hopes to apply lessons learned

TUCSON, Ariz. — A.J. Hinch admits to a “quick learning curve” last season, when he took over the Diamondbacks in may as the youngest manager of a major league team in five years.

Without injured ace Brandon Webb on the mound, the Diamondbacks finished last in the NL West at 70-92 and were one of the league’s worst defensive teams.

Webb is expected to be healthy again after right shoulder surgery, though, and the former Cy Young Award winner’s presence in the rotation should help the 35-year-old Hinch, who became the youngest to lead a big league team since the Cleveland Indians’ Eric Wedge in 2003.

“We have a team with a better spirit. A lot of guys are anxious to flush last season down the toilet and start over,” Hinch said Friday, when pitchers and catchers reported for spring training. “And I have the luxury of having very credentialed pitchers.”

Hinch plans to start Dan Haren — his best pitcher last year at 14-10 record with a 3.14 ERA — on Opening Day, followed by newcomer Edwin Jackson to give Webb more time to rest.

“It’s a great reward for Dan,” Hinch said, “and a win-win for Brandon because we lengthen his spring training.”

Newcomer Ian Kennedy and Billy Buckner are the front-runners for the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation. Hinch also is excited about his bullpen, which features closer Chad Qualls and set up men Juan Gutierrez, Bob Howry and Aaron Heilman.

“There’s no easy way through the NL West,” Hinch said. “You have to grind your way through, and starting pitching helps you do that.”

Hinch said Jackson, who went 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA last season in Detroit, does not have to be “super human” with Haren and Webb in the rotation.

“At the winter meetings, (Tigers manager) Jim Leyland told me all I needed to do was put Edwin in the rotation, go have a smoke and come back six or seven innings later,” Hinch said. “I told him I have a little problem with that — I don’t smoke — but I’ll take the six or seven innings any time.”

Hinch expects to have healthy competition in camp, especially in the outfield, where Chris Young will be pushed by Gerardo Parra. Young spent some time in the minors last season but returned to have a productive last month and reported to the team early this year.

“Chris looks good. He has a smile back on his face,” said Hinch, who believes Young is capable of 20-plus homers and 20-plus stolen bases. “I’m going to push him, challenge him.”

The Diamondbacks committed the second-most errors (124) in the National League last year. to help their defense, they added second baseman Kelly Johnson and first baseman Adam LaRoche, who hit .277 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs for Pittsburgh, Boston and Atlanta last season.

Hinch, an All-American at Stanford, played catcher for the Royals, Tigers and Phillies from 1998-2004. He headed the Diamondbacks’ player development before taking over on may 8 and going 58-76 as manager.

“Obviously, I had a quick learning curve,” Hinch said. “But being able to start fresh in spring training is anything a manger can ask for. now we have to go do it and play better.”

Pitchers and catchers begin workouts Saturday, with the full squad set to start Wednesday in the last scheduled spring training season at Tucson Electric Field.

Arizona and the Colorado Rockies will move next year into a new spring training complex on the Salt River Reservation, just east of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Wang finalizes $2 million deal with Nats

VIERA, Fla. — Pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and the Washington Nationals have finalized a $2 million, one-year contract.

The deal includes the chance to earn $3 million in performance bonuses.

A right-hander who turns 30 on March 31, Wang had spent his entire five-year major league career with the Yankees, who allowed him to become a free agent in December when they failed to offer a 2010 contract.

He made $5 million last year, when he was 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA and his season was cut short by shoulder surgery on July 29. He is not expected to be able to pitch until sometime between April and June.

“We don’t have a date where we’re saying that this is when we want him to come back and pitch,” Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said. “He’s going to come back and pitch when he’s ready.”

Wang was a 19-game winner in 2006 and 2007, starting new York’s postseason openers in both years, but his career was sidetracked when he severely injured his right foot while running the bases at Houston on June 15, 2008.

“He’s won 19 games in the toughest division in baseball — twice. … It’s something I thought we really needed to do,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said.

He missed the final 3½ months of the 2008 season, then allowed 23 runs in six innings over three starts when he returned last season. He went back on the disabled list, returned in late may to make three relief appearances and six starts before his season was ended by shoulder pain. Dr. James Andrews repaired a tear in the right shoulder capsule.

“The hardest part for me going through the process was that right after the surgery, I had to start over,” Wang said through translator Alan Chang. “I had to start everything from ground zero, building everything up again step by step. It’s a very trying process, a hard process.

