Olsen wants to be new ace  —  Left-hander, Maybin looking to secure key roles on Marlins  —  MIAMI — In terms of leadership and experience, no one on the young Marlins staff is fully ready to replace Dontrelle Willis.  But Scott Olsen makes it clear that he wants the status the D-Train previously held with the organization.

Andy Pettitte finds haven at his Texas church, worshipers forgive HGH rap  —  A day after Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte fessed up to using human growth hormone, he took refuge in the forgiving embrace of his family and his Texas church.  —  With his wife, Laura, and four children at his side …

ESPN still waiting to hear from Viña  —  NEW YORK — Will Fernando Viña appear on ESPN again?  The network says it's up to him.  Viña joined ESPN's Baseball Tonight as an analyst in 2007 but has yet to appear on any ESPN property since being named in the Mitchell Report.

D-backs, Melvin agree on extension  —  Arizona to lock up manager through 2010, according to source  —  PHOENIX — The D-backs have reached an agreement with Bob Melvin on a contract extension through the 2010 season, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told MLB.com.

The Dan Haren Trade: Glass Half Empty for the Angels  —  There is a detailed analysis of the Dan Haren trade over at the subscriber-driven Baseball Prospectus, and for Angel fans, it is not a pretty picture.  —  In short, don't pop the division crown corks any time too soon, especially you pre-2009-11 AL West crown revelers.

New York Yankees Top 20 Prospects for 2008  —  New York Yankees Top 20 Prospects for 2008  —  All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change.  — Joba Chamberlain, RHP, Grade A  — Jose Tabata, OF, Grade B+  — Ian Kennedy, RHP, Grade B+  — Alan Horne, RHP, Grade B

Sosa in clear?  Sorry, no way  —  Perhaps you saw the two letters to the editor in Saturday's Tribune Sports section.  —  One suggested that media members take a hard look at themselves in regard to their treatment of Sammy Sosa, seeing as how Sosa's name didn't show up in the Mitchell report.

Dale Murphy has big beef with cheaters  —  Dale Murphy still regrets not saying something during his playing career, when the power numbers of ripped sluggers were exploding along with their outsized pecs.  Now retired and devoting much of his time to his anti-steroid "I Won't Cheat" …

Dodgers beat M's to Kuroda  —  The Mariners lost out on one of their prime pitching targets, Japanese free agent Hiroki Kuroda, who agreed Saturday on a three-year contract to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  —  The deal will be worth $35.3 million, according to mlb.com.

Still wanted: Pitching  —  My plan for today was to write something profound off the Mitchell Report and performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.  —  But really, what's left to say?  Baseball had a huge drug problem.  Big Bud Selig's going to mete out some punishment.  It will cost some guys games and money.

His own boss … Hank Steinbrenner makes no apologies for taking a stand on some hot Yankees topics in the past few months.  "You can't hide in a corner," he says.  "You have to step up at some point."  —  Times]  —  TAMPA - He crafted his own career and life on 800 acres …

Searching for a cure to these Hall of Fame ballot blues  —  Every December my Hall of Fame ballot arrives in a plain brown manila envelope.  This year, that seems especially fitting.  —  So I'm sitting here, staring at the 25 names listed on the ballot, wondering what I'm going to do.

Athletics starter Gaudin to have surgery on hip  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — Right-hander Chad Gaudin needs surgery to repair a tear in the cartilage of his left hip joint, the Oakland Athletics said.  —  The 24-year-old pitcher, who spent the entire 2007 season in the starting rotation …

STRAIGHT FROM THE HEARTLAND  —  LINCOLN UP WITH JOBA AND HIS PROUD DAD  —  LINCOLN, Neb. - This was long before Joba Chamberlain became JOBA!  —  Back in 1998, when Northeast High won the Nebraska state basketball championship, one of the first on the floor to celebrate was the ball boy …