Bobby Crosby displayed some serious willpower this winter by only looking at the hundred or so bats he has lying around his house. The Oakland shortstop resisted the urge to take a few cuts.

Crosby, who hasn’t played since late August because of a recurring lower back injury, hopes his discipline will pay off in the coming days when he faces live pitching for the first time in more than six months.

“Everything’s been good,” Crosby said Sunday in Phoenix. “I won’t know for sure until I take full hacks.”

Crosby has missed 132 games over the past two seasons with various injuries, but his fielding and throwing feel great, so hitting is the last step before the A’s deem Crosby ready to play.

“No rush,” assistant general manager David Forst said. “I don’t even need him to play in the first spring training game.”

Crosby, who batted .229 with nine homers and 40 RBIs in 2006, underwent physical therapy five days a week during the offseason.

“I’m more anxious going into this year than any other year,” Crosby said. “I haven’t played in, what, six months – it’s been a long time. I feel if I stay healthy, I’ll be fine.”

Yankees

The New York Yankees are counting on Carl Pavano to start for them this season, but the right-hander had a MRI exam and X-rays taken Sunday on his injured left foot.

The team didn’t immediately release the results, but Pavano said afterward that he wasn’t concerned.

“Just for precaution,” Pavano said in Tampa, Fla. “It’s feeling better than it did. I’m not really too alarmed. There’s no bruising or anything. It’s just stiff.”

Pavano was hit on the instep in batting practice Saturday by infielder Alberto Gonzalez’s line drive. He made one warm-up toss after being struck and then threw 27 more pitches to complete his workout. The right-hander may not pitch in Tuesday’s intrasquad game.

Rockies

At Tucson, Ariz., Steve Finley reported to spring training after signing a minor league contract with the Rockies on Saturday. The 41-year-old said he was waiting for the perfect deal after the Giants declined to exercise their option on him in November.

The Rockies proved to be the best-case scenario.

“We talked to the Rockies early in the offseason. There was interest. I was looking to try to get out of the situation I was traded into with the Giants and nothing was really materializing. I was content to be patient,” Finley said. “I came down to the end wanting to be in camp. I didn’t want to sit there. People need to see what I can do.”

Dodgers

The Dodgers are excited to have right-hander Jason Schmidt in their camp in Vero Beach, Fla. Schmidt passed up opportunities in the offseason for a longer, more lucrative deal and instead signed a $47 million, three-year deal with Los Angeles.

“I want that ring. You don’t have that, you haven’t accomplished your main goal,” he said.