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LAKELAND, Fla. - The number most people associate with Justin Verlander is 20 — as in, will he reach 20 wins? On Wednesday, the focus was 30 — as in the 30th birthday of the Detroit Tigers' ace. "I have a long time left," he said.

RIO DE JANEIRO - The IOC says preparations for the 2016 Olympics are on schedule but emphasized to Rio de Janeiro organizers the need to remain vigilant in a "critical" year for the games.

There's always a danger when a former athlete sets himself down, pen in hand, and bares his soul. Some get it right in tomes that can be revealing, even therapeutic.

Welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre isn't losing much sleep over opponent Nick Diaz's travel arrangements to Montreal for their UFC 158 main event.

GLENDALE, Ariz. - The catcher in charge of the Los Angeles Dodgers' vaunted pitching staff spent part of his off-season learning how to squat. Don't worry, Dodgers fans. A.J.

TORONTO - The cast is off and he's back skating but Joffrey Lupul isn't going to rush back into the Toronto Maple Leafs' lineup. The veteran forward was among six players participating in an optional skate Wednesday at the club's practice facility.

EDMONTON - When Edmonton Oilers head coach Ralph Kruger sees a problem, he likes to deal with it head on and quickly. Problem is, when his team wins he finds the players aren't really paying attention as well as after a loss.

PEORIA, Ariz. - Before getting too worked up over the Seattle Mariners' preseason preparations, outfielder Michael Saunders, pitcher Oliver Perez and infielder Alex Liddi are looking forward to the World Baseball Classic.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Jason Varitek announced his retirement about a year ago — then found the baseball bug is a pretty hard one to shake. "I became a fan," the former Boston catcher said Wednesday.

BRADENTON, Fla. - Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting looked over the $10 million renovation of McKechnie Field — the team's spring training home — and took a moment to marvel at how far the franchise has come since he took over five years ago.