Voice of Yankee Stadium Retires  —  The new Yankee Stadium will sound much different than the old one.  Bob Sheppard, the public address announcer for the Yankees since 1951, has retired.  —  Paul Doherty, a friend and agent who has represented Sheppard, said Sheppard's son, Paul, told him about Sheppard's plans on Wednesday morning.

Royals trade Gload to the Marlins and finalize their rotation  —  The Royals moved to trim their roster Wednesday morning by trading veteran first baseman Ross Gload to the Florida Marlins and asking release waivers on reliever Joel Peralta.  —  Manager Trey Hillman also confirmed Sidney Ponson …

New York Yankees' Joba Chamberlain pleads guilty to DUI charge  —  LINCOLN, Neb. — New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain has pleaded guilty to a Nebraska charge of drunken driving and has been given probation.  —  After a plea deal, prosecutors dropped the second charge of driving with an open alcohol container.

Agent: Teams looking at Sheffield  —  Gary Sheffield doesn't expect to be out of work for long.  —  Rufus Williams, agent for Sheffield, told ESPN's Buster Olney on Wednesday that there are “a number of teams that are expressing interest.”  —  “Gary is going to be able to play this season.

Porcello, Perry make team, Robertson in relief  —  Rick Porcello and Ryan Perry have a combined 38 games of professional baseball experience, none of it above Class A ball.  But they'll have two spots on the Tigers' 12-man pitching staff.  —  In the end, talent won out over the experience.

Izzy stays, says he needs only “a couple, few weeks”  —  UPDATE, 12:12: Isringhausen said he was very pleased to be able to stay with the Rays and - barring any setbacks from his September elbow surgery - should only need “a couple, few weeks” until he is ready to pitch in the majors.

Ball-Strike Monitor May Reopen Wounds  —  JUPITER, Fla. — An improved camera system to monitor umpires' calls of balls and strikes will be used in all 30 major league stadiums starting opening day, ending the contentious QuesTec era but expanding the scope of baseball's oversight program.

The road to success begins with youth  —  Young players at the heart of any sustained run of good fortune  —  Click your TiVo back to last October and the League Championship Series.  —  There were the league champions.  The Phillies were built on layers of the scouting and development acumen …

Beckett has final tuneup; Sox edge Pirates  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Josh Beckett threw 88 pitches today in his final tuneup before his Opening Day start, giving up three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings, walking one, striking out four, and surrendering seven hits in Boston's 4-3 victory over the Pirates.

Keeping Score  —  Opening Day's right around the corner, and while that means a lot of logistical considerations for the teams, there are also a few key questions that those of us in the stands or the boxes have to give thought to as well.  This might come across a bit of being a pitchwoman, but we've gotten a few e-mails like this:

Pulling for Pods; Jimenez to work minor league game  —  Tucson — It is awkward, strange.  One day you are interviewing a guy, talking baseball, the next day his locker his empty.  I have seen it happen for 13 years, and it never gets any easier.  —  Scott Podsednik was released today.

A-ROD WANTS TO RETURN SOONER THAN EXPECTED; CASHMAN CAUTIOUS  —  SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Rodriguez thinks he can return from hip surgery prior to May 15, and though the Yankees would certainly welcome their cleanup hitter back before then, GM Brian Cashman isn't betting on it.

Angels' Joe Saunders may be experiencing ‘dead arm’  —  Manager Mike Scioscia says he is disappointed about his opening-day starter's outing Monday.  Possible culprits include a tired arm and food poisoning.  —  Reporting from Mesa, Ariz. — Just what the Angels need, another potential problem with a starting pitcher.