Andy Pettitte turned his fire into ice  —  Lefty learned to control his temper, becoming one of the toughest Yankees ever  —  The clock was ticking, the scout for the New York Yankees was throwing everything he had at a junior college kid named Andy Pettitte, and still the team and the prospect remained a lousy 20 grand apart.

Arizona Diamondbacks back off idea of using humidor this year  —  During last season, the Diamondbacks kicked around the idea of installing a humidor at Chase Field, a ballpark known for being offensive - and, no, we're not referring to all the strikeouts, which seem to offend even the most casual of fans.

Ex-Yankee Jim Leyritz to get second chance with Newark Bears  —  NEWARK — Former Yankees catcher Jim Leyritz is about to get a second chance.  —  The Newark Bears of the independent Can-Am League have agreed in principle to hire Leyritz as the team's new hitting and pitching coach, owner and CEO Tom Cetnar said last night.

Sabean expects Belt to start season in Triple-A  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Diluting the intoxicating hype swirling around Brandon Belt, Giants general manager Brian Sabean said Thursday that he foresees the club's top prospect beginning the season at Triple-A Fresno.

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.  • Less than two weeks remain before the Cardinals and three-time MVP first baseman Albert Pujols run into a deadline for the club and its iconic player to reach agreement on a contract extension.  —  An extension probably would make Pujols the highest-paid player in his league, if not the game.

Cubs, Marmol close to long-term contract  —  (Jody Gomez-US PRESSWIRE, US PRESSWIRE / September 28, 2010)  —  Deal should be announced before next weekend  —  Baseball sources tell us that Cubs GM Jim Hendry is close to finalizing a long-term deal with closer Carlos Marmol.

The Yankees Should Trade for Barry Zito  —  Few contracts in recent baseball history have attracted more ridicule than the seven-year, $126 million deal the Giants gifted to Barry Zito.  Apparently still dazzled by Zito's 23-5 record, 2.75 ERA and Cy Young award four seasons earlier …

Suit against Mets to go public  —  New York Mets ownership has withdrawn its objection to unsealing the lawsuit accusing them of ill-gotten gains in the Bernie Madoff case.  —  A spokesman for Judge Burton Lifland of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Manhattan said the contents of the lawsuit could be released Friday.

Some early arrivals in Fort Myers  —  According to well-placed sources, moles and spies, Jonathan Papelbon, Ryan Kalish, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Daniel Nava and Lenny DiNardo are among the players working out at the Red Sox complex down in Florida.  —  Of course everybody is in the best shape ever and can't wait for the season.

Nats farmhand Nieto suspended for PEDs  —  Adrian Nieto, a catcher in the Nationals' farm system, was suspended for 50 games Thursday after testing positive for two banned substances, Major League Baseball announced in a news release.  Nieto, who spent 2010 with low Class A Hagerstown …

White Sox have multiple ninth-inning options  —  CHICAGO — When the White Sox break from Glendale, Ariz., at the end of March, manager Ozzie Guillen will have named an official closer.  —  That original last line of pitching defense won't serve as the team's only closer for a 2011 campaign featuring championship-caliber expectations.