JUPITER - Sandy Koufax walked into the Marlins clubhouse and immediately got everyone's attention.
"Any time you can pick the mind of a legend, it can only help," opening-day starter Josh Beckett said.
Koufax surprised the World Series champions with a visit and spent an hour answering questions and offering advice to the young pitching staff.
"I hope they do well or I'll get blamed for screwing them up," the Hall of Fame left-hander joked.
Koufax has visited other clubs this spring, including the Mets, Red Sox and Dodgers, but his trip to Jupiter might have been the most organized.
He spoke to about 15 pitchers and several coaches behind closed doors. The meeting lasted so long that pitching coach Wayne Rosenthal and starter Darren Oliver had to rush onto the field before the game against the Mets.
"I didn't try to change or do anything," Koufax said. "We just talked about pitching and a little of this and a little of that. Why would you want to change guys who have been that successful at this point? I told them this isn't the start of a new season, this is a continuation. Remember where you were and go on from there."
TIGERS TO SIGN CLOSER: Reliever Ugueth Urbina was ready to sign as a free agent with the Tigers after helping the Marlins win the World Series. The right-hander worked out with pitching coach Bob Cluck while manager Alan Trammell looked on. After the workout, Urbina said he had to take a physical and then intended to sign.
CUBS-BRAVES TRADE: Chicago traded right-hander Juan Cruz and left-hander Steve Smyth to Atlanta for minor-league left-hander Andy Pratt and infielder Richard Lewis.
EXPOS-D'BACKS TRADE: Montreal traded left-handed reliever Randy Choate to Arizona for right-handed reliever John Patterson.
ATTENDANCE UP: Attendance at spring training games in Florida is up 17 percent from 2003, according to figures released by the state's sports promotion organization. Crowds averaged 5,978 through Wednesday, compared with 5,105 at this time last year, the Florida Sports Foundation said.
A'S: Second baseman Mark Ellis is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after dislocating his right shoulder in a collision with shortstop Bobby Crosby.
INDIANS: Right-hander Jeff D'Amico, a former Northeast High standout, strengthened his case to win one of two available spots in the starting rotation with six shutout innings against the Expos. He allowed four hits, walked none and struck out two.
ORIOLES: LHP Omar Daal is headed to the disabled list with a sore shoulder that could keep him sidelined up to a month.
PIRATES: Leftfielder Jason Bay's recovery from shoulder surgery is going more slowly than expected, and he probably will start the season on the disabled list.
ROYALS: Right-hander Miguel Asencio will have elbow ligament transplant surgery and miss the season.
