GLENDALE, Ariz. K. C. Jones Jersey . -- 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. Nate Archibald Jersey .S. international midfielder Michael Bradley is complete. Bailey Howell Jersey . In the opener of the World Group first-round series, world No. 18 Kei Nishikori defeated Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont. https://www.cheapceltics.com/422n-tom-heinsohn-jersey-celtics.html . Rudy Gay made the tying basket in regulation and a 3-pointer in overtime that gave Sacramento the lead for good, and Fredette scored a career-high 24 points to help the Kings beat the Knicks 106-101 on Wednesday night.TORONTO - Trevor Smith scored twice and added an assist as the Toronto Marlies downed the visiting Lake Erie Monsters 5-1 on Sunday in American Hockey League play. The 28-year-old, who was recently named Torontos new captain, has had a strong start to the season as hes produced three goals, two of which are game winners, and five points in his first two outings. "So far so good," said Smith of the pair Marlies victories. "These are the good times, you got to really embrace them. Theres going to be some learning times coming this way so weve just got to embrace the wins." Knowing this seasons squad would be young and raw -- the Marlies dressed 13 players Sunday 23 or younger -- head coach Steve Spott challenged the veteran Smith to be the teams go-to guy and hes been impressed with what hes seen so far. "He knows what to say, when to say it and on the ice you can see how dominant he is," said Spott. "Hes got to be a point a game guy for us, thats the pressure. He knows that, hes accepted that and he likes that challenge." Defenceman T.J. Brennan had a goal and an assist for the Marlies (2-0-0) while Greg McKegg and Tyler Biggs scored the others. Mark Olver scored the lone goal for the Monsters (1-2-0), who were playing their third game in three days. Drew MacIntyre made 20 saves for the win as Calvin Pickard stopped 28-of-31 shots in defeat. Biggs opened the scoring early in the second with a short-handed goal when he poked home the rebound off Smiths breakaway. Biggs then set the physical tone, throwing a big hit on Lake Erie defenceman Markus Lauridsen behind the Monsters net. Lake Erie tied it 1-1 on the power play as Olver got around Marlies defenceman Petter Granberg and, despite losinng control of the puck, managed to get it between the legs of MacIntyre. Walter McCarty Jersey. Smith gave the Marlies a 2-1 lead on the power play at 17:59 of the second as a floater fooled Pickard glove side. Smith made it 3-1 when he finished off a feed from Spencer Abbott early in the third. Abbott, who was a minus-2 in just over five minutes of ice time in the Maple Leafs 5-4 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators Saturday night, was reassigned to the Marlies along with Jamie Devane Sunday morning. "They gave us two different elements," said Spott of the returnees. "Spencer gives us some skill and he plays a skilled high-tempo type game. Jamie obviously gives us some physicality and grit." Brennan and McKegg scored empty-net goals late in the third to put the game out of reach. Spott admitted his team was able to take advantage of a tired Monsters team who split back-to-back games in Abbotsford on Friday and Saturday before travelling to Toronto. "We caught a break, I think, with the schedule," Spott said. "We tried to use that to our advantage today. We were able to wear them down." Toronto went 1-for-8 on the power play while Lake Erie scored once on five chances with the man advantage. An area of concern for the Marlies as they now have a week of practice is their 5-on-3 play. The club has had numerous opportunities to score while up two men in two games to start the year, but havent been able to do it. "We will work a lot on our 5-on-3 this week," said Spott. "Weve got to give their goalie some credit, but ultimately, we have to punish teams when they take those penalties." Toronto doesnt play again until next Saturday when they host the St Johns IceCaps. ' ' '