Prognosis on Wood not good  —  Often-injured Cub hurt again, could be put on disabled list  —  MESA, Ariz. — Kerry Wood's chances to open the season on the Cubs' active roster likely ended Sunday when the injury-plagued right-handed pitcher suffered another setback.

Beckett ready to break out  —  Right-hander taking things slower in second season with Sox  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Hanley Ramirez smacked Josh Beckett's first pitch of Sunday afternoon right up the middle for a single, and it was almost symbolic of the type of rush to judgment that might …

Pelfrey locks up fifth spot  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The identity of the Mets' fifth starter was not much of a mystery by the time Mike Pelfrey threw his opening pitch in yesterday's start against the Astros at Tradition Field.  —  As long as the 6-7 Pelfrey walked off the mound under his own power …

Simontacchi, Logan likely to go on DL  —  Pitcher, center fielder expected to miss early part of season  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Both right-hander Jason Simontacchi and center fielder Nook Logan are expected to miss the start of the season because of right groin injuries.

Pirates Notebook: McCutchen upbeat despite demotion to Class AA  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Andrew McCutchen walked out of the Pirates' clubhouse yesterday morning with a wide smile.  —  Probably because, even though he finally was assigned …

Notes: Brewers relievers deliver  —  Villanueva pitching well in various roles this spring  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Finally, some relief.  Brewers manager Ned Yost delivered a message to his relievers on Saturday that it's time to see some results, and on Sunday, he got what he was looking for.

Interview with Bill James  —  Former independent writer turned revolutionary Bill James, who is now a part of the Boston Red Sox Front Office, was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.  Bill and I discuss Mark McGwire, his own potential website, parody in sports, and more.

Notes: Loe's done all he can in spring  —  Right-hander will start the season as a middle reliever  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Kameron Loe has proven one thing this spring.  He deserves to be on a Major League pitching staff after outpitching every other fifth starter candidate in camp.

Why don't the Yankees win titles anymore?  —  Though they're supposedly baseball's neighborhood bully, the New York Yankees haven't won the World Series since 2000.  —  Yes, the Yanks always grab the column inches/bandwidth for being perennial free-spending contenders, but they haven't laid hands on a trophy in almost seven years.

Hot springs can turn cold in a hurry  —  Arizona averages can be deceiving for Cubs  —  MESA, Ariz. — Carrying over a hot spring into the regular season would seem like a relatively easy transition, but the Cubs know it's easier said than done.  —  Nomar Garciaparra tore up the Cactus League in 2005 …

Five Questions: Atlanta Braves  —  We all know the story: for the first time since 1991 the Braves failed to win their division.  Shocking, wouldn't you say?  Or perhaps not?  —  By thinking back to some of the events in 1990 we can put the Braves' achievements into perspective.

Starting Pitcher Leverage (Part 1)  —  I've always loved hearing old time stories about baseball, and how they did things differently back in the day.  Local lore here in Chicago proclaims that Al Lopez used staff ace Billy Pierce as often as he could against the best opposing teams&meash;the Yankees …

Famous guest blogs in  —  Given 'invite,' Schilling issues direct answers  —  Curt Schilling isn't one to sit on an opportunity to get an unfiltered message to the fans.  (FILE/BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS)  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Getting a little tired and bored here in the final week …

Cardinals set up early rotation  —  JUPITER, FLA. — Given the luxury of several off days early in the regular season and the possibly unsteady makeup of their starting rotation, the Cardinals were prepared to start April with Chris Carpenter and a cast of four making irregular appearances.

Clubhouse chemistry winning formula?  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - "Hey Greg, I've got one for you," Brian Giles said to new Padres teammate Greg Maddux last month.  —  "Why was the mathematics book depressed?"  Giles said.  —  After the 333-game winner pondered the question for a few seconds, Giles slowly delivered the punch line.