Joba believes he'll begin in bullpen  —  Righty to discuss his role with Yanks' coaches Wednesday  —  TAMPA, Fla. — With less than two weeks remaining before the Yankees break camp, Joba Chamberlain believes that he will begin the year in New York's bullpen.

Linden learns he won't make club  —  Non-roster invitee was tearing up Cactus League pitching  —  PHOENIX — First baseman/designated hitter Mike Sweeney got half of the good news he's been hoping for Sunday when the A's informed him he'll be going to Japan with them Wednesday.

Miller remains work in progress  —  Marlins lefty finds positives to build from in latest start  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — He's still a work in progress, but 6-foot-6 Andrew Miller took some steps in the right direction on Sunday afternoon.  —  The 22-year-old Marlins left-hander showed improvement …

Beckett: No Japan trip  —  But he takes step forward on back  —  Red Sox ace Josh Beckett, who has been bothered by his back, threw from flat ground without pain yesterday and said, “Everything's good.  I did everything I wanted to do.”  (Charles Krupa/Associated Press)

Categorizing Pitchers by Strikeout and Groundball Rates: Starters - 2007 Edition  —  It is no secret that the best outcome for a pitcher is a strikeout.  There are no ifs, ands, or buts about that statement of fact.  That's the way it has always been and that's the way it will always be.

Great Moments In Brian-Roberts-To-Cubs-Trade- Rumor History  —  “The first test of Andy MacPhail's authority as Orioles president of baseball operations will come if a rival club makes a strong push to acquire second baseman Brian Roberts.  —  “A year ago, Orioles owner Peter Angelos refused …

Team Health Reports  —  Detroit Tigers  —  Finding Detroit rated this low seems kind of an oddball, down here in the land of the non-contenders (health division).  Hearing that Kansas City or Washington ended up with a bunch of DL days doesn't surprise many people, but the Tigers?

NAILS NEVER FAILS  —  Baseball's most improbable post-career success story. … The first time I met Lenny Dykstra, the former Mets and Phillies star, he nearly stood me up for lunch at the St. Regis Hotel, in New York.  Dykstra is a luxury-hotel junkie—a self-proclaimed “robes-and-room-service kind of guy.”

A farewell to Dodgertown  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. - Taking a left off State Highway 60 for the short, slow crawl into the parking lot at Dodgertown, I find the moment more or less matches my expectations.  —  The anger is gone.  —  The disappointment, no.  —  It still hurts.

Broken bat makes mess of Delgado  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Carlos Delgado needed four stitches to close a bloody gash on his right forearm after he was speared by Brady Clark's broken bat as he led off third base in the third inning of Sunday's 7-4 split-squad win over the Tigers.