GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Josh Beckett said he will be ready for the start of the Dodgers season after having a rib removed last July in a surgery to alleviate a nerve condition that was affecting his right arm "I dont have numbness and tingling, anymore," Beckett said Monday. No doubts, either. The right-hander is expected to battle newly acquired Paul Maholm for the fifth spot in the Dodgers starting rotation this spring. Beckett, the fifth starter before last years mid-season surgery, breezed through his first bullpen session Monday in Arizona. He threw 30 pitches with no sign of trouble. "Im not tentative," said Beckett, who reported to camp a day late so he could attend a wedding. "Im going to throw as hard as I can and see what happens. Right now, I feel great. Ill throw the ball until I blow out and Im hoping thats not for a few more years." The Dodgers signing of Maholm on Saturday is considered a hedge against the possibility of further injury to Beckett, a three-time All-Star whom the Dodgers acquired from Boston along with Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto in a 2012 trade. "Josh is doing really well, but hes coming off tough surgery and theres not a lot of history with that surgery, so well see where things go," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. Beckett underwent the same surgical procedure that former St. Louis Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter underwent in July 2012. Carpenter went on to pitch in six more games in 2012 -- three in the regular season and three in the playoffs. But Carpenter did not pitch in 2013. He announced his retirement in November. Beckett said he has spoken to Carpenter. He said he was told Carpenters nerve condition was more severe than his own. Beckett also said the surgery was more complicated. Dr. Greg Pearl of Dallas performed both procedures. Carpenters experience and advice helped, he said. "It got me through the mental part," said Beckett, who was 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA when he landed on the disabled list on May 14. Neck problems and numbness in his right hand had troubled Beckett for the last few years. It got to the point where he learned how to drive with only his left hand. There were times, he said, when he couldnt feel the steering wheel with his right. "Its crazy how simple things become difficult to do," he said. The surgery, which also includes removal of some connective tissue, alleviated pressure on a nerve in his neck, he said. He never felt any pain. But there were moments when he had no control of his pitches. "I didnt know if I was going to throw it over the backstop," he said. "I had no idea where it was going to go." Beckett arrived in camp with his confidence bolstered by three workouts during the last couple of weeks in Texas. He threw off a mound twice, on Jan. 31 and again on Feb 3. Cold weather forced him inside on Feb. 6 where he threw 38 pitches off a flat surface. Beckett has no illusions about the competition he faces in camp. "Its just if hes healthy," Mattingly said. "Josh throws the ball good. Hes been a quality pitcher for a long time and he still has good stuff. How he bounces back, well see. Weve had nothing but positive reports all winter. Josh has never been in the bullpen. Obviously, its a competitive situation. Were not handing anything out for anybody. If hes healthy, well see." Beckett expects to have more time to prepare than the Dodgers calendar might indicate. They break camp in Arizona after a March 16 game and travel to Australia for a pair of regular-season games in Sydney against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 22 and 23. "Im probably not going to start opening day in Australia," Beckett said. "Theyre paying a guy a lot of money to do that. Not all of us are getting ready for those days. Some of us have a little more time than it appears we do." NOTES: Outfielder Yasiel Puig is already in camp. Mattingly might open the season with the versatile Puig at the top of the Dodgers batting order. .The rest of the team is scheduled to report on Thursday. Matt Grzelcyk Bruins Jersey . Cavaliers shooting guard Craig Ehlo makes a solid play on the ball, but still Jordan hits the amazing shot. Torey Krug Bruins Jersey . "If we only consider this season," Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said, "there is just one club in Manchester -- and its ours. http://www.thebostonbruinshockey.com/brad-marchand-hockey-jersey/ . “Im not sure well get Melky Cabrera at all,” said Gibbons. The 29-year-old left fielder struggled all season with knee and hamstring problems. Cabrera was first on the disabled list from June 27-July 20 with tendinitis in his left knee. John Moore Bruins Jersey . - Olympic champion Marielle Thompson accomplished her mission of defending her skicross World Cup title at Nakiska Ski Area on Saturday. Tuukka Rask Bruins Jersey . Cox started the season with San Francisco, but was released by the team on Nov. 12 before being signed by Seattle, where he appeared in two games and tallied three tackles before being released on Dec.FRANKFURT, Germany -- Hakan Calhanoglu crowned an outstanding performance by scoring the opening goal in a 2-1 victory for Hamburger SV over fellow Bundesliga straggler Nuremberg on Sunday. In the late match, Freiburg won 4-1 in Frankfurt, executing a counter-attacking game plan to perfection for an important victory against relegation. Calhanoglu, a 20-year-old midfielder, had several attempts foiled by Raphael Schaefer but the Nuremberg goalkeeper was helpless when Calhanoglus shot was slightly deflected into the roof of the net in 80th. An own goal by Mike Frantz, who also deflected Calhanoglus shot, sealed Nurembergs fate in the 86th despite a strike in injury time by Josip Drmic. Hamburg goalkeeper Rene Adler saved the victory by turning away Jose Campanas free kick, the last shot of the lively match. "I think I aged three years, the ball just didnt want to go into their net," Adler said. Both teams had plenty of chances and hit the woodwork, and both goalkeepers produced superb saves. Javier Pinola cleared on the line a header from Jacques Zoua in the 71st to save Nuremberg from falling behind, but Hamburgs pressure paid off when Calhanoglu buried his ninth goal of the season. Hamburg escaped from the relegation zone and jumped over Nuremberg into 14th place, both on 23 points. Frankfurt stayed three points above Hamburg but failed to create a bigger gap to the danger zone.ddddddddddddFreiburg moved past Stuttgart into 16th, which means a playoff for a place in the top division. Frankfurt wasted nearly a dozen chances, especially in the first half, while Freiburg made the most out of its few. Freiburgs goalkeeper Oliver Baumann made a series of fine saves and his teams speedy forwards created havoc on the opposite side. Julian Schusters superb overhead kick - the visiting sides first attempt on target, gave Freiburg the lead in the 34th and Karim Guede doubled the advantage in the 54th with a clinical finish after another fast break. Eintracht got back into the match briefly after Joselu pulled one back in the 59th. Baumann blocked his first attempt but Joselu followed through with a header, only to see Felix Klaus restore the two-goal cushion in the 70th. Guede completed the victory in injury time with his second, after another counter-attack. On Saturday, Bayern extended its league record unbeaten run to 50 games and moved 23 points clear of Borussia Dortmund with nine games remaining by beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-1. Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 to Borussia Moenchengladbach, meaning Bayern can secure the title at Mainz next week if Dortmund and Schalke, 24 points behind in third, both fail to win. ' ' '