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.

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.

Friendly Rivalry for Matsui  —  BALTIMORE - In their final year as teammates, in 2002, Hideki Matsui and Koji Uehara reached the pinnacle of individual and team success for the Yomiuri Giants.  Matsui was the most valuable player of the Central League, Uehara won the Sawamura Award as the top pitcher …

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.

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 …

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.

Defending champ Phillies off to 0-2 start for 4th straight year  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Two games in, these Philadelphia Phillies are playing like last year's team.  —  Jair Jurrjens and four relievers combined on a six-hitter, Kelly Johnson and Chipper Jones hit solo homers …

Gary Matthews Jr. still isn't talking  —  The Angels outfielder was linked to HGH shipments in the Mitchell Report, but he won't comment on the allegations these days.  —  T.J. Simers  —  I worry about kids and dogs, some kid maybe mistaking it for an energy drink, or some dog lapping …

Angels don't use strengths to their advantage in 6-4 loss to Oakland  —  They get a quality start from fill-in pitcher Dustin Moseley but leave too many runners stranded in the early going.  —  Dustin Moseley gave the Angels everything they could want from their rotation fill-ins …

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.

Hey, only 161 more games left for the Pirates to hold on  —  Since most of you watched the NCAA championship game, we paid attention to all the games across the majors on Opening Day.  Here are our top observations of the day:  —  1. Diary of a Pirates fan:  —  5:00 p.m. — Checking out that Opening Day roster.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

Kennedy throws out first pitch  —  BOSTON — Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Boston Red Sox season opener on Tuesday.  —  With fans cheering, Kennedy, diagnosed last May with a malignant brain tumor, walked across the first-base line and toward …

Canseco: Ramírez likely on steroid list  —  Jose Canseco said he is 90 percent certain that Manny Ramírez's name is on the list of 104 major league players who tested positive for steroids in 2003.  Speaking at a forum Friday night at the University of Southern California …

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 …

New York Mets headed to the movies on off day in Cincinnati … CINCINNATI — The Mets got their season off to a successful start with Monday's 2-1 victory over the Reds.  Their reward?  A nice, long off day in gray, frigid Cincinnati.  —  After beating the Reds on Monday afternoon …