Announcements

No injuries were reported in a midair collision near Rio Vista Municipal Airport Sunday evening that caused a helicopter to crash, according to Federal Aviation Administration officials.

A Beechcraft Bonanza airplane collided with a Robinson R22 helicopter near the Solano County airport, causing the helicopter to crash 8 miles south of the airport, according to Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman.

The airplane was able to land short of the Byron Airport in Contra Costa County and reported no injuries. The helicopter's pilot also reportedly refused medical treatment, Gregor said.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate this accident.

The NTSB typically posts a preliminary report within a week or two of the accident, but can often take months to determine a probable cause, Gregor said.

Service on the California cable car line has been disrupted by an equipment failure, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

Shuttles have been put in place on the line following the breakdown, which occurred around 2:45 p.m.

Bob Melvin spent most of his Sunday morning introducing himself to all the new faces gathering in the Oakland Athletics' spring training facility. Next up, he'll be reading through some of their bios.

"When you can converse on a personal level it makes them feel more comfortable," Melvin said. "It's to let guys know they will get some personal attention."

Brandon McCarthy is the only returning starter from a rotation that ended last season under Melvin. Injuries decimated the pitching staff last year and trades took care of the rest.

Veteran Bartolo Colon is expected to earn a spot in the starting rotation along with Dallas Braden, and, possibly, Brett Anderson.

Braden declared himself ready to go following left shoulder surgery that ended his season in May. Anderson, who will throw off a mound Monday for the first time since his injury, made it into June before undergoing left elbow surgery.

Trevor Cahill, an All-Star in 2010, was sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a trade that netted the A's pitchers Ryan Cook and Jarrod Parker, and outfielder Collin Cowgill.

Gio Gonzalez, the lone A's representative at last year's All-Star game, went to the Washington Nationals in exchange for pitchers Tommy Moline and Brad Peacock, catcher Derek Norris and minor league pitcher A.J. Cole.

Tyson Ross went 3-3 with a 2.75 ERA in nine games, including six starts, with Oakland before going on the disabled list May 20 with a strained left oblique.

A's catcher Kurt Suzuki hasn't had much time to introduce himself to the new pitchers. He's certainly looking forward to catching them and getting them comfortable.

"You have to develop a game plan with them," Suzuki said. "You have to learn about them and how to work together."

It's not just the starters. Melvin and his staff must also piece together a bullpen, with the departure of closer Andrew Bailey to the Boston Red Sox and Craig Breslow to the Diamondbacks along with Cahill.

The good news is there are plenty of candidates. The coaches will just need a little time to determine their strengths and weaknesses.

Grant Balfour and Brian Fuentes are the early front runners to close, and Melvin said Joey Devine and Fautino De Los Santos are also in the mix.

"It comes down to when we get into games," Melvin said. "That's when we start finding out about people."

With the A's scheduled to leave for Tokyo on March 21, there's no time to waste.

"If you are mentally ready, whatever you're working on is the right path," McCarthy said. "Last year I built up to a full outing and then scaled back. I'm doing that again, without the scaling back. My throwing program has not changed. I'm just trying to get used to being on my feet all day."

Notes: Former A's infielder Tony Phillips was a visitor to the first day of workouts. ... Former 1B-OF Sean Doolittle is trying to make the switch to pitching. He was a three-time All-American utility player at Virginia. ... Melvin, a former major league catcher, threw the first official round of batting practice.

The Detroit Red Wings won their 23rd straight home game, setting an NHL multiple-season mark and holding on to beat the San Jose Sharks 3-2 Sunday.

Detroit, which broke the league's single-season record of 20 on Tuesday, surpassed the 22 wins in a row the Boston Bruins had over two seasons more than eight decades ago.

Henrik Zetterberg and Drew Miller gave Detroit a two-goal lead midway through the second period and Darren Helm restored the two-goal edge 7:01 into the third.

Logan Couture scored late in the second period for the Sharks and Patrick Marleau pulled them within a goal with 4:44 left.

The Red Wings won their sixth straight game, all in a homestand at Joe Louis Arena, and have an NHL-high 84 points.

Detroit's Joey MacDonald, filling in for the injured Jimmy Howard, made 31 saves.

The Pacific Division-leading Sharks have lost six of eight.

San Jose's Antti Niemi gave up a goal on the second shot he faced and finished with 25 saves.

The Red Wings snapped a five-game losing streak against San Jose in the regular season, beating a team that has eliminated them in the second round in each of the past two postseasons.

MacDonald won his sixth straight game in place of Howard, who isn't being rushed to return after breaking his right index finger. Howard is expected to play Tuesday night at Chicago.

Detroit got off to a good start against the Sharks, getting goals from Zetterberg 6:30 into the game and Miller midway through the second, but it wasn't easy to beat them as usual.

Couture was credited for a goal after video review that bounced off the top of the net and appeared to be whacked into the net by Detroit's Justin Abdelkader on a power play with 5:27 left in the second period.

Miller's centering pass set up Helm for a shot from the slot in the third. Later, Marleau finished off a goal-mouth scramble by stuffing the puck past MacDonald.

Police in Berkeley are investigating a homicide that took place in the city on Saturday night.

Officers responded to a home near Shasta Road and Grizzly Peak Boulevard after a woman called to report a suspicious person trespassing near her garage, according to Berkeley police.

The woman's husband reportedly went outside to confront the suspect when he was assaulted, police said.

The man was treated at the scene by the first police officer before being taken to a local trauma center by Berkeley Fire Department paramedics, police said.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police were not discussing details of the attack and did not releasing the victim's name on Sunday.

While officers were conducting an investigation in the neighborhood where the alleged assault occurred, a man was seen in the area who matched the suspect description.

Daniel Jordan Dewitt, 23, of Alameda, was detained and subsequently arrested for murder, police said.

Dewitt is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.

The killing marks Berkeley's second homicide of 2012.

Anyone who might have information regarding the case is asked to contact Berkeley police at (510) 981-5741.