Prominent names mentioned as possible Cubs' buyers  —  CHICAGO — Tribune Co. said it plans to sell the Chicago Cubs at the end of the 2007 baseball season, putting one of its most valuable assets on the block as it simultaneously announced Monday that real estate magnate Sam Zell was acquiring the media conglomerate.

8th is enough for Randolph  —  Willie shrugs off unnecessary bullpen gamble  —  ST. LOUIS - In case you're wondering, Willie Randolph did know it was the eighth inning.  He did know that was rookie Joe Smith, less than a year removed from pitching for Wright State University, and not Aaron Heilman, on the mound.

Milwaukee 7, LA Dodgers 1  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ben Sheets started the season in dominating style.  —  Sheets gave up an early home run, then retired his next 22 batters in a two-hitter Monday that led the Milwaukee Brewers over the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-1 in their opener.

Mr. Clean  —  He's young!  Rich!  Handsome!  Able to throw out a runner at first while flashing a killer smile!  David Wright is the perfect New York sports star—almost too perfect.  —  D  —  avid Wright is not a very good bowler.  He would like you to know this …

38 not so special  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Worse than Ellen DeGeneres's first night hosting the Oscars.  Worse than Arsenio Hall's first shot at late-night television.  Worse than Patriots coach Clive Rush's first press conference, when he was nearly electrocuted.

Twins 7, Orioles 4  —  Notes from Game 1 of 162 ...  - Johan Santana appeared to be in midseason form for the first few innings, but eventually ran into some trouble and continued his annual tradition of starting the season slowly by giving up four runs over six innings.

Cleveland 12, Chi White Sox 5  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Grady Sizemore set the tone for the Cleveland Indians with his first swing.  —  Sizemore homered off Jose Contreras on the game's second pitch, and the Indians added four more runs in the first inning on their way to a 12-5 victory …

Marlins find plenty of positives after season's first win  —  WASHINGTON — Big hits. . . . Big smiles all around in the Marlins' clubhouse.  —  Coming off his Rookie of the Year season, shortstop Hanley Ramirez grinned when informed that he's on a pace to steal 324 bases.

Prospectus Hit List  —  Preseason Edition  —  If it's Opening Day, it's time for the first edition of the Hit List.  Few things in baseball generate as much controversy as preseason predictions, particularly when they contrast with what happened the season before.

Game 1 4/2/07 @ KC  —  Not sure where to even start.  Two words sum it up best, no command.  Can't remember a game where I couldn't make adjustments but today was certainly one of those.  Not so much the secondary pitches but no fastball command is not something that happens much, if at all …

What Really Ruined Baseball  —  WITH an off-season that included Mark McGwire's rejection by Hall of Fame voters, Barry Bonds's continuing problems and accusations that Gary Matthews Jr. of the Angels had obtained human growth hormones, it's hard not to think about the influence of performance-enhancing drugs this opening day.

Hernandez out for Orioles with oblique strain  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Baltimore Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez was scratched from the lineup Monday because of a strained left oblique muscle.  —  The Orioles, who were in Minnesota to play the Twins for their season opener …

Schilling Broken  —  My daughter just heard on the radio that Curt Schilling broke his arm in a car accident in Kansas.  I'm looking for a story now.  —  Update 8:10 AM: Still nothing on the web, but our local radio station says that Schilling stepped off a curb this morning and was grazed by the side-view mirror of an SUV.