“My no. 1 goal is to return to be among the best pitchers in Major League Baseball,” he said. “I’ll do everything possible to make myself stronger and give myself every chance possible.”

Wang will return to Phoenix to continue his offseason rehabilitation before rejoining the Nationals on March 7 in Viera, Rizzo said. from there, Wang’s progress will dictate how quickly he accelerates baseball activities.

Several minor league rehabilitation starts are likely and when asked when Wang would be ready to pitch in the majors, Rizzo said: “We’re expecting, optimistically, that sometime between the first of may and the first of June. We’re going to be cautious with him because he’s a long-term asset for us.”

Notes: to make room for Wang on the 40-man roster, the Nationals placed RHP Jordan Zimmermann on the 60-day disabled list. Zimmermann is recovering from ligament replacement surgery performed in July 2009.

Harang not assured of Reds’ opening start

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Right-hander Aaron Harang isn’t assured of making another opening day start for the Cincinnati Reds.

Manager Dusty Baker said Friday that he’s open-minded about who will start the opener. Harang has started the past four, but his struggles to win games during the past two seasons have thrown the no. 1 spot open to competition this time around.

“We’re in a performance-based occupation, like most, but probably even more,” Baker said. “It’s a big responsibility to be a no. 1, you know?”

The 31-year-old Harang has gone 1-3 with a 3.52 ERA in his four opening day starts. Mario Soto and Pete Donohue share the club record with five consecutive season-opening starts. Soto has six overall, the most in team history.

Harang has won only six games in each of the past two seasons, when injuries and an appendectomy held him back. Bronson Arroyo led the staff in wins last season with 15.

In Baker’s first two seasons as manager, Harang knew he would be no. 1 in the rotation from the time that training camp opened.

“The whole opening day thing?” Harang said. “They decide what they’re going to decide. I’m here to pitch every fifth day, wherever they put me.”

Harang earned the no. 1 spot by winning 16 games in 2006 and again in 2007. He slipped to 6-17 in 2008, when a strained right forearm sidetracked a solid beginning. He lost weight in the offseason and came to camp last year determined to pitch like as a no. 1 starter again, but finished 6-14 with a 4.21 ERA. He had an appendectomy in August that ended his season.

He’s not sure why his statistics have fallen so far.

“If I had an answer for you, I’d already have fixed it,” Harang said. “This game’s all about luck.”

The Reds’ offense has struggled to score consistently, especially when Harang has been on the mound. in 26 starts last season, the Reds scored two or fewer runs 12 times. Opponents batted only .239 off him.

“I think he’d lost some confidence,” Baker said. “Nothing’s physically wrong, nothing mechanical or mental, which is where the confidence level comes in.”

Harang tries not to think about his struggles the past two seasons.

“It was rough in ‘08 because it was the first time I was put in an adverse situation, and I felt like I put a lot of pressure on myself to go out and win every time and I couldn’t,” Harang said. “Last year, once you go through the adversity one time, you learn how to better deal with it the second time.

“Last year I didn’t worry about it. I just went out and if I pitched well, what can I do about it? I did what I could, I tried what I could.”

Hart has edge of McCutchen for starting job

BRADENTON, Fla. — Just two days into spring training, the Pittsburgh Pirates might already have settled one of their position battles.

Right-handers Kevin Hart and Daniel McCutchen were supposed to duel for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, and recent first-round draft pick Brad Lincoln was supposed to provide pressure while starting the season in Triple-A.

On Friday, all indications pointed to Hart as the front-runner.

In discussing his pitching corps, manager John Russell mentioned Hart as one of the starters and McCutchen among the bullpen crew. But when pressed, Russell stopped short of confirming Hart has won the job.

“There’s competition and he knows it,” Russell said of Hart, two worked on his delivery over the winter. “He’s going to do everything he can to make sure he makes a good impression and shows he’s ready for it. We’ve got some other very good candidates, but he’s working awfully hard. Time will tell, but he’s in a good position right now.”

Hart went 1-8 with a 6.92 ERA in 10 starts last season after being traded to the Pirates.

“We’re working on some new mechanics and a new windup, so it’s really just muscle memory,” Hart said. “This offseason, I was in front of the mirror every night, working on getting to the same points. You have to train your muscles to repeat the motions.”

Hart worked to slow down his delivery so that he would “stay behind the ball” through his release point. when he does that, his pitches have more sink.

“He feels a lot more comfortable with (his mechanics),” Russell said. “You can tell he’s on a mission. everything he’s doing, from his PFPs (fielding drills) to his sides, he’s really focusing on what he’s got going on.”

