If Yanks ask Posada, he'll tell 'em Joba should stay in the bullpen  —  TAMPA - Joba Chamberlain is being treated as a starting pitcher this spring, but one of the Yankees' veteran leaders believes the decision to take the flamethrower out of the setup role is a big mistake.

Carlos' Belt: Mets are best in East  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - The most soft-spoken Met made the biggest noise at camp so far with a pronouncement Saturday that should make him public enemy No. 1 in Philadelphia, leapfrogging Terrell Owens and J.D. Drew.  —  After revealing that he'll likely miss …

Tulo gets in some ribbing  —  TUCSON — Last spring, rookie Troy Tulowitzki had to take it.  This year, as a rich, budding star, he's dishing it out.  —  Saturday, Tulo's target was third baseman Garrett Atkins.  —  “Atkins doesn't do much over there,” Tulowitzki said with a sly grin.

Yankees' Cashman ‘not proud’ of highest payroll  —  The New York Yankees had a record payroll of $218.3 million in 2007.  It's not going down this season, although GM Brian Cashman says he would like to rein it in.  —  “We are high,” Yankees GM Brain Cashman said in an interview with ESPN 1050 New York's Andrew Marchand.

Notes: Middle infield intrigues Acta  —  Belliard, Guzman, Lopez to battle for two starting spots  —  VIERA, Fla. — Nationals manager Manny Acta said the most intriguing competition this spring is between middle infielders Ronnie Belliard, Cristian Guzman and Felipe Lopez.

Notes: McCarthy, Gabbard ready to go  —  Benoit wants to share award; Rupe has best of Texas ink  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Right-hander Brandon McCarthy and left-hander Kason Gabbard each took the mound for the first time on Saturday.  —  Both threw 10 minutes without problems.

Varitek may be Red Sox' best catch  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — When he's home in Georgia during the offseason, Jason Varitek tends to tune out the business of baseball.  —  He still keeps in touch with some teammates and maintains his conditioning, but otherwise remains blissfully ignorant about what's going on in and around the game.

A rare Steinbrenner sighting  —  As we were getting off the elevator at Legends Field this morning to go to the clubhouse, George Steinbrenner was waiting to go up to his office.  —  Big Stein looked good and smiled and said hello.  Joel Sherman of the Post shook his hand and George said, “Good to see you, Joel.”

URINE THE RIGHT PLACE!  —  Major League Baseball has increased the number of players from each team to be drug tested this spring.  —  In other years, MLB would test a handful of players during spring training.  Yesterday at Legends Field, 28 Yankees were required to give urine samples to testers.

NY's Posada believes Rocket  —  Jorge Posada has a close relationship with both Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, but the Yankees catcher sided with Clemens - who claims that he never took steroids or human growth hormone.  —  “If he said he never took it, I'm believing him 100 percent,” …