Report: Clemens' attorney launches own probe  —  Roger Clemens' lead attorney told the New York Times that his firm is launching its own investigation into allegations the seven-time Cy Young winner used steroids and human growth hormone.  —  “We are convinced the conclusions in Mitchell's report …

$23.88 Million Tax?  That's Life, Not Luxury, for Yankees  —  The problem with doing business on the Yankees' lofty economic level is the cost of doing business.  —  This past season, the Yankees signed Roger Clemens to pitch for them for 60 percent of the season, and it cost them just under $25 million …

Marlins sign former Pirates 2B Castillo  —  The Marlins on Monday signed former Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Jose Castillo, potentially plugging a key hole in their infield.  —  The only question is whether Castillo will replace Miguel Cabrera at third base or if he'll play second, which would shift Dan Uggla to third base.

Q&A: Tracy Ringolsby on the BBWAA  —  Tracy Ringolsby has been a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America since 1976.  He has covered the Colorado Rockies for the Rocky Mountain News for more than 15 years.  Ringolsby had previously worked for the Long Beach Independent …

Adjusted Penalties for Crack May Aid Ex-Ballplayer's Case  —  Willie Mays Aikens is a part of baseball lore.  As a member of the 1980 Kansas City Royals, he became the only man to hit more than one home run in two games of the same World Series.  —  But 27 years after his feat …

Joba prepares for starting role  —  Act II of his big league life is set to begin, and Joba Chamberlain is scheduled to perform as a starter.  Still, the baseball world will picture him in his last role, as the Yankees' nearly invincible setup man.  —  Much of his audience will expect to see a dominating force every fifth day.

Future is now for Rasmus  —  Jim Edmonds had seen the future and taken him to dinner.  —  Limited by injuries during spring training last season, Edmonds did not have much time in the field with Colby Rasmus, but stole time off the field with the Cardinals' gifted prospect.

Save This Franchise: Where to start with the Pirates?  —  We get plenty of letters here at CBSSports.com, some even written in functional English.  But nothing I've received during my tenure as a sportswriter-type person touched my heart the way this note, from a brave young lad named Timmy, did.

Any way you add it up, Mariners are still mediocre  —  Editor's note: Seth Kolloen, whom the Stranger dubbed the best sportswriter you've never heard of for his work at seattlest.com, has his own site, www.enjoytheenjoyment.com.  His work appears occasionally in the Seattle P-I.

Q&A with Joe Smith  —  Righty talks parking tickets, Christmas and Carrie Underwood  —  Christmas is for the kids, they say; at least the commercial aspects of it are.  And who among the Mets last season was regarded more as a kid than Joe Smith?  At age 23, the rookie reliever wasn't the youngest Met …