Hart looked sharp a month ago in minicamp and again on Thursday, when he threw a 40-pitch bullpen. It was so good, in fact, that the normally stoic Russell gushed.

“He’s throwing the ball really, really well,” Russell said, arching eyebrows in emphasis. “So we’re very excited.”

NOTES: OF Ryan Church checked into camp on Friday. only seven position players — including Andrew McCutchen, Lastings Milledge, Delwyn Young and Ronny Cedeno — have not yet been spotted at Pirate City. the first full-squad workout is Tuesday. … Reliever Jean Machi was given medical clearance Friday and threw a bullpen session. He was held out of Thursday’s workout and had extra physical tests.

Braves’ Jurrjens says shoulder ‘really tight’

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A clean MRI this week gave Jair Jurrjens relief that there’s no structural problem with his right shoulder.

Even so, Jurrjens was not ready to throw on Friday when the Atlanta Braves pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. He said tightness in the shoulder could keep him from throwing “for a week or two.”

Jurrjens said Friday he expects to be ready for the start of the season, but he said he’ll be behind other Braves pitchers as he works out the stiffness.

“I’m hoping in a week or two I can start playing catch a little bit,” Jurrjens said. “I was throwing from the mound already back home. I don’t think it will take so long to get back up. We’ll see. We’re going to take it slow and hopefully I can get back on the field quick.”

Braves orthopedist Dr. Xavier Duralde prescribed a week of rest and treatment for Jurrjens following Wednesday’s MRI, which revealed only inflammation.

“I’m happy nothing showed up,” Jurrjens said. “The doctor said that’s the most beautiful MRI he ever saw in his life. everything is intact and nothing is wrong in there. I’m happy with that.”

The first official workout for pitchers and catchers is Saturday. Jurrjens will spend the day “stretching and stretching” to try to regain flexibility in the shoulder.

“I’m really tight in my shoulder and I think that’s where the inflammation is,” he said.

Jurrjens says he made an awkward underhand throw while working out last week, causing the problem.

“Playing around and doing something stupid, I felt something,” he said. “I’ve learned when I work out to make sure I stretch it and don’t play around. It’s something you learn and I’ll make sure I never do it again.”

Jurrjens could enter the season as Atlanta’s no. 1 starter following the offseason trade which sent Javier Vazquez to the Yankees.

Jurrjens was 14-10 and ranked third in the National League with a 2.60 ERA last season.

“We take for granted that he is what he is,” said Braves manager Bobby Cox of Jurrjens, who turned 24 on Jan. 29. “He was phenomenal. I think we’ve just grown to expect that. That’s why we take it for granted.

“He’s a sharp kid. He can take good stuff to the mound and, I don’t want to use the word ‘dominate’ every time, but he came close to it last year. He’s one of those special guys, he can sit on 92 the whole ball game until the seventh, then all of a sudden there’s a 96 up there on the strikeout.”

The Braves’ projected rotation also includes Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe, Tommy Hanson and Kenshin Kawakami.

Cox said he hasn’t picked a no. 1 starter.

Mets reliever Escobar says shoulder is ‘weak’

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — new Yorks Mets reliever Kelvim Escobar said Friday that his shoulder is merely weak and any rumors that he is hurt are untrue.

The former starter signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the Mets in late December, despite pitching in only one major league game since 2007 because of shoulder surgery. He’s expected to contend for the eighth-inning setup role.

“I am in a program that I have to stick with,” Escobar said. “It’s not true I am not going to pick up a ball and the things I heard. You have to take it easy. I don’t want to rush. there is plenty of time to get my arm in better shape, and it should be fine.”

The 33-year-old Escobar pitched winter ball in Venezuela, then didn’t pick up a ball for almost 5 weeks. Although he’s been doing arm exercises and other workouts, Escobar acknowledged he’s behind schedule and isn’t sure when he’ll be able to pitch.

There had been concern Escobar might have hurt himself playing in Venezuela.

“I felt good,” Escobar said. “My velocity was good, my stuff was good. I shut it down after that because we didn’t make the playoffs. I didn’t pick up a ball for four or five weeks, and then I started playing catch and it didn’t feel quite right.”

Escobar said he will start slowly with long toss and throwing on flat ground, but from there it depends on how his arm responds to exercises.

Escobar began his career as a reliever with the Blue Jays in 1997, but has bounced in and out of the starting rotation since then. He recorded 38 saves as Toronto’s closer in 2002, but mainly has served as a starter in recent years.

