Pettitte will start in minors

Back spasms slow pitcher's progress

New York Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game Sunday.

Pettitte, originally scheduled to start the Yankees' second game of the regular season on Wednesday, has been slowed by back spasms. If all goes well, he is expected to make his first start of the season next Friday or Saturday.

"We're going to see how it feels and try and stretch it out," Pettitte said. "Then figure out what I'm going to do after that game."

Pettitte threw off a bullpen mound Wednesday and will do it again today. He hasn't pitched in a game since March 17.

RED SOX BACK IN AMERICA: Some road trip for the Boston Red Sox.

"Japan, the United States and Canada. I guess they really want to see what we're made of," Boston's Sean Casey said with a smile.

After playing two exhibitions against teams in Japan and then opening the regular season by splitting two games against the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo, the World Series champion Red Sox will play three exhibitions against the Los Angeles Dodgers, including Saturday's "throwback" game at the Dodgers' former home in the Coliseum, before heading to Oakland to reopen the regular season against the Athletics in a two-game set. Then it's on to Toronto for a weekend series.

BECKETT PITCHES: Josh Beckett, who missed the Red Sox's trip to Japan because of back spasms, pitched four shutout innings in a minor league game in Florida on Thursday. He threw 47 pitches, gave up one hit, didn't walk a batter and struck out six.

Manager Terry Francona said Beckett will join the team in Toronto and may pitch there, but "that's not etched in stone."

GOVERNOR GOES TO BAT FOR CUBS: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Thursday he'll do all he can to keep the team playing at Wrigley Field as billionaire owner Sam Zell looks to sell the team and the 94-year-old ballpark to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, a state-city agency.

Former Gov. Jim Thompson, ISFA chairman, is said to be expected to make a formal offer to Zell soon. The agency also owns the Chicago White Sox's U.S. Cellular Field.

DUKES MISSES GAME: Left fielder Elijah Dukes missed the Washington Nationals' final Florida exhibition game Thursday because he had to deal with non-baseball matters that the team did not specify.

CAPUANO TO ATTEMPT REHAB: Less than a week after being told he probably would need surgery on his left elbow, the Milwaukee Brewers' Chris Capuano said he will try rehabilitation that would allow him to play this season. The left-hander will try rehab for three to four weeks.

ON TV: Ron Darling and Buck Martinez will serve as analysts during TBS's inaugural season of televising national Sunday baseball games. Darling or Martinez will work with play-by-play announcer Chip Caray. Darling also works as an analyst for New York Mets games. Martinez calls Baltimore Orioles games.

LEGENDS FIELD RENAMED: George Steinbrenner is in the owner's box and on the field now. The New York Yankees' spring training home in Tampa, Fla., was renamed George M. Steinbrenner Field during ceremonies Thursday.