ISN'T IT GRAND!  —  ABREU BLAST, JOBA RELIEF LIFT YANKS  —  Where Joba Chamberlain can help the Yankees the most makes for good heated discussions and headlines.  —  Yet, if Chamberlain was the starter Hank Steinbrenner and a lot of Yankee fans believe he should be, the gas-throwing right-hander …

Rookie makes powerful impression  —  Every day you see this kid, you ask yourself, “Who is he?  Haven't I seen him before?”  —  His speed, his demeanor . . . is he Johnny Damon?  Maybe, but he has a better arm and he might have more speed.  —  When he hits home runs and plays a good center field and runs, is he Grady Sizemore?

Cedeno has grand finish to homestand  —  Ronny Cedeno learned a valuable lesson Monday night after coming up with a clutch two-out hit to help the Cubs beat the New York Mets at Wrigley Field.  —  Don't mention anything about the World Series in April, at least if you're a Cub.

Pujols admits his patience is wearing thin  —  MILWAUKEE — He made it through 21 games without stating the obvious.  But two late-inning plate appearances in Tuesday's 12-inning, 9-8 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers proved too much.  —  Albert Pujols admitted his patience is wearing thin.

Cards Notes: Izturis is injured  —  IZTURIS IS INJURED  —  MILWAUKEE — The Cardinals will activate infielder Brendan Ryan in time for tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after shortstop Cesar Izturis suffered a severe contusion when struck by a pitch below his right elbow during Tuesday's ninth inning.

Pedro can return to mound in 10-14 days  —  CHICAGO - The Mets finally have a rough timetable for Pedro Martinez's return.  Martinez, who strained his left hamstring April 1, was examined Monday by team orthopedist David Altchek and the prognosis is that he can return to the mound in 10 days to two weeks.

Marlins' competition set to get tougher  —  Florida (12-8) at Atlanta (10-10), Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. ET  —  PITTSBURGH — The critics will point out that the Florida Marlins have come to occupy first place in the National League East by way of feasting on inferior competition.

Pena emotional over rough start  —  Nats outfielder seen crying in clubhouse after Monday's game  —  ATLANTA — Nationals left fielder Wily Mo Pena was given Tuesday night off after going 3-for-30 in his first eight games of the season.  Manager Manny Acta felt Pena needed a day off to work …

One win from 10,000, Cubs fly to Denver  —  Chicago (14-6) at Colorado (9-11), Wednesday, 7:35 p.m. CT  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs are on the verge of becoming only the second team in Major League history to win 10,000 games.  They enter their two-game series against the Colorado Rockies with 9,999 wins.

Defensive shakeup follows Tigers' rout  —  After victory, Leyland says Cabrera is moving to first base, Guillen to third.  —  DETROIT — The Tigers hit three bombs during Tuesday night's 10-2 victory over the Rangers, but announced a bigger one after it.  —  In a major positional switch …

You can't put a price on leadership  —  The game of baseball sure has changed.  —  It's not everyday that you release the guy that lead your team in homers and RBIs the season before, but the Jays did.  I guess it's like the old Janet Jackson song, “What have you done for me lately?”

Wrapping up at Wrigley  —  Here's the unhappy recap from a brutal showing at Wrigley Field, where the Mets lost to the Cubs, 8-1, to get swept in a two-game series.  —  • Carlos Delgado had the worst play, costing Nelson Figueroa during what was otherwise another solid outing by the journeyman.