Yapping Phillie is looking silly  —  At 1-6, Rollins won't back down  —  Chances are, Jimmy Rollins didn't envision a day like this back in January when he brazenly declared the Phillies the team to beat in the NL East: a day when his team fell to 1-6; when he made a crucial error …

Yankees 8, Twins 2  — After spending much of the offseason criticizing the Twins' decision to fill the starting rotation with washed-up veterans rather than trust their young talent, many of you probably expect me to go off on a long rant about Sidney Ponson's eight-run outing last night.

Old days are impossible to explain to newcomers  —  It's hard to explain to the young people that there was life before $312 box seats, bloody socks, $60 parking spaces, and hundreds of photographers on site to shoot two guys from Japan facing one another in a midweek night game in April.

O's Cabrera Shines In Home Opener  —  Never before had Daniel Cabrera walked off a mound to an ovation such as the one that greeted him when he exited the Baltimore Orioles' home opener in the eighth inning Monday.  The crowd at Oriole Park at Camden Yards erupted after Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo took …

Carpenter shelved  —  PITTSBURGH — Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter probably will remain disabled for the rest of this month after an examination Monday disclosed that he is suffering from what the club called moderate arthritis and a mild impingement of the right elbow.

Pirates Notebook: Castillo would welcome starting duty ... anywhere  —  Pirates manager Jim Tracy smiles as he is introduced before the home opener yesterday at PNC Park.  —  Jose Castillo, despite being clearly dissatisfied with his new role on the bench after three years of starting …

Early ticket sales 'encouraging' for Angels-Indians series  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Get ready for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim against the Cleveland Indians of Milwaukee.  —  Hours after officials at Miller Park agreed to let the snowed-out Indians host the Angels at the Milwaukee Brewers' home stadium …

Young set to sign long-term deal  —  On April 1, the eve of Opening Day, the Padres signed first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to a four-year, $9.5 million contract.  Tuesday, they will announce a long-term deal with right-hander Chris Young, the other principal player they acquired from the Rangers in Dec. 2005.

Eight More Prospects to Watch in 2007  —  Bryan Smith identified eight prospects to watch several months ago, and I found his list to be an informative and fun read.  I agree with many of his choices, but I found myself interested in the challenge of finding undervalued players and put together a list of my own.

Torn elbow tendon shelves Hampton for season  —  Torn flexor tendon sidelines lefty for 6-9 months  —  Mike Hampton's season is over before it started.  —  The injury-plagued Braves pitcher is headed for surgery this morning after learning he has a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow.

Helton miffed about sitting  —  Los Angeles - Todd Helton knows hitting.  Not sitting.  Asked about not starting Monday after batting practice, Helton exclusively blew off The Denver Post.  After the game, the burn had cooled following a 6-3 Rockies victory - propelled, in part, by his replacement, Jeff Baker.

Notes: Julio working on mechanics  —  Marlins closer uses video to pinpoint his problems  —  MIAMI — In reviewing his rough outing Sunday, Marlins closer Jorge Julio feels he has pinpointed some of his problems.  —  The hard-throwing right-hander watched the video of his one-third …

Many, including Papelbon, happy he's back closing  —  By the time the adrenaline wears off — "that's the most powerful drug known to man, you know," Jonathan Papelbon says — it's pushing 3, 4, 5 o'clock in the morning.  —  "I'm so amped up," Papelbon says.  "It takes a lot to come down."