Joba awaits playoff role  —  If the Yankees finish with the best record in the American League, they'll get to choose which division series schedule they would play, and that could determine whether Joba Chamberlain pitches in the bullpen or the rotation in October.

Discovering Derek is scout's honor for Groch  —  Dick Groch still has the reports he filed as a scout watching Derek Jeter play in high school.  They read: “Five-tool player, blue-chipper, a Yankee,” Groch says.  Groch wrote that Jeter would “come into Yankee Stadium, compete at a championship level with high performance.

Beltran doubles, just misses slam in return  —  On a bruised right knee,  —  Carlos Beltran still made a giant leap forward last night, when he returned to the Mets' lineup after an 11-week absence and showed that he's not far away from regaining his All-Star form.  Maybe just a few feet short.

Rockies' Marquis shines on despite struggles  —  All-star puts stop to his struggles with strong start; Rockies 19 over .500  —  The Rockies limped into Tuesday night's game against the Cincinnati Reds with two of their top sluggers straining to stand upright, their lower backs protesting with pain.

City police arrest 4 in theft of Ripken's No. 8 statue  —  Overnight incident at Camden Yards captured on surveillance video  —  Two barricades surround the remaining base of a statue commemorating the number of retired Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr. The No. 8 statue was stolen overnight …

Swisher's walk-off give Yanks 90th win  —  Jeter remains three hits behind Gehrig with latest hitless game  —  NEW YORK — With 47 home victories, just one shy of their total from last season, the Yankees have already ensured that the inaugural season at the new Yankee Stadium has witnessed a fair share of thrilling moments.

Ortiz ties for most HRs by DH in Red Sox's rout … BOSTON(AP) Dustin Pedroia was yapping so much after his first regular-season two-homer game that he might have forgotten he's still way behind David Ortiz .  —  Pedroia had two of Boston's season-high six home runs on Tuesday night …

Hank Steinbrenner staying silent this season  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Remember Hank  —  Steinbrenner?  —  How can't you?  —  The chain-smoking oldest son of George Steinbrenner catapulted himself into the spotlight late in 2007, after another early Yankees departure from the postseason.

Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky  —  Todd Drew's seats from Yankee Stadium II.  Now resting comfortably on Marsha Drew's deck down south.  —  I am honored to announce that Todd Drew's Lasting Yankee Stadium Memory has been selected by Leigh Montville to be in The Best American Sports Writing 2009 (due out next month).

Cards approach DeRosa about 2010  —  MILWAUKEE — General manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday that the Cardinals have significant interest in retaining pending free agent Mark DeRosa and that he has made known the club's position to the player.  —  “Recognizing where we are …

How NY Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher got his groove back  —  NEW YORK — It was the middle of November and I was in Northern Virginia, trolling Redskins practice looking for stories to write for my old paper.  Nick Swisher was at his dad's house in Parkersburg, W.V., trying to figure out what had gone wrong and how to fix it.

On That Stuff  —  Justin Verlander.  A.J. Burnett.  Ubaldo Jimenez.  These are the names that make scouts salivate.  Why?  One word.  Stuff.  —  Two components determine how nasty a pitcher's stuff truly is: velocity and movement.  We've had radar guns to track the league's hardest throwers …

On WPA; Or, why Johnny Damon is your 2009 AL MVP  —  WPA is the stat that old baseball men have always wanted.  —  If you believe in Wins and RBIs, if you believe that certain pitchers can “pitch to the score” and certain batters are simply “clutch” and can suddenly step up their game when it's …

Cure for baseball fever is potion No. 9  —  Take a look at players who wore it and records tied to it  —  Nine has at least as much significance in baseball as any of its countless cousins — and more than most.  Nine men on a side, if only in the National League.

Giants' Lincecum scratched; Rox depth tested  —  The Rockies aren't the only ones with injury issues.  —  The Giants, chasing the Rockies for the wild-card race, were supposed to have Cy Young candidate Tim Lincecum on the mound tonight.  But he was a late scratch because of back spasms.

Lidge pulled in ninth, but remains closer  —  Manuel confident in veteran, but turns to Madson for save  —  WASHINGTON — Phillies manager Charlie Manuel had been fighting this move for weeks, but closer Brad Lidge forced his hand in their 5-3 win over the Nationals on Tuesday.  —  Manuel had no choice.