He believes going back to the bullpen will be better for him physically because he will only have to prepare his arm for 20-30 pitches, rather than 90-plus expected of a starter.

“I used to love it,” said Escobar, who is 101-91 with a 4.15 ERA and 59 saves. “I used to love having the ball at the end of a game, the adrenaline. … I have some experience as a reliever, so I should be fine. I just have to get my shoulder ready.”

Colorado’s Jimenez looks good in first bullpen

TUCSON, Ariz. — Ubaldo Jimenez is hoping a couple of minor adjustments will allow him to go deeper into games for the Colorado Rockies.

Jimenez threw his first bullpen session of spring training Friday, and pitching coach Bob Apodaca was pleased with what he saw.

“Today is absolutely how I’d hoped he’d come here,” Apodaca said.

Jimenez went 15-12 last year, and his 3.47 ERA was the lowest in franchise history for a starting pitcher. He ranked sixth in the National League in innings (218) and strikeouts (198).

But the 26-year-old right-hander had some problems with his command when he was pitching out of the stretch. that forced him out of some games early because of a high pitch count.

Apodaca said Jimenez was quicker to the plate when he pitched out of the stretch during the bullpen session and his improved alignment led to better command.

“This guy didn’t take the winter off,” Apodaca said. “He wants to be great. He doesn’t want to be just a good pitcher.”

The Rockies have a deep rotation — fifth starter Jason Hammel has a power arm and went 10-8 with a 4.33 ERA over 176 2-3 innings — but lack a true no. 1 starter. Jimenez has the stuff and mindset to rise to that level.

Jimenez pitched at least six innings in 29 of his 33 starts, including a franchise-record 25 straight. He ranked second in the NL in pitches thrown (3,570) but had eight games where he threw at least 90 pitches and left after the sixth, in part done in by his pitch count.

Working more efficiently out of the stretch would help the hard-throwing Jimenez take the next step to being the ace the Rockies believe he can be.

What Jimenez needs to attain bona fide no. 1 status is “just maturity,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “Slowing himself down more, just trying not to do too much. Nothing more than that.

“It’s the evolution of turning himself into a pitcher. I truly he’ll figure that out on his timeframe, not ours. That’s how it works.”

Gagne agrees with Dodgers

GLENDALE, Ariz. — former NL Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne has agreed to a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and would receive a $500,000, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster.

Gagne won the 2003 NL Cy Young with the Dodgers, when he converted all 55 save chances, and saved 152 games over three seasons through 2004. the right-hander converted a record 84 consecutive save chances during that time, but had operations on his pitching elbow in 2005 and 2006, and back surgery in 2006.

Now 34, he hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2008, when he was 4-3 with a 5.44 ERA and 10 saves in 17 chances for Milwaukee. the Brewers released him from a minor league contract last March after doctors found he had a frayed rotator cuff. He signed with the Quebec Capitales of the independent Can-Am League and went 6-6 with a 4.65 ERA in 17 starts.

The Mitchell Report accused Gagne of receiving human growth hormone in 2004. He apologized to Milwaukee teammates for “a distraction that shouldn’t be taking place” but didn’t directly address the allegation.

Halladay is an early riser, hard worker

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Talk about your early arrivals. Roy Halladay showed up for spring training two months ago.

Halladay wasn’t looking to impress his new team. That’s just his way. A strong work ethic is a major reason the 32-year-old right-hander is widely considered to be the best pitcher in the majors.

Now that the Philadelphia Phillies have officially started camp, other players and coaches get to see Halladay do his thing up close. But they have to get to the ballpark early enough, of course.

Halladay gets to work at 5:45 a.m. his workout regimen includes a lot of running, stretching and exercises to strengthen his arm, legs and core. no matter when he starts, it seems that Halladay is constantly busy.

Marlins not so young as spring training begins

MIAMI — those perennially youthful Florida Marlins are starting to show a little age.

Five members of the Marlins’ talented rookie class of 2006 are back for the start of another spring training, lending a rare sense of continuity to a franchise known for constant roster turnover. the group includes ace Josh Johnson, NL batting champion Hanley Ramirez and slugging second baseman Dan Uggla.

Johnson will be part of the first workout for pitchers and catchers Saturday in Jupiter, Fla. Ramirez, Uggla and other position players are scheduled to report Tuesday.

Johnson and his classmates are still twenty-somethings, but by the Marlins’ standards, they’re wily old veterans. Fifth-year major-leaguers tend to be too pricey for Florida’s tight budget.