Joba Goes Nine (Steps)!  —  Yankee pitcher completes field sobriety test in video from DUI arrest  —  While devoid of Plaxicoesque bombast and vulgarity, the police video of Joba Chamberlain's DUI arrest is not without its amusing moments.  After a Nebraska State Patrol officer pulled …

Jim Thome's 8th-inning HR lifts White Sox over KC 4-2  —  CHICAGO — Jim Thome got to totally enjoy this opening-day home run.  —  Thome hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, rallying the Chicago White Sox past the Kansas City Royals 4-2 Tuesday in a season opener delayed a day because of bad weather.

Baseball is back!  (And so is Beckett's fastball)  —  I'm not suggesting that a one-game sample is conclusive proof of anything, but for those of us who have been nervously waiting for Josh Beckett to return to form, today's start against the Tampa Bay Rays had to be encouraging.

Hamels, Lincecum headline young pitchers at risk of Year After Effect … Mike Pelfrey was ready for me in the Mets spring training clubhouse, as if he knew I was coming.  —  “Look at me,” the Mets right-hander said one day last month.  “I'm a pretty big guy.”  Yes, sir.  Pelfrey is 6-foot-7.

Stan Kasten Sings a Hymn to Philly Fans  —  I'll probably always be something of an outsider in D.C., because I'm not from here.  I didn't live through Gibbs I or the Bandwagon, the Penguins in the '90s or Wes Unseld-as-GM.  Still, I think I'm getting to understand the mindset of that rarest of creatures: the all-D.C.-sports die-hard.

The Good Old Days  —  I watched 11 baseball games yesterday.  Folks, these are the good old days:  — During my chat, I got three inquiries as to what was wrong with Johan Santana, which is two more inquiries than hits Santana allowed while I was taking questions.

Madden: First-game struggles make for eye-opener … BALTIMORE - So it was not exactly the humdinger of a debut the Yankees envisioned from their new $161 million meal ticket on Opening Day, and what is there to say now about Joe Girardi's new era of good feelings?

Toronto Blue Jays' beer and alcohol ban targets unruly fans  —  TORONTO — It was just a coincidence that beer and alcohol sales were banned for Tuesday night's Blue Jays game one night after unruly fans littered the field with baseballs and debris.  But some players appreciated the timing.

Mariners sign another closer  —  A look at Felix Hernandez, moments ago, obviously feeling good enough to teeter on his right leg — the one he injured last night.  He'll be fine.  Now for some interesting news.  —  The Mariners have signed onetime major league closer Jeff Zimmerman …

Baseball Writers Brace for the End  —  As Newspapers Cut Back, Press Boxes Grow Lonelier; How a Venerable Institution Lost Its Way  —  Baseball's independent press corps, once the most powerful in American sports, is fading.  As newspapers cut budgets and payrolls, the press boxes …

Minor-league teams set for season  —  The Yankees today sent out this release with their minor-league rosters.  Scranton gets started on Thursday, Trenton on Wednesday, Tampa on Thursday and Charleston on Thursday.  —  Minor League Baseball.com has stories, stats, rosters and schedules for ever team.

Note: No Game on TV from 6-7 pm on Saturday  —  FOX has an exclusive window for all Saturday games taking place prior to 7 pm, meaning only FOX and the local channel can broadcast during that window.  —  Meanwhile, the Marlins scheduled this Saturday's game against the Mets for 6 pm …

Barmes back in lineup for Game 2 tonight  —  PHOENIX — A day later than expected, the Rockies will run out the lineup we figure to see the most early in the season.  Second baseman Clint Barmes is starting against Diamondbacks' right-hander Dan Haren.  Barmes was disappointed …

Marie Olbermann, 1929-2009  —  (Much of this post is based on a script written for tonight's television show)  —  My mother passed away Saturday night.  —  This remembrance is not going to be a medical history - though lord knows Mom was the world's foremost authority on her own health.

Answering Baseball's What-Ifs  —  You can learn a lot during a major league baseball game.  Like Ukrainian, if it is a particularly slow nine innings.  —  As for the science of baseball strategy, one game teaches precious little.  A well-timed sacrifice bunt can backfire and lose the game; a foolish steal can appear brilliant.

Will Unit be the last to reach 300 wins?  —  With five to go, Johnson far ahead of currently active pitchers  —  Every time someone is stalking or reaching 300 wins, the question is raised as to whether he will be the last of the breed — a contradictory exercise to say the least.

Giants' Sabean, Bochy on hot seat as season begins  —  For the Giants' 25-man roster, the proving ground of spring training has passed.  For Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy, it's just beginning.  —  The Giants open the season today against the Milwaukee Brewers at AT&T Park …