NEW YORK, N.Y. - The closer spring training gets, the more apparent it becomes that Alex Rodriguez will have to prove to the New York Yankees that he can play third base after a yearlong layoff.I dont know what to expect with Alex. I think its every colour on the rainbow, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Friday during a telephone conference call to discuss the acquisitions of reliever Andrew Miller and shortstop Didi Gregorius.Rodriguez, the three-time AL MVP, was suspended last season for violations of baseballs drug agreement and labour contract. He is owed $61 million by the Yankees in the final three seasons of his contract.Chase Headley, who took over as the starter when he was obtained from San Diego in July, appears likely to leave as a free agent. When Cashman discussed third base possibilities during his call, he mentioned Martin Prado, another summertime acquisition.He did not list A-Rod.Cashman said, I avoid actually penciling his name in and said he strives to answer questions about Rodriguez as honestly and diplomatically at the same time as I possibly can.The extreme hope is that you get the middle-of-the-lineup bat that can play third whenever you want, if not all the time, and be a productive middle-of-the-lineup hitter, Cashman said. But at the same time, the worst-case scenario is that hes no longer a third baseman and is not a productive bat and youre looking to find places to play, whether its in the DH role or spot starter here or there at third.Rodriguez turns 40 on July 27 and has not played a full season since 2007 due to leg injuries, operations on both hips and the long suspension.I dont know where on that spectrum were going to fall, Cashman said. Well find out once were getting through spring training, hes knocking the rust off of playing again. Hell be in great shape. He usually always is. Normally, thats the guy that were used to.Rodriguez admitted in 2009 he used performance-enhancing substances from 2001-03 while with Texas, but he repeatedly denied using PEDs while playing for the Yankees. Given a grant of immunity by federal prosecutors, Rodriguez told investigators he did use banned substances between late 2010 and October 2012 supplied by Anthony Bosch, according to Drug Enforcement Administration documents provided by the government to defence lawyers. Bosch owned the Biogenesis of America clinic in Coral Gables, Florida. Cheap San Francisco Giants Jerseys . The Maple Leafs handed their embattled head coach a two-year contract extension on Thursday, while at the same time announcing that assistants Dave Farrish, Greg Cronin and Scott Gordon will not be back. Cheap Giants Jerseys . 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A little more than one year after missing a last-second tip-in that would have given the Wolverines a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, the 6-foot-8 forward scored on a layup with 7.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Clippers struggled with an inferior team the last time out and could be in for a long night Friday against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center. The Clippers squeezed past the Detroit Pistons, 104-98, on Wednesday at The Palace and Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score 25 points. Chris Paul had 23 points and seven assists, while Blake Griffin added 15 points and DeAndre Jordan grabbed 11 rebounds. Los Angeles made 47.4 percent from the floor and have won two in a row to improve to 4-1 on a seven-game road trip. The Pistons led 51-48 at the half and took a 73-72 lead into the fourth, but the Clippers had a 32-25 scoring advantage over the last 12 minutes. We started making some shots and started moving a little bit, said Paul, who is third in the NBA with 9.7 assists. We got them to turn it over and miss a few shots, and thats when were at our best. The Clippers have scored 100 or more points four times during the road trip and are 5-2 away from home. They are averaging 103.3 points this season and sit third in field goal percentage at 47.2. The Clippers are 8-1 when scoring 100 or more points. LA will close the trip Saturday against the Utah Jazz. In injury news for the Clips, forward Matt Barnes is questionable Friday with a calf strain and has missed the last two games. Barnes is posting 7.8 points this season. Houston will close out a five-game homestand Friday and is 3-1 so far on the stay. In a 102-89 victory over Sacramento on Wednesday, Isaiah Canaan nailled six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 24 points.dddddddddddd James Harden had 26 points and made only 10-of-31 shots from the field, and was impressed with Canaan. Isaiah played extremely well at both ends of the floor, Harden said. Our defense turned it up when we needed to. Donatas Motiejunas hit the 20-point mark with 21 and Trevor Ariza ended with 13 points for the Rockets, who made 44.7 percent from the field and have won three in a row and six of eight games. The Rockets registered a 37-19 difference in the first quarter and scored 32 points off Sacramentos 21 turnovers. The Rockets will visit Milwaukee Saturday night and are 6-2 at home. They are first in opponents scoring at 91.5 percent. Rockets center Dwight Howard has missed four straight games and could be sidelined once again. Howard is dealing with a knee issue and is posting an average of 18.8 points and 11.3 rebounds. Patrick Beverley (hamstring) is doubtful and Terrence Jones (contusion) is listed as out for Fridays game versus the Clippers. The Clippers won all four meetings with the Rockets in 2013-14 and are 10-2 in the past 12 matchups between the Western powers. Los Angeles has prevailed in two straight and four of the past five visits to the Toyota Center. Howard averaged 19.0 points and 9.3 rebounds in three games against the Clippers last season and Harden amassed 19.3 points in four. Paul had 20.3 points and 12.8 assists, and Griffin averaged 17.5 ppg in four games against Houston last season. 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