Red Sox warm to task in victory  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There might be icicles hanging from the gyroball this afternoon, but the change in atmospheric conditions here meant more to the Red Sox than just a precipitous drop in temperature.  —  The 42-degree game-time reading in Kauffman Stadium last night …

MLB announces iN DEMAND deal  —  MLB Channel Expects to Launch in 40 Million Homes through Multi-Distributor Pact  —  Major League Baseball announced today that iN DEMAND has entered into a seven-year agreement in principle to carry the MLB EXTRA INNINGS subscription package of out-of-market games …

On Field and at the Plate, Beltrán Has a Hot Start  —  It took five and a third innings for the Mets to finally break through against their former closer, Braden Looper.  And as has been the case this whole opening series, Carlos Beltrán was right in the middle of it.

Betancourt signs three-year extension  —  Terms not released, but agreement averts arbitration hassles  —  A day after launching a game-winning home run, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt landed a three-year contract extension Wednesday from the Mariners.  —  Betancourt, beginning his third season …

Notes: Slightly changed role for Heilman  —  Setup man has entered mid-inning in first two Mets wins  —  ST. LOUIS — Even now, with merely two of 162 games played, a change in the protocol of the late innings of Mets games already is noticeable.  Manager Willie Randolph declines to identify …

Exam finds Carpenter's elbow much-improved  —  Chris Carpenter was cleared to begin preparation for his next scheduled start after a meeting with a team doctor late Wednesday night confirmed the swelling had gone down in his right elbow, the Cardinals ace said.

Francisco Rodriguez doctoring the ball  —  4-2-2007, against the Rangers, K-Rod put something on the ball repeatedly during the 9th inning, and wasn't even subtle about it.  First, I'm going to admit these are bad pictures.  Patches welcome, as they say in the open source world.

TBS lands Gwynn, Ripken  —  Soon-to-be Hall of Famers hired as baseball analysts  —  Before Cooperstown honors Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken later this year, the Hall of Fame duo will be suiting up for another team.  —  SI.com has learned that Gwynn and Ripken have agreed to join TBS as analysts …

Braves rally, sink Phils in extras again  —  After McCann's tying blast in ninth, Thorman homers in 11th  —  PHILADELPHIA — Two games into the season, it's already become apparent that the resilient Braves are more than willing to utilize their power to take advantage of what appears to be a very suspect Phillies bullpen.

Dodgers ready to celebrate 2007 home opener  —  Steve Sax to throw out first pitch, Nomar Garciaparra to receive his Comeback Player of the Year Award from the MLBPA  —  LOS ANGELES — Dodger Stadium will host its first game of the 2007 season on Monday, April 9 when the Los Angeles Dodgers …

Chi Cubs 4, Cincinnati 1  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Snowflakes filled the air, making it tough to track fly balls.  A sharp northerly wind made sandwich wrappers float above the heads of red-faced fans bundled in blankets.  —  Ted Lilly loved everything about his frozen Cubs debut.

15 more persons of baseball influence  —  Just beyond baseball's 50 most influential people is a group of 15 people — up-and-comers, women and silent types — who have an effect on the game:  —  Five up-and-comers  —  •Steve Greenberg: The son of Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg …

Starting Pitcher Leverage (Part 2)  —  Hi, and welcome back to The Hardball Times' ongoing series of articles on starting pitcher leveraging throughout baseball history.  In part one of this series I introduced the concept of starting pitcher leverage.  If you remember it, skip the next paragraph, which briefly summarizes it.

Colangelo wasting no time  —  Meeting with Zell already on tap to start buying 'process'  —  Former Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo reiterated his interest in buying the Cubs during a radio interview Wednesday and said he plans to meet with new Tribune Co. owner Sam Zell …